Monthly Archives

Monthly Archives for January 2019.

American Airlines Premium Economy Awards: Award Charts and Saver Space Are Live

airline seat
Jan 24 2019

Unlike Delta which no longer publishes award charts at all, and unlike United which doesn’t publish premium economy award pricing American has added premium economy to its published award chart pricing.

What’s more, unlike United which doesn’t seem to make premium economy saver awards available, American has made saver space for premium economy available at the get go.

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Venezuela is Plunging into Chaos: Which Airlines Still Fly?

CCS
Jan 23 2019

As the country has fallen apart, with mass shortages, rampant crime, and inflation over 5000%, American Airlines had found their Venezuela routes extremely profitable — because there was so little air service left.

Thanks to price controls on domestic flights, passengers waited at airports for days hoping to get on a flight. The National Guard pulls suitcases off of flights to loot them. Airlines complain they’re getting contaminated fuel.

With flight crews getting robbed by bandits airlines fly crews out of the country to overnight, and try to refuel elsewhere as well.

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Drama-Laden Parker Meridien New York Rebrands Again, Now a Hyatt

hotel bed
Jan 23 2019

When Starwood picked up Le Meridien hotels they integrated most properties into Starwood Preferred Guest but the Parker Meridien properties in New York and Palm Springs were noticeably absent (presumably not wanting to pay the 5% fee).

During the depths of the Great Recession though they realized they needed the marketing muscle and joined the program in late 2008. They allegedly began stealing from Starwood Preferred Guest almost immediately.

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American Launching Premium Economy Award Redemption Tomorrow

airline seat
Jan 23 2019

Two weeks ago I reported that American would launch award redemption for premium economy this month. Awards go live tomorrow (Thursday, January 24).

We will not see any change to upgrades at this time, or upgrade awards for premium economy. This new redemption option will be for American miles on American flights only — they will not enable redemption of premium economy seats on partners, and American’s partners won’t have access to premium economy awards either.

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Passenger Confronts Member of Congress Flying First Class During the Shutdown

two men on airplane
Jan 23 2019

On Tuesday Representative Rodney Davis (R-IL) was confronted by a passenger on a Chicago – DC flight over his flying in first class during the government shutdown.

The issue here is that it may look unseemly for a member of Congress to appear to be ‘living well’ (how much of the country sees domestic first class) during the government shutdown. Indeed it’s popular to suggest that Members of Congress shouldn’t be paid while the government is shut down. I disagree.

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