Lack of Award Space on American’s Own Flights: No Saver Awards to Buenos Aires From Mid-July Through End of Schedule

by Gary Leff

Jun 21 2015

I value American AAdvantage miles quick highly — but for redemption on their partners, like first class awards on Etihad, and not for redemption on American’s own flights. In fact, all things equal, I would rather not redeem miles to travel on American (unless it’s redeeming 4500 British Airways points for an American flight under 650 miles).

Nonetheless, the lack of award availability on American’s international flights has become even worse, sometimes and some routes impossible.

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It’s Amazing — and Depressing — What We’ll Accept from US Domestic Airline Lounges

by Gary Leff

Jun 21 2015

I flew United to Houston for the EVA Air inaugural festivities on Friday. Just like when I flew them earlier in the year, they were fine though my return flight delayed just shy of two hours — first a late inbound aircraft, and then a decision to operate the flight with a different plane that was even later. That happens, goodness knows I’ve had my share of creeping delays on American MD80s.

I visited the United Club on the E concourse in Houston twice — once on arrival, since I turned up at the event early enough to handle possible delays and figured i could get some work done, and then again on departure when my flight delayed.

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Which is More Important: Transportation or Experience?

by Gary Leff

Jun 20 2015

A reader asked me the other day whether I would fly to my home city from Asia on Korean in first, or to San Francisco on Cathay Pacific and connect?

Cathay unquestionably has the better seat. I find the service better. The entertainment system is better. The midflight snacks are better. So is the lounge. But I’d still choose Korean.

Here’s what that says about preference for time versus comfort, and the allure of hotel versus the experience of the road.

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American AAdvantage Ending Redemptions to Hawaii on Hawaiian Airlines

by Gary Leff

Jun 20 2015

American Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines are partners — but starting September 1 you will only be able to redeem American miles for travel on Hawaiian for intra-island flights and flights beyond Hawaii to their Asia Pacific destinations. You will no longer be able to redeem for Hawaiian flights between Hawaii and the US mainland.

There’s more than two months’ notice to this change, and there are plenty of other options to Hawaiian on both American and Alaska Airlines. Hawaii awards aren’t getting more expensive, just a little harder. And there are many ways still to get those Hawaiian flights to and from Hawaiian. So this isn’t devastating. But it is disappointing.

Here are the ways you can still use American miles for travel on Hawaiian, the ways you can use American miles to get to Hawaii, and the other ways you can fly between the mainland and Hawaii on Hawaiian.

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