Here’s a chance to travel like a celebrity, and to meet one.  American Airlines just launched their new Guaranteed Smoothness Sweepstakes to promote their Five Star VIP travel assistance, and the winner of the drawing will receive a VIP trip to Los Angeles and will get to meet Michael Bublé.
From the promo page:

Beginning today, the American Airlines Five Star Service Guaranteed Smoothness Sweepstakes offers customers the opportunity to register for the chance to win a VIP trip to Los Angeles complete with American’s Five Star Service and an exclusive, VIP meet-and-greet with legendary smooth jazz singer Michael Bublé.

“Our celebrated Five Star Service offers customers personalized assistance that ensures an expedited and hassle-free travel experience,” said Nancy Knipp, American’s Managing Director – Premium Services.

“The lucky winners of our sweepstakes will experience firsthand the smooth Five Star Service travel experience and will be treated like a VIP from start to finish during this once-in-a-lifetime journey.”

Some details of the prize

Through June 11, 2012, customers can register at www.aa.com/buble for the chance to win an exciting trip package that includes two First Class tickets to Los Angeles (LAX);

Five Star Service for two;

an exclusive, VIP gathering with Michael Bublé;

A $2,000 American Express gift card to be applied toward hotel, dining, shopping and more.

If you’re not familiar with American’s Five Star service, it’s one-on-one personal assistance at the airport to escort you through the check-in and security process to minimize wait times and stress, and to get you to the Admirals Club where you can relax before your fight:

Here’s a list of 5 Star services:

Coordinate with Car Service
Curbside Meet & Greet
Assist with Check-in including exclusive Flagship Check-in at participating airports
Expedite through Security Queue
Admirals Club Lounge Access
Pro-active Flight Monitoring and Priority Re-Accommodation during Delays
Escort to Gate
Coordinate Special Requests with In-Flight Crew
Pre-Boarding Assistance

It cost between $125-$200 for Domestic Five Star travel assistance.   The service has received good reviews (like this one from Marshal Jackson when he purchased Five Star Service for his mom as a Mother’s Day gift), and though I can’t imagine actually needing the assistance for myself, I’ve been tempted to try it just so that I can check out the Flagship Check-in area at LAX.  

As for the sweepstakes, I have to confess that I had heard the name Michael Bublé but wasn’t sure why he was famous (now I know), which isn’t a comment on him or his celebrity so much as the fact that my iPod is living in the 90′s!

From the terms and conditions:

• NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN.
• OPEN TO/ENTRY DETAILS: Open to legal residents of the 48 contiguous United States and the District of Columbia who are 18 years or older.
• Sweepstakes begins at 11:59 a.m. [Central time (“CT”) April 27, 2012 and all entries must be received by 11:59 a.m. CT time on June 11, 2012.
• PRIZE DETAILS: Two (2) Grand Prizes each with an ARV of $8,400. Total ARV of all Prizes: $16,800.

Go here to enter. Good luck!

Photo: Michael Bublé
Credit: Eva Rinaldi on Flickr

You can earn double AAdvantage miles between LAX and nine destinations:

Participating Airlines: American Airlines and American Eagle

Award: Double Miles

Offer: Earn double AAdvantage miles for travel on select nonstop flights on American Airlines or American Eagle between Los Angeles and:

Denver, CO
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Fresno, CA
Nashville, TN
Phoenix, AZ
Reno, NV
San Diego, CA
Sacramento, CA
Toronto, Canada

Offer Dates: Travel between April 16, 2012 and June 30, 2012

Promotion Code: WCDBL

Registration is required before you travel. Go here to sign up or for more details.

The Double Elite and Double AAdvantage Miles offer is back (actually, it never expired).

American is extending their offer to residents of Illinois, Texas, and California of Double Elite Qualifying Miles and Double AAdvantage Miles on flights between Chicago and San Francisco/Los Angeles, and Dallas-Ft.Worth and San Francisco/Los Angeles. This isn’t a big surprise considering that they and Virgin America are still aggressively competing on these routes.

One new twist to the offer: flights between Chicago and Orange County are included in this promotion.  Virgin American doesn’t fly between the two cities, but AA and United have both been offering some cheap fares on the route, so maybe this is related.

