News and notes from around the interweb: United is launching once-weekly New Orleans-Cancun flights. I always find these routes strange and fascinating, there’s usually a backstory to them that’s not always immediately obvious. New mobile payment app that lets you send $3750 by credit card without fees. Air Canada has a promo code for 15% off to Asia British Airways is gutting its small business program, too. The winner, as with the Avios changes, will be the rarely-spotted individual who flies exclusively in Club World and First on fully flexible tickets during the week but who loves nothing more than jumping into a World Traveller seat when he travels for leisure. What’s the most improved vacation opportunity for those spending US dollars? Argentina is a great bargain, especially when you exchange cash at the street…
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The Changes That Will Happen to American’s Award Chart After The US Airways Merger is Complete
Reader Ryan wanted to know, [W]hat do you think would be a ‘worst-case’ scenario for US/AA miles devaluation after the programs merge in Q2? Plenty of folks thought that combining US Airways and American frequent flyer programs was a chance to implement a brand new program on day 1, a revenue-based one like Delta and United. I predicted from the beginning that: The primary focus would be on integrating the airlines When you merge you don’t want to alienate your customers So the merger would be reprieve from devaluations, for the most part. (Not exclusively.) And indeed, we know what the 2015 program looks like and I don’t expect a big upending of the award chart in the second quarter of 2015 when Dividend Miles gets migrated over to AAdvantage. I don’t necessarily expect big…
US Airlines Should Shut Up About Having to Compete Against Gulf Carriers. Here’s Why.
US airlines have been making loud noises over how unfair it is that they have to compete with some Gulf airlines. They want the administration to take steps against Qatar, Emirates, and Etihad. For foreign policy reasons this is highly unlikely. But the noise – and the overheated rhetoric – have been loud enough that the argument has gotten attention. One Mile at a Time runs a piece titled, “Other Carriers Can’t Compete With Gulf Airlines Under The Current System” and concludes, Open Skies is intended to eliminate government intervention and “free” markets. And there’s no arguing that the Middle Eastern airlines aren’t operating within the spirit of the agreement. …But when every aspect of an operation is being run in order to generate a loss and increase market share for the purposes of developing…
Thailand Issues Good Behavior Manual for Tourists
Thailand has issued a good behavior manual for Chinese tourists. Etiquette manuals in Mandarin are being printed for the 90,000 Chinese tourists who are expected to travel to Thailand for Chinese New Year, later this week. The manual will instruct visitors on museum etiquette, requesting that paintings are not touched, warn against using public property as lavatory facilties, and encourage proper driving behaviour, according to the Tourist Authority of Thailand office in Chiang Mai. …Locals accused them of defecating in the city’s moat, causing accidents by driving recklessly, and defacing several tourist attractions, according to the Bangkok Post. Breakfast in a Bathrobe at the Westin Siray Bay, Phuket Thailand and China are geographically close, and while ethnic Chinese often have high status in Thai society the Northern part of the country is heavily Chinese-influenced and…
US Airlines Want to Ban the Big Middle East Carriers, Because 9/11
US airlines have been out swinging against the major Middle Eastern airlines Emirates, Qatar, and Etihad — arguing that they are state subsidized and competing unfairly against US carriers, and asking the US to terminate Open Skies agreements that permit unfettered access to US markets. The end of open skies with the region wouldn’t much hurt US airlines, since they offer only limited service to the region. But it would hurt US travelers — precisely because US airlines offer only limited service to the region. And US airlines also don’t serve the secondary and smaller cities India and Pakistan these carriers serve, or for that matter Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines. It’s true that the Middle Eastern carriers have grown. And they’ve thrown capacity in several US markets which pushed down fares, and to my…
Which Airlines Are the Worst to Deal With By Phone?
When American Express runs a transfer bonus for moving points to Aeromexico, and folks start paying attention to their award charts (which can be generous even without the bonus) I shrug. The last thing I want is Aeromexico points, since that means I’m going to have to deal with the fine folks at Aeromexico Club Premier. You can’t book partner awards online. That means talking to their call center. Thinking about what call centers are the worst, it’s actually tough because each airline with frustrating call centers is frustrating in different ways. They’re just tough to compare. Delta agents tend not to know who their partners are, and I’ve had them try to book awards into the wrong class. (I’ve also been told “Vietnam Airlines isn’t a member of Skyteam. Only Air France is a…
American Discounted Off Peak Awards Now Let You Book US Airways Flights
American’s award chart for flying its own aircraft (as opposed to oneworld and other partners) includes discounted, off-peak economy awards. Reduced mileage awards are also available to: Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela at 15,000 miles each way (instead of 17,500) Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay at 20,000 miles each way (instead of 30,000) Europe at 20,000 miles each way (instead of 30,000) Japan, Korea at 25,000 miles each way (instead of 32,500) Starting today, it seems, US Airways flights can be included and priced at off-peak pricing on the AA.com website. Here are the dates eligible for this discount for each region: Of course US Airways does not fly to Asia and their South/Central America destinations are limited compared to American’s route network. Let’s look at Charlotte – Mexico City, starting September 7 economy awards…
Does Thailand’s Government Want to Ban Orgies, Save on UK Departure Tax from These Cities, and 4 Ways You’re Using Miles Wrong…
News and notes from around the interweb: New day room booking site and app Hotels By Day is giving away free day rooms. There are surprisingly few entries, so your chances of winning are good. So enter. The inside scoop on United’s ellusive Global Services status. In addition to everything mentioned there, Global Services members departing Frankfurt or Munich in United first class get access to Lufthansa first class lounges. The cities in the UK where you can originate your return from Europe without paying the premium cabin luxury tax on a BA Avios redemption. 4 Ways You’re Probably Using Your Airline Miles Incorrectly (from me over at USA Today Travel). Does Thailand’s military government want to ban orgies? Orbitz and Skiplagged — the website that helps you find throwaway tickets to save money on…
Book American’s Brand New 787 Starting This Saturday
American has released details of its plans for the Boeing 787. As hinted previously, The plane will be based at DFW. Its initial domestic revenue flights, before it begins international service, will be Dallas – Chicago starting May 7 It will fly Dallas – Beijing June 2 And Dallas – Buenos Aires June 4 The 787 should be loaded into the schedule this Saturday, February 14. American has 42 firm orders for the 787-8 and 787-9 and options on an additional 58 planes. American plans to load 28 lie-flat business class seats in a 1-2-1 configuration and then 198 main cabin seats in a 3-3-3 configuration. 48 of those main cabin seats will be used for Main Cabin Extra The business class product — or at least photos they’re releasing — appears similar to the…
US Airways Brings Back Access to AAnytime Awards on American Airlines
A week ago American and US Airways launched the ability to redeem miles for ‘extra award availability’ at an additional mileage cost on each others’ flights. The idea of spending extra miles to get the seat you want isn’t universal, you can’t do it with British Airways or Virgin Atlantic miles for instance. Most European and Asian carriers don’t offer this (although some like Singapore Airlines do). But it’s near-universal for US airlines, though they do it in different ways. United only lets elites and co-brand credit card holders spend extra miles for last seat availability, for instance. General members without a United credit card only get access to most seats at a much higher mileage price. But they have only two mileage levels. Alaska, American, US Airways, and Delta all have more levels. The…
