http://travelingbetter.com/forums Government Travel, Mileage Run, American Airlines, Frequent Flier, Frequent Flyer en Sat, 19 May 2012 12:57:33 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.travelingbetter.com/forums/images/misc/rss.jpg http://travelingbetter.com/forums http://travelingbetter.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5215&goto=newpost Wed, 16 May 2012 20:53:43 GMT I'm starting a new thread since the previous threads were for 2009 and 2010 allocation competitions.

AA asked the DoT today for an additional 17 Brazil frequencies.

Here is what AA wants to fly:
JFK-GRU: daily --> 2x daily
MIA-GIG: daily --> 2x daily
MIA-SSA-REC-MIA: daily --> 5x weekly MIA-SSA and 5x weekly MIA-REC

This is what they're actually asking the DoT to do:
1. Transfer 7 GRU-eligible frequencies currently used on MIA-GIG to JFK-GRU.
2. Request 14x non-GRU eligible frequencies to operate MIA-GIG 2x daily
3. Request 3x non-GRU eligible frequencies to operate the additional MIA-SSA and MIA-REC rotations

I don't have the info handy for how many available frequencies are in each pool (I think there's 3 tranches - everywhere but GRU/GIG; everywhere but GRU; and unrestricted) but since no one else is asking for frequencies right now precedent says that the DoT should grant these requests with minimal delay.

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/ame...ies-2012-05-16 ]]> American Airlines cstead http://travelingbetter.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5215 http://travelingbetter.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5214&goto=newpost Sat, 12 May 2012 02:49:30 GMT Cant so far find anyone who has heard of such a closing. Two things two people both said; with JL and BA having flights out of SAN and with SAN being... Cant so far find anyone who has heard of such a closing. Two things two people both said; with JL and BA having flights out of SAN and with SAN being one of AA's most important spokes-- really seems hard to picture.

Unless, of course, BA/JL/AA are planning on making a new, better lounge (pure speculation) otherwise, I'd assume AC is not closing-- but, again, nothing conclusive quite yet. ]]> American Airlines JonNYC http://travelingbetter.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5214 http://travelingbetter.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5211&goto=newpost Fri, 04 May 2012 21:14:06 GMT This is a minor issue but making me sliiightly crazy: Has anyone else had an issue with your window/aisle preferences getting ignored when the... This is a minor issue but making me sliiightly crazy: Has anyone else had an issue with your window/aisle preferences getting ignored when the upgrades are processed? I am a window person, and used to always get put into 6A/F (or a row further up if those were full) when the upgrade clears.

Since late March, though, it's been 6B, 6E, 5B, or 5E for 13 of the last 14 flights (all narrowbodies), even when window seats are available. I've double checked account prefs, and window is still selected.

So - weird chance? Change in processing? Something funny with my profile? ]]> American Airlines wanderlust http://travelingbetter.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5211 http://travelingbetter.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5210&goto=newpost Tue, 01 May 2012 14:14:00 GMT While not entirely an AA issue, I thought this was a good forum to post this:

A few days ago I read a very brief post on Gary Leff's blog about speculation that Qatar may be joining oneworld. Here is a link to that blurb which includes a link to the article Gary was referencing (the last entry on the post):

http://boardingarea.com/blogs/viewfr...april-28-2012/

In brief, Willie Walsh was extolling the virtues of Middle East carriers and mentioned in passing that he believes that one of the three will join an alliance before the end of this year. In the same breath he singled out Qatar as an airline he admired, which leads (among other things he said) to the speculation in question.

Then, today I read another article in a respected UAE online magazine stating the same thing and referencing probably the same interview:

http://www.arabianbusiness.com/qatar...ld-455374.html

Of course both articles are just speculation (especially since Willie himself was noncommittal), but such "gossip" coming from Willie Walsh (i.e., BA) should atleast perk up some people's ears.

Personally, I have always believed (as does Gary on his post) that Etihad is a more logical candidate to join oneworld as it already has an earn-and-burn relationship with AA, plus is just purchased 30% of Air Berlin (another oneworld airline). Between the two, however, I don't really have a preference: EY does have First class which is a more aspirational redemption (albeit still in need of refinement, from personal experience), while QR has a better network (in my opinion) and an already refined and top notch product. They are phasing out First class, however, and only offer it on LHR/DOH and CDG/DOH, as far as I know.

