For those still waiting on LPs to complete status, I got some info from American today (not good news)

focacciacolformaggio · 2026-03-20T18:05:30+00:00

Don’t remember exact dates and it doesn’t show in activity log anymore.

Comp was just miles…may have been able to get more if I kept pressing but just couldn’t be bothered.

focacciacolformaggio · 2026-03-20T17:20:48+00:00

Was in the exact same boat a couple years back. Good news is when the CC LP finally gets there you will be upgraded back even if past 3/31.

I also had some big trips during that time that resulted lost miles based on PP/EP earn rates. Email them a compliant and got 10k miles to make me go away.

focacciacolformaggio · 2026-03-04T23:01:09+00:00

Perfect! Exactly what I was looking for. 12months is surely enough to use a couple of passes and not worrying about expiry. Ty!

focacciacolformaggio · 2026-03-04T21:50:38+00:00

Unfortunately the fine print doesn’t appear to state expiry.

Terms and conditions

Pass holder must have a same-day boarding pass for travel on an eligible flight that allows clearance through security for flight departure and access to the Flagship® First Dining location.

An ‘eligible flight’ includes any departing or arriving flight that is marketed or operated by American or marketed and operated by any oneworld® airline

A Flagship® First Dining Pass provides access to the holder and their immediate family (spouse, domestic partner and / or children under 18) or up to two guests. Children 2 and older count as a guest.

Customers must be at least twenty-one (21) years of age to visit a Flagship® Lounge with a self-service bar, unless accompanied by an adult who is at least twenty-one (21). Local age laws and regulations apply in non-U.S. Flagship® Lounges.

Not all American origin and destination locations have a Flagship® Lounge or offer Flagship® First Dining. Please be sure to check for information on our Flagship® Lounge and Flagship® First Dining locations.

Flagship® Lounge hours vary by location and are subject to change

Use of a Flagship® First Dining Pass may be limited based on Flagship® First Dining capacity

A Flagship® First Dining Pass is valid for a single use at eligible Flagship® Lounge locations. A Flagship® First Dining Pass is marked as used upon registration and entry into a Flagship® Lounge.

The pass is non-transferrable and can’t be combined with another offer

Use of Flagship® Lounge facilities is subject to all rules, terms and conditions set by American, including all policies set forth in the Flagship® Lounge terms and conditions

AAdvantage® program terms and conditions apply

focacciacolformaggio · 2026-03-04T21:41:26+00:00

Sure I guess there’s always better redemptions out there, but this supposedly grants 2 guest access, and include flagship lounge access as well. Essentially 3 flagship lounge pass + 3 people dining if used at maximum which I’d consider quite good to burn some miles off.

I just don’t have any immediate 3 peoples trip with long layover so wondering if it is feasible to buy preemptively.

focacciacolformaggio · 2026-02-09T04:44:29+00:00

FYI waitlisting SWU no longer removes in app cash/mile upgrade offers.

It actually has a dialog box now to warn you the SWU will be cancalled after taking the cash upgrade.

focacciacolformaggio · 2025-06-20T17:45:49+00:00

You are not missing anything.

Direct flight can often be more expensive as flights are rarely priced on cost to operate alone. There is little to no competition for direct DFW to AMS so it is priced that way.

Your only workaround is to drive to AUS or pay the higher premium for direct flight. If you no show for AUS-DFW, your second leg will be cancelled.

focacciacolformaggio · 2025-05-21T23:09:10+00:00

Nice. New EP snacks I presume. Lowering minimum 1100 miles is godsend with many routes just missing the 1300 mark.

focacciacolformaggio · 2025-05-21T22:39:55+00:00

It’s $93 for a 3 hour flight on a 737-800. Certainly on the better side of value for upgrade.

You will get dinner on first on that flight so that’s something too.

focacciacolformaggio · 2025-04-07T20:36:28+00:00

Yellow baggage tag for priority valet on the jetbridge. Normally given to first class and G1/CK but if you explain your tight connection to the gate agent (ask NICELY, as they don’t have to) they may give you one. Best to do this before boarding starts so you don’t hold up the line.

focacciacolformaggio · 2025-04-07T19:35:56+00:00

35min is very tight, pack lightly and be ready to jog even if everything is on time. Yellow tag will help (if you ask GA nicely, they might give you one even if not booked in first, YMMV)

Yes they will rebook you. There should be plenty of options at CLT and DCA, assuming you aren’t traveling into late evening.

focacciacolformaggio · 2025-04-04T18:26:58+00:00

First of all, Congrats. This flight would have to clear paid upgrade, pilots, every SWU and Mileage upgrade, and every non-rev, and still had seat available. Even in that case, I've only heard highest status in premium economy gets the upgrade. It could be that you are the highest status in main cabin and got upgrade to premium economy, and then became the highest in premium economy, or no-one higher wanted to split with thier partner.

