I just got back from three week and was able to fly BUS class both ways. I learned a great deal over the last year trying to get the routing I wanted and best of all ran into someone on an out island who was vacationing who was in charge of yield management. Here is what I learned. We just got back MSP-LAX-PPT-JFK and I had to purchase JFK-MSP.

1. TN as of April no longer opens us seats to A (first) I (business) to NW or AA as the flight nears and is open. They used to open a few more seat, but now try to sell them for $700 for Y to Bus and Bus to 1st for $700 also at the gate. They do open a FEW occasionally in coach. I asked him this as I saw the change on Expertflyer.

2. They now open only 1 A class seat per flight. They want people to buy the other seat.

3. BUS class is just amazing.

4. The availability for seats between AA and NW seem to flip between flights. One flight one day might before AA and the other for NW. It seems like this is part of the deals between the airlines.

5. I booked my flights the 1st day possible almost a year in advance. I tried daily almost for a year to change to go back via LAX (I hate JFK). I had no luck. The seats go fast.

That is about all I know. French Polynesia is a wonderful place.

Henry