I’ve griped about the inept call center and arcane policies of Flying Blue, the loyalty program of Air France-KLM, but I’ve been booking a lot of clients on Air France and KLM flights this month and want to make...
EVA Award Space Returns to united.com
After a number of technical glitches forced United to suspend the ability to book EVA award space online, United promised the fix would be quick. Just one week later, EVA award space has resurfaced on united.com. I am very anxious...
Aeromar Award Space Now Bookable with MileagePlus at united.com
Transportes Aeromar, a Mexico City-based carrier that serves various cities in Mexico as well as McAllen, Texas, formed a partnership with Continental Airlines in 2010 and uses MileagePlus as its loyalty program. With about 100 flights a day within...
More Hilarity from US Airways: "I love a man who knows what he wants"
Readers: if you are getting bored of posts like this, just leave a comment below, but I cannot get enough of the US Airways call center when it comes to booking a complex international award tickets. Here’s how my...
Alitalia MilleMiglia Partner Redemptions: A Cautionary Tale
Alitalia’s MilleMiglia loyalty program has some gems on its award chart and is an oft-overlooked American Express transfer partner. Highlights include: North America-Southern South America 75,000 miles roundtrip in business class North America-North Asia 90,000 miles roundtrip in business class North...
Book One-Way Award Travel on American Airlines with Alaska Mileage Plan
Lucky reports that one-way travel at half the round-trip price is now available online for Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan members. Rumors of this change in policy begin swirling last month but have not been confirmed up until this point...
More Sleaze by Air France-KLM Flying Blue
Sleazy ˈslē-zē also ˈslā- (adjective): carelessly made of inferior materials; marked by low character or quality. I do not use the term “sleazy” lightly, but I can think of no adjective more apt for the Air France-KLM Flying Blue loyalty program. I’ve bemoaned the...
Reaching the Same Telephone Agent Two Times in a Row
While on the phone with US Airways today completing an award reservation, the call got cut off. I redialed and was elated to be connected to the same agent I had just been speaking with a moment earlier. She...
Air France/KLM Flying Blue Lives in the Stone Age
Somewhere between the Stone Age and the Twilight Zone sits the Air France Flying Blue North American call center. Ontario, Canada? Please…It pains me to even recall this story, but it will be instructive. Here’s the quick summary—don’t ever...
No More Holds on United Airlines Revenue Fares
Since the merger, United Airlines has offered a handy little trick for holding revenue tickets that has finally vanished. I’m frankly surprised it took so long to remove it, but I will sure miss it. United actually had two tricks–a...
"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...
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...
My Upgrade to "Business Class" on Singapore Airlines
I know many of you recently took advantage of the temporary glut of Singapore Airlines business and first class award space available to destinations around the world. From the dining room of my B&B in Dingle, Ireland I did...
Best Strategies for Burning Your bmi Diamond Club Miles
With bmi poised to leave Star Alliance next week, those sitting on a mountain of Diamond Club miles would be wise to burn as many possible before 18 April. Even if British Airways transfers Diamond Club miles into Executive...
Double Check Your United Award Itineraries Now…for Missing Segments!
I received an e-mail this evening from a client whom I had assisted with an award reservation to South Africa on Swiss (San Francisco- Zurich-Johannesburg) using United miles. Tickets had been issued last October and were in economy class....
Swiss, Adria, and Croatia Airlines Award Space Now Bookable on Continental.com
Swiss, Adria, and Croatia Airlines award seats are now bookable on continental.com, meaning that 26/27 Star Alliance carriers can now be booked quickly and easily online. Only Ethiopian Airlines, which joined Star Alliance last December, is yet to be...
25% Discount on United/Continental Economy Class Award Tickets to Europe and Southern Africa
I wouldn’t call this the sale of century, but if you are planning an economy class award redemption to the lower half of Africa or Europe (not recommended–go in business or first), you can save 20-25% off the published...
$31,313 or 240,000 miles? Maximizing your Frequent Flyer Miles
People often ask me how they can squeeze the most value out of their frequent flyer miles. I begin my answer by stating that maximizing monetary value and actual value are two very different things and ultimately there is...
US Airways Star Alliance International Awards Frequently Asked Questions
Even though it is becoming easier to search for award flights with the addition of Singapore, EgyptAir and Air China to Continental.com there still remains a myriad of rules that might confuse you. In addition to booking awards through...
Not a Glitch! Aeroplan Premium Cabin Awards on Sale
Last Friday I reported that Aeroplan, Air Canada’s mileage program, was pricing out business class awards at economy class prices and first class awards at business class prices. I speculated that some sort of IT glitch was behind the...
