Earlier last week I received the following email from American Express, letting me know that access to the American Airlines Admirals Club would be discontinued as a card benefit: We are writing to give you advance notice of changes to your travel benefits and remind you about other valuable features of your Platinum Card. As of March…
The American Express Platinum card is one of my favorite products for business travelers; if you are traveling for business on Delta or American Airlines and don’t already have lounge access, that benefit alone makes up for the $450 annual fee. But what if you could get the card without the annual fee for the…
I am a sucker for airline route maps. On almost every flight, I flip to the back of the in-flight magazine to check out the airline’s route network and see if I can identify new routes or partners. Sure it’s interesting, but can doing help you navigate the airlines more effectively? Absolutely! Knowing my airline’s…
When you are stranded overnight without your luggage, one of the most immediate annoyances is the lack of toiletries, in particular the lack of toothpaste and a toothbrush. Fortunately, most airlines have small amenity kits, which they offer to all passengers who ask. You just need to know where to find them. Where to find…
American Airlines has traditionally offered its elite members a “soft landing”, meaning that American would only drop your frequent flyer status one tier if you didn’t qualify for your current level of status during the year. For example, if you were an Executive Platinum in 2012 and only flew enough in 2012 to earn Gold…
If you’re a business traveler, the availability of direct flights from your home airport largely determines your airline preference. Being based in Minneapolis, I’m a natural Delta flyer. Like many, I’ve been frustrated with the progressive devaluation of the program, the difficulty in booking awards, and (to a lesser extent) the new revenue tiers. I had a…
If you’re looking to get away from the winter weather, the folks at FlyerTalk found some attractive fares to Hawaii for February and March. Just searching now, I found plenty of availability in February and March for weekends. Details are on the FlyerTalk thread: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/mileage-run-deals/1421400-aa-dl-phx-hnl-298-ai-rt.html Edit: Now apparently available from the San Francsico area as…
The Flying Consultant 