I have booked many flights on-line and should make AAdavantage Platinum for the first time late this year. I've found that once I book travel on aa.com, I can get a restricted premier seat assigned to me by immediately calling the Gold/Platinum desk and asking for a seat re-assignment.

Although the on-line booking bonus can be attractive (e.g., 2000 miles per booking with NW now), the airline's site isn't always the cheapest site on-line. Today I found an itinerary for PHL-LGW-PHL on American which was $442 round-trip on aa.com but only $417 on expedia.com. The 1000-mile ($20) bonus from aa.com wasn't worth it for an identical itinerary. When I called tech support at American and even provided them the fare basis code for the booking, they couldn't match the $417 fare! By the way both fares included all PFCs and taxes.

This itinerary is PHL-MIA-LGW and returning LGW-DFW-PHL. Even under the "Choose by Schedule" option, aa.com would not offer this itinerary, probably because most people would rather fly more directly to London. Tech support at aa.com showed me how to force the itinerary to be shown by breaking it down with the "multi-city" option on-line. Interestingly, when I tried to reserve (not book) it this way, the page crashed, even though my computer didn't.

Bottom line: To get the best fare check out several sources (on-line and in person) if you have time.

I too, place virtually all my reservations
online now days for the mileage bonuses. (Beside, it's fun not to have to talk to anyone! )

But I found a great way to get through to the airlines when all the lines are busy. This could be due, for example, to bad weather when numerous flights get cancelled and everyone is trying to get through.

What I do is call the number for Spanish speaking people. It's usually much easier to get through. The agents, of course, speak English as well and aren't about to hang up on me just because I can't speak Spanish.

Neal

thanks for your spanish advise - a very good tip for times when I am in a real hurry.

Muchas gracias - vamos a hablar el idioma espanol - hasta la vista.

I thought I would update you on the result of my little temper tantrum with United. I sent an e-mail to Gerry Greenwamd (CEO United), letting him know in the nicest possible terms that if his Reservations centre didn't answer the 'phone I couldn't book my flights.

It really was a charming little missive (yes Catman, I can be pleasant when I want to be), anyway I got a fax from him - delightful man - saying how dissapointed he was (plus all the usual guff about a new integrated European reseravation center, staff training, much busier than anticipated etc. Yawwwwwnnn - heard it all before).

But he gave me (and told me to use) the direct number of the Manager of the Reservations Centre next time, how helpful. And guess what? The manager person 'phoned and was very sweet.

So now I have a hot-line to United reservations, and I'm very happy.

Gerry said he would "restore my confidence in United Airlines" and he has.

Of course the may have oiled the wheels, to make the deal sweeter, but I don't think we need talk about that!!

Now have I told you about my recent experience with Virgin Atlantic......
MF

My cats and I are VERY CURIOUS about your
experience with Richard's Virgin Airlines.
Maybe post it under a separate area (or if
it's potentially offensive, beyond G-Rated
just e-mail it to me.)

I ask because if I go to London next year I
may take Virgin.

Congratulations on getting a response from
UA. They are pretty good about responding.

And I think you are a nice fellow. CATMAN

I'm interested in the Virgin tale too, Merry.

Is it possible that your superelite Kryptonite card may have sparked United's interest in you?? Somehow I don't see them giving Joe Bloggs the same sort of personal attention...

I would feel very sick (and jealous) if CatMan and baobab would receive informations, and me beeing left out...

I hope Merry Flyer sends you that Virgin story or posts it here (the G-Rated version.)

If he doesn't then I'll make sure you get the
info, since you give us so many wonderful
tips. CATMAN

Let's go for the Gusto. Publish it here MFlyer or put us all on the cc: list. Now that everyone's CURIOUSITY is tweeked, uh-oh,
Catman, that may not be a good word, tell the story.

I think Tweeked is passable here, Jaws43.

My anchorman keeps telling me to "Tweek" my
copy on certain stories. But it's hard to
do it at 5:30 a-m in the morning (I'm a night
person!) CATMAN

Tweeked may be passable, but how about
CURIOUSITY.

Beckles & others. I have an update on AA "online" reservations. Although one cannot book "preferred" seats through AA's web page (i.e. those lovely restricted ones), I recently found out that one can do so using AAcess software is free from AA (download from website or call AA and they will send a CD Rom). This software does allow you to book those restricted seats.

TCrazy

the advantages of making reservations/buying tickets trough the airline's downtown office (if your time and place allows and yes I know you may loose the on-bline-booking-mileage-bonus):

1) Get their direct (unpublished) telefon-numbers
2) It helps to maintain their working places (against e-tickets, telefon-centers at places with the lowest wages, etc.)
3) I get to know them / they get to know me in person, we start up a "personal" relationsship: it helps if you need somebody on the airline's side to test the airline rules-limit. Example: UA award tickets have to be honored (booked, miles deducted) 30 days after reservation, but (as I found out lately reserving that UA 2-person-award-ticket for in international first class in spring 99) they can overrule (they arranged the reservation till dec-31).
4) from time to time, they are able/willing to give you something extra: vouchers for inernational or continental upgrades, vouchers for one-time Club-access (often).
5) they put special informations on file for the check-in-agent at the airport to see (examples: to whom it may concern at Thai in Taipe "please try to upgrade Rudi for the segment Taipe-Bangkok as he is one of our preferred costumers here in Switzerland - and I am pretty sure you will get some swiss chocolates in return - your StarAlliance collegue in Zurich" or another time just "please give Rudi our best regards from us with a smile and may be you can arrange lounge-access for him?")
6) they feel responsible and will help if they forgot to enter your frequent-flyer-number or it got "lost".
7) the can/will sometimes overrule sold-out/waitlisted special fares
8) they even may have e free ticket (seldom): when Swissair introduced 8 years ago the "famous" MD-11 their Zurich office gave me an "inauguration"-2-partner-ticket in business Zurich-Los Angeles for trying out this new plane.
9) the will do more than average to help to recover and forward lost baggage
10) they will (on the computer) bring different tickets and hotel-informations "in-line" so that the airline knows how to contact you - or with late connections (but coming in with a different ticket) the ongoing airline knows that you will be late and will (hopefully) have alternatives worked out for you. My example: SFO-JFK on UA with a visit USA-ticket, connection time at JFK only 30 minutes and I have to get from term 7=UA to term 1=LH, JFK-FRA with LH on another UA-code-share-flight ticket; if I am late LH will (hopefully) put me "automatically" on their later flight that day.

United is now off my no-fly list.

I got a 'phone call from them yesterday (and a letter this morning) informing me that they had changed my status to PremierExec. Which I think is very nice off them.

It does present me with a quandry though, who should I book my next batch of transatlantic flights with?

-CO Elite Gold: 100% Bonus miles + 5,000 extra miles per flight (no First class only BusinessFirst).

-UA PremierExec: 100% mileage bonus.

-BA Premier: No mileage bonuses, but treat me like God (can fly First class).


Any thoughts?
MF

MFlyer--I do not know about BA, but CO businessfirst is great. Full reclining seats, individual TV screens, adjustable lumbar support, fully adjustable leg/footrests, and as close to 1st class, without it being called that, as possible.
Whichever you choose--Enjoy.