Comments on: Upgrades and Downgrades: Coffee, tea, beer, comedy, oneWorld, fuel burn, and yes, pasties http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2010/07/26/upgrades-and-downgrades-coffee-tea-beer-comedy-oneworld-fuel-burn-and-yes-pasties/ Living the first class life -- at coach prices Fri, 10 Feb 2012 09:21:15 +0000 hourly 1 By: Mark Ashley http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2010/07/26/upgrades-and-downgrades-coffee-tea-beer-comedy-oneworld-fuel-burn-and-yes-pasties/#comment-38341 Mark Ashley Wed, 28 Jul 2010 11:37:02 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/?p=5529#comment-38341 "The contents of the bag were worth $800 and Covarrubias spent an additional $300 for new clothes and toiletries, the complaint states." -- That's a lot less than $5M. With regard to the effect of the AA/BA/IB anti-trust immunity on travelers, it primarily means they can coordinate their routes, so they can "collude" to limit the number of flights, keeping prices higher. More optimistically, it means that a thinly-traveled route -- which might not succeed for anyone with multiple airlines flying it -- could stay on the books if the three airlines agree to coordinate. As far as mileage redemptions are concerned, that too remains to be seen. But there's this vague comment in the AA press release: "Customers also will receive numerous benefits, including expanded opportunities to earn and redeem frequent flyer miles and elite tier benefits and continued reciprocal airport lounge access." “The contents of the bag were worth $800 and Covarrubias spent an additional $300 for new clothes and toiletries, the complaint states.” — That’s a lot less than $5M.

With regard to the effect of the AA/BA/IB anti-trust immunity on travelers, it primarily means they can coordinate their routes, so they can “collude” to limit the number of flights, keeping prices higher. More optimistically, it means that a thinly-traveled route — which might not succeed for anyone with multiple airlines flying it — could stay on the books if the three airlines agree to coordinate. As far as mileage redemptions are concerned, that too remains to be seen. But there’s this vague comment in the AA press release: “Customers also will receive numerous benefits, including expanded opportunities to earn and redeem frequent flyer miles and elite tier benefits and continued reciprocal airport lounge access.”

]]> By: Brian http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2010/07/26/upgrades-and-downgrades-coffee-tea-beer-comedy-oneworld-fuel-burn-and-yes-pasties/#comment-38338 Brian Wed, 28 Jul 2010 05:08:29 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/?p=5529#comment-38338 $5 Million? What was in the bag? What does the anti-trust immunity mean to travelers? Will I be able to fly AA to Europe using BA miles? $5 Million? What was in the bag?

What does the anti-trust immunity mean to travelers? Will I be able to fly AA to Europe using BA miles?

]]>