On three international routes they’re replacing a few of their 2-cabin 767-300s with 3-cabin 777-200s.

This means more First Class seats to Europe!

These are the routes that have been upgraded:

• As of 6/12 American is operating the 772 between DFW and Frankfurt, Germany. This is permanent rather than seasonal.

• 6/11 – 8/26 – American is operating a 772 between DFW and Madrid, Spain

• 7/2 – 7/30 – American is operating a 772 between DFW and Paris, France (CDG)

You might consider all three destinations if you’re looking to avoid LHR fees.

Hat tip to Destination David!

Back in July of 2010, Marriott announced that their Marriott Rewards program would no longer offer AAdvantage miles for stays at Marriott hotels. Considering how many properties they have (3,700 properties in 70 countries), it was a big disappointment (and inconvenience) for them to leave the AAdvantage program.

Here’s some good news: starting today, AAdvantage members can earn miles when they stay at any of Marriott’s 14 hotel brands!

Joint members who stay at one of 14 participating Marriott brands can earn one to two miles per dollar spent on the room rate and two miles per dollar spent on all qualifying transactions. Also, joint members can convert their Marriott Rewards points to AAdvantage miles.

Some really great news – you can even earn 500 bonus miles through August 15, 2013!

The details from American’s announcement:

We are excited to announce that American Airlines is welcoming Marriott back to the AAdvantage program!

What does this mean for you? You’ll have the opportunity to earn even more AAdvantage miles (up to 2 miles per dollar spent) while allowing you to expand your travel experience and enjoy more choices when deciding where you will stay when you’re away from home.

What better way to celebrate our new partnership than offering you more of what you want – bonus miles! Earn 500 AAdvantage bonus miles when you stay at over 3,700 participating Marriott properties around the globe between July 15 and August 15, 2013.

How to join:  visit MarriottRewards.com and sign up for the Marriot Rewards program:

• Select Miles/other program as your Earning preference
• Select American Airlines as your preferred Airline program
• Enter your AAdvantage number

How to earn: you’ll earn two AAdvantage miles per $1USD spent on all qualifying transactions at these participating brands:

• JW Marriott
• Autograph Collection Hotels
• Renaissance Hotels
• Marriott Hotels
• Marriott Vacation Club

You’ll earn two AAdvantage miles per $1USD spent on room rate only at these participating brands:

• The Ritz-Carlton
• EDITION
• Gaylord Hotels

You’ll earn one AAdvantage mile per $1USD spent on room rate only at these participating brands:

• AC Hotels
• Courtyard by Marriott
• Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott
• SpringHill Suites by Marriott
• Residence Inn by Marriott
• TownePlace Suites by Marriott
• Marriott Executive Apartments

Convert points: you can convert Marriott Rewards points to AAdvantage miles:

• 10,000 points = 2,000 miles
• 20,000 points = 5,000 miles
• 30,000 points = 10,000 miles
• 70,000 points = 25,000 miles
• 140,000 points = 50,000 miles

According to Loyalty Traveler’s analysis, 10,000 Marriott Rewards points are worth between 80-120 dollars. 2,000 AAdvantage miles have a nominal value of about $40, so converting your Marriott points to miles might not be a great value, but it’s certainly nice to have the option if you need to top offer your AAdvantage account for a redemption.

Visi aa.com/marriott and MarriottRewards.com for more information.

Photo: Marriott at night KC
Credit: seligmanwaite on Flickr

If you’re trying to plan some travel, or just wondering where the new planes are flying to, you’ll be interested to know that American posted an updated schedule of their 777-300ER flights at AA.com.

Here’s a look.

This schedule doesn’t include the one-time 777-300ER domestic run that American has planned for August 4, 2013 between New York JFK and San Diego.

American is expecting to take delivery of 15 777-300ER in 2013. Here’s a link to the latest 77W information at AA.com.

A few Monday morning news items...

Win 2,500 AAdvantage Miles:  Don’t forget that the Frugal Travel Guy’s Monday Deal of the Day is sponsored by AAdvantage. Share you best AAdvantage, American Airlines, or oneworld related deal or tip for a chance to win 2,500 AAdvantage Miles! Go here to find out more.

