Reader Les took me up on my offer yesterday to explain specifics about upgrades. He wrote: Thanks for your wonderful site. I really look forward to seeing it every morning. Any specific Northwest suggestions? Hi Les, Thanks for the compliment. Tell me where you fly to and how many miles a year you fly and I’ll make some specific suggestions. In the meantime, I’ll say that Northwest really has an outstanding frequent flyer program. Their first class doesn’t really compare to some of the other airlines, but the loyalty program is really great. The best way to get upgrades on domestic flights with Northwest is to be an elite — fly more than 25,000 miles. Even Northwest Silver (25k/yr) flyers have a really good upgrade percentage — especially out of DC (ed- I surmised the…
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How to Upgrade to First Class
Jon Douglas outlines the basic strategies for flying first class instead of coach. I don’t agree with all of it. For instance: But if you have the 20,000 miles that a round-trip upgrade costs, it’s probably worthwhile to save up a few thousand more for a coach-class award, or wait until you have the miles needed for a free first-class ticket. I consider upgrades (at least on flights of over three hours each way) to be a better value than a domestic coach ticket. Why? Because I can buy a roundtrip ticket to California for less than $300. I’d gladly pay a $300 premium to sit in first class on those flights! Plus, I’m earning miles on my paid ticket, but not on my award ticket. And finally, the miles on a paid ticket count…
Are the discount carriers better, part three
As “full service” carrier American Airlines is reducing legroom in coach, “discount” carrier JetBlue is increasing legroom in coach (the only service class it offers). Yet another reason why, for the infrequent traveler, the discount carriers offer more service than the mainline carriers do.
Priceline for the Business Traveler
Chris Woodyard writes today about business travelers using priceline. If the economy refuses to expand, and business travel budgets remain tight, this is going to become an increasing trend. It has the potential to subvert the whole hotel industry pricing structure. Old-line companies with traditional travel departments don’t like travelers using priceline, because those companies negotiate corporate discounts and kickbacks which are undercut by their employees saving money with Priceline. The travel departments are generally measured based on their contract negotiation, so they want all travel booked through their own more traditional venues. And companies like to centrally book so that they can keep better track of their employees. But the Priceline model offers enough savings that its use and acceptance is growing. Or at least the media thinks that it’s growing. I have an…
The 727 Saga Continues
The media remains fascinated by the missing 727 that disappeared from Africa. It apparently reappeared briefly in Angola but has vanished again. While stories still mention the possibility of terrorism, they also take pains to distance themselves from that theory.
New Flight Delay Compensation in Europe
The European Union has a new EU-wide policy on paying compensation for flight delays. Patrick Crozier has a response that’s worth quoting from in detail: Now we wouldn’t want to deny there is a downside to this. It means that flying planes will become more expensive for the operators. Which means that in some cases the fares will go up and in others the routes will be abandoned. But don’t you worry your pretty little prole head about it. You might have thought you wanted budget airlines run by dynamic entrepreneurs finding new niches in the market. You might have thought you were prepared to take the risk of a wait if it meant getting a ticket at the right price. You might have thought that airline food was perhaps a luxury you could forgo.…
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