FlyerTalk member thejrock is asking you to Vote for an aa road warrior – post here – you could be a winner too!

thejrock has been selected as a finalist in the 2009 Road Warrior contest by American Way magazine, the official magazine of American Airlines.

If he wins the Grand Prize, he receives 1,000,000 American Airlines AAdvantage miles, and you could win 200,000 Hilton HHonors points — so please vote today!

Air New Zealand recently announced some significant changes to their domestic fare structure, and hinted further changes will follow for international fares. Almost overlooked on Flyer Talk is an aspect dear to the heart of many – earning of frequent flyer miles.

Some mid-range booking classes will no longer earn Airpoints, and probably not earn miles on other programs once they have updated their tables.  If you are flying Air NZ on a paid fare, check out the Air New Zealand domestic fare change discussion to see how it affects you and your miles.

A “Funny” Incident of entitlement aboard DL 180 ATL-VCE was observed by FlyerTalk member DLATL777, where a woman in her early 20s was observed taking a seat in the premium class cabin aboard a Delta Air Lines international flight even though she only paid for an economy class ticket, only to eventually be confronted by the flight attendant — and the alleged response regarding entitlement by the young woman is nothing short of incredible!

As a bonus, additional similar stories are being posted…

Well, the way I pack mine is that I first…

…er…yeah…right…I forgot. I do not wear a bra, primarily because I am male — but I digress.

The Gate is not strapped for stories, but we do support the need to keep abreast of the question women everywhere who travel want to know: How do you pack your bras when you travel?

The thread is a treasure chest full of information, but it is not necessarily our – er – cup – of tea…

FlyerTalk member SwissYankee says, “for once, I feel sorry for TSA employees (passenger with extrmely smelly feet/shoes)” — and the occasional assault on the olfactory sense by allegedly unkempt passengers may keep the Transportation Security Administration personnel instep and on their toes as they apparently do attempt to put their heart and sole into their job, even though they might arch back from the variety of odors they experience at times.

By the way, be forewarned, as this topic is not for those that become easily queasy…

FlyerTalk member Flyingfox documents in a trip report the Emirates Airlines A380 in-flight shower, complete with photographs.

How nice is the shower area, you ask? Well, let us just say that one FlyerTalk member posted the following comment:

“Geeeeez, that bathroom is nicer than mine at home!!”

Was this passenger thrown off her flight for ignoring phone safety rules? What is the point of those rules anyway?

Effective sometime in the second quarter of 2010, United Airlines has announced that Unlimited Domestic Upgrades Coming (See post 9 for UA announcement), intensifying the already-serious competition between frequent flier loyalty programs of competing airlines. However, not all of the news is good.

Of course, this has prompted reaction in other forums on FlyerTalk:

• UA to offer free dom UPGs to all elites – should AA respond?
• UA Announces Complimentary Domestic Upgrades For Elites: DL Response

FlyerTalk member HHonorsRepresentative has confirmed that there will be an updated Hilton HHonors reward redemption chart which will go into effect as of mid-January 2010. The official announcement regarding this change to the Hilton HHonors frequent guest loyalty program will occur later this month.

Additionally, a new Category 7 will be introduced to the Hilton HHonors program, although it is unclear at this time if it is simply a renaming of Category 6, with the Opportunity category being replaced with Category 1. It is also unclear at this time as to whether or not any Hilton family hotels will migrate up from one category to the next, further increasing the amount of Hilton HHonors points needed to redeem for a reward stay.

Please follow the breaking news in the Increased Points Required for Reward Redemption as of January 2010; New Category 7 thread as additional details become available.

One might want to curb one’s enthusiasm for the entry that qualifies as the toilet that wasn’t.

Is anyone flushed with envy that FlyerTalk member Ichinensei is the one who launched the WORLD’s Worst Toilets thread?

One may be bowled over by some of the comments posted by other FlyerTalk members, some of which stink. Then again, one might be relieved of the notion that not all of the content posted may need to pipe down. Still, it is draining to find a decent toilet in some parts of the world.

• Number 1: if you have not already, go on and take the plunge by posting your contribution.
• Number 2: tank you very much…