For those who are unaware, AA is running a promo (see this thread)to compete against WN, after the Wright Amendment was altered to allow flights from DAL to Missouri. Fly 3 RTs DFW/DAL-STL/MCI/AUS/SAT would earn 30K bonus miles, max of 60K. WN responded with triple RR credits to/from DAL. I took advantage of both!

Here is my itinerary:
LAX-ORD-MCI on AA
MCI-DAL on WN
DAL-AUS runs x4 on AA
AUS-DFW x1 on AA
DAL-MCI on WN to return
MCI-ORD-SJC-LAX on AA to home


Day 0 - Pre FLY3 - The Staging (LAX-ORD-MCI).

While a lot of people were focused on how to get to Dallas, I found a cheap fare to MCI, so that's where I would start my trip. The plan was to take the redeye to ORD (note: this happened to be the same night as the Freddies,
but alas I couldn't make it). I checked into the AC 2 hours ahead of time, since I just wanted to relax, and I knew the ORD flight was showing F0 Y0.

I putter around for a bit, then an hour before my 11:05pm departure, I saunter down to the gate to see how it's going. Apparently, all hell was breaking loose at LAX. I ask if they need volunteers (and mind you, this is about the umpteenth time I've asked with no result), the GA immediately says "YES! Thank you!", grabs my BP, and starts processing it. Sweet I think, they're desparate. After a moment I think to ask, "How much is the offer?" The GA says "$300".... I try hard to keep it in. Apparently the last 4 flights that night (2 to ORD, 2 to DFW) were all oversold. (In the meantime, while at the podium, TelevisionTdTina (there for her own FLY3 run) spots me). I get
rerouted to the last flight to DFW, leaving at 12:40am. No F to DFW , and I get my choice of middles! BUT, 10E on a 757 is open, and none other than Tina was in 10D, so it wasn't so bad. I did get F to DFW-MCI, which is
something anyway. I take my voucher and go back to the AC to hang out with Tina.

(Later on, I ran into the same GA and asked how much everyone else got after me.... most got $150, only one other got $300 because they were going transcon... so not bad...)

We go down to the 12:40am DFW flight.... and that's overbooked as well! I think to myself "Good thing WN has a good cancel policy... first flight tomorrow to DFW...yeah I can do it" and put myself on the list. As time approached and the plane was boarding, more and more people kept showing up to standby... probably LOTS of misconnects that day.

Eventually, I think the GAs just gave up processing everyone, and pretty much declared that NOBODY ELSE would be processed, and all who had a confirmed BP should board. Oh well, worth a shot. The flight was uneventful.

We arrive in DFW no worse for wear, and happen to park in D near the AC, so I'm stoked I get to finally see it. Signed up for a shower... not bad! I like the body nozzles, but temp regulation needs some work. A drink, a snack, then off to MCI in F... nothing special, only a drink service (yay for glassware).

Now, we begin....

Day 1 - MCI-DAL on WN; DAL-AUS-DAL-AUS on AA.

MCI-DAL on WN
Now, I don't disparage WN nearly as much as my other AA brethren, but it was odd having to shift gears to deal with the WN cattle call. Unfortunately, I checked in only 23hr 20mins before the flight, so ended up with a "B". Time
to roll up the sleeves... I arrive at the WN terminal, go through security, and proceed to my gate. There's already a rollaboard lined up in the B carral, so I put mine behind there, then sit against a nearby column until departure
(about 45 mins). WN announces an oversale and volunteers were sought in exchange for vouchers worth $200+fare paid (So $256 for me ). Unfortunately, the next flight was too late and would've made me miss 2 RTs, so no dice for me.

(Side note: There are T-storms moving into both the MCI and DFW/DAL area)

We start boarding, and of course I have to watch all the A's go by... at least I'm the 2nd B. The B's start boarding, and it seems like all the A's kept moving all the way back... when I got on, there was an aisle in Row 8 ^
So not so bad. The flight itself was your typical humorous WN flight. We land in DAL, and boy was it a throwback. But one can definitely tell WN is the dominant carrier there. I deplane and proceed to walk to the AA gates. And walk. And walk. Holy crap, where the hell are the gates?!

Finally, after going through, up, down, left, back up, and left again, I'm there. It looks less like a terminal and more like office space... but there are the gates right there. Since it's newly renovated, all the facilities are in tip-top condition, even the restrooms (I fear airport restrooms). Nice little snack shop (but if you want real food, go back to WN).