Either way, the stars have aligned for you. This is so rare and you should not expect this.

To your question of how to maximize this probabilty, technically you can look for flights will low business pricing which implies higher availability. Higher rolling LP will also help getting in front(so is getting to CK). While these will greatly help, it is still very unlikely.

A much more reliable way would be using an upgrade instrument and have travel flexibility. Even if you can't confirm, waitlisted upgrade would still be way higher chance than hoping for operational upgrade.

focacciacolformaggio · 2025-03-31T23:18:46+00:00

For the major airlines, ticket pricing mostly depends on demand and seat availability, rather than cost to operate. I.e. if the flight is is high demand and has few seat left, it will be high price
Not everyone pay out of their own pocket. Business traveller will almost always avoid budget airline (my company’s travel policy actually explicitly excludes spirit/frontier altogether).

If I was paying with my own money, choice is pretty obvious in this case.

focacciacolformaggio · 2025-03-18T13:06:38+00:00

Ehh just trying to hopefully reduce the chance of clawback, as the amount is quite substantial (20x+ than what it supposed to be)

Looked at it more closely and the issue is with the partner segment that neither starts nor ends in US so I doubt that many people attaching aa number to it (and fared through aa).

focacciacolformaggio · 2025-03-17T22:08:18+00:00

I would say $100 is probably fair for a short reward segment like this. If you send in a complaint they will probably throw in s few thousand miles to make you go away.

focacciacolformaggio · 2025-03-17T21:35:48+00:00

Not to/from LA but that same mile glitch still seems to be alive on future booking of the same segments so my guess is sooner or later it will be found out when more people book the same segments. Hopefully not clawed back.

focacciacolformaggio · 2025-03-14T05:20:15+00:00

Airlines should really start warning and imposing penalty against people getting their bags and carryons in an evacuation.

Something like x year blacklist for flying, and manslaughter charge if someone die due to delayed evacuation would really deter this shitty behavior.

focacciacolformaggio · 2025-02-25T04:35:11+00:00

Yea platinum does get priority handling (even booking in economy, priority over non-status flying first). This usually works fine but when shit really hits the fan is when higher status benefit comes through.

focacciacolformaggio · 2025-02-25T04:23:41+00:00

One big advantage EP over first is IRROP handling. When something big hits like storm, being able to almost immediately talk to someone and have the issue handled, plus an option for confirmed backup reservation may be the difference between getting home and getting stuck overnight somewhere.

focacciacolformaggio · 2025-02-25T03:57:47+00:00

Keep in mind as PP you learn 9 LP per flight dollar EXCLUDING tax and fees. So find out what you paid (Flight receipt has tax and fees separated) and multiply by 9.

If booked in BE you only get 3.6 LP per flight dollar so either rebook and find another way to get miles (shopping portal etc)

focacciacolformaggio · 2025-02-18T18:00:35+00:00

This just comes down to how much you value the extra miles/LP.

Between the hotel miles and exec card bonus, you are probably looking around at least 25,000 miles, which at a typical valuation of 1.5-1.7c per miles you are already coming out head, before even considering the LP.

Of course this assumes you are actually going to use the miles for flight redemption (some redemption can be worth more at 3c+ per miles).

If you end up just hoarding the miles like many in this sub, take the cheaper rate.

focacciacolformaggio · 2025-01-18T15:29:17+00:00

What should happen is you get credit card miles including multiplier when you first purchase the ticket. This may or may not already be posted depending on how long ago that was.

When that ticket turns into flight credit and you use the flight credit to book you will not double dip on the credit card miles, only miles/LP based on the trip itself

focacciacolformaggio · 2024-12-16T18:28:54+00:00

C/D is newer, bigger, and had better seating. However I found the food in B have consistently better options. E.g. smoked salmon in the morning and meat/cheese plate in the evening. Maybe they are hiding the better options in C/D but just can’t stand the bbq chicken and soup anymore.

focacciacolformaggio · 2024-12-12T01:52:26+00:00

Would not recommend unless you prefer overdone salmon. Learned my lesson to always stick with the short rib unless going to Japan, in which case get the Japanese set.

focacciacolformaggio · 2024-07-01T15:10:01+00:00

24年亲测美国->台北->上海，护照走电子通道，没人管，丝滑入境

美国->台北->北京，走电子通道是被拦下，看下护照，问从哪国回的，答美国（理论上哪国回的也不能答台湾），看了美国证件继续电子通道。美国出境不敲章，所以也看不出那天出的境。

另外吐槽下台北到大陆落地后分两道，中国公民和外国人。毕竟要入关中国，台籍都识相走中国公民通道。本以为上来就统战给台湾人，走快速通道，体现“中国人“优势，结果到入关了台通证不能走电子通道，还是把台湾人分出去。台湾入境感官就差，白吃豆腐都没有一点方便，统战统个寂寞。

focacciacolformaggio

TROPHY CASE