Win a First Class amenity kit:  Speaking of The Frugal Travel Guy…he set up a non-profit foundation help fight child hunger in the U.S. Go here to learn how you can help and to be entered in a giveaway to win a first class amenity kit.

Win a trip to Norway:  Speaking of winning stuff…Cindy at Points & Travel has a super cool reader giveaway that offer the winner two round-tip tickets to Norway! The odds of winning her sweepstakes are probably much better when you compare them to the odds of winning a big sweepstakes sponsored by one of the airlines.  Go here to learn more.

Good luck!

Here’s a video from Stephen Colbert in which he praises the TSA agents and calls for more government scrutiny of Star Wars characters.

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Hope you have a great weekend!

Yesterday, Terry Maxon of the Dallas Morning News Aviation Biz blog posted a copy of an email that was sent to American’s flight attendants from their leader Lauri Curtis, American’s VP of Flight Services.   In her message she mentions that American is planning to add more seats to the Boeing 737s and MD-80s.

“we expect to add seats to the 737 and MD-80 fleets, but we haven’t yet determined the right number of seats, and as a result, the impact on revenue and cost.

…we are still working through the specific details and timing.”

In a follow up to questions from Mr. Maxon, an American spokesperson said:

“Although we expect to add seats to the 737 and MD-80 fleets, we are evaluating the right number of seats and the impact on revenue and cost while retaining our Main Cabin Extra product.”

“As we work through plans to integrate our two airlines, our leaders are evaluating every aspect of the business to make sure that any new decisions are right for the combined carrier.”

Here’s a comparison of how the big 4 airlines configure similar equipment (US Airways doesn’t use the 737-800, nor do they offer domestic “premium economy” seats).

American Airlines – Boeing 737-800: 150 total seats

First Class: 16 seats

Main Cabin Extra Class: 56 seats

Economy Class: 78 seats

US Airways – Boeing 737-400: 144 total seats

First Class: 12 recliner seats

Coach Class: 132 standard seats

United – Boeing 737-800: 154 total seats

First Class 16 recliner seats

Economy Plus Class: 48 seats

Economy Class: 90 seats

Delta – Boeing 737-800: 160 total seats

First Class: 16 seats

Economy Comfort Class: 18 seats

Economy Class: 126 seats

Some observations.

• As you would expect, Delta’s offers the least generous configuration: they have the most economy seats and the fewest number of economy cabin seats with extra legroom.

• All of the airlines offer the same number of First Class seats (with the exception of US Airways who has the smaller plane).

• American’s 737-800 configuration is notable in that it offers the greatest number of ‘premium economy” seats with Main Cabin Extra. Far more than United or Delta.

I hope that when American adds more seats that they don’t reduce the number of seats in the First Class cabin (that will make for fewer upgrades).  If I had to predict how they’ll increase the number of seats, my guess is that they’ll remove some (or maybe even all) of the Main Cabin Extra seats.

Jake Redman at Modhop was at US Airway’s media day back in April.  He had the opportunity to speak with Andrew Nocella, US Airways Senior Vice President of Marketing and Planning, and he asked about Main Cabin Extra:

Jake Redmon: From what we learned today the choice seats option has been a positive one for the airline and I asked you last year whether US Airways would ever consider a larger more leg room option like American’s main cabin extra. What are your thoughts on it today and what do you think makes sense for the combined airline?

Andrew Nocella: So I don’t think we have a final answer for what makes sense for the combined airline. American is definitely going forward with their cabin extra product. We are now using this opportunity to understand the economics of it in a very serious way so that process is ongoing and you know American has actually started to implement it so we can actually see the economic impact of that and we are going to use that analysis to model what it would be like on the US Airway system with actual real data and come up with the right answer. It is not something that I can say that we are going to do or not do but it is something that we are studying very carefully and obviously needs careful attention as we integrate the two companies.

It was a noncommittal answer, but one that would seem to indicate that they (the US Airways leadership team) aren’t completely sold on Main Cabin Extra.

So, maybe that’s where they’ll look when they go to add more seats?  What do you think?

