Delayed and cancelled flights, angry pilots and FAs, and the doldrums of bankruptcy have all worked against the consumer for the last several months over at American Airlines. About a month ago, I predicted that AA would bring back...
Weathering Hurricane Sandy
Greetings readers. I have missed you the last several days and hope all of you in the Northeast have weathered the storm nicely. After three days of trying, I have finally made it back to Philadelphia on United. I...
So. Cal. – New York Mileage Run on United Airlines: $165 r/t – Fly the 787!
United Airlines has dropped transcon fares between the New York market (EWR, JFK, LGA) and Ontario, California (a distant suburb of Los Angeles) to levels I have not seen in years: return trips available for as little as $162!...
Alitalia Quickly Voids Discounted Tickets
Who says Italians don’t work on weekends? Someone was working overtime on Sunday because every ticket issued with a point of origination outside of Japan using the $320 discount promotion was summarily cancelled Sunday morning. Did Alitalia move fast...
"Don’t Tell Me How to Do My Job!"
Every airline call center is unique in its own way. US Airways’ agents are geographically ignorant. Delta agents have great trouble searching for partner award space. You can always tell whether you are speaking to an ex-Continental agent or...
$320 Discount from Alitalia = Free Flights Within Europe!
Use coupon code PROMOJP to take $320 (¥25,000) off most Alitalia flights! You have to: Book immediately (the promotion goes till 26 October, but it will be gone by Monday…count on it) Travel between 05 November and 07 March (but the...
My Letter to Swiss Int’l Air Lines, RE: RGN Cancellation
Another week has passed and the Swiss Int’l Air Lines Burma fare discrepancy remains unresolved. I am not in a rush–my trip is not till next June–but I do wish to resolve the matter quickly and have sent my...
Flying Across the USA in International Business Class
Friday was a long day for me, but it was a fun one. A bulk of it was spent at airports–6.5 hours in the air and 5 hours in two United Clubs, but I ended up flying from Newark...
Adventures on Greyhound
I took advantage of a $188 r/t Washington Dulles – Los Angeles fare over the weekend on American Airlines, which meant I had to find my own way up to Philadelphia this morning after my overnight redeye flight from...
Swiss Int’l Air Lines Cancels RGN Tickets
Last week, inexpensive business and first class fares originating out of Yangon, Burma popped up again to many Canadian destinations and were bookable for about 6 days (from 21-26 September 2012). Many were able to take advantage of the...
Is a Trip to Venezuela on the Horizon?
The United States is not the only country having presidential elections this autumn. Tomorrow, Venezuelans go to the polls in a critical election that will either keep Hugo Chavez in power for six more years or elect challenger and...
Free International Flights from JetBlue
With the U.S. Presidential Election approaching and the race still too close to call, there is going to be heartbreak on the losing side. If it is any consolation, JetBlue has you covered with their new “Live Free or Fly!”...
Upgrading a Held Reservation on American Airlines
I finally bit the bullet and booked my first flight on American Airlines–it was either standby on United or a remarkably great $187 r/t ticket on American for my trip from Washington to Los Angeles this weekend. But it...
Adding an Infant Ticket to a Virgin Australia Delta SkyMiles Award
Now that I have lost most of you with such a boring title, let me tell you a little about my day. Days actually. It has taken two weeks to get an infant ticket issued for a client and...
Double Elite Mile Promotion Coming to American Airlines?
This is purely speculation, but as each day goes on and the number of disruptions and delays at American Airlines increases, I have to think another double elite qualifying miles promotion is just around the corner. AA has already...
United.com Restores "Expert" Mode
After intense pressure from frequent flyers, United Airlines backed down and agreed to restore the ability to view upgrade availability online last week. Today, that functionality is back. Similar to the way it was for the pre-merger united.com, however,...
United Improves Upgrade Transparency…Kind Of
United Airlines has taken a step in the right direction in introducing a new upgrade display that at least allows you to see that you are on the complimentary upgrade list for a flight. No, I’d prefer to call…...
Vindictive United Supervisor vs. Professional United Supervisor
Sometimes people can just be downright vindictive. I admittedly have a tendency to crave revenge, though I pray I will never turn out like the United Airlines reservations supervisor I dealt with earlier this week. One of my best...
A Thoughtful Conversation with the TSA in Honolulu
I have passed from the “rage” stage to the “education” stage when it comes to dealing with Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents at U.S. airports. I used to get so worked up over their rudeness, their lack of common...
Flying Non-Rev Standby on United Airlines
Traveling just got much cheaper. And much more stressful… A friend of mine offered me a large quantity of United buddy passes, so my travel for the foreseeable future–if I so choose–will be cheap and likely in premium cabins...
