Good morning, and welcome to today's community discussion thread! Today's posts will appear here throughout the day, but this thread is for going off-topic. Did you love/hate something about today's coverage? Are you tracking other news I missed? Or, do you just have a general question about rewards travel? This is the place for your wandering thoughts.
Today's posts on OMAAT:
- Citi AAdvantage Executive Card: Earning Loyalty Points Toward Elite Status
- 6 Reasons I Prefer Window Seats To Aisle Seats When Flying
- Global Airlines Faces Another Winding Up Petition: Is Liquidation Next?
- Atmos Rewards Summit Card: Trip Delay, Lost Bag, And Other Travel Coverage Explained
- Which Airlines Have The Most First Class Seats? From 8 To 2,214 Seats
- Plaza Premium First Lounges: What They Are And How To Get In
- American Airlines Nears Wide Body Aircraft Order: Could The A330neo Beat Out The 787?
- Nat Pieper Is American Airlines’ Best Hope For A Turnaround: I’m Impressed
Daily threads stay open for a week, so it's never too late to jump into a recent conversation.
so whats everyones thoughts on OMAAT status sweet spots? I just did a mileage run to Platinum by commenting, I think I'm going to stay here for the year, and then once the new status year hits in March I'll consider going for Diamond, just depends on how many points I can earn organically.
Plat is pretty nice so far with less ads though so I'd be happy to stay here
@funkyflapjak the real question is if we have to unsubscribe from the newsletter and delink Google preferred source at the end of February so you can hit the ground running with 2500 points on March 1. Presumably the clawed back points only apply to the prior status year? 🤔
@funkyflapjak Hahahah! Well we appreciate your contributions. Personally I think the sweet spot is hitting Diamond every year. 😉 And who knows, maybe we'll soon see OMAAT Global Services Concierge Key 360 status.
@lucky Can't wait!! (Any updates on August's winners? I presume Willy and Tim got their Delta gift cards.)
@lucky can you please implement a rule that a person can only once in a certain time period (6 months, 12 months, etc.) or else Tim will win every month! 🤣 🤣 🤣
@Lucky, I see a Plaza Premium arrival lounge is coming to HKG, but can’t find much about it or when it’s opening. I have late November travel and would really like to know when it’s going to open. Any chance with your sources you could get some intel?
@sel_d Great question, I've been curious about that as well. Let me ping a contact, and see if I can get any potential timeline. Often lounge operators aren't willing to reveal much until they have a really good sense of the timing.
Slightly more serious and disturbing update, I'm sure you'll post on this shortly, but, Ben, have you seen these anti-passenger updates from the DOT: Gary posted https://viewfromthewing.com/your-plane-breaks-but-the-airline-may-no-longer-owe-you-a-hotel-dot-finalizes-new-rule-to-shift-costs-to-passengers/ ; Matthew posted https://liveandletsfly.com/dot-maintenance-delay-hotel-rule/
@isaacc Well said. As I am based in NYC, believe me, I'd prefer Canada's APPR over nothing, but it certainly its shortcomings (especially their overused 'weather' loophole.) The gold standard today really is EU261 (and UK's equivalent), recently re-affirmed earlier this year (though, even it is not perfect; for instance, there's a loophole for merely 'connecting' in EU, like, JFK-CDG-IST, even on AF, would not be covered.) Regardless, yes, we in the US are past-due for better consumer protections in the US; unfortunately, it looks like we're heading the opposite direction. (It seems Kirby and Isom's recent visits to the WH paid off for them. *sigh*)
@1990_ Air Canada is no stranger to ask for the government of Canada to help them....just look at the FA strike last year.....the government was "all for collective bargaining" until it wasnt convenient.....
@isaacc I still think Canada's intentions were good with the APPR, but they really should have just copied EU261 outright.
While standard maintenance that is part of a routine schedule is supposed to be fully controllable—meaning cash compensation is owed if it causes a long delay—the moment an airline slaps a label on it as “unscheduled maintenance required for safety,” they trigger a loophole. They still have to cover basic amenities like a hotel, but they dodge the compensation.
It's a get-out-of-jail-free card, and now US carriers are taking it to a whole new level. No compensation, no hotel, basically nothing. Corporate gaslighting (D.A.R.V.O.): Shame on YOU for trusting the airline!
@1990_ Canada says they have good intentions but they are just as in bed with AC (probably worse so than US carriers) so they will give them favors.....the US is actually just copying Canada's loop holes here. The amount of money Air Canada has cost me due to delays and meltdowns of oepration and loss of baggage is staggering. But Canada flying is just a hassle all around....nothing runs ontime up there.....
I always just book my own hotel and use trip delay whenever possible....its saved me thousands over the years.....i am pretty savy just to say...nope not going and just rebook.....i actually have zero sympathy for people who feel helpless after a delay or cancelation ..... you need to expect extra costs when traveling....
@isaacc Without adequate consumer protections, one must be prepared for the worst. Sure, we seasoned travelers can usually pivot and absorb the problems here better than most, but it's still frustrating and disappointing.
To most other travelers (think of someone who saved up for a once-a-year, 'big' trip) a last-minute cancelled itinerary, stranding them at an airport overnight or missing a cruise, etc., can be a major financial and personal blow with limited recourse or recovery.
Where we somewhat disagree (respectfully) is on leaving this up to consumers to just "expect extra costs," because that lets airlines completely off the hook when they fail to deliver the services we paid for.
That is why, once again, I think EU261 strikes the best balance at the moment, and why I advocate so tirelessly for similar rules in N. America. Of course, carriers will think it goes too far, and passengers may think it does not go far enough.