Airlines

[QUOTE=Punter 127]Sid could also avoid that long wait by buying a Business class ticket to begin with.[/QUOTE]Hey, this not the jokes and one liners thread.:)

Biz class prices really depends on the time of year and routing. I found some $3500 seats on Continental, and then had a 10% coupon from when a plane was delayed, as well as a $400 voucher from when they rerouted me and I had to ride in the back for a leg. So, in the end $2800. Not a superb deal, but not horrible, either.

[QUOTE=Wild Walleye]Yes. However, I have occasionally had AA personnel turn me away from FC check-in with a coach ticket. One tried telling me the EP didn't get you FC check-in. I politely pointed to a sign that contradicted her. [/QUOTE] Yes, I ’ve had the same problem a time or two, but that ’s a better problem than waiting 75 minutes in the check in line.

[QUOTE]I am pretty sure that you need a boarding pass (normally printed although AA and some others are using electronic BP sent to your phone) and proper ID to get through security. I don't know of any ACs that are outside security. [/QUOTE] I ’ve tried electronic check in several times, but I ’ve never had any luck with it for international flights. I've always had to scan or show my passport before I could get a boarding pass.

[QUOTE]He could, however, the price difference on AA for round trips (between JFK, MIA, DFW and EZE) between biz and coach can run $3,500 - $7,000. That is a lot of chica money.[/QUOTE]I generally agree with most of your post and I don't disagree with what you ’re saying here, except we ’re talking about Sid, and he ’s got more money than Obama, Reid, and Pelosi put together could spend in three lifetimes. So I don't have much sympathy when he starts crying about having to wait in the coach check in line. Bottom line; self inflicted wound.

BTW I highly recommend Jaimito Cartero to anyone wanting information about flying. This guy knows more about airlines and flyer programs than anybody I've ever met.

[QUOTE=Punter 127]I generally agree with most of your post and I don't disagree with what you 're saying here, except we 're talking about Sid, and he 's got more money than Obama, Reid, and Pelosi put together could spend in three lifetimes. So I don't have much sympathy when he starts crying about having to wait in the coach check in line. Bottom line; self inflicted wound.[/QUOTE]It's an illness. Exon suffers from the same affliction. No matter how much money they have, no matter how old they are, and no matter how little time they may have remaining on this earthly world, they just can't spend even the smallest additional amount for their own comfort and / or to significantly enhance their experience.

Thanks,

Jackson

I made Ex Plat this year on AA. Usually I am Plt. 800k BIS miles on AA. Every trip to EZE has been on AA, sans one I flew LAN from SCL from a business trip that was on AA.

I have never been turned away from first or business class check in when flying in coach on AA with any status, including Gold. Its in writing. If a schmoe turns you away ask for another person that knows the rules.

I will say that the EZE Admirals Club does sort of suck. At least you don't have to ask for more drink tickets, its all self serve. The AC angels are also not up to par with say DFW, or even LHR.

I have had many more problems flying out of LHR over EZE.

The last two times I flew down were on cheap business tickets (3K$) Both times I was upgraded to First class as an operational upgrade, both ways for the long leg. I bummed out Exon last time in the AC showing him my FC ticket while he was in coach.

While FC is nice on AA, it has nothing on Cathay, or Qantas that have hot flight attendants, not old hags.

I have also landed in EZE at 10:20, cleared customs with my bag, got a cheap cab and I was balls deep by noon in recoleta. Can't do that caught up in the coach herd!

