The Solar Eclipse is a Total Non-Event, Get Over It

Aug 19 2017

There’s nothing new about a total solar eclipse. It’s completely predictable, indeed the Greeks could predict it and those calculations will last until the sun burns out.

Now it would be cool if you were the only one who knew about an eclipse, and it happened to come right as you were captured by soldiers or savages. You could prove your mystical powers by blotting out the sun and then they’d all bow at your magnificence.

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Great Fare: DC – Chicago on American Just $50

Aug 18 2017

American Airlines has filed a super discounted fare between Washington DC and Chicago. Here’s a $50 flight: To show how big a deal the various taxes added onto airfare are, especially for cheap fares (as a percentage of the total price) and to understand why ultra low cost carriers often complain about these taxes and having to advertise airfares including taxes — and why the larger airlines can benefit from higher taxes against low cost competitors — this is actually a $33 base fare with taxes adding 50% onto the cost. Key rules for fare basis OVALZNN3: 21 day advance purchase required Must travel by February 14 Blackout dates: October 15, 22; November 17, 25; November 27 through December 22; December 26; January 1, 2 $200 change fee You’re not going to find ‘O’ inventory…

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How to Save Hundreds of Dollars When Cancelling American AAdvantage Awards

american-airlines-plane
Aug 18 2017

Two years ago I wrote the Ultimate Guide to Booking Award Tickets Using American AAdvantage Miles. It’s basically still up to date, except for a subsequent award chart devaluation.

However American’s award cancellation and redeposit policy is much better than what I wrote then — although most American Airlines call center agents don’t know it.

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Steve Bannon’s Departure from the White House May Be Bad News for Delta, American, and United

delta plane
Aug 18 2017

In the days following violent protests in Charlottesville, with white supremacists clashing with counterprotestors, White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon — the leader of the nationalist faction in the West Wing — has stepped down. That weakens the hand of those pushing for trade wars. It weakens the hand of Delta, American, and United in the Administration.

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Always Check Fees Before Booking an American AAdvantage Award on British Airways

british airways plane
Aug 18 2017

American AAdvantage adds fuel surcharges to awards on British Airways and Iberia. They’re fairly de minimis for Iberia flights, but for British Airways it makes awards too costly to often be worth it. For coach tickets it’s silly, you pay almost as much as a ticket costs. For premium cabin tickets it’s like paying for a coach ticket and using miles to upgrade, but earning neither miles nor status despite the huge cash co-pay.

That’s bad enough, but on many routes American actually overcharges for these surcharges. And they only fix it and refund customers when caught with their hand in the cookie jar.

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