Manipulating the American Airlines booking computer

duchy

Although it's held until 11pm reservations in Europe are only open til 8pm-if you dither until after then you'll have to call the US before the booking expires.
I sometimes travel solo across the Atlantic as well as with friends and family so if you want to PM any specific worries I'll try and help.

duchy

Dave_and_Aleks wrote: »

Perks of Platinum status - checking in at First/Business Class checkin even when travelling in economy, executive lounge access (different rules for different lounges but able to use most lounges in the OneWorld network), priority boarding (on AA flights, not sure about other OneWorld flights), advance seat selection on AA flights (including exit row seating), earn points on other OneWorld airlines (BA, Qantas, Cathay, etc) - lots of things to consider when booking.

Do you want to pay £581 with Delta and get no status on future flights or pay the £15 extra and get a host of extras for future flights until February 2010?

I've been Gold for just over a year (now Platinum)and last year was actually a quiet year for me travelling.
Perks I used included emergency exit seats on BA between Heathrow and Manchester, preferred seating in economy transatlantic on AA-on one Heathrow Chicago I asked at checkin if the previously empty seat next to mine had been taken-it had so check in moved me and blocked off the seat next to mine and I ended up with three empty seats. I didn't ask-they offered. All this was done at the First or Business check-in so no endless lines.
Security-in the US most airports have elite lines-flash your card and go through the shorter elite line. It also works at Heathrow and Gatwick although it isn't supposed to
Upgrades-as most of my flights were direct or so short they didn't have first class within the US I only applied for two first class upgrades-the first should have cost me 3 stickers (you earn stickers the more you fly and if you don't have enough you can buy extra at minimal cost) flying Dallas to Vegas. It was confirmed at Gatwick that morning but somehow they never deducted the stickers and the other was confirmed 24 hours ahead to fly Chicago to Boston. I can't justify the extra first class would cost but it is a lovely perk. They actually feed you, free drinks and the service is great I found.
Extra miles-they all add up. I use my miles on the trips my son accompanies me on for his tickets as award tickets don't earn miles and it makes those trips much more affordable. You can also put your AA card on other airlines including BA and Aer Lingus and earn miles that way too.
Lounges I often don't have time to use the lounges but the Chicago lounge (there are two) I used was lovely-quiet spacious, free internet, coffee, soft drinks, pay bar, free local phonecalls, TV and showers. Definitely worth using especially if you have a longish wait or a delay. The staff at the lounges will also re-book you if there are delays instead of joining a huge queue in the terminal to do it. The Plat card gives you free entry on international journey so if you are flying say Heathrow Chicago Los Angeles you'd be able to use the lounges along your jorney as well as at Heathrow if connecting the same day.If travelling internationally on BA (even short hops like Paris and Amsterdam) then the Platinum card will get you into the BA lounges under One World rules.
Priority boarding on all One World airlines-not just AA
All in all nice perks that make travelling a bit nicer and are worth having.

Murphy_The_Cat

duchy wrote: »

Priority boarding on all One World airlines-not just AA
All in all nice perks that make travelling a bit nicer and are worth having.

all really nice free perks for a regular traveller - and keeps you loyal to AA as well !
For me as a annual(ish) trans Atlantic traveller with my young family, most of them wouldn't really work/apply for me. (ah well can't everything in life I suppose ).

lynzpower wrote:

Im getting some extortionate fares on this murphy, looking at over 900 plus taxes to atlanta return in end july start august....

Im getting 568 inclusive off Last min with delta I think,

Have you ever flown delta, are they OK ( last flight we too was with kenya airways, not great) so my standards are pretty low anyway, TBH we jsut go with the cheapest...

Hi lynzpower
If it was me travelling, I'd go for the direct flight everytime, unless I could get a 1 stop flight for a big reduction :beer:
As for your itinerary in the Deep South, do what I've done in the past, hit the travel agents, flicked the brochures and see what Fly Drive tours they offer (or do it online) -- take the ideas that you think are good, discard the rest and bish bosh, you've got the starters if your own Fly Drive trip.

duchy

I couldn't have done it with a young family either-your time will come Murphy
At least knowing what they are if the oportunities to use the benefits arise you know they are there-lots of people don't even realise even though they have the status.
Lynz you DO realise HOW hot it will be in Atlanta in mid-summer ?

Murphy_The_Cat

duchy wrote: »

I couldn't have done it with a young family either-your time will come Murphy
At least knowing what they are if the oportunities to use the benefits arise you know they are there-lots of people don't even realise even though they have the status.

& that is what threads like this do so well - letting folk know just what is available out there.

(taking the thread off topic for a mo) duchy, AA have brought my connecting flight forward from ORD-LAS (which is good news), but it has now reduced my connection down to 1hr 40mins - whilst I'm not panicking, I am getting a touch twitchy. Your thoughts on clearing Customs, Immigration, claiming bags, resending bags, swapping terminals etc, etc within the time frame (with the toddler, small child & car seat in tow) ?

MOLLYBRUSH

duchy wrote: »

I sometimes travel solo across the Atlantic as well as with friends and family so if you want to PM any specific worries I'll try and help.

Thanks, it's not really specifics - just a bit nervous of taking the two kids for 3 weeks on my own somewhere that's new. I do travel quite a bit with them but fear of the unknown is making me hesitate. Really want to go the West Coast but could stick to Florida where I know the ropes a bit better. That's my dilemma - going a bit out of my comfort zone (again)!

Murphy_The_Cat

MOLLYBRUSH wrote: »

Thanks, it's not really specifics - just a bit nervous of taking the two kids for 3 weeks on my own somewhere that's new. I do travel quite a bit with them but fear of the unknown is making me hesitate. Really want to go the West Coast but could stick to Florida where I know the ropes a bit better. That's my dilemma - going a bit out of my comfort zone (again)!

Mollybrush, please let me reassure you that the West Coast is just as visitor friendly as the rest if America (but a lot more 'genuine' than the tourist traps of Florida).

However, the first few miles of travel from the car hire at LAX may seem a bit daunting - but from then on, its plain sailing.:j:j

MOLLYBRUSH

Thanks, that's the sort of reassurance I am looking for really. We got lost in a bit of a grim area when we were in France last week, the kids started to panic and I was too, to be honest, although I didn't show it. There was a happy ending to the evening and all was forgotten, but it is useful to know that first impressions might be daunting but after that it will be ok.

Murphy_The_Cat

MOLLYBRUSH wrote: »

Thanks, that's the sort of reassurance I am looking for really. We got lost in a bit of a grim area when we were in France last week, the kids started to panic and I was too, to be honest, although I didn't show it. There was a happy ending to the evening and all was forgotten, but it is useful to know that first impressions might be daunting but after that it will be ok.

Within 10 minutes of leaving the car hire place, you'll wonder what you were bothered about. If you can get yourself some good directions from car hire place to you first destination (or Interstate etc) and a good map, you'll really reassure yourself.

If ever you're unsure about an area, do a U turn and head back out again, its only ever happened to me once and it soon had me going the 'right' way again.

PandaPants_2

Two words for anyone driving in the US. Sat Nav!
Its not that expensive to hire if you don't have your own and it makes driving MUCH easier. Especially if you have kids and need to stop regularly for drinks, toilets, etc....