The Gate recently received correspondence from a reader commenting on a change in the companion upgrade policy quietly implemented by US Airways:

Have you heard of the new HORRIBLE change in the companion policy for upgrades on US?  Their companion upgrade policy was one of the reasons we fly US as much as we do to get our kids/family travel companions upgraded one adult and one child upgraded per flight.  But on 3/4/10, they amended their policy, WITHOUT NOTIFYING ANYONE, to disallow companion upgrades if the travelers are not in the same record.  My husband is Chairman, I am Gold, and my two boys are Silver preferred, but we always travel in separate records because my husband has to come back earlier for work on most trips.  So now, due to logistics, and ONLY logistics of booking arrangements, we cannot upgrade our kids as early as ourselves.

What are your thoughts here?  I would LOVE to see the policy reverted back to how it was before.

Although some FlyerTalk members appear to be happy with this new policy, others seem to be as angry about the lack of announcement by US Airways pertaining to the change in the companion upgrade policy as they are regarding the policy itself. In fact, at least one FlyerTalk member has called for a Companion Upgrade Letter Writing Campaign – Action Needed.

Echoing the reader who wrote in to us, what are your thoughts? Please post your comments regarding this issue. Thank you in advance.

It is not yet confirmed that the Next round of strike announced for 13th to 16th of April will happen at Lufthansa, but FlyerTalk members, weary from the most recent strike at Lufthansa as reported here at The Gate, are already keeping an eye on the aforementioned FlyerTalk thread, discussing the possibility of a strike and attempting to prepare for it.

Sometimes I think I am too caught up in being loyal to my hotel programs to appreciate that other hotels also have great deals, even those not in the major chains.  For example on the other hotels forum there are codes to get big savings on the room rate, earn bonus miles and more. Useful to keep an eye open for when my main program doesn’t have a convenient (or appropriately priced) hotel where I need to stay.

Should there be a dating forum within FT? Some FlyerTalk members adamantly say “yes”, while others vehemently claim that FlyerTalk is not an Internet web site dating service.

Still, FlyerTalk members seem to enjoy discussing and inquiring about dating, as relationships are apparently important to a number of FlyerTalk members. Proof of this can be found in what is by no means an exhaustive list of threads with dating as the topic:

• Dating Advice
• The dating thread…
• Your Ideal Date
• Dating a flyertalker
• Write a poem for your secret FT crush!!
• Now I understand why I don’t do internet dating
• online dating sites?
• Have you ever tried Speed Dating?
• Dating Site for Travelers?
• Travel Dating Sites?
• in-flight dating?!
• Dating a stewardess
• Dating a Flight attendant
• How long were you dating/engaged before marriage?
• Age Differences in Dating

Mind-boggling processes. I hope the security officer involved changes his or her gloves afterwards.  Read all about it here.

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NY1 publishes their piece from the NYC 1 February Do.

A Hotel Interactive article on Choice Hotels web strategies refers to an initiative to stem negative reviews on TripAdviser and Flyer Talk.

Scott McCartney’s WSJ The Middle Seat discusses fare mistakes and the varying approaches taken by various airlines in honouring or not honouring them.  There are quotes from some FTers and also Flyer Talk is referred to as a place where mistake fares get shared around.

Wondering if the valet parking is complementary and not complimentary, FlyerTalk member jobee read the sign shown in the photograph on the right at the Hilton Midland Plaza, where apparently Hilton Complimentary Parking = $4.99 by the logic that the parking costs $4.99 but the valet service to park a vehicle is complimentary.

Was jobee, who took the photograph seen above as evidence, mislead?

…but first, you will have to answer a question asked by FlyerTalk member jenniparks: could i bring a toaster through security into the skyclub?

While there is a debate as to whether or not the Delta Sky Clubs at Washington National Airport or at the airport in Salt Lake City have toasters, a small movement has formed to purchase toasters and donate them to those locations which purportedly do not have a toaster. There is even a suggestion to cover a wall in select Sky Clubs with pictures of toasters.

Get your bagels and cream cheese ready before you read this thread…

You have flown enough to have sat next to one of the following obnoxious seatmates, including but not limited to:

• The tunneler who digs deep for gold in his nose with his finger and inspecting every few minutes to see if he hit “paydirt”
• The flatulent person who also reeks of body odor and halitosis
• The person who invades your space with his or her feet, arms, rolls of fat, hair or other body parts
• The parent of the screaming child who changes said diaper of said child right at the seat — during mealtime, no less
• The gum chewer who pops and cracks the gum
• The nose snorter who sneezes, yawns, burps and coughs in your direction without covering his or her mouth
• The nervous passenger who will not stop fidgeting
• The loud talker, whistler, hummer or singer
• The messy oaf whose garbage, crumbs and other assorted litter invade your personal space
• The hungry person who smacks and chews like a cow while eating odoriferous food

If you have sat next to an Obnoxious seatmate – what’s your experience?