Mongers,

Just a few relevant comments regarding airlines; first, the Admirals Club at PHL is for some reason outside the secure area and it is the only one I know of, but I would think there are others. Second, AAdvantage Gold, Platinum, or Executive Platinum can always get priority check-in and boarding. AA Executive Platinum members traveling internationally may enter the AA Flagship Lounge, in addition to the Admirals Club, for free. There are AA Flagship Lounges at both MIA and JFK (possibly DFW, but I never fly that airport so I cannot confirm) and admittance to the Flagship Lounge gets you free booze (Grey Goose, Beefeaters, just about anything you want) and free food. Another benefit of AAdvantage status (Gold, Platinum, Executive Platinum) is that the 100k mile per year cap earned via the AAdvantage Mastercard is waved, meaning you can rack up as many miles as you can spend on the card. Actually, the best credit card for racking up AAdvantage miles is actually the Starwood Preferred Guest American Express, which transfer at 1 Starpoint /1.25 AAdvantage mile when transferred in 20k point increments (meaning you transfer 20k Starpoints, you get 25k AAdvantage miles)

Suerte,

Rock Harders

You cannot get EXPLT via points on credit cards or other means. Ass in the seat on this one. Plat is possible.

Flagship lounge does not exist in DFW.

You need to be EXPLT or in First for this one. I met Shakira in the MIA Flagship lounge once. Yeah I had a hard on the whole time.

I haven't been in the AA flagship lounge, but have been in UA's in SFO, plus Emirates in Dubai. Lufthansa in Frankfurt, Thai in Bangkok. In general, the foreign lounges put the US carriers to shame, however it's still a really nice way to relax, if you're in one of the special First or Flagship type lounges.

Some carriers even give you car / limo service once you land, and some even will take you out to the plane. A nice touch.

[QUOTE=Gato Hunter]You cannot get EXPLT via points on credit cards or other means. Ass in the seat on this one. Plat is possible.[/QUOTE] What card gives you Plat qualifying miles? I ’m currently using Citibank / AA World Elite Gold Master Card and I can ’t find where any of my credit card miles were ever applied as qualifying miles. I did however get to EXPLT status last year when AA was offering double “qualifying ” miles. (I think some other airlines also offered this last year.)
I also got Plat a few years ago when I took the Challenge, but I ’ve never gotten any kind of status from credit card miles. Please tell me more.

[QUOTE]I have never been turned away from first or business class check in when flying in coach on AA with any status, including Gold. Its in writing. If a schmoe turns you away ask for another person that knows the rules. [/QUOTE]I've never been turned away from the window either, I have had them try to usher me to the coach line before getting to the window. It ’s always been a minor thing and a simple reminder of the priority check in policy was all that was needed.

I have however had them try to deny enter to the AC on the grounds I was not a member, both times was in Chicago. After I pointed out I was flying international they granted entry. I've never liked ORD and I avoid it as much as possible, I just think the people there have a bad attitude.

Well, your AA credit card spend will apply towards lifetime gold and plat status. (1 million and 2 million miles, I think) This is one nice thing about AA, is that all miles that accrue to your account, will go towards that lifetime status. As Sr Gato said, I don't think they'll give Exp Plat for lifetime, unless it's some sort of super duper executive spiff.

Some credit cards do apply to EQM, I know Delta gives 10 or 20k EQM if you hit a certain dollar amount on their Reserve card.

Some airlines (KLM, that I know of) give you top status if you maintain it for 10 consecutive years.

The bad thing about attaining top status, is that once you get used to it, going back down is no fun. The last couple of years there have been double EQM promotions on different airlines. Who knows what 2010 will bring.

However, limited time offer.

[url]http://aa.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=2878[/url]

[url]https://www.centuryinthemaking.com/[/url]

This is a 10% off coupon for American Airlines. Pick a few teams and you get a coupon code.

You will be able to do this four times this year.

I have been following the board for 6 or 7 years. How did you possibly find this one. Kudos to you!

Browsing for a trip to S America for September, and found AA has LAX-EZE roundtrip for a total of $811, and LAX-BOG for about $550. Has not look this good for awhile.

Could not access the Sales / Offers page, so not sure if this is just seasonal or a promotion.

Yup, AA seems to have the best rates going right now. Will be flying that LAX to EZE flight in August for close to that price. (DFW Stopover.

Return will be EZE to LAX (miami stopover.