well said jAAck!!,,,,and 10kster.

Domestic I eticket. International I paper ticket.

I lost or misplaced an paper ticket about two months ago. I went to Admiral Club to check in. Thought I was eticketed as usual. The agent asked for my paper ticket, I said what ticket, I eticket. They told me it had been mailed to me. I said don't have it, found it when I got home by the way.

The had me sign a lost ticket affidavit and I was on my way in about 10 minutes, had to go back to check in counters though for the affidavit. No costs or fees whatsoever. Go AA.

The rest of the points are used by many experienced travelers all the time. But I agree that an inexperienced traveler could get in alot of trouble fast with some of these points.

Could you imagine the GA's face if about ten people showed up with 3 0r 4 bags each and all wanted to gate check. LOL though not really funny.

You gotta remember what the audience is to whom these magical-mysteries-revealed have been touted.

[This message has been edited by ETOPS01 (edited 06-01-2001).]

I thought the best 'secret' was what to do if the only empty seats are middle seats.

Ask the agent for a middle seat where the last names of the persons on the Aisle and Window are the same. On of them will of course move when you get there.

Yeah... right....what agent is going to take the time to switch from the seating chart to the passenger list and then look for two people with the same name not seated together?

Not to be picky or anything but your friend must have been travelling to Gatwick (LGW) as NW does not fly to Heathrow.

Not to be picky or anything but your friend must have been travelling to Gatwick (LGW) as NW does not fly to Heathrow.

dallasflyer,

congratulations on the no-lost-ticket fee. however, back in february, i was traveling with someone who had to pay $100 "ticket replacement fee" for having lost a paper ticket, in addition to filling out the lost ticket affidavit.

wonder if your no-fee is a result of your AA status? the ticket-loser in question (not i!) isn't even an aadvantage member.

My husband books an aisle seat, I book a window because we like it that way. Neither one of us is going to swap for a middle seat for the comfort of a latecomer, and after 31 years of marriage we don't need to sit next to each other on a plane. Besides, sometimes that gives us an open middle seat between us.

Regarding change of equipment--it happened to me this week from DIA to Tampa. The flight was listed on the monitor as on time, but UA said it was "on decision." I love the advice to "call again just before you leave for the airport." Do you actually know anyone who can leave home less than an hour and a half before flight time and CHECK IN the required hour before?

Anyway, when I gave the Red Carpet rep some flack that the monitor still showed it on time, she told me that the CITY runs the monitors, not the airline (I have to believe that they get the info from the airlines, though).

Apparently UA brought another plane and quickly serviced and boarded it. As usual, we were kept hostage at the gate because the flight was leaving "momentarily." Not without a plane, it isn't.

I had a similar incident flying back yyz-hpn.The montor was showing the flight leaving at 845 when the plane was at the gate and being cleaned at 715pm.The scheduled to depart at 759pm.When i asked the gate agent about this he said the boards are run by the gtaa (greater toronto airport association and that the airlines "try" to give to latest infomation to them.
-howie

Well, yes... WaterPoloRef, FFaddict, mhbaker, LexPassenger, and me, for a start, plus several whose names I've forgotten - http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif There was an entire thread on General Travel Talk about when people leave to go to the airport not too long ago, and it was very interesting. And DL at least only REQUIRES you to check in 30 mins before for domestic flights.

But as far as reliable info on flights, there really doesn't seem to be a lot out there, including the airlines. I've also been told that the info you get from the airlines, like on-line, is actually from the control tower, which doesn't exactly care about making sure it's up to date.

For the purposes of tracking people while you're on the ground, I've had luck with Check Flights (link doesn't seem to be working, tho' - I'll try to track it down, sorry)

I'm with you 100% on the window/aisle thing. AAaLot, the jig is up!


[This message has been edited by GG (edited 06-01-2001).]

Peter Greenberg makes a big deal about the in-flight airphone *xxx numbers, but never puts his money where his mouth is. If such numbers existed, how difficult would it be for him to post them on, say, a Today Show website link, or list them in an on-screen graphic. "Ask your flight attendant" is a laughable suggestion.

First of all, there does not appear to be a * number on DL. I've looked all through the inflight magazine (I usually find the number listed along with the in-flight phone fees). I've also e-mailed GTE airpone for a list, and they tell me there is none.

Perhaps it is a non-GTE airphone service. I have used the * numbers on NW and AA. (I found the AA number in the magazine and, contrary to my comments above, I think the NW FA asked another FA who actually knew the number).

I don't think the airphone companies would be thrilled to know this, but I use the * number to get arrival information whenever there is no on-screen display and when the pilot doesn't make frequent announcements.

Note, if you do have the * number, remember that you can use it to have the airline reservation agent transfer you to their affiliated car rental company. This is particularly helpful if you were able to clear the standby list at the last minute and are arriving at a nearby but alternate (and obviously co-terminal) airport (e.g., JFK/LGA/EWR or DCA/IAD/BWI).

How did this Peter Greenburg guy get to be such a hot shot anyway? I'm sure many people on this board are much more travel savy than him.

Does anyone know the * number for UA (if one even exists!)?????