“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.

“Antara shopping center” Mexico City. Photo credit: jrsnchzhrs on Flickr

This is embarrassing to admit, but for a long time my mental image of Mexico City was one of cathedrals, traffic, and smog. I had visited cities along the U.S./Mexico border and just assumed that Mexico City was little different from a border city. I didn’t really think of it as the big modern city that it is, or consider that it had more in common with New York, London, and Tokyo than it does with Laredo.

A couple of years ago I was at a film festival and watched a video that was created by editing shots of Mexico City from 1960s Mexican television. Most of the scenes had this mod/pop quality that reminded me the early James Bond movies, and I hadn’t known that I was watching video that was filmed in Mexico City, I would have thought that it was filmed in 1960s New York.

For me, that film was the first time I had to re-evaluate my misguided impression of Mexico City.

Mexico City is ranked by Forbes as one of the top 5 foodie cities in the world, it’s home to some of the most ambitious new restaurants in North America, and it’s the home of North America’s newest architectural wonder, with the opening of the new building for the art museum Museo Soumaya. The New Yorks Times describes it this way:

It’s also a perfect emblem of the way Mexico City’s cultural commerce is conducted at its best — art bubbling up out of good food and drink and the seemingly endless spool of talk that ties together many of the city’s creative communities.

So there are lots of reason now why I want to go to Mexico City: from DFW fares are really cheap, making it a perfect destination for a long weekend, hotels are comparatively inexpensive. Now I have a really good reason to go, triple AAdvantage Miles for business class travel and double miles in coach:

Through June 15, American is offering triple miles to Mexico City and two other cities: Guadalajara and Monterrey:

Airline: American Airlines
Award: Bonus Miles
Promotion Code: TPLMX
Dates: Travel between March 17, 2011, through June 15, 2011.

Offer: For a limited time, AAdvantage members can earn up to triple miles when they fly on American Airlines nonstop flights to/from Guadalajara, Mexico City or Monterrey, Mexico. Earn triple AAdvantage miles for purchased travel in Business Class or double miles for travel in Economy Class. To qualify, simply register prior to travel and fly between March 17 and June 15, 2011.

Anyway, go here to read the terms and conditions or to sign up for this promotion.

“Nian Gao (Rice cake)” Photo credit: Ken Neoh on Flickr

(Editor’s Note: This offer has been extended through August 31, 2011)
It’s the Year of the Rabbit, and the only thing almost as good as traditional Nian Gao sticky cake is Triple AAdvantage Miles!

Back in October, American announced plans to launch service between Los Angeles and Shanghai, China. Service starts in April, and to celebrate they’re offering bonus AAdvantage Miles: double miles for coach, triple miles for business or first class travel.  The details from AA.com:

Bonus Code: LAPVG

Dates: April 5, 2011, through June 30, 2011

Offer: Starting April 5, 2011, American Airlines will offer new nonstop service between Los Angeles and Shanghai, China. For a limited time, 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.

From LAX to Shanghai and back you’ll earn 12,970 base miles in coach. With the Double AAdvantage Miles bonus, you’ll earn 25,940 miles! That’s enough for a roundtrip MilesAAver ticket to anywhere in the continental US and Canada. I found some early June fares for as little as $1,040, so your cost is about 4.01 cents per mile with the bonus.

If you’re more interested in maximizing your comfort than your CPM, you’ll find business class fares are available for about $4,200 and first class fares for around $10,000.  In first class you’ll earn about 1 AAdvantage Mile for every 25 cents you spend, but who cares when you’re on a 12 hour flight relaxing in a lie-flat seat.

You have to register before you travel. Go here to sign up for this promotion and use bonus code LAPVG.

“Old friend. Dollar rent-a-car logo, judiciously rotated.” by Tom Magliery
From “Things that Look Like Pac-Man” on Flickr

From now through May 15, 2011 you can earn Triple AAdvantage Miles when you rent a compact car or lager from Dollar for three or more days.

American Airlines AAdvantage members will earn triple miles (150 miles per day) on rentals of a Compact car or larger vehicle for 3 days or longer at participating locations worldwide. Use promo code TPL1 and enter your AAdvantage number when making your reservations. Valid for pick up January 15 – May 15, 2011.

Provide your AAdvantage membership number at time of reservation.
24-hour advance reservations required.
Dollar minimum age, driver and credit requirements apply.
Industry discount rates, tour rates and complimentary rentals do not qualify for frequent flyer miles.
Frequent flyer miles are subject to a frequent flyer tax recovery surcharge of $0.06 per rental day, collected at the time of rental.
This offer may not be combined with any other offer and has no cash value.

To earn your triple miles, book online and use promo code TPL1. Go here for more details.

“TEFC Open Day September 2004″ photo credit: kenhodge13 on Flickr

Thrifty Car Rental is offering triple AAdvantage Miles with their “Book Smart. Earn Triple Miles” promotion.

American Airlines AAdvantage members will earn triple miles on rentals of a Compact car or larger vehicle for three days or longer. Offer valid for pick up January 15 – May 15, 2011 at all worldwide locations.