The bonus code remains the same, so no need to register again if you’ve already signed up for this offer.  Here are the details:

Offer Extended Through June 30, 2012. Now You Have More Time To Increase Your Mileage Balance and Qualify For AAdvantage Elite Status Faster

Award: Double Elite-Status Qualifying Miles. Double Flight Miles

Bonus Code: DEQ11

Dates: Book your trip and fly between October 27, 2011, and June 30, 2012

Offer: Reach AAdvantage elite status faster than ever with this offer and add to your mileage balance at the same time! Just book a round-trip ticket and fly on American Airlines between Chicago O’Hare and Los Angeles, Orange County* or San Francisco or between Dallas/Fort Worth and Los Angeles or San Francisco from October 27, 2011, through June 30, 2012. You’ll earn double flight miles AND double elite-qualifying miles, the miles that bring you closer to AAdvantage elite status membership – at an accelerated rate.

With so many choices, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to get to your destination and add more miles to your AAdvantage account:

Between Chicago and Los Angeles 10 nonstops each business day
Between Chicago and San Francisco 7 nonstops each business day
Between Chicago and Orange County 3 nonstops each business day
Between DFW and Los Angeles 18 nonstops each business day
Between DFW and San Francisco 11 nonstops each business day

Note: This offer is valid only for AAdvantage members with an address on file with AAdvantage Marketing programs in California, Illinois or Texas.

* Offer applies to travel booked and flown between Chicago O’Hare and Orange Country starting March 9, 2012 through June 30, 2012.

I’ve been curious about Virgin’s service and have wanted to try them just for fun, but not so curious as to give up the chance of an upgrade or the AAdvantage miles.  And with double elite miles and flight miles, there’s no chance of it happening.   Obviously, the marketing works!

Go here for complete terms and conditions.

Photo: Double
Credit: Gidzy on Flickr

I’m traveling this week and missed posting the results of Monday’s random drawing. So to start today’s post, Congratulations to worldtraveller2: you’re the winner of the new Marcus Samuelsson spiced nut mix!

Because more than 200 American Airlines pilots decided to retire during the 4th quarter of last year, American had to reduce the number of widebody 767 and 777 aircraft on their domestic schedule.

Well, it looks like they’re bringing them back. Here’s a look at the widebody flights (all 767s) that were added to the schedule:

Dallas- Ft. Worth

Date From To Flight Frequency
2/9/12 DFW LAX 2431 1234567
2/9/12 DFW LAX 2439 12345..
2/9/12 DFW SFO 1937 1234567

New York JFK

Date From To Flight Frequency
2/9/12 JFK LAX 1 1234567

Los Angeles

Date From To Flight Frequency
2/9/12 LAX BOS 222 1234567

2/9/12 LAX DFW 2414 12345..
2/9/12 LAX DFW 2416 1234567

3/11/12 LAX HNL 287 1234567

2/9/12 LAX OGG 161 1234567
2/9/12 LAX OGG 253 1234567

Kahului Airport, Maui

Date From To Flight Frequency
2/9/12 OGG LAX 14 1234567
2/9/12 OGG LAX 254 1234567

San Francisco

Date From To Flight Frequency
2/9/12 SFO DFW 414 1234567

There were also some routes that saw a reduction in widebody service: Chicago and Miami each lost two flights from one to the other.

I was hoping they’d bring back the widebody service between Chicago and Dallas, that was one of my favorite flights.

American used to fly a Boeing 777 with a 3 class configuration that was sold as a two class configured flight. It was still standard coach service in the business class cabin, but AAdvantage members with elite status were able to reserve the roomier seats.

Anyway, go here to see a copy of the complete domestic widebody schedule.

Photo: American 767 on a murky day SFO airport
Credit: Bill Abbott on Flickr

Last week American opened their new Flagship Check-In service at LAX.  From the AA.com website:

At American Airlines Flagship Check-in, you’ll get an exclusive, distinct experience that expedites your check-in process. Benefits include:

• A separate curbside entrance room at the terminal offers drive-up and drop-off convenience

• Access to customer service representatives who can personally assist with your individual travel
requirements, from check-in and baggage check to seat or itinerary changes or you have a choice to use available self-service kiosks

• Immediate access to a designated premium security line, offering you expedited access through security checkpoints

Unlike the Flagship Check-In area at London’s Heathrow airport, AAdvantage Executive Platinum status isn’t enough to get you admitted. It’s only available to First Class customers traveling on a three-class transcontinental or three-class international flight, ConciergeKey members, and Five Star Service customers.

Something else that’s changed is that American has introduced a separate premium check-in area for First and Business class passengers, AAdvantage members with elite status, oneworld elite status members, and customers traveling with PriorityAAcces.

Regular check-in is now located on the west side of the T4 lobby.

