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Tags: In-Flight WiFi / American Airlines / WiFi / Technology / Airline News / Airlines / → All Tags
Want To Know If Your American Airlines Flight Has WiFi? There's A Widget For That
Ever since AirTran and Virgin America rolled out their fleet-wide WiFi earlier this year, other domestic legacy carriers have stepped up their game and mostly stayed on track for connectivity. A great example is American Airlines, who reached the milestone of having 100 planes connected in August, with a goal of 150 by the year's end.
With over 100 WiFi-hot American birdies up in the sky, your chances of flying on one are better than ever. And just in case you get lucky and score a plane connected with Gogo, American wants to make sure you're ready with your laptop by letting you check in advance to see if you'll have the internet on your flight. Via a new widget, passengers may enter their flight number or departure airport and see, up to 24 hours before the flight, if their plane will be WiFi-equipped. You can even share the widget by embedding it your blog, adding it your iGoogle, and taking advantage of other options.
Tags: Turf Wars / Japan Airlines / Delta / American Airlines / Airlines / Airline News / Airline Alliances / → All Tags
Delta Offers JAL a $1 Billion Bribe to Unfriend American Airlines
We promised you last week that the playground hair pulling fight between Japan Airlines, American Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, and Delta—where JAL may or may not decide to dump American Airlines/oneworld in favor of Delta/SkyTeam—was going to get more interesting. That's exactly what happened this morning, when Delta decided to put an eye-popping $1 billion on the table to entice Delta into switching.
Yowsers! Let's look at what went down...
Tags: Airline Fees / Airline News / Airlines / Holiday Travel / Delta / American Airlines / US Airways / United / → All Tags
Random Airline Fees Continue Into 2010, Including Super Bowl Travel
Remember all those airline fees that were pouring in a few months ago related to this season’s holiday travel? Well the airlines must have really enjoyed what they were seeing, as they are now looking to tack in some additional charges for days well into 2010. Delta, United, and American Airlines are busy adding these presents to our tickets anytime they think travel will be busier than usual.
The website BestFares.com is reporting that Delta and United have added surcharges to as many as 40 days between now and next May. The fees can be as much as $30 each way depending on distance, time, and other factors that appeal to the airlines. Our favorite airline fee has to be the $50 one-way charge that has now been added to some flights on February 8. In case you don’t have the NFL calendar kicking around, that’s the day after the Super Bowl. Not like we could afford tickets anyway, but we can still be angry about it.
Tags: Frequent Flyer Miles / Airline Loyalty Progams / Delta / American Airlines / United / Southwest Airlines / Continental / → All Tags
What Kind Of Crazy Loot Can You Score With Your Frequent-Flyer Miles?
Earlier this year we were attempting to cash in some miles from Midwest Airlines accumulated over a lifetime of visiting Mom and Dad, when we noticed something weird: Along with gift certificates and logowear, we were presented with the option of using our surplus miles to buy Amtrak tickets. Well, that's weird: Why would an airline that still handles a generous amount of short-hop regional flights want to remind us that for short distances we could get a guaranteed outlet and more legroom?
Common wisdom holds that frequent-flyer miles just aren't what they used to be, thanks to high occupancies and rampant blackout dates. Not to mention, if you have trouble committing to one airline you probably have a few thousand miles sitting unused with a variety of different companies, with whom you will never fly enough to get the elusive free ticket. So why not cash them in for something wacky instead? With our guide, you'll never forget that trip to Acapulco so long as you have the electric doggy-door opener you bought with its mileage.
After the jump, we break it down by airline
Tags: Movie Travel / Airports / Airline News / American Airlines / → All Tags
George Clooney Exclusively Flies American Airlines For 'Up In The Air'
Why should kids' movies have all the cross-promotional fun? According to the folks at Paramount, they shouldn't. That's why they teamed up with American Airlines who, in exchange for product placement in the new George Clooney movie "Up In The Air," let the film's director, Jason Reitman, have free filming access to its terminals, planes and the Admirals Clubs. The access came in handy considering the movie is about an executive who flies around the country and fires people.
But the partnership doesn't end there. Last weekend American hosted a press junket on one of its 767 that featured a screening of the film, a live performance by Sad Brad, the band that composed the film's soundtrack, and an interview with Anna Kendrick, who plays Clooney's apprentice in the film. American is also sponsoring tie-in auctions exclusively for AAdvantage Miles members for upgrades and movie-related items.
Tags: Airline News / American Airlines / US Airways / Airline Mergers / Airlines / → All Tags
American and US Airways Might Sneak A Kiss Under The Mistletoe
Last week we were intrigued with the latest developments regarding a possible merger between United and Continental, but this week there’s a different merger rumor kicking around. Unfortunately—or fortunately depending who you ask—this one doesn’t seem as likely. We’re talking about the possibility of American Airlines and US Airways joining forces.
