American’s CEO Finally Tries His Own Coach Product. Here’s His Reaction.

by Gary Leff

back of airplane seats
Aug 27 2018

American Airlines CEO Doug Parker has finally flown the airline’s new standard coach product, a full nine months after it has entered service.

American debuted a new domestic interior on their first Boeing 737 MAX back in November. That isn’t just the new product that is going on one plane (of which they have 100 on order). They’re taking all of their existing Boeing 737s and replacing the interior with new seats with less distance from seat back to seat back, that have less padding, and no seat back video.

Continue Reading »

American Airlines Voids a Bump Voucher. Did They Do It For Spite – or Worse?

by Gary Leff

airline ticket
Aug 26 2018

American offered compensation so that the rebooking would be listed as voluntary rather than involuntary, not because DOT requirements were at play here at all.

The passenger agreed to give up their seat for compensation and American agreed to book the passenger onto the next available flight. Due to a delay the next available flight happened to be the original one.

Continue Reading »

Fare Alert: Premium Economy Many US Cities to China, Hong Kong From $884 Roundtrip

by Gary Leff

airline cabin
Aug 26 2018

It’s never been as easy or cheap to fly internationally, largely because of ultra low cost carriers across the Atlantic and the rise of Chinese airlines fighting for business from the US and connecting that traffic to Southeast Asia.

However I really value premium cabin fare deals. Because while you can sometimes find transatlantic fares for under $300 roundtrip, and transpacific fares under $400 roundtrip, those would have been great in my youth but I don’t want to fly coach such long distances.

Continue Reading »

The Paranoid, Cautious Approach to Transferring Points and Booking Awards

by Gary Leff

man in suit looking at computer screen
Aug 26 2018

Yesterday I helped someone with an Air China first class award. Air China certainly doesn’t have the best first class, and you might think it’s not worth the miles.

This is the story of an award booking that appeared to fail, but where perseverance got it ticketed. However there’s a better approach that takes some of the risk out of award booking.

Continue Reading »

It’s August 25 — and Korean Air Still Shows Up as a Chase Transfer Partner

by Gary Leff

first class cabin
Aug 25 2018

Chase announced that the last day to transfer Ultimate Rewards points to Korean Air’s SkyPass program would be Friday, August 24 and that effective today Saturday, August 25 Korean would no longer be a Chase transfer partner.

That notice is still on the Chase Ultimate Rewards website. However Korean Air is also still listed as a transfer partner and the website is allowing me to begin the process of initiating transfers.

Continue Reading »