DAL-AUS on AA
After 1/2 hour, I board my first FLY3 flight to AUS. It's probably 75% full, and I take my 1A seat on an ER4 on front of a very fun and spunky FA, Heather (no DFWFlyer2, not YOUR "Heather"... but she was cute too). Bumpy takeoff, but nothing severe at altitude. Of course after a while, the conversation turns to why I'm flying, and I say something like, "You must've heard by now all the people flying back and forth?" and she says, "What...?" I actually found a DFW-based FA who'd never heard of FLY3! So naturally I filled her in on it, and she was genuinely excited about it! Well, with such lovely companionship the flight went by like that, and we arrived in AUS. She was on the return flight, so I said "see you in a minute!". I then went to the AC nearby, checked in, and asked if I could leave my rollaboard there, and they said, "Oh, you're flying back and forth, aren't you? Well absolutely!" The AUS AC gals are fabulous, and away I go to board!

AUS-DAL on AA
"What happened to my 1A?!" "Sorry sir, weight and balance issues... here's 18B." Yes, I believe that seat shares a row with the lav. Sigh... I board, and Heather enthusiastic greets me. I tell her I've been moved back, and said,
"If there's anything you can do...." and head to the very butt end of the lawn dart. Everyone takes their seats, and the pilots are checking their numbers. After a few, Heather comes back all serious like, and says, "Sir, is your bag stowed? I need you to please retrieve it and have a seat up front... we need to balance the plane." Of course, I MUST comply with the instructions of the cabin crew , so I followed her up to 1A. When the GA comes onboard she
gives me a weird look (since, of course, I asked her if I could move), but Heather says, "It's alright, he's with me." I LOVE YOU HEATHER!

We're late leaving AUS because the something about the load was off. Finally, plane takes off, now getting choppier, no bev service (rightfully so), but chit-chatting away until we arrive in DAL. No more flights for Heather today, but she gives me a hug and off she goes, while I stay at the gate

DAL-AUS on AA
Now here's where it gets interesting. This is the 2nd to last flight to AUS today, and the delays are now stacking up (after the late arrival, now weather is playing a factor, and they have too much fuel (=weight) on board). They ask for volunteers, and natually I put my name in for $150. Ok, so we're just waiting for them to close the flight... and waiting... and waiting! It's now an hour late, and I KNOW it's the same plane that has to go to AUS
first, then back to pick my butt up, then back again! It's getting later, the weather is rolling in... when am *I* going to get to AUS???

So, knowing that VDBs aren't settled until I actually have accepted (which I haven't), I go to the GA and say, "You know, I think I just want to get to AUS, so I'm withdrawing my volunteering." He says no problem, hands me back my BP, and lets me board. Just as I'm about to get on the plane, a supervisor comes up and says, "I'm sorry sir, I can't let you board." What? I just want to get to AUS. "Sorry, no can do." Then I make it a point to say, "So, you're INvoluntarily denying boarding me, yes?" and she says "yes." But she's adament about moving me on and even shoos me away before I can say, "Shouldn't you IDB someone ELSE who checked in late/no status? Oh well, I figure with IDB compensation, I'll be good.


So what's for IDB I ask, and the supervisor says "A refund of your fare." Come again? A refund of my $68 ticket?! Supervisor says, "Well, you can choose the $150 and a seat on the next (last) flight, or a refund with no flight."

Ok, now I'm pissed... how could that be? I even call up MACH81 to see if he could find out if that's true (no wifi ) and he does confirm it (and I do too, later on).

Erg... my fault for volunteering, but I did volunteer on the basis that the last AUS flight would get me in at a decent time. Oh, by the way, remember my luggage that I left in the AUS AC? Yeah... the last flight would've gotten me in after the AC closed... I start frantically calling all the numbers I have, finally get a hold of the AUS AC... and no one is picking up! I leave a message telling them to PLEASE call me back, and then left it up to the mercy of whatever gods you believe in.

Anyhoo, the first supervisor goes off somewhere, and I just HAVE to have my answer, so I find another supervisor who's fantastic. I explain the situation (calmly, if you can believe it), and she was very sympathetic. She starts
looking into ex-DFW flights (all sold out due to 2 canceled flights), and all that's left is that last DAL-AUS. I tell her I'm unhappy at the way the other supervisor treat the situation, and she agrees that it was a series of unforunate events. In the end, she gives me the $150 voucher for volunteering, plus another $150 customer service voucher for the trouble. Reasonable solution given things... but that's a few less hours visiting family.
BUT... the AUS AC did call me back, and said my suitcase would be waiting for me in the baggage office ^ Simply outstanding.