American and Delta jostle for the title of largest carrier, but like we said last week, if Continental and United hooked up they would move into first and American would fall to third behind the newly formed Delta. That’s got to hurt your ego, even if everyone remembers that first is the worst and second is the best.
Tags: Turf Wars / Airline News / American Airlines / Japan Airlines / Delta / Virgin Atlantic / → All Tags
Japan Airlines Triggers International Hair-Pulling Fight Among Airlines
We've been telling you for the last few weeks that the three-way Southwest/Jetblue/AirTran turf war happening at Boston-Logan was the most entertaining insidery airline story on the horizon. Now it looks like we may have called that putt a little too early. The international sniping going on between Japan Airlines, American Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, and Delta is beginning to resemble a grade school playground, with back-and-forth insults, foot stomping, and running-to-the-teacher petulance. Awesome.
The background is that JAL is bleeding money and has had to discontinue 8 international and 8 domestic routes. This has put their oneworld alliance with American in a precarious situation. It's obviously not working for JAL and so they've raised the possibility of switching alliances and joining Delta in SkyTeam.
Tags: Flight Attendants / Strikes / American Airlines / Airline News / → All Tags
AA Flight Attendants Practice Their Strike Skills Later This Month
Just in time for the holidays, the flight attendants of American Airlines are getting ready to strike. Well, not exactly, but they are trying to prove a point and are hoping to do so with a simulated strike on November 18. They’ll be fake striking this month to get some practice under their belts, because if they don’t get what they want, there might be some real strikes once 2010 rolls around.
You’ll know if you’re aboard a faux strike flight as the flight attendants will be wearing red and yellow badges attached to their union pins with slogans like “Got Guts” and “Got Union”—guess that’s better than "hell no we won’t go." The flight attendants have promised that none of their actions will affect the operations of any flights. We’ll hope they stick to their words and that there are no overzealous flight attendants that go a little too far to prove a point.
Tags: Social Networks / American Airlines / Travel Websites / Travel News / → All Tags
American Airlines' New 'Black Atlas' Network Targets Minority Travelers
Does the world really need another traveler social network? A whimpered "yes?" comes from the direction of American Airlines, who this week will be launching BlackAtlas.com, a part-facebook, part-travel guide serving as "your passport to the black experience." Indeed they are targeting African-American air travelers, who want to read articles titled "5 1/2 Things About Brooklyn" and watch videos about places like "Sonia's Hair Salon" in Madrid.
The Site doesn't officially launch until Thursday the 15th, but from sneak peek screenshots and more, we're thinking it looks like an expensive new toy for an airline which maybe shouldn't be spending that money right now.
Tags: Airline Fees / Airline News / Airlines / Holiday Travel / Delta / Continental / American Airlines / US Airways / United / → All Tags
The Airline Holiday Travel Grinch Strikes Again
We thought this would happen, and we’re not too thrilled about it: The holiday surcharge that was introduced last month on some airlines has slowly crept into new dates as well. At first it was just Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day; however, now it seems like every major holiday except for Flag Day is associated with a $10 each way fee.
According to fare tracking website FareCompare, some airlines have now added additional dates in which these holiday fees apply. November 30; December 19, 26, and 27; March 14, 20, 21, and 28; April 11; and May 28 all now may increase your airfare cost by about $20 round trip when the surcharges are tacked on.
Tags: Pet Travel / Airline News / Animals / American Airlines / → All Tags
How To Make Sure Your Pet Gets On Your Flight
Last week, American Airlines and Sherpa Pet Group gave away two trips (one to Miami and the other to San Francisco) to pet owners who schlepped out to a PETCO store in New York with their suitcases packed, and ready to go. The stunt was timed to promote Sherpa’s new Guaranteed On Board™ pet-travel program. Which sounds fancy in name, but is really just a way to make sure crazy pet parents do their homework before bringing an overweight Fluffy to the airport in a non-compliant purse. Say, one from Juicy Couture.
Tags: Airline Fees / Airline News / Airlines / Holiday Travel / Delta / American Airlines / US Airways / United / → All Tags
This Year's Holiday Season To Be Hampered By Airline Grinch Fees
You may have already noticed that the Christmas decorations have arrived at your local discount store, but like it or not, the major airlines also have a little decorating already planned for the holiday season. Last week, several domestic airlines decided to tack on an additional surcharge for travel during the peak travel season around Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. American Airlines started this fee earlier in the week, and by the time we were ready for the weekend, United, Delta, and US Airways had joined the party.
According to the fare tracking website FareCompare, this new miscellaneous $10 fee applies for November 29, January 2, and January 3. So far it appears that Santa and his reindeer are safe, as nothing has been announced for travel immediately around Christmas. However, we’ll let you know if you’ll need to leave an extra cookie for him just in case.