I flew out of LAX the other day I was able to use the new premium check-in area and thought it was a great improvement: the lines were short and I was able to clear security in record time.

The regular check-in area hasn’t changed though: the lines were long and it still looks like a refuge camp.

Anyway, I wasn’t able to take a photo of the Flagship Check-In area, so to give you an idea of how it looks, I found some images on Flickr and put together a tour:

American Airlines Flagship Curbside check-in
photo credit: Ed Schipul

Main Lobby
photo credit: dobrych

Passenger drop off
photo credit: lan Light

Flagship Ticketing
photo credit: denn

Flagship bathrooms
photo credit: Till Krech

Flagship TSA screening zone
photo credit: Stephen Carlile

If you’re traveling from LAX and use  the Flagship Check-in area, let me know if you take any photos and feel like sharing, I’ll put them up on the site.    

American and Virgin America have been battling it out in California, Texas and Illinois.  I’ve seen fares from my home airport (DFW) to Los Angeles and San Francisco drop to about half what they were a year ago, and both airlines have been offering big fare sales on the routes that they both serve.  

A couple of times this year, American has offered Double Elite Qualifying Miles and Double AAdvantage Miles in these markets.  The last such offer exired a few weeks ago, but starting today, they’re bringing them back:

Chicago or DFW – Los Angeles or San Francisco. Reach Elite Status Faster. Double Miles

Increase Your Mileage Balance and Qualify For AAdvantage Elite Status Faster Than Ever

Airline: American Airlines

Award: Double Elite-Status Qualifying Miles. Double Flight Miles

Bonus Code: DEQ11

Dates: Book your trip and fly between October 27, 2011, and March 31, 2012

Offer: Reach AAdvantage elite status faster than ever with this offer and add to your mileage balance at the same time! Just book a round-trip ticket and fly on American Airlines between Chicago O’Hare or DFW and Los Angeles or San Francisco from October 27, 2011, through March 31, 2012. You’ll earn double flight miles AND double elite-qualifying miles, the miles that bring you closer to AAdvantage elite status membership – at an accelerated rate.

With so many choices, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to get to your destination and add more miles to your AAdvantage account:

Between Chicago and Los Angeles 10 nonstops each business day
Between Chicago and San Francisco 6 nonstops each business day
Between DFW and Los Angeles 16 nonstops each business day
Between DFW and San Francisco 10 nonstops each business day

I have a few trips to Los Angeles lined up already, so I read through the fine print to see if this new offer applied to travel after October 27, but purchased earlier.  Unfortunately (for me), it does not. To qualify for this offer you’ll have to purchase your ticket on or after today. (Boo hiss, Boo hiss!)

You must be a resident of Illinois, Texas or California to qualify for this offer and registration is required in advance using pomo code DEQ11.  Go here to read the full terms and conditions and to sign up.

(Dan Webb has an interesting interview with Virgin America CEO over at Things in the Sky.)

November 24 is a big day for ski geeks: that’s the day that Aspen’s ski season officially opens.  For AAdvantage geeks though, December 15 is an even bigger day: that’s the day that American Eagle starts service to Aspen from Los Angeles and Dallas – Ft. Worth and it’s also the first day of a new Double AAdvantage Miles offer:

Airline: American Eagle

Award: Bonus Miles

Bonus Code: ASE2X

Dates: Travel between December 15, 2011, and March 15, 2012

Offer: Starting December 15, 2011, American Eagle will offer daily nonstop flights between Los Angeles or Dallas/Fort Worth and Aspen, CO. To celebrate, you can earn double miles every time you fly our new route through March 15, 2012.

I was looking at the snow report on Aspen Ski Company’s website and the Snowmass ski area already has about a foot of snow in some places.  And while I was on the website, I noticed that they were offering advance purchase discounts on lift tickets, lesson, and equipment rentals, so if you’re a skier you might want to visit their site to take a look at their promotional offers.

Register using promo code ASE2X before you travel.  You can go here to sign up or to read the complete terms and conditions.

Here’s a great way to earn a lot of miles in just one trip: fly non-stop between the U.S. or Vancouver to Tokyo on American Airlines or Japan Airlines and earn Double AAdvantage Miles.

Award: Double Miles

U.S. to Tokyo Bonus Code: USTYO

Dates: Travel between November 1, 2011 and February 29, 2012.

