Sep 24 2015

One of the best ways to check availability on oneworld airlines (which are partners of American Airlines) is to use the British Airways website. That’s because BA.com shows the most partners online — including Japan Airlines flights that are not available on the other good site for award searches, Qantas.

Unfortunately the British Airways site is given to ‘break’. It will either not show entire airlines (for awhile US Airways flights didn’t show there but fortunately those show at AA.com!) or will show ‘phantom’ award space, it will appear as though awards are available but in the end the space isn’t bookable and will error out at BA.com (or if you call a partner airline, you’ll be told the space isn’t available).

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Sep 23 2015

Reacting to the news that the moving walkways on United’s C concourse at Chicago O’Hare are being removed after the walkways in DFW’s D terminal were taken out in order to encourage more retail shopping, David B. e-mails,

“[Moving walkways are] already gone from Terminal C in Newark, makes traveling with the three kids much worse. And as much as foodies love the new restaurant selection in Newark, it’s terrible for families, expensive, slow, and not the sorts of food kids want to eat.”

Here’s why.

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Sep 23 2015

The four most important words in travel are Hang Up, Call Back.

But seven words line up right behind those: You don’t get if you don’t ask. Sometimes you just need someone to help you get something you’re entitled to or at least not unentitled to. Other times you need someone to bend the rules, or go out of your way.

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Sep 23 2015

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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Sep 23 2015

I took great umbrage at a very silly column by Christopher Elliott suggesting that coach passengers were ‘subsidizing’ the comfort of business class passengers.

There’s one flight, though, for which Elliott could be right: the Pope’s charter!

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Sep 23 2015

Alaska Airlines and Icelandair have brough back their partnership (which ended June 2013).

It’s usually best to buy tickets to Iceland rather than using miles. (And not even just when there’s a mistake fare.) Delta’s flight is almost always too many miles. Other frequent flyer programs mean a lot of extra flying via Europe. And the flights themselves can price reasonably. This gives us interesting new options.

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Sep 23 2015

Rapper Azealia Banks wanted off her Delta flight. Apparently she tried to weave past everyone, but a French couple blocked her way. She tried to squeaze past them. The man put his hand in front of her. She allegedly spit on him, and punched his face.

A flight attendant grabbed her bag, and hijinks ensued. Naturally there’s video (courtesy of the all-knowing, all-seeing TMZ).

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Sep 22 2015

Just like Prince William (whose allegiance even extends to the US Airways Shuttle, the Pope chooses American Airlines. And the Pope is infallible.

The burning question though is whether his chartered Boeing 777-200 has been reconfigured with American’s new business class seats or not? I’ve got answers.

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Sep 22 2015

Sign up for airberlin topbonus, a oneworld partner of American and part-owned by Etihad, and you’ll receive a voucher for access to their “Exclusive Waiting Areas.” Have your family and friends sign up too in order to obtain more vouchers.

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Sep 22 2015

Both British Airways and American are offering up to 125,000 points for transatlantic travel on American Airlines, US Airways, British Airways, OpenSkies, Finnair and Iberia through January 31.. and this time all fares are eligible to earn something.

Here’s how to take advantage of the promotion, and to distinguish between the British AIrways and American versions.

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