You can read the rest of Jake’s interview of Mr Nocella here. Go here to read Terry Maxon’s post on DMN Aviation Biz blog.

Photo: untitled
Credit: Jason Tester Guerrilla Futures on Flick

Watch this video to learn how to enter.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Here are the details:

How to Enter: To enter, follow @AmericanAir on Twitter, tweet using #newAmerican and include a YouTube video or Vine for saying the line “The #newAmerican is arriving. U want to fly London to Los Angeles (or Los Angeles to London) on the 777-300ER” in either an American or British accent.

On-line entry via Twitter only- all participants must have access to the internet and an active Twitter account. If you do not have a Twitter account you will need to create one in order to participate and you will require an active email address in order to do this.

The Prize: Two (2) Roundtrip Coach Class Travel Authorization Certificates (each a “Travel Certificate”) on American Airlines or its “Airline Associates” (American Eagle, Executive Airlines or the AmericanConnection carrier) A) for US Based Resident from any city served by American Airlines or its Airline Associates in the forty-eight (48) contiguous United States to the European destination of Winner’s choice.

Awarding of Prizes: On or about June 18, 2013, a random drawing will be conducted from among all Eligible Entries received by Sponsor who will select the Winner in a random drawing from among all Eligible Entries received by Sponsor under independent supervision. Winners will be contacted on or about June 18, 2013.

Deadline: All entries must be received by at 4:01:59 p.m. US CT/ 10:01:59 PM GMT London Time on June 14, 2013.

Go here for complete details.

Good luck!

Citi just released an updated AAdvantage Reduced Mileage Awards chart for third quarter 2013. They’ve also introduced a great new feature: you can now book one-way awards!!

Get to your destination with fewer AAdvantage miles. All New! Enjoy more flexibility with one-way or round trip travel options and more frequent destination updates!

With Reduced Mileage Awards, eligible Citi / AAdvantage cardmembers can save thousands of AAdvantage miles when redeeming miles for a MileSAAver award to select destinations. Choose from one-way or round trip travel to maximize your savings.

Depending upon which card you have, you can save 5,000 to 7,500 AAdvantage Miles with a round-trip award,  or 2,500 to 3,750 miles with a one-way redemption.

Citi AAdvantage Reduced Mileage awards also qualify for the 10% mileage rebate benefit (up to 10,000 miles annually) that comes with the Citi AAdvantage credit card. So, with the right card it’s possible to book a one-way award for just 7,875 AAdvantage Miles!

For this upcoming quarter you’ll find reduced milage awards to some great destinations: New York City (EWR), Monterey, Santa Barbara, Washington DC, Fort Lauderdale, Toronto, and (my favorite) Montreal.

Go here to see the complete list.

Photo: Reduced 1970
Credit: Jacky Tranter on Flickr

American and their oneworld partner Qantas have joined together for a new sweepstakes that offers the winner a trip to Australia.

To enter, all you have to do is go to www.facebook.com/AmericanAirlines and www.facebook.com/Qantas, click on the “Plan Your Dream Australian Adventure” link:

(1) Like the Facebook Page,

(2) Follow instructions to go through the trip planner,

(3) Complete the registration form by providing the information required,

(4) Click the submit button.

All Entries must be submitted by the end date and time listed above.

Limit 2 entries per person/Facebook Account, one for Qantas page and for American Airlines page..

The Prize:

Grand Prize Winner will receive 2 economy round-trip air travel tickets, which will include travel departing from an airport of the Grand Prize Winner’s choice that is serviced by American Airlines or its “Airline Associates” (American Eagle, Executive Airlines or the American Connection carrier) from any city served by American Airlines or its Airline Associates in the 48 contiguous United States to a Qantas gateway with continuation to Sydney on Qantas ($7200 value),

Five nights hotel accommodation through Accor at the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth ($750 value),

A $1000.00 gift card from the Vendor of Sponsors’ choice ($1000 value)

All entries must be received by 11:59 p.m. EDT on June 24, 2013.

Go here for the rules. Go here (American Airlines) and here (Qantas) to enter.

Good luck!

Five of the leaders will come from US Airways, three will come from American, and seven current American executives will be leaving.