For the record, QR will be launching the 787 later this year and have put in it a new, custom-made business product that looks great. Their CEO even claims that it will be better than any First class product out there (which I doubt, of course, though I don't doubt that it will be better than many First class products out there, which is what he should have said). Here is a picture and a link to Qatar's website with more details:

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/35479283/QR_787_biz.jpg

http://www.qatarairways.com/english_global/press-release.page?pr_id=pressrelease_pressrelease_20120 307 ]]> American Airlines EXP http://travelingbetter.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5210 http://travelingbetter.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5209&goto=newpost Sun, 29 Apr 2012 21:08:47 GMT I've done a bit of searching on the internet, but thought it was worth a try seeing if anyone here had any thoughts.

My family and I are taking a quick trip to NYC this August. My 10 year old son is a huge theater buff; he's actually at a rehearsal for his latest show right now. He is dying to see this show. I've looked at the ticketmaster website for the days we are going to be there and there are seats in the first 3 rows for $160, in the next 3-4 rows for $195 (called premium seats, whatever that means), and in the first row of the mezzanine for $160. (Prices are rounded.)

Does anyone here have any thoughts about which woudl be best? Someone said we want to sit on the aisle because the characters come up the aisles.

Not that it matters in this case, but I have to confess to having some sticker shock when I first saw those prices. ]]> The Town Square zachary http://travelingbetter.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5209 http://travelingbetter.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5208&goto=newpost Fri, 27 Apr 2012 14:28:22 GMT So I saw a big banner advertising free 24 hour hold on AA.com today, and went to the... So I saw a big banner advertising free 24 hour hold on AA.com today, and went to the link:

http://www.aa.com/i18n/utility/hold_...ryId=undefined

On that page, it says "Did you know you can place your reservation on hold for free for up to 24 hours..." (emphasis mine).

Has it always been 24 hours exactly? I've always benefited from the fact that if I placed a res on hold on day n, it would be good until 11:59 day n+1 regardless of when I placed it on hold. In fact I've many times called in at 11:55p forgetting about the hold, needing to ticket and having the fare honored provided I booked exactly what was on hold.

If I made a change, then it would re-fare.

Just thought I'd raise the question here to see if anyone knew of any changes. If there is a more appropriate thread here, please merge, Jon. Searched and didn't find anything previously about hold times for published fares. ]]> American Airlines rchavez http://travelingbetter.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5208 http://travelingbetter.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5206&goto=newpost Tue, 24 Apr 2012 18:42:42 GMT https://www.visasignature.hyatt.com/ https://www.visasignature.hyatt.com/ ]]> Hyatt-brand Hotels party_boy http://travelingbetter.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5206 http://travelingbetter.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5205&goto=newpost Fri, 20 Apr 2012 17:40:52 GMT Sorry - I could not figure out if there was a better thread to put this in and I could not come up with a better title. I am booked LAX-JFK in... Sorry - I could not figure out if there was a better thread to put this in and I could not come up with a better title.

I am booked LAX-JFK in business class (D fare - fully changeable and refundable) on Sunday. I upgraded using miles (versus EVIP) so I am current in first class (A).

It looks like work will wrap up early and I should be able to come home on Saturday. Looking at the flight I could catch on Saturday, business is sold out (J0 D0) but first is wide open (F7 A7).

About two years ago, I tried to do a similar switch in Europe (booked in business, upgrade to FC using EVIP) with FC being available and BC sold out. I was told that they could not switch me to the other flight since J was sold out - that they had to be able to book me in J and then upgrade. I was told that since they did not reissue tickets for EVIPs, there had to be J availability.

I think they reissue tickets when you use miles to upgrade (although I could be wrong) but am trying to figure out if I am going to run into the same issue for this LAX-JFK flight that I did in Europe. I am not going to know until tomorrow AM if I will be able to switch and J could open up in that time - but wanted some thoughts ahead of time as to whether you think I will be able to switch or will be stuck if J ultimately does not open up.



Thoughts? ]]> American Airlines jimboli http://travelingbetter.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5205