Tagged With "AAdvantage"
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Re: American, USAir loyalty programs will merge Q2 2015
Finally! I've been hanging on to my measly 5,000 USAir miles by buying something through their site every 18 months and must again by January to keep them. It's ok as I only buy things I would anyway. The problem is remembering to go through the USAir site to do it. Last time, whew!
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Re: AA/USAir miles programs merge starting Saturday
All my miles in one pile this morning, enough to go anywhere, and I still can't decide, a truly terrible problem.
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Re: AA/USAir miles programs merge starting Saturday
Yes, the transfer seems to have gone very smoothly...too bad, in a way; I was hoping for an accidental bonus as I once got from Delta (which added an extra zero, back in 1999).
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Re: AA/USAir miles programs merge starting Saturday
Originally Posted by PortMoresby: All my miles in one pile this morning, enough to go anywhere, and I still can't decide, a truly terrible problem. But an enviable problem, PM. If it's the worst thing you have to deal with this week, you're having a pretty fine week.
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Re: AA/USAir miles programs merge starting Saturday
I'm always aware, DrF, I've lived a charmed life (for a commoner).
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Re: AA/USAir miles programs merge starting Saturday
Now I'm really confused. I just learned from your POD yesterday that you were a princess pretending to be a commoner....
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Re: AA/USAir miles programs merge starting Saturday
No, DrF, you read it wrong. A commoner with delusions.
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Re: "New AA" Details Dates for Alliance, Loyalty Change-overs
Thanks for the update. It's already been useful. I have a few thousand USAir miles, not a lot but still enough to not let lapse. I've been making the occasional purchase of gifts through their site to keep them alive. After reading the article and the miles merge date I just bought my mother's gift through the AA site instead, the better to see them added to the bigger pile sooner. Thanks!
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Re: I get to Boomerang to Spain ! Cheap !
Wow ! That is a good deal. I need to drill down through those redeem mileage programs and see what I can learn. Thanks for this valuable lesson.
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Re: I get to Boomerang to Spain ! Cheap !
Thanks for pointing this out! By the way, it is also possible to take a free stopover on the international end. For example, a couple of years ago, we flew from NYC to Copenhagen (the routing) but with a week stopover in Stockholm along the way. We've used that kind of routing a number of times. Adding to your point about Britain: Many of AA's European cities are actually served by their closely-tied partners, British Air and Iberia. With a little persistence, you can find flights that don't...
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Re: I get to Boomerang to Spain ! Cheap !
So, PHeymont, when you stopped for the week in Stockholm which airline was it and what fees were you charged for the stopover? You mention Madrid. Presumably that was a different trip, so same questions on that one. Also, can these stopovers be scheduled on the AA website or must you speak to an AAdvantage customer service person and pay the ($25?) fee?
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Re: I get to Boomerang to Spain ! Cheap !
Originally Posted by PortMoresby: .... can these stopovers be scheduled on the AA website or must you speak to an AAdvantage customer service person and pay the ($25?) fee? I scheduled my flights using the website. When you go to the AAdvantage booking site there are three choices: round-trip, one-way and multi-city. When you choose your flights you see boxes showing the number of miles per leg. The leg between Dallas and San Francisco showed no miles. There was also some kind of comment to...
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Re: I get to Boomerang to Spain ! Cheap !
Similar to WorkerBee's experience, I've done these bookings using the Multi-City function, which allows you to specify a date for each segment. It didn't require assistance. Actually I've never had to pay a fee for help when booking something that could not be done on line, but who knows these days. I've done these stopover trips a number of times (NY-Budapest/open jaw/Prague-London w/stopover and then back to NY, etc.) The AAdvantage desk agents, by the way, are some of their best and can...
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Re: I get to Boomerang to Spain ! Cheap !
All potentially very useful information. Many thanks, Gurus.
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Re: I get to Boomerang to Spain ! Cheap !
All things to be watched closely, by the way; by January the new AA will start rolling out updated program rules and procedures for what will be a merged program. We'll need to watch closely to see what changes!
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Re: I get to Boomerang to Spain ! Cheap !
WorkerBee, how long will you be in Spain, and when? We're going for 8 days (not counting the travel days) in February. We'll be in Seville, Cordoba and Granada. Gumbo fans would love to hear how your trip is going and to see pictures along the way!
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Re: I get to Boomerang to Spain ! Cheap !
I will be there about a month, from February 12 to March 12. I will be in Madrid for a few days after I arrive and then off to Girona and environs for a few weeks. I may wander into southeast France for a few days as well before I return to Madrid for a couple of days before I fly out.
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Re: I get to Boomerang to Spain ! Cheap !