As previously announced, Tom Horton will serve as Chairman and Doug Parker will be be the CEO.

Here’s the lineup.

Joining from US Airways:

• Scott Kirby, 45, President: responsibilities include planning, marketing, sales, alliances, pricing/yield management and operations

• Elise Eberwein, 48, Executive Vice President, People and Communications: responsible for human resources, media relations, internal communications, social media and public affairs

• Robert Isom, 49, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Executive Officer of US Airways, Inc. post-close: responsible for all aspects of airline operations, including customer service, flight operations, maintenance, regional carrier management, cargo, safety and security

• Stephen Johnson, 56, Executive Vice President, Corporate Affairs: responsibilities include corporate and legal affairs, government and regulatory affairs, labor relations, and real estate

• Derek Kerr, 48, Chief Financial Officer: responsible for oversight of all financial areas, including financial planning and analysis, corporate finance and treasury functions, purchasing, controller and audit functions and investor relations

Joining from American:

• Beverly Goulet, 58, Chief Integration Officer: will lead the complex integration process of merging American Airlines and US Airways into one airline

• Maya Leibman, 47, Chief Information Officer: responsible for all information technology systems, including systems development, infrastructure, and planning

• William Ris, 65, Senior Vice President, Government Affairs: responsible for all federal and international government and regulatory affairs and public policy

These American executives will be departing:

• Dan Garton, President and Chief Executive Officer of American Eagle Airlines

• Bella Goren, Chief Financial Officer

• Gary Kennedy,Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Chief Compliance Office

• Denise Lynn, Senior Vice President – People

• Jim Ream,Senior Vice President – Operations

• Jon Snook, Senior Vice President – Customer Service

• Virasb Vahidi, Senior Vice President & Chief Commercial Officer

In a memo to employees, which was printed by Andrea Ahles on the Ft. Worth Star-Telegram’s SkyTalk blog, Doug Parker wrote:

“Mergers unfortunately result in departures, and there are some on both teams, but I want to use this opportunity to specifically thank some of the outstanding senior executives at American.”

“The American restructuring is far and away the most successful in aviation history and it would not be possible without the exceptional and dedicated work of people like Dan Garton, Bella Goren, Gary Kennedy, Denise Lynn, Jim Ream, Jon Snook and Virasb Vahidi.”

Tom Horton’s comments from the press release:

“Through their commitment to our company they have helped build an airline that delivers on our promise to our customers and to all the communities American serves,” Horton said. “American’s leaders will continue to work very closely with their counterparts throughout the merger planning to build upon the momentum everyone has worked so hard to create.”

Also announced, the post merger Board of Directors.

If you’re trying to follow the changes, Terry Maxon details the current lineup of executives from both airlines and there are still a number of leadership positions that haven’t been announced.

Two positions I’ve been following with interest are still undecided. Who will end up in charge Customer Experience and who will run the AAdvantage program?

In the Star Wars films, Chewbacca, armed with a blaster, was able to fight off Imperial Stormtroopers and to make his way to the Millennium Falcon. Unfortunately for Peter Mayhew, the actor who played Chewbacca, a cane shaped like a light saber wasn’t enough to get him past the TSA. In fact, because of the cane he spent a little extra time in security as the agents tried to figure out if it was a weapon.

The actor was at the Denver airport and on his way to catch an American Airlines flight to DFW.  TSA agents delayed him so that they could inspect his walking cane, which is made to look like a light saber. He thought for a moment that the agents were going to confiscate his cane, so rather than using a blaster, he took to Twitter.

People started to retweet his SOS, and after a few minutes he was reunited with his cane.

A short time later the @AmericanAir team sent a Tweet to check on him, but by then he had already been reunited with his light saber cane.

When he got to DFW he sent a Tweet to thank the @AmericanAir team.

Here’s some good advice:

“Trust the Force” and the @AmericanAir team!

Speaking of Winning

Don’t forget that the Frugal Travel Guy’s Monday Deal of the Day is sponsored by AAdvantage. Submit your favorit American Airlines or AAdvantage related tip for a chance to win 2,500 AAdvantage Miles!  Go here to enter.  Good luck!