U.S. Offer: Earn double AAdvantage miles when you fly nonstop on American Airlines or Japan Airlines on purchased, published First Class, Business Class and selected Economy Class fares from November 1, 2011, through February 29, 2012, between the following cities:

From Chicago OHare (ORD); Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW); Los Angeles (LAX); New York (JFK) to Tokyo Narita (NRT)

From San Francisco (SFO) to Tokyo Haneda (HND)

Offer applies only to AAdvantage members who purchase and fly on purchased, published First Class or Business Class fares booked in F, A, J, R, D or I; Economy Class fares booked in Y, B, W, H or K on American Airlines operated flights; First Class or Business Class fares booked in F, A, J, C, D, X or I; Economy Class fares booked in Y, W, B, E, H, K on Japan Airlines operated flights.

Here are the details of the Vancouver to Tokyo offer

Vancouver to Tokyo Bonus Code: JLYVR

Dates: Travel between November 1, 2011 and February 29, 2012.

Offer: Earn double AAdvantage miles when you fly nonstop on Japan Airlines on purchased, published Business Class and selected Economy Class fares (booked in Y, B, H or K) between Vancouver and Tokyo. Offer applies to travel completed between November 1, 2011 and February 29, 2012.

Offer applies only to AAdvantage members who purchase and fly on purchased, published Business Class fares booked in J, R, D or I; Economy Class fares booked in Y, B, H or K on American Airlines marketed flights; Business Class fares booked in J, C, D, X or I; Economy Class fares booked in Y, B, H, K on Japan Airlines operated flights.

Go here for full details or to register for the U.S. to Tokyo offer.

Go here for more info or to register for the Vancouver to Tokyo offer.

Here’s something that was posted by reliably accurate JonNYC in his Traveling Better forums: Complimentary e-upgrades on certain markets.

Earlier this year, in an effort to introduce the new First Class service that became available on some American Eagle aircraft, American was offering AAdvantage Gold and Platinum members free upgrades on flight to and from a few markets.

The forum post explains that from October 18 through December 15, 2011, AAdvantage Platinum and AAdvantage Gold members will receive complimentary upgrades for travel on any published fare on American Eagle nonstop flights between:

New York JFK – and Nashville, Cleveland, Washington Reagan, Toronto, Baltimore-Washington, Columbus, and Raleigh Durham.

New York LaGuardia – and Atlanta, Cleveland, Columbus, Minneapolis – St. Paul, Nashville, Charlotte, Detroit, and Raleigh Durham

Los Angeles LAX – and Albuquerque, Houston Intercontinental, Phoenix, Denver, San Diego, and Oklahoma City (for you Oklahoma natives, that’s The City).

According the post, no 500-mile upgrades will be deducted from your account for your travel on these flights and companion upgrades are not eligible for complimentary upgrades.

I guess technically, nothing’s official until we see a promotional webpage or email, but given JonNYC’s track record, I’d say that it’s almost certain that we’ll see an announcement.

Go here to read JonNYC’s original post.

“Held Over” Photo credit: Thomas Hawk on Flickr

Back in February, American introduced a big bonus offer to promote their new Los Angeles to Shanghai, China service with Triple AAdvantage Miles for First and Business class travel and Double AAdvantage Miles in coach. This offer originally expired June 30, but has now been extended through July and August. Here are the details:

Bonus Code: LAPVG

Dates: April 5, 2011, through August 31, 2011

Offer: American Airlines now offers nonstop service between Los Angeles and Shanghai, China. AAdvantage members can boost their mileage balance each time they fly our new route. Earn triple AAdvantage miles when you fly on a purchased First Class or Business Class fare — that’s a total of more than 20,000 miles for a one-way trip. Or, fly on a purchased Economy Class fare and earn double AAdvantage miles. And, best of all, you can earn this bonus an unlimited number of times.

In addition to increasing your mileage balance, you will enjoy your flight onboard our Boeing 777 aircraft, the largest and most comfortable aircraft in the American Airlines fleet. The 777 features lie-flat sleeper seats in First Class and a professional atmosphere for working or resting in Business Class.

A round trip coach ticket normally earns 12,970 AAdvantage Miles, with this bonus you’ll earn 25,940 miles, which is enough for a round trip domestic Economy MileSAAver award. First or Business Class will earn a total 38,910 AAdvantage Miles. This doesn’t include the Class of Service bonus miles you earn for various First and Business class fare. After you add those miles, you’ll have enough for a round trip MileSAAver award to Europe.

To earn this bonus, you’ll need to register first using Bonus Code LAPVG. Go here to sign up or to read the terms and conditions.