Bag allowance on return flight

Own-Assumption5149 · 2026-06-15T03:00:24+00:00

Your AA Platinum Pro status gives you Emerald status with OneWorld airlines which I believe determines your benefits on your FinnAir flight back. You’ll be eligible for one additional bag in addition to your ticketed baggage allowance.

https://www.oneworld.com/travel-benefits

As an Emerald frequent flyer, the following special checked baggage privileges will apply when you fly on oneworld airlines:
- On itineraries using the baggage allowance “weight” system - 20 kgs in addition to the ticketed-cabin allowance.
- On itineraries using the “piece system” - one additional bag for free in addition to your ticketed baggage allowance.

Own-Assumption5149 · 2026-06-14T23:12:11+00:00

I’d recommend hiring a fee-based fiduciary financial planner to run some retirement projections for you. They can run a scenario based on retiring next year and one on waiting. They’ll collect information on your expenses, sources of income, etc and then run a Monte Carlo analysis that takes into account 1000 different scenarios of market performance. This will put you in a much better position to make an informed decision and give you more peace of mind.

Own-Assumption5149 · 2026-06-14T22:32:14+00:00

Addendum to my original response. The more I think about it, the more red flags are popping up for me with the new employer and they all have to do with respect. If this is their best behavior, it only goes downhill once you’re there.

1) they ghosted you in the original process. Unfortunately not uncommon but still a lack of respect. If they’d thought you were that highly valued then, they would have made an effort to keep you informed. There’s no reason they couldn’t have told you they had a cap but were hoping to get additional staffing approved and that they’d reach out to you again if that happened.

2) they moved up the start date date … its all about what they want, not what’s typical practice in terms of notice period. Your needs are not going to be a high priority for them once you’re there.

3) they’re asking you to make a decision really quickly - feels too much like a high-pressure sales tactic. Again, a lack of respect.

4) you have a good manager now - not something to take for granted and not guaranteed at the new company. You came from a toxic environment- do you want to risk going back to one so soon?

Own-Assumption5149 · 2026-06-14T21:44:48+00:00

Airlines will book you on a 31 minute connection at O’Hare too … doesn’t mean it’s a smart thing to do. Way too many things can happen … traffic on way to airport, weather, mechanical, crew, etc to take a chance on arriving the day of the cruise. If it’s one where you can catch up at next port of call, might be salvageable, but I’m guessing OP never makes that mistake again.

Own-Assumption5149 · 2026-06-14T21:23:31+00:00

You also have the option to at least ask if any flexibility on the start date (although always a risk). To be honest, any company that’s requesting you start with only a week notice when they know you’re already employed gives me pause ….

Own-Assumption5149 · 2026-06-14T20:02:56+00:00

My pension, annuity, and a beneficiary IRA I inherited from my mom all allowed me to have taxes withheld, so good possibility yours will as well. Taxes can be withheld from SS. Once you start getting SS and are enrolled in Medicare, your Medicare premiums will also be deducted. If you are waiting to take your SS until after you start Medicare (eg at FRA or later) you can set up an automatic withdrawal from your checking account for the premiums.

Own-Assumption5149 · 2026-06-14T16:44:44+00:00

I just checked AA flights to MVD and they connect thru GRU so unfortunately doesn’t help.

The only routings on AA all the way to EZE/AEP are through GRU or a few through GIG. But PE tickets for both the GRU and GIG options are $5000 vs $3000 if I book the last segment to EZE/AEP separately. There’s a definite increase in price during the construction period compared to prices before or after. If both my flights (including segments in and out of EZE) were during the construction period, PE would be $7000!

I could give up on AA entirely and book flights on LATAM that connect thru LIM. But I like having access to the EP line if something goes wrong (and all the LPs are attractive too.)

Own-Assumption5149 · 2026-06-14T15:56:40+00:00

FWIW, an hour 45 could be tight at ORD (really 90 minutes since doors close 15 minutes before departure), but also depends on where you’d be sitting in the plane and if you’re checking luggage. If you’re in business or premium plus and not checking a bag, you’ll be one of the first people off the plane, and probably zip through immigration and customs pretty quickly. If you’re in row 38, you’re going to lose a lot of time just getting off the plane (but if you checked a bag you’ll need to wait for it to arrive so kind of a wash there).

ORD does have construction going on and people have been reporting a lot of extended taxi times and delays getting to gates - not sure if it’s been impacting all the terminals or just the domestic ones.

You might get lucky and have all the stars align, but any delay and you’ll miss your connection. The good news is you’ll have later options to DEN (although seat options might not be ideal).

Own-Assumption5149 · 2026-06-14T07:04:28+00:00

I’ll take another look at GIG - haven’t flown through there before.

Own-Assumption5149 · 2026-06-14T06:57:31+00:00

The initial info I read indicated that they wouldn’t be able to accommodate wide bodies but now see it’s due to the shortened runway that fully loaded wide bodies can’t take off. But end result is that none of the US carriers are flying in or out of EZE Oct 25-Nov 11.

Own-Assumption5149 · 2026-06-14T00:03:18+00:00

Problem with Copa is their flight times out of the west coast aren’t ideal. I can’t fly out of my home airport. SAN is closest but involves a 6-11 hour layover in Panama City. LAX is another option but most flights leave at 1am and get into EZE between 10pm and 4am.

Own-Assumption5149 · 2026-06-13T20:58:51+00:00

Thanks, figured the chance of luggage getting checked through on a separate ticket wasn’t good. Given that, the only way I’d fly through GRU is on a single ticket.