I envy your trip! We'll overlap in time, but not in place. If you do add France to the itinerary, you might want to look into the new TGV service from Barcelona to Paris that starts this month. I'm not sure of its route as it leaves Spain, but it might go where you want to!
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Re: I get to Boomerang to Spain ! Cheap !
Originally Posted by PHeymont: I envy your trip! We'll overlap in time, but not in place. If you do add France to the itinerary, you might want to look into the new TGV service from Barcelona to Paris that starts this month. I'm not sure of its route as it leaves Spain, but it might go where you want to! For some time the AVE has run from Madrid to Figueres which is north of Barcelona and Girona. The TGV has been running from Figueres to Paris for some time as well. I'm told that it takes...
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Re: I get to Boomerang to Spain ! Cheap !
It required 40,000 miles for a round-trip economy ticket. All were in-seat miles and all were from a few years ago.
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Re: I get to Boomerang to Spain ! Cheap !
Now I know why your handle is WorkerBee. Persistence and hard work get the job done! Well Done!
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Re: I get to Boomerang to Spain ! Cheap !
Originally Posted by WorkerBee: It required 40,000 miles for a round-trip economy ticket. All were in-seat miles and all were from a few years ago. That's one of the things I like about AA...aside from the one-way awards. When everyone else was 50K to Europe, they were 40K offpeak and 60 peak. Now everyone else is 60K peak, and AA still has the winter bargains. Hope it lasts!
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Re: I get to Boomerang to Spain ! Cheap !
Wonderful piece of planning WorkerBee ! Missing off London to avoid the $18 Departure Tax for Spain seems a bit severe. I presume your return journey is more direct.
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Re: I get to Boomerang to Spain ! Cheap !
$ 18 ? I am puzzled by this. When I have taken flights from London to the US, the tax has been more like $ 150 - $ 200. It was worth it to spend time in London, of course. Still, it was not a small amount.
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Re: I get to Boomerang to Spain ! Cheap !
The UK departure tax is "Banded" into distances and economy / regular / 1st class. London - Spain is only a short distance.
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Re: I get to Boomerang to Spain ! Cheap !
Well, but if Spain is the destination, passing up UK makes sense. On the other hand, APD leads to calculations such as Flying NYC-LON-Continental Europe: No problem; as long as your time in UK is less than 24 hours, you are a transit passenger and don't pay APD. Flying Continential Europe-LON-NYC: Not so good; you pay the APD on the trans-Atlantic leg, and that's high. The other issue with this is not APD at all; flying to the Continent through Madrid or Barcelona tends to be cheaper because...
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Re: I get to Boomerang to Spain ! Cheap !
Garry RF and PHeymont - Thank you very much for the information. In this case, APD is not incurred - Flying NYC-LON-Continental Europe: No problem; as long as your time in UK is less than 24 hours, you are a transit passenger and don't pay APD. In this case, there is an APD, even if the transit is less than 24 hours ? - Flying Continential Europe-LON-NYC: Not so good; you pay the APD on the trans-Atlantic leg, and that's high. Concerning the third item, this explains why Worker Bee had a...
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Re: I get to Boomerang to Spain ! Cheap !
I'm not sure on your question about WB's trip, because it depends on routing. From NY, AA most often uses their own seats for the ocean hop, but does use some BA seats from Newark. Other cities...not sure how many BA seats used in that direction. And sometimes it's a matter of class. For instance, last year flying home from Paris, there were AA seats in business class available non-stop, but economy was only available on BA Orly-London-Newark.
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Update: Loyalty Programs and Credit Cards
For some of us, credit cards are more than a convenient way to pay—they are the lifeline to free travel through loyalty programs. Between points for purchases and bonuses for opening or upgrading credit card accounts, it's possible to get quite...
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AA, USAir frequent fliers: the next step is here
Starting tonight (January 8), frequent fliers who are both AAdvantage members (AA) and Dividend Miles members (USAir) will be able to start the process of eventually merging their accounts into one. The step now is to match up the two accounts so that...
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New Target for Thieves: Frequent-flier miles
If you believed all the whining about how this airline's or that airline's loyalty programs were no longer worth anything...a ring of thieves didn't, and have turned frequent flier accounts into new targets for thefts. Both American and United...
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AA/USAir miles programs merge starting Saturday
The time has come for the next step in the 15-month-old merger of American Airlines and USAir: merger of the USAir Dividend Miles program into American's AAdvantage. All USAir accounts will be frozen on Thursday, Mar. 26 for the transfer; anyone...
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TSA Pre-Check: Less access if you're not signed up
TSA's Pre-Check, which allows travelers to pass through airport security without having to remove shoes, unpack laptops and generally move faster, will focus on passengers directly enrolled in the program, or in other government "Trusted Traveler"...
