Monthly Archives for August 2017.
A roundup of the most important stories of the day. I keep you up to date on the most interesting writings I find on other sites – the latest news and tips.
American Airlines has filed a super discounted fare between Washington DC and Chicago. Here’s a $50 flight: To show how big a deal the various taxes added onto airfare are, especially for cheap fares (as a percentage of the total price) and to understand why ultra low cost carriers often complain about these taxes and having to advertise airfares including taxes — and why the larger airlines can benefit from higher taxes against low cost competitors — this is actually a $33 base fare with taxes adding 50% onto the cost. Key rules for fare basis OVALZNN3: 21 day advance purchase required Must travel by February 14 Blackout dates: October 15, 22; November 17, 25; November 27 through December 22; December 26; January 1, 2 $200 change fee You’re not going to find ‘O’ inventory…
Two years ago I wrote the Ultimate Guide to Booking Award Tickets Using American AAdvantage Miles. It’s basically still up to date, except for a subsequent award chart devaluation.
However American’s award cancellation and redeposit policy is much better than what I wrote then — although most American Airlines call center agents don’t know it.
In the days following violent protests in Charlottesville, with white supremacists clashing with counterprotestors, White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon — the leader of the nationalist faction in the West Wing — has stepped down. That weakens the hand of those pushing for trade wars. It weakens the hand of Delta, American, and United in the Administration.
American AAdvantage adds fuel surcharges to awards on British Airways and Iberia. They’re fairly de minimis for Iberia flights, but for British Airways it makes awards too costly to often be worth it. For coach tickets it’s silly, you pay almost as much as a ticket costs. For premium cabin tickets it’s like paying for a coach ticket and using miles to upgrade, but earning neither miles nor status despite the huge cash co-pay.
That’s bad enough, but on many routes American actually overcharges for these surcharges. And they only fix it and refund customers when caught with their hand in the cookie jar.
American Airlines domestic meals are really bad. I don’t want to eat them. But I rarely question whether it’s safe to do so. easyJet meals, however, may be another story.
Transatlantic discounter Wow Air is selling Newark to Tel Aviv from $149 each way, $298 roundtrip, all-in including taxes. That’s an amazing price for New York – Israel. Search for dates here. Travel is available October through March excluding peak Winter holidays.
This woman claims American Airlines has caused “a lifetime of damage.” She’s suing for “$75,000 each for herself and four family members on the flight, including a son who was then nine months old.”
A roundup of the most important stories of the day. I keep you up to date on the most interesting writings I find on other sites – the latest news and tips.
Hong Kong law doesn’t allow fuel surcharges on travel originating there. Even British Airways, for instance, doesn’t add fuel surcharges to Hong Kong – London flights. Nonetheless, American Airlines was hitting customers with these fuel surcharges anyway. And only some customers are getting refunds.
They were overcharging these fees on other award tickets to and their response is that sometimes mistakes happen. We need to catch them in act, and we can get refunds for everyone that’s been overcharged.
Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel -- a topic he has covered since 2002.
Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »
