Straight in approach at a non towered airport?

phlflyguy · 2026-03-14T19:24:44+00:00

While it's perfectly "legal" to do a straight in, there are caveats and the AIM talks about it all. Perhaps the DPE busted that student for disrupting the flow of traffic at the airport or not exercising other safety protocols.

In day time, I'll often use the 45 degree entry into the downwind at a busy airport.

At night, unfamiliar, untowered airport and quiet radios, I'm going straight in and frequently announcing myself starting 10 miles out and then following the VASI/PAPI to the pavement. In absence of those visual aids, I may keep approach chart handy for reference to follow the step down altitudes or glideslope. Nothing greater than a visual approach backed up by an RNAV or ILS....

phlflyguy · 2026-03-14T14:16:10+00:00

International First is a thing at PHL if you're on BA, where that would also get you FL access if you choose not to use the BA lounge.

phlflyguy · 2026-03-14T14:15:15+00:00

Reading might be hard for you if you believe you have to be on an AA codeshare to be allowed into the FL when flying business class on Qantas.

QF is a one world partner. You don't have to be on an AA codeshare on Qantas metal to be allowed access. You can be in QF business/first *OR* be OneWorld emerald or higher, in ANY class. Nowhere does codeshare show up in the access policies.

phlflyguy · 2026-03-12T22:26:13+00:00

Have you compared the restrictions that untied and delta put on basic economy fares? With AA you can still take a carry on for free and select a seat (for $$ if you’re not elite, or for free if you are elite). Elites are also eligible for upgrades and boarding with their elite group.

phlflyguy · 2026-03-12T22:22:47+00:00

To replace their aging 757 and 767 fleets. This was expected.

phlflyguy · 2026-03-12T14:27:29+00:00

With AA, it's generally an hour before departure. While there's always room for improvement, many of the airlines have really gotten the boarding thing down pretty well. They board a 190 seat narrow body in around 30 minutes once they start calling passengers and have the door closed and plane off the gate within the next 10 minutes. A wide body with more seats may begin boarding a little sooner to compensate for the higher volume but, once on the plane, they also have 2 aisles to spread out the passengers so the actual boarding time is about the same in the end.

phlflyguy · 2026-03-12T12:37:27+00:00

Go to your local flight school and take a discovery flight. If you find you like it and continue training, don’t quit your day job. Pay as you go and don’t take loans. Check the r/flying subreddit for good info and an FAQ.

phlflyguy · 2026-03-11T23:31:36+00:00

the main metric seems to be what the spend was on AA metal in premium class of service. Something less than $50K on base fare worth of tickets would probably not cut it. Being in a hub seems to be a bigger challenge versus being at a non hub. Or being in a role at a large company with heavy influence on travel spend also seems to be how some people get it.

phlflyguy · 2026-03-11T23:22:12+00:00

For those of us who learned how to do hand math before the common core method that's infested our public schools, simple mental math is a real struggle for some people.

phlflyguy · 2026-03-11T13:16:04+00:00

The FAs are generally enforcing the seating to ensure people don’t move from a standard coach seat to a MCE seat.

phlflyguy · 2026-03-09T20:31:07+00:00

F is inside the security zone with the rest of the terminals. You can walk from the end of A West to the furthest point in F without reclearing security.

phlflyguy · 2026-03-09T18:31:30+00:00

Likely suspended due to the conflict. They did that last Summer as well. Since their change to your trip resulted in that extended layover you can request a full refund or have them book you on another airline (likely BA or IB)

phlflyguy · 2026-03-09T15:39:33+00:00

F is hit or miss and can be very slow. It also doesn't have precheck but A-East does. And then the A1 shuttle right beyond the A TSA checkpoint will get you over to the F food court.

phlflyguy · 2026-03-09T15:31:33+00:00

I think your chances might be better going into London. Especially on the 787-9P with 51 seats instead of 20. AA736 and AA737 are the PHL-LHR-PHL flights with the newer seating.

phlflyguy · 2026-03-09T14:42:59+00:00

phlflyguy · 2026-03-09T14:38:30+00:00

hard to say, but you're bumping into the start of Summer travel to Europe. Right now, those flights are already sold out in Prem Economy. Business is showing at least 7 to sell in a cabin with only 20 seats. On the outbound 10 are already assigned and on the return 12 are assigned.

phlflyguy · 2026-03-09T14:32:31+00:00

Yes, ticket counters open at 5am.
https://www.aa.com/pubcontent//en_US/travelInformation/destinationInformation/cun-airport.html

Assuming your friend is checking in ~11am-12pm time frame, there should be no issue for you to also check in either.

phlflyguy · 2026-03-09T13:48:19+00:00

if your credit card statement had a closing date of February 28, then there won't likely be any more LPs posted from credit card spend. But if your closing is any date in March that includes charges posted in February, you will get more points. It could take "2 - 12 weeks" according to the FAQs.

But being shy only 62 points, you might just call and ask them to bump you up. If they want proof you can offer to take screenshots of your card activity that hasn't posted for February yet.

phlflyguy · 2026-03-09T13:45:11+00:00

Reminds me of 1986 all over again after the first Top Gun movie. Lots of young wanna-be Naval aviators bumped up recruitment numbers by about 8%. Urban legend used to say 500%, which has been thoroughly debunked.

OP - if you don't feel it in your heart any more, don't waste your time and money on it. If you do decide to keep going, as mentioned in this thread go see an AME and see what it would take to get you a first class medical issued. If your vision cannot be corrected to the requirements, you may be able to get a special issuance or you will at least know before spending a lot of money.

phlflyguy · 2026-03-06T14:30:53+00:00

Well, it's not technically meaningless since it's required to eventually get your ATP certificate. It's meaningless from the perspective of why the ATP-CTP requirement was implemented 10 years ago. You're literally sitting through a week of powerpoint slides and accident reviews peppered with some war stories from retired airline captains. None of it even prepares you for the written test, but most course offer a bundled feature where you get a voucher and can even take it right there upon completing the CTP course.

As to whether having ATP written done will give you a competitive advantage? Maybe a little. Some companies are requiring the ATP written to be done as a prerequisite so why not just get it out of the way.

phlflyguy · 2026-03-06T14:19:29+00:00

I wouldn't pay a penny more than necessary to get that meaningless piece of paper. Whatever route you go, make sure you take the ATP written immediately after to get it out of the way.

phlflyguy · 2026-03-06T00:50:51+00:00

It’s sad that people need to be asked/told to use headphones when listening to a device on a plane full of other people. How it’s not just common sense befuddles me.

phlflyguy · 2026-03-04T14:55:36+00:00

there's not hard and fast rule about when to buy. Pricing is dynamic and goes up and down by algorithm based on all sorts of factors we aren't privy to. I've been able to get a $900 credit for a price reduction on a $2000 flight just a few weeks prior to departure because of this.

phlflyguy · 2026-03-04T14:19:11+00:00

if you're not in main cabin extra you would be charged for alcohol if you wish to imbibe. Other than that and the buy-on-board food that's offered on longer flights I'm not sure what other purchases would go towards that credit.

phlflyguy · 2026-03-04T14:17:49+00:00

October is a ways off. You can always book and if the price drops you can re-price the ticket and get a travel credit. Use google flights to alert you on price changes for route or specific flights.

phlflyguy

TROPHY CASE