Aug 22 2017

I absolutely love the introduction of premium economy as a product. Eventually I expect it not to be great for upgrades (that in the future upgrades will be from coach to premium economy, and not to business class). And I absolutely love American’s direct aisle access seats, especially the new Super Diamond seats which are the best seats I’ve flown in business class.

The Boeing 777-200s are interesting because they run the gamut and tell a story of the evolution of American’s thinking over the past half dozen years.

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Aug 22 2017

We now know a lot more about the airline bomb plot that was foiled in Sydney. The plan was to blow up an Etihad Sydney – Abu Dhabi flight. As usual much of the initial reporting was wrong.

The story at the beginning was that the bomb was hidden inside a meat grinder in a passenger’s luggage, but as luck would have it the bag was too heavy and didn’t get checked. Now that story has changed, and the bomb was supposedly hidden inside a large barbie doll.

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Aug 22 2017

There’s a new OTG restaurant at Newark that’s invitation only for United customers. It’s called Classified and the fact that it’s exclusive appears to be the primary thing that’s special about it.

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Aug 21 2017

American, though, didn’t just take away benefits from their most loyal (lifetime) customers. They took away travel benefits from legacy American Airlines retirees, too. Retiree travel priority changed in September 2014.

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Aug 21 2017

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.

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Aug 21 2017

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.

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Aug 21 2017

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.

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Aug 21 2017

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.

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Aug 21 2017

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.

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Aug 20 2017

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.”

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