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AA-USAir loyalty merger...and a maybe last chance
American Airlines will merge its two loyalty programs "within 30 days" according to e-mails sent yesterday to all members of the USAir Dividend Miles program, which will be folded into the AAdvantage program. All existing miles will transfer; for some...
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American, USAir loyalty programs will merge Q2 2015
American and USAir have just notified their frequent flier program members (AAdvantage and Dividend Miles) of more detailed plans for merging the two plans, including a date: 2nd quarter of 2015, as well as details of the merger plan. All USAir...
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AA offers 25% bonus for your hotel points
American Airlines is making an unusual (for them, anyway) offer. Between now and March 31, you can convert loyalty points from all the major hotel programs (Choice, Hilton, Hyatt, Wyndham and more) to AAdvantage miles, and get a 25% bonus in AA miles....
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AA talks tough on discount competition, sees change ahead
American Airlines, the world's largest air carrier, isn't planning to let any Davids mess with its Goliath market share. CEO Doug Parker says that if smaller rivals take advantage of fuel price drops to add seats and then discount them to take market...
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Pope Francis to take AAdvantage of American
Well, maybe he won't be collecting miles on his travels, but the Pope's travels from DC to New York and on to Philadelphia, and then home to Rome will be on a chartered American Airlines 777. He flew from Rome to Cuba and then to Washington on...
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EU Commission gives OK for Aer Lingus takeover
The European Commission today cleared the last barrier for the sale of Ireland's Aer Lingus to British Airways' holding company, International Airlines Group. The deal already had approval from Aer Lingus's board, the Irish government and Ryanair,...
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Now boarding, Flight 9¾ to Hogwarts...
Severus Snape checking in passengers at Laguardia? What's going on here? Well, it's actually not the Potions Master of Hogwarts, played in the movies by Alan Rickman. It's David Dolci, an American Airlines gate agent. After several years of...
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AAdvantage members, bite your nails: change is coming
After a couple of years in which both United and Delta have switched to frequent flier systems based on dollars spent on fares rather than miles flown, American could be joining the parade...but we'll have to wait and see. American is planning changes...
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Big change ahead for American's AAdvantage?
AAdvantage as we know it: Taking off, or flying away? Over the past two years, most U.S. airlines, including Delta and United, have shifted their frequent-flyer loyalty programs from points-per-mile-flown to points-per-dollar-spent. American,...
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And then there were none: AAdvantage shifts to points-per-dollar
American Airlines' AAdvantage program, the last major U.S. holdout of the once-traditional one-point-per-mile-flown loyalty system has announced that starting midyear next year it will be shifting to a model that rewards those who spend the most, not...
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I get to Boomerang to Spain ! Cheap !
I am traveling Spring 2014 from the US to Spain. I wanted to use my American Airlines frequent flier (AAdvantage) miles to best advantage, so to speak. I learned that it is possible to incorporate free domestic layovers into my journey. As I have family in Dallas, that intrigued me. AA's website showed available flights from San Francisco (SFO) to Madrid (MAD) that connect through Los Angeles, Dallas, Chicago, New York or Miami. AAdvantage rules require that the layover stops must be on...
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"New AA" Details Dates for Alliance, Loyalty Change-overs
Now the American Airlines and USAir have closed their merger, they've begun rolling out more details of the merger planning. Scott Kirby, who was USAir president and is now president of AA, announced dates for joint operations, for aligning loyalty...
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Qatar Airways Joins OneWorld and AAdvantage
http://www.frequentflier.com/blog/american-and-qatar-are-now-frequent-flyer-partners/
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AA/USAir: Start the Miles and Lounge Sharing
Now the frequent flier part of the AA/USAir merger begins. AA announced yesterday that members in both its AAdvantage and Dividend Miles programs can earn miles in either program on all AA or USAir flights. In addition, elite members of either program...
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Re: AA, USAir frequent fliers: the next step is here
Well, that was easy! Log in on AA.com, window comes up, no searching for a link, enter Dividend Miles number, no additional password, done! I knew airlines could make it simple, if they wanted to. Well done AA & thanks, PHeymont.
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Re: Update: Loyalty Programs and Credit Cards
A very useful bunch of information, PHeymont. I've been an AA/Citibank cardholder for over 8 years now and am a satisfied customer. I realize I might squeeze more points out if I open new accounts but I prefer to not have to think too much, be the tortoise and concentrate on piling up the points in 1 place by putting every possible purchase on the card, never spending more than I normally would. Also, when making large purchases, all other aspects being equal, I choose a company that accepts...
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Re: Update: Loyalty Programs and Credit Cards
Thank you PHeymont. Very useful & updated info. Appreciated the links too soI didn't go to the wrong card application by mistake.