To earn the bonus AAdvantage Miles, go here to make your reservation, use the promotion code TPL1 and provide your AAdvantage number.

For Terms and Conditions, go here.

Hertz – photo credit Tom Magliery on Flickr

Hertz is offering a great promotion through March 31, 2011. Get triple AAdvantage Miles and up to 25% off their regular daily, weekend, and weekly rental rates.

Get up to 25% off with the AAdvantage CDP# 217692 and earn triple AAdvantage miles when you rent any vehicle for one or more days at participating locations in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Canada, and Asia, Australia, Caribbean, Europe, Latin America, Mexico, New Zealand, and South America through March 31, 2011.

US, Puerto, & Canada
Up to 25% off & Earn
Triple Miles
Any vehicle, 1 or more days
Promotional Coupon (PC#): 137734

To reserve this offer offline, call your Travel Agent, or Hertz directly at 1-800-654-2210 in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, or 1-800-263-0600 in Canada. Or call your local Hertz office. At the time of reservation, you must provide discount CDP # 217692, PC# 137734, and your AAdvantage number.

All other participating locations
Up to 20% off & Triple Miles
Any vehicle, 1 or more days
Promotional Coupon (PC#): 139683

To reserve this offer offline for rentals in Europe call Hertz at 1-800-654-3001 and provide discount CDP# 217692, and PC# 139683 and your AAdvantage number.

Go here for all the details, fine print or to make a reservation.

I’ve been on the road so I’m introducing my first Weekend Update. It’s pretty much the same as the Friday News Roundup, only later.

New Routes

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGEgltND0Tc

American has announced a few new routes this week (from airlineroute.net)

American Airlines from 05APR11 introduces 1 Daily New York JFK – Nashville service with Embraer ERJ145 by American Eagle.

American Airlines from 10FEB11 introduces 2 new service to Mexico, where American Eagle operates Daily service on Dallas – Queretaro with Embraer ERJ135 and Dallas – Veracruz with Embraer ERJ145 aircraft.

American Airlines from 10FEB11 is increasing service with Extra Daily flight on Chicago O’Hare – Champaign (from 5 to 6 Daily) and Chicago O’Hare – Ft. Wayne (from 3 to 4 Daily).

From 05APR11,

American Airlines introduces 2 Daily Los Angeles – Boise service with American Eagle’s Embraer ERJ140 aircraft.

Also, new domestic New Zealand codeshare routes with jetStar

Effective Thursday 18NOV10, American Airlines will begin placing its “AA” code on all jetStar’s Domestic New Zealand service to/from Auckland, which covers Auckland – Christchurch, Auckland – Queenstown and Auckland – Wellington service.

oneworld News

Qantas 90th Birthday A380 Engine Back Side Exhaust by emmettanderson, on Flickr

Qantas delays A380 Service

oneworld partner Qantas continues to keep their A380 fleet grounded after the November 4 A380 emergency landing in Singapore. Europe’s aviation investigators believe that the likely cause of the Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engine blowout was a fire from an oil leak. Qantas has announced that they will continue to suspend A380 service until they can replace the Rolls-Royce engines. (from airlineroutes.net)

As per 19NOV10 GDS timetable display, QANTAS is further postponing planned Airbus A380 service into December 2010.

Latest resumption dates as follows, note that further postponement is possible as the airline is unsure when its A380 fleet will be able to re-enter service, according to latest article by Reuters filed

Melbourne – Los Angeles eff 05DEC10
Melbourne – Singapore – London Heathrow eff 05DEC10 (LHR eff 04DEC10)

Sydney – Los Angeles QF011/012 eff 04DEC10
Sydney – Singapore – London Heathrow eff 27NOV10, service operates 4 times a week in its first week of service resumption

More troubling though is that beyond losing an engine, the A380s backup electrical and information systems failed to work after the primary systems were taken offline by the engine explosion.

Salon’s Ask a Pilot, Patrick Smith, writes how the five Qantas pilots found themselves coping with a rapidly deteriorating emergency situation in what he describes as a “Qantas’ perfect storm of failures“:

I wrote my article when the story first broke, and relatively little was known — but it’s definitely time for an update. It turns out things were a lot more serious than it first appeared: The failure of the giant Rolls-Royce turbofan triggered a massive fuel leak, as well as 50 or more failures and malfunctions of various systems and subsystems, some more serious than others and not all of which are yet understood.

That the crew managed to land the plane safely seems no less extraordinary than the US Airways 1549 landing on the Hudson River.

S7 Airlines Joins onworld

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Egk8utTK0CM

Russian airline S7 officially joins the oneworld alliance expanding the oneworld network to include 750 destinations in 150 countries. Now you’ll be able to use and earn AAdvantage miles when to visit Russia. Here’s the video that oneworld released for the occasion.

AAdvantage Elite Status

“Frequent Flyer” is a 20-minute documentary about frequent flyer miles, the people who collect them, and the world of airports and airplanes that they inhabit.

