Jun
21
2022
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.
Would You Eat This On Your Next Flight? [Roundup]
Monthly Archives
Monthly Archives for June 2022.
American Airlines Is Now Selling A New “Main Select” Fare With Special Perks
Jun
21
2022
When American Airlines announced the end of the ‘Shuttle’ product in November they shared that they would turn over New York LaGuardia – Boston flying to JetBlue and introduce Shuttle-like fares to several markets.
New “Main Select” fares would be refundable, bundling priority boarding and check-in, free seat assignments for any coach seat (including extra legroom) and free same-day confirmed changes. According to a spokesperson these fares are now available on several routes:
Cardless Launches New LATAM Credit Cards, Makes Earning Elite Status Easy
Jun
21
2022
The President of Cardless was once an intern at The Points Guy so bringing a travel card into his portfolio of products is certainly a big deal there. This isn’t LATAM’s first U.S. co-brand. They were partners with U.S. Bank. So Cardless taking on the LATAM product is another sign of strength for the startup.
The new LATAM products make earning elite status easy.
How To Avoid United’s $125 Fee For Cancelling An Award, Redepositing Miles
Jun
21
2022
Covering how to prepare yourself for the turmoil of air travel this summer – since so many flights are cancelling, and there are few seats available for rebooking – I suggested booking a backup itinerary using miles for travel later in the day or the next day, and then cancelling the award ticket when your planned flight works out.
However I was asked, “Isn’t United charging for redeposit?” The answer is no, and it wouldn’t matter if they did.
Delta Has Effectively Eliminated Business Class Upgrades, Charges Up To One Million Miles
Jun
20
2022
Delta eliminated traditional mileage upgrades in 2019, and they no longer let top tier elite members upgrade paid coach tickets to business class. Upgrades with miles can now cost as much as one million miles roundtrip.
Oman Air Joining oneworld Alliance
Jun
20
2022
Back in September Oman Air announced its intention to join oneworld alliance and that it is working with Qatar Airways on its application as a sponsor.
Now joining is official.
I’m Numb To Airline Meltdowns, Here’s What’s Going On
Jun
20
2022
A reader asked why I haven’t covered this past weekend’s drama. The truth is I’ve gotten numb it all because it is largely the same story week after week with passengers stranded amidst cancellations, and with flights full there’s no slack – very few seats for people to get rebooked onto – which means that the consequences of cancellations are greater than ever.
Here’s why airlines are struggling, and what you can do about it.
Trip Report: Returning To Australia After Three Years, Part I: Austin – Vancouver
Jun
20
2022
This is the setup to a report on my just-completed Australia trip, with Air Canada business class awards on the outbound and United The trip started with Air Canada’s brand new Austin – Vancouver flight, followed by a stopover and then a visit to Air Canada’s Signature Suite – along with their Toronto lounge, the best business class dining in North America.
Do All Your Award Searches And Get Guidance On How To Book Tickets For Just $1
Jun
20
2022
Point.me lets you search award space across pretty much every airline, shows you the best way to book a flight, with the lowest prices, and which points to use, and even walks you through the process – click by click – of transferring points and creating your booking (this is the past I like the best).
This Was United’s Theme – Before Rhapsody In Blue
Jun
19
2022
The United Airlines is fundamentally intertwined with George Gershwin’s 1924 Rhapsody in Blue. It’s hard to imagine that when Continental Airlines management took over they considered dropping the song which the airline has used since the 1980s. United was the first commercial brand ever to license it, for an annual fee of $300,000 at the time.
The Gershwin piece wasn’t just used on board and in commercials but also a version was recorded for the ‘trippy tunnel’ connecting United concourses at Chicago O’Hare. But United didn’t always use this song.