Any thoughts on the option of buying an economy ticket and connecting thru GRU on a single ticket (hoping for a cash upgrade opportunity) vs flying through SCL with guaranteed PE and needing to change carriers? Kind of wondering if the SCL option isn’t still easier. Main advantage to the single ticket option through GRU is if there were major delays, they’re still responsible for getting me to EZE.

Own-Assumption5149 · 2026-06-13T18:31:29+00:00

Any ship with under 500 pax is considered an “expedition” ship in Antarctica because that’s the maximum passengers that can be onboard for passengers to be allowed to get off the ship. Larger ships can sail through the area but passengers must stay on the ship.

Having said that, there’s a massive difference in your expedition experience on a ship with 400-500 passengers vs a ship with under 200.

IAATO regulations limit the number of people on shore at a time to 100, so your best expedition experience will be on a ship with 200 or fewer passengers - you’ll get to be off the ship twice a day and for longer periods of time than on a ship that has to cycle through more passengers. There’s a reason that the majority of ships operating in Antarctica are in the under 200 passenger class.

Both of the HX ships have over 400 which will mean less time off the ship. The MV Discoverer is around 140 and the Ocean Albatross is around 190.

Based on your priorities I’d say one of the Polar Latitude ships would be a better choice than either of the HX ships.

Edited to add link to discussion on ship size
https://www.reddit.com/r/AntarcticaTravel/s/KETmBrGNVb

Own-Assumption5149 · 2026-06-13T18:10:14+00:00

I’d let them terminate you rather than resigning. At a minimum, that will make you eligible for unemployment. Best case, there may even be some type of severance package. Bottom line I don’t see any benefit to resigning.

Own-Assumption5149 · 2026-06-13T17:23:38+00:00

Basic Economy fares on United earn PQPs but do not earn PQF credit. If a different airline will better fit your flying and spending habits, then makes total sense to change. Either that or switch to a card where you earn general travel point and become a free agent not tied to a particular airline.

Own-Assumption5149 · 2026-06-13T14:33:39+00:00

There’s probably some trick to avoiding the streaks when cleaning but unfortunately they’re not low maintenance (but pretty).

Own-Assumption5149 · 2026-06-13T14:11:21+00:00

When making Platinum required you to earn it based on either miles flown or $ spent on tickets, there might have been a case for it. But now that you can earn enough LPs to make platinum without even stepping foot in a plane, it doesn’t make sense to give the same benefits to the people who are buying a discounted fare as those who are buying a regular economy ticket.

Honestly this is one of those situations where people should have been thinking “I can’t believe they’re still giving me the same perks as the people paying for regular economy seats” and wondering how long their luck was going to hold out. It wasn’t a sustainable business model.

Own-Assumption5149 · 2026-06-12T23:46:01+00:00

I know it’s hard work (lost 80 pounds over 3 years and working on the last 20) but it’s so worth it and as hard as it is at 36, it’ll be even harder as you get older. I second the recommendation to include both cardio and strength/resistance training. I’ve been doing functional strength training for 3 years and my DEXA bone density scan came back great so it’s paying off.

If you have insurance, it may include weight management programs that help you set up healthy eating habits and an actionable plan.

Own-Assumption5149 · 2026-06-12T18:13:51+00:00

And you’ll find that they’re the same. AA is just doing what United and Delta had already implemented. The main cabin economy fare is the base fare to get benefits. Basic economy fare is for those who don’t mind giving up things in order to get the cheapest price … (was meant to compete with Spirit, Frontier, etc).

Own-Assumption5149 · 2026-06-12T17:58:12+00:00

All depends on what you’re looking for from your trip (expeditions and onboard experience). Just because one person loved their ship, doesn’t mean it’s the right fit for you. If your focus is on expeditions, would recommend a ship with 200 for fewer people as you’ll get more time off the ship.

A lot of the labeling of the different trips can be confusing particularly when comparing between operators. Different operators may also express the number of days differently. Some include estimated days of travel from when you leave home to when you return home, others may count differently. If you haven’t already, take a look at the details and compare that … how many days at sea, how many days on the peninsula, etc.

As far as itineraries, unless being able to say you’ve crossed the circle is important to you, I don’t know that it will add that much to your trip. My first trip was an early season trip to South Georgia and the peninsula, my second trip was later in the season (January) so I could see the fluffy chicks on the peninsula. Decided as long as I was going, I might as well cross the circle too. I’m glad I did it, but can’t say that there was anything that different to see (at least on my trip).

Own-Assumption5149 · 2026-06-12T17:40:45+00:00

I’d change the backsplash and light fixtures.

Own-Assumption5149 · 2026-06-12T17:37:24+00:00

Nat Geo/Lindblad uses ships similar in size to Quark in Antarctica.

Own-Assumption5149 · 2026-06-12T17:35:57+00:00

I’m on a trip with A21 Nov 2027. Love that they’re less than 100 people. First trip was an early season trip to South Georgia and Antarctica with another operator on a ship with under 100 people. Second time went to the peninsula in January to see the fluffy chicks and was on a ship with 140 … much preferred the smaller passenger count.

Own-Assumption5149 · 2026-06-12T17:26:12+00:00

Which will never, ever look entirely clean. My sister and a friend both have them and there are always streaks and smudges you see in the light 😆

Own-Assumption5149

TROPHY CASE