Monthly Archives

Monthly Archives for September 2022.

Delta Runs A Dance-Off For An Upgrade

by Gary Leff

Sep 10 2022

For twenty years I’ve been writing that every article on how to get an upgrade is wrong. There’s no secret phrase like ‘revenue management’. And ‘dressing nicely’ doesn’t usually matter because upgrades with most airlines are based on an algorithm – that may take into account (for instance) your frequent flyer status and the fare you paid.

Then a Delta Air Lines gate agent goes and does this: holds a “dance off” at the gate for an upgrade. And I start to wonder whether everything I’ve ever written about upgrades is wrong?

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Just Because You Make A Reservation At Holiday Inn, Doesn’t Mean The Hotel Exists

by Gary Leff

Sep 10 2022

In September 2021 a reader made a reservation at the Holiday Inn LaGuardia Airport for the nights of August 28th at 27,000 points and August 29th using a credit card free night. The reader shared, “we were so excited to be at the US Open this year, we booked almost a year out at a hotel I’ve stayed at and liked.”

This hotel apparently closed – yet they went into their account to print a copy of their reservation to have it with them on arrival a day before check-in. The bookings were there.

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Starts Monday: American Airlines Systemwide Upgrades Work On British Airways

by Gary Leff

Sep 09 2022

Starting Monday, September 12th American Airlines systemwide upgrades will work on itineraries that include British Airways transatlantic and intra-European flights within Europe.

That means if you book an American Airlines flight across the Pond, and upgrade it, you’ll also be able to upgrade your connecting flight on BA within Europe. And it means as long as you have a domestic American Airlines flight in your itinerary, you can use a systemwide upgrade to move up a cabin on British Airways across the Atlantic.

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Bonus Miles For New American AAdvantage Members (Join Now)

by Gary Leff

Sep 09 2022

American Airlines is incenvitizing people to join the program, which is something you used to see a lot more of. They aren’t just giving away free miles (too costly and too easy to game). Instead they’re bonusing customers for joining and tranascting. Because the two things that make you a valuable customers are getting in the habit of transacting and redeeming miles.

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JetBlue-Emirates End Partnership, Now We Know The Rest Of The Story (Etihad!)

by Gary Leff

Sep 09 2022

Emirates lost the ability to book redemptions on JetBlue in business class over the summer, suggesting something was up with their partnership. We learned in the past several days that the partnership is actually ending October 30th. But JetBlue isn’t going to be down a partner. Instead a new earning and redemption partnership is coming between JetBlue and Etihad. Etihad also partners with American Airlines and with Air Canada.

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