American Airlines Introduces Hawaiian Cuisine on Island Bound Flights.

by Grant Martin on

This Monday, American Airlines introduced Hawaiian Cuisine on their mainland-Hawaii flights, inspired and created by famous chef Sam Choy. That’s right, no longer are you stuck with the standard “chicken or pasta”, now you have a variety of choices including: Macadamia Nut Pancakes, Wasabi Salmon and Island Braised Short Ribs.

Of course this only applies of you’re traveling in first class; you’ll notice that all of the meals on the PR page show nice flatware and table settings. Passengers in peasant class are still stuck paying for snacks on the long flight over the Pacific.

What’s nice about American’s change in menu for the Hawaii bound flights is reemergence of some quality in air travel. With all the cutbacks to service across the board recently, airlines are now slowly starting to reinvest in the quality of service at 30,000 feet. Be this new snack baskets on Northwest, extra perks on United or Hawaiian meals on AA, these small improvements upstairs are hopefully an indication of good times ahead in the industry.

Portugal, Alaska, Prague and Akron

by Jamie Rhein on

Three of these places have something in common and one does not. I’ve just noticed that two start with P and two start with A, but that has nothing to do with this game. Everyone is going on a major trip but me. That, of course, is a gross exaggeration, but consider this. My father is winging his way to the Czech Republic with a stop in Lyon, France as part of his journey. My mother and my brother also left today. They’re in Seattle awaiting to embark on my mother’s dream trip–a cruise to Alaska. A close friend of mine from college left today for eight days in Portugal. (She left her two children with her husband for her jaunt away.) What does Akron have to do with anything? I’m heading there on Sunday. Actually, I’m going to Stow which is next door. My excitement might come from a stop at Grandpa’s Cheese Barn near the Ashland exit off of I-71. Wheee!!! Actually, the cheese there does ratchet up my excitement quotient.

There is nothing wrong with being closer to home. A good friend of ours who lives in Madrid, Iowa just flew in today on American AIrlines. The plane was early and my husband didn’t even have to pay for parking since he was at the airport for less than 10 minutes. This visit is a chance to show our friend, who has never been to Ohio, some of our favorite Columbus hotspots before my husband and he head to Cleveland for an Indians baseball game and a trip to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Sunday is the meet up in Stow for a family picnic gathering. These gatherings are one of the reasons why we are living in the U.S. right now. Still, when I am grazing the samples at the cheese barn, I’ll think of those people I love who are on their mega trips having those adventures they’ve dreamed about.

By the way, the friend who is visiting is the one who took us on the Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad mentioned in the fall foliage leaf peeping train post.

Elite Status in 5,000 Miles

by Dave Luna on

You know those VIP fliers who get all the perks like early check-ins, shorter security checkpoint lines, and preferred boardings? Well, you can be one, too, if you follow this tip from Peter Vogel of CNN’s Budget Travel Online.

Normally, American Airlines gives Gold Status after flying 25,000 miles in a year and Platinum Status after 50,000 miles. Well, through AA’s unadvertised “90-Day Challenge,” a flier can achieve Gold Status after accumulating 5,000 points and Platinum after reaching 10,000 points!* (Of course, those flights must be made during the 90 day period.)

To apply for the program, you will need to call AA’s Advantage line at (800)421-0600. You must choose either Gold Status or Platinum Status for the challenge. Note: If you choose to go for Gold and meet the Platinum requirements, you will only receive Gold Status. However, if you choose Platinum, but only fly enough for the Gold Status… you get nothing. So, choose wisely.

Check out Peter’s write-up. He took took a flight to San Diego and a flight to London — both from New York — under the program, and he racked up enough points to grab Platinum Status and almost enough miles to achieve Gold Status for the next year.

If you’d still like elite status, but don’t want to fly the miles, you can always pick up an airline credit card. For example, US Airways offers two credit cards that will buy you preferred check-in and early boarding.

Update: Reader Nick Hawkins notes that the 90-Day Challenge must be met using 5,000 or 10,000 Points, and one point may not always equal one mile. If you book online, you may only receive half a point per mile. Thanks, Nick!

American Wants Women

by Dave Luna on

This week, American Airlines launched a female-centric web site with a focus on connecting women fliers. The airline’s new offering features ideas for safe, fun, and relaxing travel. Some of the items on the front page include “Girlfriend Getaways,” “Book Recommendations,” and “Travel Chic.”

The airline notes that 50 million women fly American annually, and that number accounts for a little less than half of their total passengers. The company introduced the site with the hopes of boosting their sales to women by 2%. (That translates to a cool $94 million for those playing at home.)

I tried out the site, and it’s pretty weak. The content consists mostly of short bullet points that don’t provide any useful information. For example, a page targeted to business women advises them to check-in online, use personalized luggage tags, and sign up for frequent flier miles. I’d think anyone who travels often already knows how to do all of those things. Come on, American. I know you only want a 2% spike, but put some heart into it.

Scorpions on a Plane!!

by Iva Skoch on

A man flying on United between Chicago and Burlington, Vermont, was stung twice by a scorpion that made it onto his plane.

TSA agents were able to wrestle the interloper to the deck and rescue the hapless passengers. They frisked the scorpion, wanded him, paraded him through a metal detector, then released him and wished him a pleasant connecting flight.

Shockingly, it’s not the first time. On Sunday, an American Airlines plane from Miami to Toronto was delayed at its destination because a scorpion got on board lacking a passport, and presumably riding without paying full fare.