A few weeks ago I completed (potentially) my final major trip of the year. With that quick trip to Japan I earned my 100,000th Elite Qualifying Mile and $15,000th Elite Qualifying Dollar. As a result, I unlocked another year of American Airlines AAdvantage Executive Platinum elite status. About a week after completing my trip I…
For some, myself included, it’s a big deal when they finally earn elite status with an airline. To earn elite status with any domestic airline you basically have to fly over 25,000 miles. On top of that, most require you spend more than $3,000 doing so. Over the past several years I’ve become numb to…
It seems like stories like these come out almost every year now. I’m not sure how long American has been doing this, but I personally remember it happening back in 2015. I remember it vividly… I remember the offer because I had spent most of 2014 flying around the country. With each trip I added…
During my four hour layover in Tokyo’s Narita airport I decided to do some lounge hopping. I had just arrived in Tokyo after an amazing First Class Flight with Japan Airlines. My lounge hopping began with the old Japan Airlines First Class lounge in the Main Building. Although the old First Class lounge was a…
After my JAL First Class flight to Tokyo Narita I had about 4 hours until my flight to Hanoi. I was on my way to Hanoi as I needed to get there to start my Cathay Pacific First Class trip home. Thankfully, transiting at Tokyo’s Narita airport is quite easy. After exiting the aircraft I…
Just a few years ago earning elite status on American Airlines was incredibly easy to understand. At that time there were only three levels, Gold, Platinum, and Executive Platinum. You earned each at 25,000 miles, 50,000 miles and 100,000 miles, respectively. Also, back then you earned 1 mile per mile flown no matter how much…
I find it hard to believe that 2019 is more than halfway over. What’s even harder to believe is that I’m done flying to earn elite status. Any day now I should receive American Airlines AAdvantage credit for my most recent flight in Business Class on Cathay Pacific. Once those miles post to my account…
As many of you may know, I don’t fly United Airlines or Star Alliance partners all that often. Instead, I stick to American Airlines and the OneWorld Alliance. Because I rarely fly United, I have a fairly difficult time earning United MileagePlus miles. Sure, I’m earning plenty of American AAdvantage miles so don’t feel too…
I have to admit, over the past few years I’ve been incredibly lucky when it comes to travel. Since 2015 I can only think of a few major delays or canceled flights that have actually disrupted my plans. Generally I’m able to get out ahead of a delay or cancelation and salvage a trip. Unfortunately,…
In late 2018 I booked some absolutely incredible Cathay Pacific First Class fares thanks to a pricing mistake. Because of this mistake, which Cathay Pacific honored, I’d finally have the chance to fly Cathay Pacific First Class and Business class between the US and Asia It was arguably the deal of the decade, but there…
