American Airlines travel waivers — the ability to change your travel when the air system is disrupted, such as because of weather or strikes — won’t fully apply to customers booking Basic Economy fares.
This is something American Airlines explicitly promised wouldn’t happen with new Basic Economy fares but that I predicted.
Under the new regime whether it bolts down onto the plane or not it’s for sale and nothing’s free. American has changed their policy, and effective August 30 full fare customers and AAnytime awards no longer receive complimentary Main Cabin Extra and they no longer receive complimentary preferred seats either.
No free extra legroom, no free seats closer to the front of the plane. Buy up, sit in back, or take what’s left.
There’s finally something good about the eclipse — free points.
Bear in mind that points earned via social don’t extend the expiration date of your account. And also that Marriott points transfer 3:1 into Starwood Preferred Guest. Points post quickly.
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.
Frontier Airlines is rapidly developing a reputation as worst airline in the United States and that’s no easy feat considering United and David Dao, and Spirit, normally all you have to do is say ‘Spirit’.
A 12 year old was kicked off a Frontier flight because the airline let him board without collecting the unaccompanied minor fee.
A British Airways flight once literally had to divert because a passenger’s lavatory trip created such a bad smell. But what happens when a British Airways passenger doesn’t make it to the lavatory?
One British Airways passenger flying London – Cape Town was assigned a seat in economy that he discovered was wet. He reports that a flight attendant agreed with him that the moisture was urine. She “handed him wet wipes to clear up the mess himself.”
Business class on Delta’s Airbus A350 is going to be a the Thompson Vantage XL seat with doors.
And for some reason right now saver level business class award availability — 80,000 SkyMiles each way — is wide open on the Atlanta – Seoul route. In fact it’s open for the whole family. There are plenty of days that have 9 or more saver business class seats available for this new business class with doors.
Qatar’s business class is in many ways remarkable and even before the introduction of their new Qsuites this year arguably their A350 business class product was best in the world.
Back in April I wrote about American putting international widebodies on some Hawaii routes.
Earlier today I noted that some of those planes are being retrofitted with premium economy. American Airlines shared some details of their new premium economy service to Hawaii.
I’ve always liked Turkish Airlines Miles & Smiles because they’ve been the most generous Star Allinace program over time offer status matches and the status lasts up to two years. In addition their award chart is downright cheap for many redemptions — whether using the Turkish Airlines award chart or the Star Alliance award chart.
What’s held me back from using the program much is that it isn’t a program for banking miles, and miles are hard to earn for US residents.
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 »
