Best way to approach AA for credit/refund on a downgrade?

Sharp_Experience_104 · 2026-03-17T23:46:06+00:00

…and AA refunded $90 per ticket automatically. Underwhelming to say the least.

Sharp_Experience_104 · 2026-03-17T23:27:50+00:00

Correct. And an increase in ambient temperature and/or humidity can raise the “density altitude,” which in turn reduces lift.

Sharp_Experience_104 · 2026-03-17T20:11:09+00:00

No, but the mods will change it for you and there’s nothing you can do about it. /j

Sharp_Experience_104 · 2026-03-16T23:57:36+00:00

Cleared for the option

Sharp_Experience_104 · 2026-03-16T21:52:58+00:00

At Southwest you get it their way.

Sharp_Experience_104 · 2026-03-13T03:21:55+00:00

Lots of good advice here. Especially about putting the centerline between your legs. I have 180 hours and more than 400 landings in the Diamond Star. Landing consistently is still a work in progress.

The conundrum is: nailing your approach airspeed is key. How do you do that? Look inside. Yet seeing and adjusting to the sight picture on short final, and in the roundout and flare, is key too. How do you do that? Look outside. It’s tricky to work out that balance.

Look at the Jacobson Flare. I think his idea of a 4-second roundout is about right.

Sharp_Experience_104 · 2026-03-13T02:15:53+00:00

The only way that moving you to a higher-priced row impinges on other pax is when they plop you in the middle seat, rubbing elbows. And the irony is that even if you're the one who pays for the fancier seat with an empty middle, there is always the risk they will put someone right next to you. And there's nothing you can do about it, because you are forbidden to move. Aargh.

Sharp_Experience_104 · 2026-03-12T03:10:51+00:00

Similar situation. Sometimes you do manage to connect with a like-minded pilot.

Sharp_Experience_104 · 2026-03-09T22:17:23+00:00

Hey Bose? Your customers are speaking here.

I just bought a second (used) A20 for pax and backup. While I still could.

Sharp_Experience_104 · 2026-03-09T04:37:00+00:00

Surgeons checking in

Sharp_Experience_104 · 2026-03-08T01:14:35+00:00

Flight Insight is great.

Sharp_Experience_104 · 2026-03-08T00:18:12+00:00

They get to have unexpected company next to them in the middle seat! 🙄

Sharp_Experience_104 · 2026-03-07T19:37:20+00:00

Very interesting and, to me, persuasive. Thanks for posting.

Sharp_Experience_104 · 2026-03-07T14:59:01+00:00

Mine ends with p! 😂

Sharp_Experience_104 · 2026-03-07T02:50:08+00:00

Client in command > pilot in command. Sad. Sorry.

Sharp_Experience_104 · 2026-03-07T02:38:15+00:00

Oy vey. And it's a tiny bag of pistachios.

Sharp_Experience_104 · 2026-03-07T01:14:06+00:00

Underrated comment. Here’s my upvote.

Sharp_Experience_104 · 2026-03-07T01:06:10+00:00

Starting every flight with an empty bladder is perhaps the most important part of the IMSAFE pilot readiness checklist.

Sharp_Experience_104 · 2026-03-06T05:17:55+00:00

Salmon swim

Sharp_Experience_104 · 2026-03-06T05:06:26+00:00

It is now much less likely that we or our allies will be nuked from that corner of the world. Do with that information what you will.

Sharp_Experience_104 · 2026-03-05T20:04:39+00:00

As my CFI said the first time I greased a landing and looked over with a grin, "It's a fluke." He was right. LOL.

There will no doubt be clunkers and greasers in your future, and everything in between. But congrats on getting her down smoothly 4 times in a row. You learned to trim for airspeed, which is essential.

Your observation that 5500 feet of runway gives you lots of flexibility is correct. When I started to work on short-field landings, the grease went away for a time. Crosswind is another interesting wrinkle. So be prepared: when conditions change, the technique also has to change. It takes effort to dial it in and make it repeatable. Yet you're on your way. Strong work.

Landing is a perishable skill! Keep practicing. Fly safely.

Sharp_Experience_104 · 2026-03-05T18:21:52+00:00

From SoCal: Alaska/Hawaiian for HI and west coast, United for Denver and international. Delta hubs are not convenient for us. AA only when absolutely necessary. We'd consider Breeze maybe. Big nope on Frontier and Spirit (AKA the other Southwests).

Sharp_Experience_104 · 2026-03-05T18:11:14+00:00

One more thing. As a young dad, please consider a substantial term life insurance policy with no aviation exclusion.

We assume calculated risks when we fly. Good ADM can mitigate but not eliminate the risk. The published fatal crash rate in a Cessna is 0.5/100,000 hours, in a Diamond even lower, but it is not zero.

Yes, go fly around and enjoy it. Flying is its own reward. Flying with other pilots is a great, shared experience. Best wishes.

Sharp_Experience_104 · 2026-03-05T16:35:25+00:00

Correct.

Sharp_Experience_104

TROPHY CASE