Over the weekend, US Airways’ award fare classes were renamed to match with American Airlines and align with the effort to standardize award booking classes among oneworld carriers. US Airways Saver North American First Class – O ➢ Z US Airways...
New Greeting for AA Phone Reps
This is totally an airline nerd thing, but I spend a chunk of my day each day (sometimes a huge chunk) on the phone with various airlines booking awards. The bulk of my clients are based in North America...
Is the Elimination of Stopovers on United MileagePlus Awards Inevitable?
Delta Air Lines has announced that free stopovers will not be part of the 2015 Skymiles program and it seems likely that the combined American and US Airways AAdvantage program will also not offer complimentary stopovers. That would leave...
Gambling With Status – Predicting the Future With American Airlines And Nailing It
If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a new credit card please click here. Both support LiveAndLetsFly.com. If you haven’t followed us on Facebook or Instagram, add us today. Background about last year’s EXP challenge and the value of Executive Platinum status with...
The Hunt for a Competent American Airlines Agent
Earlier today I posted the following about booking Etihad Airways award space with American Airlines– American Airlines Cannot Book Etihad Award Space…Again Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways is a wonderful American Airlines AAdvantage partner, offering excellent premium cabin award space...
Orbitz and American Airlines Fighting Again: Who is to Blame?
American Airlines has pulled fares from Orbitz (again) and will also pull US Airways’ fares starting on September 01, 2015. Though AA is a partial owner of Orbitz, the carrier and the online travel agency have been unable to...
Always Check: First Class for the Price of Economy Class
A client in Los Angeles called me this morning saying he had an emergency meeting in Miami on Monday morning and needed a ticket to Miami tomorrow afternoon or evening, returning Monday night. I noted immediately that AA or DL...
No Fuel Surcharges on British Airways Awards with US Airways Miles
Since US Airways joined oneworld, the carrier has not imposed fuel surcharges on British Airways award flights. Considering fuel surcharges run more than $800 r/t for Europe and much more if you continue on to Asia or Africa, this...
A Hijacking Joke Gone Bad
Tensions are high in the aftermath of the likely pilot hijacking of MH370 and even more than 12 years after the 9/11 attacks, the mentality of fear surrounding aviation security remains ingrained. With that in mind, I would recommend...
Dear Airlines, Why Aren’t You Honest With Us?
First things first. Airline loyalty programs are here to stay–they are too lucrative. With airlines beholden to credit card companies, who purchase points en masse and distribute them to their customers, the possibility of loyalty programs going away is...
Dishonesty and Myopia at American Airlines
Last night I figured something was up when award ticket prices appeared to vary based on day of travel and my prediction was correct–AA announced a substantial devaluation to its AAdvantage loyalty program today, effective immediately. US Airways also...
Variable AAnytime Awards on American Airlines?
While American Airlines has not formally announced a devaluation of its award chart, the consensus is it is only a matter of when, not if. Tonight, AA.com is either acting up or gives us a preview of what a...
US Airways + TAM Join oneworld Alliance
As Star Alliance shrinks, oneworld grows. Effective today, both US Airways and TAM transition from Star Alliance to oneworld, adding a more robust route network across the U.S., South America, and Europe for oneworld flyers. How Will This Affect You? If...
US Airways Adds Meals to Shorter Flights + Improves IFE
US Airways offers a very decent meal on domestic flights–when you can get one. The problem is that unless your flight is scheduled for more than 3.5 hours during conventional meal times, you’re out of luck. That has put...
Should I Burn my US Airways Dividend Miles Now or Later?
US Airways is leaving Star Alliance on March 30, 2014 and we can only guess at what the future Dividend Miles loyalty program will look like. Will the award chart stay the same for now? Will you be able...
Business Incentive Program – American Airlines Business Extra
If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a new credit card please click here. Both support LiveAndLetsFly.com. If you haven’t followed us on Facebook or Instagram, add us today. American Airlines offers an incentive for business customers called American Business Extra. In case...
American Airlines Kills Bereavement Fares
With cost-cutting CEO Douglas Parker at the helm, American Airlines has deep-sixed bereavement fares. Considering bereavement fares rarely make sense to the cost-conscious consumer, this is not a big deal. Still, there was a better way to bury these...
Buying Elite Status from US Airways and American Airlines
As February draws to a close, today is the last day to buy elite status from US Airways at a preferential rate–the rate and even ability to do so changes substantially tomorrow. Meanwhile, American Airlines is enticing current elites...
Humor: American Airlines to Eliminate Complimentary Cabin Pressurization
Oh, how I love the Onion, America’s finest news source! FT. WORTH, TX—Explaining that the costs of the service have grown too high in recent years, American Airlines announced Tuesday that it will no longer offer free cabin pressurization...
Frequently Asked Questions About the American Airlines – US Airways Merger
American Airlines and US Airways have officially merged, but for practical purposes, the airlines remain separate entities and will maintain separate operations for several months. Business will continue as usual, with separate check-in, gates, loyalty programs, and policies: like...
