British Airways started giving out ‘yellow card’ warnings to unruly customers got a bunch of attention again with BA’s introduction of these warnings for ‘ground rage’ in the fall of 2002. Apparently they believed they had a problem of customers losing their stuff even before they board.
The value of miles: “I am interested in what you do with that number: how does it influence when you use cash vs points, how does it effect which card you choose, etc?”
American Airlines has updated its same day confirmed change policy and not for the better.
Turkish Airlines made perhaps the world’s biggest bet on premium economy. And some of their Airbus planes have a couple of inches more legroom in economy than US airlines do.
What’s more, when an itinerary contains a forced layover in Istanbul, Turkish will provide a free hotel night even for economy passengers. A work colleague was given the Radisson Blu at the airport when flying economy to and from Eastern Europe.
American is testing offering ‘extended hold’ options for sale on reservations.
American will only charge for the extended hold after 24 hours, so if you select extended hold but purchase or cancel within 24 hours you won’t be charged for the optional hold.
They’re hardly first to this party, it’s been offered by other airlines including United. This is actually something I like to see — it’s added fees, but for something that wasn’t already offered free, it’s truly optional, and it’s added value.
Reader Stephen asked, “Can you ask AA to open saver level award space on a domestic leg of an international trip?”
He found Japan Airlines first class award space Los Angeles – Tokyo but wasn’t able to include the Houston – Los Angeles flight that he needed as part of his award.
There are two circumstances in which you can ask American Airlines to release award space, and this is one of those times.
American Airlines eliminated curbside check-in at 38 airports May 1. (It’s still offered at 26 airports including American hubs.)
Are skycaps still needed? I’ve only needed them once, and then I really needed it… but that was, ironically enough, US Airways’ fault.
The logic of eliminating skycaps may next apply to another position at American Airlines…
I keep you up to date on the most interesting writings I find on other sites – the latest news and tips.
If you upgrade with American using miles or confirmed systemwides, then you’re protected.
Via Traveling Better, if your flight is effected by weather, crew legality, mechanical issues, or even air traffic control — if your flight is delayed just two hours (and in fact, just one hour if you are an AAdvantage elite member or full fare passenger) then you can be protected on a joint venture partner or oneworld airline in the same upgraded class of service if their flight will get you to your destination faster than the next American flight with available inventory will.
In light of revelations that the TSA fails to stop bombs and weapons going through the checkpoint 95% of the time, we can expect even more security theatre and less efficient screening.
We’ve subjected ourselves to the War on Water (and extortionate bottled water pricing from the newsstand-industrial complex), long waits, ID checks, pat downs, naked pictures of ourselves, and exposure to radiation. All to make us feel more safe.
And in the process the Federal Courts have found that TSA has blatantly flouted the law.
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 »
