Review : I first started flying AA January 1, 1984. On that day, I took the flight that changed my life. I left the United States and took off for the Dominican Republic. There I would spend the better part of five years obtaining my medical degree. Unlike most of the other students who were supported by their parents and could travel home each semester, I was the very, very, poor student who only flew back on two occasions during my entire stay.
Of course, I traveled American Airlines. Both flights are quite unmemorable to me. I remember eating getting on board and eating ’’American food’’. The years passed and my daughter, my sister and my nephew all wanted to follow in my footsteps. Each one ended up in the Dominican Republic, and each has flown American. Their reported experiences have ranged from ’’its ok’’, to, ’’it was great, the flight was empty and I had the seats to myself’’.
My daughter, unlike myself travels home every 3 1/2 months. I cannot say that she has ever had a negative experience. In 4 years, she has never been delayed. Each flight allows her to accumulate almost 15, 000 travel miles and thus, for only a 75 dollar processing fee, on every other trip, she comes home economy and leaves first class. I was a little suspect at first, since I thought she would be flagged and wouldn’t really receive ’’the first class treatment’’, but to our surprise she happily reports that AA treats her ’’like a queen’’.
My advice for the frequent traveler: 1- Choose an Airline that gives you travel miles
2- investigate their upgrade deals. I have found that not all clerks are the same. Some will give you ALL the information you need to make a good choice.
3- In the case of AA, we recently found out that the upgrade deals are not advertised. You MUST ASK.
4- Upgrades with a nominal fee are usually available only 24 hours prior to departure. So make the time to call.
5- Once you know, and you now know, be confident, be polite and get your upgrade. 6- PS: if you don’t have the travel miles, an upgrade can be obtained 24 hours before departure for a 200 dollar fee. The difference between first class and economy might not seem great on a two hour flight, but can be heaven and earth on those long, long, long tic toc flights. Happy travels.