Has anyone gotten the book from www.firedairlineagent.com? Is it worth reading? Sounds like she is really PO at AA. Safe Holiday travels to all..

Judging by the description, you can learn everything that's there and more on FT. There really are no great secrets to anything she's talking about.

nor any 'independant' reviews...

Has anyone read it?
comments?

From the looks of the website, seems like a shoddy product. I especially like the testimonial from a gal in "Withcita, KA".

This site is ridiculous. The cover has two cougar F/A's and some expresion-less Asian gentleman... I don't get it... Why some old Asian dude? And if he saved so much, why isn't he smiling? Why are the cougar F/A's more happy than him? Something's not right.....

I read through the table of contents, and for your average person it probably has some good information that they don't know. If you are an FT regular then maybe you will learn a few things but you probably already know most of what is in the book. But still the average person is not going to spend a lot of time educating themselves on the inner workings of the airlines so it may represent some value.

I have not read the book, but I imagine it underscores the often overlooked point even on this board that with all the airlines the agents have extremely broad powers and discretions particularly at the airport, and really they can do what they want. If they want to for example they can upgrade you to first class on your dirt cheap coach fare. If they want too they can waive your change fee.

But knowing the above doesn't ensure you will get someone willing to do either thing, but I suppose if you know it can be done you are partially there.

I would bet you all three beers or more that the average person really has no idea about the discretion of a gate agent, etc. For example, the average American does not know a gate agent can provide a courtesy or operational first class upgrade which they can. The average person really has no idea how the system works and thus this book could help them.

Likewise there are things I don't understand about how different systems work, and an insider book for whatever that industry might be could help me.

Still even if "we" buy the book, I would not be surprised if you pick up a few tips and tricks you didn't know about. You never know it all, though you might know already most of what this person has to say.

i'd like to know these few, anyone got an answer for those?

� How to get your reservation put on priority status.
� How to get a refund on your ticket even when its non-refundable.
� How to get a larger seat when boarding the plane.

� How to get your reservation put on priority status;
This probably refers to either reservations waitlists for upgrade/reward seats, etc. It could also refer to placement on the airport standby list. For example, some airlines have special priority placement on the airport standby list for misconnects or other disserviced customers. An airport agent, if they want too, can put you on a higher priority part of the standby list. If you are already say a top level frequent flyer then you already get priority on the standby and other waitlists. You should also know that when reservations puts you on a waiting list for say an upgrade, they will sometimes imply that this list gets reviewed by someone who will decide if you clear. However, at some airlines the lists only get reviewed by computer software unless an agent calls in to revenue/yield management department. I know that for example 5 years ago or so CO international upgrade waiting lists were only reviewed by computer software unless a specific agent asked inventory management to get involved in a particular PNR, etc.


� How to get a refund on your ticket even when its non-refundable.
Airline agents can refund even nonrefundable tickets. This is most often done at the airport where agents have more discretion. Sometimes this is called an "involuntary refund." It is officially done say if your flight is cancelled or somehow interrupted. Also let's say you are flying LGA-PHL-LAX. Your LGA-PHL gets delayed so much and you miss the connection and suitable later flights to LAX. Because you've missed this connection you have such a short trip that it is not even worth you going on to LAX, and at PHL you just elect to hgo home to LGA and forget about the whole trip. You can be issued what is called a "trip in vain" refund. You will get miles for your LGA-PHL and PHL-LGA but your ticket is refunded because your trip was in vain. Sometimes in other involuntary refund situations an agent might write "trip in vain" on the paperwork. To answer your question directly though, an airport agent has the power to refund a nonrefundable ticket. If you can convince them to do it, or if they like you, the refund is yours. Sometimes when this is done as a passenger accommodation it will be coded in the computer under one of the officially sanctioned involuntary refund categories. For example, an agent is giving you an involuntary refund because they are a nice guy, they might code it as a weather involuntary refund. It is not worth any airlines time to scrutinize evry single transaction, there are thousands or hundreds of thousands of transactions "in the system" on any given day.

� How to get a larger seat when boarding the plane.
I take it this involves either getting a coach seat, for example in United Premier Economy, or an AA seat in the more room throguhout coach section which actually would have been all seats. It might also refer to getting a courtesy upgrade to first class. Again, airport agents can upgrade people if they want too. This doesn't mean they'll upgrade you, but if you make some connection with the agent, they have the power in the computer to upgrade you. I have even heard of situations where passengers get courtesy international upgrades, although it is generally easier to get upgraded domestically. Of course, per airline rules, agents are only supposed to give out upgrades in particular kinds of situations like to preferred level flyers, etc. But they have the technical authority in the computer system to upgrade virtually any ticket. So if you can sweet talk the agent, you might score a courtesy upgrade, or just if the agent likes you. You know, there is the whole thing the first few seconds you see someone, some kind of internal process runs in the brain and decides what kind of vibe you have with that person. I would not recommend you count on these random courtesy upgrades, but at the same time, be aware they do happen and if you put yourself in the right place and have a little luck, one might be yours. I would imagine the book might also educate the reader about the varying levels of frequent flyer programs, and how with each level you get more official upgrades too. Remember, the average person does not even know the mechanics of how each frequent flyer program has varying status levels, etc. The average person probably doesn't even try to stick with one airline for there 5 trips a year.

Thank you, Jetsetter. Saved me the typing.

The second part is also wrong. Kansas = KS.

thanks for the great read. it has been very educational.

Ummm, wouldn't she be flying non-rev as an AA employee anyway [before she got fired that is].

My thoughts exactly. I can't believe what she's selling would be worth the money. (Withcita, KA????)

Whoa... hold on just a second there buddy. From the table of contents, it sound like she's saying that you can actually save money on airline tickets by booking in advace? Does anyone have any details on this super-inside-the-industry-secret?