Monday, March 21, 2016 is the final day to use your AA miles at prevailing rates. On March 22nd a massive devaluation kicks in for premium cabin awards in nearly every region, making your AA miles much less valuable....
This Rule is Vital for Maximizing Your AA Award
A handful of clients have contacted Award Expert this week requesting help “maximizing” AA awards prior to the devaluation on March 22, 2016. I don’t mean the couples trying to get to Bangkok on Cathay Pacific or families booking...
Two A380 First Class Flights for 40K AA Miles
AA is devaluing its award chart on March 22, 2016 but you’ve still got a week left to take advantage of the old chart. For 40K miles you can experience two of the world’s finest first class products on...
Are the Etihad First Class A380 Apartments Worthwhile?
Etihad has released a generous amount of first class award space on its A380 Abu Dhabi to New York Kennedy flight. Etihad’s trend-setting “First Apartments” on this flight certainly set a standard for spaciousness in a first class seat....
American Airlines Won’t Proactively Waive Telephone Booking Fee
American Airlines has a number of award partners that are not bookable on aa.com. A call to AA Reservations is necessary to book this space and reservations made over the phone carry a $40 booking fee. This fee was...
Using American Airlines Miles to Book oneworld Premium Economy?
Premium Economy is coming to American Airlines and many AA frequent flyers are rightfully concerned about what this will mean for upgrades – will systemwide upgrades only be eligible for upgrades from Economy to Premium Economy? We will soon...
FAQs: Premium Economy on American Airlines
American Airlines announced a new Premium Economy product today, becoming the first U.S. carrier to offer an economy product that is truly more than just extra legroom. Q: What is the difference between Premium Economy and Economy? A: Premium...
American Airlines Finally Guts Award Chart
I’ve been predicting it for months…years actually…and the time has finally come: AA announced a huge devaluation of its AAdvantage award chart today. The only question has been how bad it would be and for those who like premium...
American Airlines Passenger Goes on 9/11 Rant, Claims to Have Gun
Nothing like a crazy passenger to disturb an otherwise mundane transcon flight. An American Airlines flight from LA to Philadelphia was forced to divert to Phoenix after a man who had probably been listening to Alex Jones too much...
US Airways Survived Five Days Longer in Back to the Future than in Reality!
Just a short fun post on a cool piece of movie trivia that View from the Wing brought my attention to — US Airways survived five days longer in Back to the Future II than in reality. Today is “Back...
Congratulations to American Airlines, But Now What?
The final transition from US Airways to American Airlines was a total non-event and for that I must offer my congratulations to American Airlines. Thinking back to that fateful March day of Continental – United system integration in 2011,...
Keep Your Boarding Pass Close!
I wrote an article this week for Inside Flyer showcasing the compromising personal information at your fingertips with nothing more than a discarded boarding pass. An equal-opportunity problem; American, Delta, and United all have a lot of work on...
Breaking: AA Flights Grounded Nationwide
AA flights from DFW, ORD, and MIA were briefly grounded this afternoon until 2:15p ET due to an unspecified computer glitch. The problem has now been resolved. On Twitter, AA earlier said- We’re working to resolve technical issues impacting several airports as...
American Airlines Plays Another Dirty Trick On Us
American Airlines recently cut off the ability to redeem AAdvantage miles for travel on Hawaiian Airlines between the mainland and Hawaii. That was an unfortunate loss, considering Hawaiian Airlines was a dependable source of premium cabin award space, but...
Can You Book Cuba Award Travel with American Airlines Miles?
I wrote with some glee about the change in U.S. policy toward Cuba and what this meant for travel. Since that December 2014 announcement, more diplomatic breakthroughs have occurred, including the recent re-opening of the Cuban Embassy in Washington...
The Significance of American Airlines’ Starwood Transfer Bonus
As the mantra goes, miles and points are a depreciating asset and are better burned than stored for future use. American Airlines is offering a generous 20% transfer bonus on points from Starwood Preferred Guest. Essentially, that means instead...
In Memoriam: An Ode to US Airways Dividend Miles
Yesterday I shared my sorrow over the passing of US Airways Dividend Miles. Now we are past the wake and it is time for a memorial service to celebrate Dividend Miles. Perhaps we celebrate Ghana-style? To help, I have...
American Airlines Can Make a Persuasive Case to Justify Cancellation of Held "Mistake" Reservations
American Airlines will honor all ~$450 business class fares to Beijing that were ticketed during a short window on Tuesday evening in which base fares ranged from $0 to $20 (the rest of the $450 fare was government taxes...
American Airlines $450 Business Class Fare to China Update
American Airlines issued business class tickets to China for $450 as part of a mistake fare. This post is an update in regards to that mistake fare. If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a new credit card please click...
UPDATE: Merged Already? Did American Airlines Match My US Airways Status?
In 2015 US Airways and American Airlines merged which came with its own benefits and complications. This post discusses an early merger of the two loyalty programs. If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a new credit card please click...