I board the the final DAL-AUS flight with no incident... now pretty choppy, but otherwise uneventful. Found my family, went to the baggage office to find my suitcase by itself in it's own special spot, and not among the other
sad and unclaimed baggage. My fmaily and I went and got Rudy's BBQ (EXCELLENT!), and chilled at home for a bit before forcing myself to sleep (PDT, plus early start the next day). Exciting day.


DAY 2 - AUS-DFW-AUS-DAL-AUS-DAL-AUS-DAL on AA, DAL-MCI on WN.

AUS-DFW-AUS on AA
Ugh... WAY too early... why am I so stupid? Oh right, the miles! So I'm on the first AUS-DFW flight of the morning, which naturally is oversold. On the list I go. Too bad the AUS AC isn't open that early, or else I would've left my suitcase again. Apparently, they would've needed my seat (keep in mind that I'm coming to AUS again 2 weeks alter, so I have time to make up missing FLY3 trips), BUT there was an accident on Airport Rd (we past it) that kept people from showing up, so we leave with 3 empties. Oh well.

Nothing special about it... was lucky the incoming and outgoing flights were only 4 gates away from each other, so I had plenty of time. After arriving in AUS, I dropped my bag off, and the ladies (Denee and Paula) recognized me (by reputation I guess). They even let me put my bags into their break room, and gave me the direct number in case something happened again. Off I go, on another RT.

AUS-DAL-AUS-DAL-AUS-DAL on AA
Nothing special to report here, except that I met DFWFlyer2 and Co. The first flight had a great (and very attractive) FA by the name of Heather as well (DFWFlyer2 had her on the previous flight). Different crews for each turn. The first afternoon turn was delayed because the jet being ferried over from DFW had been boarded by the wrong pax! The crew showed up for the ferry flight, and was like, "uhh...." So we were probably 45 minutes behind.

For some reason, ex-DAL I kept from being booted from my seat, but ex-AUS I could keep 1A. Strange how that works.

Got to DAL for the last time, and with 4-5 hours to kill before my nighttime WN flight to MCI, platbrownguy was gracious enough to pick me up from DAL to go have dinner with him and studley. We had fusion Asian food, and very good Gelato
(hence, the attack). Went back to DAL, and hung out in the WN terminal for about an hour. Hey, guess what... there's wifi on that side

DAL-MCI on WN
Flight to MCI is delayed about a hour, and once it's there everyone gets on and we're all itching to go. Funny moment... FA starts typical announcements: ".... and we'll be in the cabin to serve everyone soft drinks, or beer and cocktails for..... wait, what?.... OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH, we're flying from DALLAS! If you don't know what I'm talking about, you won't get it " (If you don't know, WN has a promo for free booze on ex-DAL flights until end of May). I order my free Jack & Coke. Funny crew again. Yay Southwest.

Now, I'm ready to go check into my hotel (PL'ed AmeriSuites.. decent place with a shuttle). Ugh.. I have to be up in 5 hours! But at least I get a real bed.

DAY 3 - The Return.

MCI-ORD-SJC-LAX on AA
When I leave in the morning, it's too early for the included breakfast, but AmeriSuites is kind enough to pack me a breakfast-to-go... not bad! I get to MCI, and check into the AC, where I meet Mary. She is a GREAT AC AAngel.... so friend and warm, and she tells me if I ever need anything, to call her directly ^ She also says she knows one of the FTers well, and that "there was some BBQ thing last week..."

Nothing special I can remember on the rest of the flights. I did run into an FA on my ORD-SJC flight who remembered me from my SFO MR for an interview a few days earlier (is it a sign I'm traveling too much when an ORD-based FA knows me?)


FINAL THOUGHTS

As you can see, most of the "exciting" things happened in DAL/AUS. I came away with a few lessons learned from this experience:

-Eagle has a HORRIBLE IDB policy (oh yeah, it's a refund, UP TO $100! ).
-AA did a decent job of their gates at DAL... gonna be a shame when they leave while WN laughs at them.
-I've taken Seat 1A for granted.... not enough bad weather in California to warrant "weight/balance" movements?
-The mantra of "If you don't like the answer, call back and ask again" works with airport supervisors as well.
-I think being on the DAL run (with the same plane back and forth) saved my butt that weekend.
-I LOVE the "small" ACs (AUS, MCI, SFO from previous trip) so much more than the uber-ACs (DFW, ORD, LAX) in terms of friendliness and helpfulness of staff.
-15 + 2 does NOT = 19

FINAL RESULTS:
-15 segments on AA.
-79,628 total miles (prorated - Flight #6 will be this coming week - ~11,000 miles coming)
-6 RR credits (enough to top off my account for a freebie)
-$600 in vouchers.
-Total cost - ~$570