If you’re trying to achieve or maintain your AAdvantage Elite status for next year, you’re running out of time to earn Elite Qualify Miles. The best milage run options are to take advantage of American’s double Elite Qualify Miles offer for round-trip flights beginning and ending in either Raleigh Durham or St. Louis.

Another option is to enter the Farecompare Map Your Miles and Fly with Status promotion.

FareCompare will whisk one winner on a whirlwind mileage run this December, guaranteed to get you at least 15,000 air miles

That’s enough miles to earn you elite status before the end of 2010!

The winner will get a 15,000 milage run designed by Farecompare CEO Rick Seaney.

Enter before Friday, November 26, 2010.

Weekend Reading

vacation reading, part 2 by ruminatrix, on Flickr

Charlie Leochas- “Top TSA slogans and TV fun at TSA’s expense“

For a lighter look at the TSA controversy, head over to Consumer Traveler and read a list of suggested TSA slogans.
My favorite: You were a virgin.

The Cranky Flier – The New American Airlines Homepage

American’s new website design is Topic of the Week and most of the reviews are favorable. I think my favorite comment may be:

I’d rather have the most functional than the most difficult but beautiful website. Therefore, in that respect, AA may look like a pig but that pig works hard and smart!

Head over there to read or add your own comments.

Technology

The “Coach Section Laptop” concept

.

Coach Flight Friendly Laptop by revision3 on Flickr

Take a look at this modified laptop from the Ben Heck Show.

Ever try and use a laptop in coach? It’s pretty difficult, especially if the jerk in front of you leans back.

No longer! For Episode 5 of the Ben Heck Show we built the “Coach Section Laptop” – a modified Toshiba Satellite that can transform to fit your needs!

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Iz-81VIsyg

Watch the episode from the Ben Heck show and learn how to make your own.

Free Airport Wifi

wifi by gune_ in wonderland, on Flickr

Looking for a free airport hotspot? Visit the Free Wi-Fi in Airports directory before you start your travel.

Art

coruscant by Steve Thomas Art, on Flickr

Take a look at these Star Wars Travel Posters inspired by some of the vintage travel posters of the early 20th century. You can view the whole collection from the artist Steve Thomas at his online gallery. Two of the posters from the series, Mos Eisley and Kessel Run, are available for purchase from Acme Archives Direct.

Finally

Here’s a look at Darth Vader’s Hawaiian Vacation (photo from Hawaiian Seamonkey)

See all the Dark Lord of the Sith’s vacation photos here.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Views of Brasilia by Christoph Diewald on Flickr

American just upgraded a current AAdvantage Bonus Miles promotion by offering up to triple miles for nonstop round-trip travel between New York’s JFK and Rio de Janeiro and nonstop travel Miami and Brasilia. Previously, they were offering up to 5,000 bonus AAdvantage Miles for nonstop travel on these two routes.

Here’s their explanation of the upgraded offer:

In celebration of our new nonstop flights between Miami and Brasilia and between New York/JFK and Rio de Janeiro, AAdvantage members can earn triple miles for travel in Business Class or double miles for travel in Economy Class. To participate in this offer, just register prior to travel and fly round-trip between November 18, 2010, and December 10, 2010.

This offer applies to travel between November 18, 2010, and December 10, 2010 and you have to register for the offer using promotion code BRZ5K. If you already registered for the 5,000 bonus miles offer you won’t need to register again.

All the details, including terms and conditions, here.

Triple Pool Hall by Jim on Flickr

American Airlines and oneworld partner Iberia are offering triple miles on select transatlantic routes between the US and France, Spain and Belgium. Here are the details

Choose American Airlines or Iberia for your next trip on select nonstop routes to Europe and earn double AAdvantage miles. Take your pick of our nonstop flights between New York/JFK and Barcelona, Madrid or Brussels, or between Chicago and Paris. And, best of all — this bonus can be earned an unlimited number of times!

You have to travel between November 12, 2010 and January 31, 2011. Use promotion code EUR10 to register before your trip begins. Details and registration here.

Best Western, Spring Hill – image by Jonathan Nalder on Flickr

Best Western is offering triple AAdvantage Miles from now until November 21, 2010, just stay two separate times to qualify.  Here are the details:

Join Best Western Rewards®, our FREE rewards program, and REGISTER for the fall promotion. You MUST REGISTER prior to your stay to qualify for the promotion.

Set your earning preference to American Airlines®, provide your American Airlines AAdvantage® account number and earn 250 AAdvantage® miles on every qualified stay.

Stay with Best Western 2 SEPARATE TIMES* between Sept. 12 and Nov. 21, 2010 and earn triple AAdvantage® bonus miles.

Keep staying and keep earning: There is no limit on the number of triple AAdvantage bonus miles that can be earned.

Be sure to provide your Best Western Rewards® number at check-in.

You can go here to join their Best Western Rewards program and to register for this promotion.  For terms and conditions go here (warning, it’s a PDF rather than a webpage).