My Nemesis: American Airlines Again

Back in June of 2011 I was mad at American Airlines.

You can read why HERE.

(Actually I'm still mad about that.)

Over the years they've kinda beaten me down.

Now I call just hoping to get someone

 reasonably nice.

My travel club is going on a trip in July that I think

sounds wonderful.

There is one night in a London hotel, then

boarding of the Celebrity Infinity, cruising to 

several places I haven't been and to the

 Norwegian fjords, one of my favorite spots.

I have a bunch of excuses reasons for wanting

to fly business class.  Claustrophobia, and...uh,

 that's the only one I can come up with.

Oh yeah...and old age.

Now I have a friend who has very good luck

buying a "cheap" ticket and using 

Aadvantage miles to upgrade.

(Not that I expected a ticket to London to

be really cheap.)

But...I decided to give it a try.

The first time I called I barely got the question 
out of my mouth before being assured

that nothing I wanted was available.

I was informed that award travel can be booked

11 months in advance.

So, I was not surprised to find

 "no upgrade for me."

(I felt rather humiliated for even asking!) 

If there had been, I could have luxuriated in

business class for only the $$$ price of

the seat plus 50,000 miles plus $700 more!

Plus tax plus $35 maybe!

But, hold on and guess what?

For only 100,000 miles I could fly "free"

round trip in business class.

Plus only $35, I think!

Yea!!!

If it were available.

Which, of course, it was not.

On my second attempt, I got a very nice

lady who told me...

for umpteen jillion miles I can get

an "Anytime" ticket in business class!

Only problem is I don't have 

umpteen jillion miles.

I would have had enough were it not for

a big mistake I made.

I think it was about a year ago that I

thought it would be a great idea to get a

Capital One credit card because

double miles were earned for each

dollar charged, and there was 

a bonus for applying.

When I asked to transfer the miles I had earned

to my Aadvantage account, I found they were

not miles at all, but points with

some convoluted way of use.

I was semi-hysterical over that one.

All right.  Maybe I could buy the extra

miles I need.  

Way to go!  There is a bonus right now if I 

buy miles.  

However, the price is not only H I G H,

it turns out it is plus plus, adding

$97 to the already ridiculous cost!!!

So that's out.

(The prices you see quoted on line are not

the prices you pay.

It's always plus plus!)

Well, maybe I could borrow some miles

from my family.

You're not going to believe this!

THAT COSTS, TOO!

Transferring from one account to

another must be VERY difficult (NOT)

because the few miles I need would

be $350 plus tax plus $35!!!

Just to transfer fron one Aadvantage

account to another!
Then to pay them back I would
have to pay another $385!

Believe it or not, I think I have found a

way to proceed.
(You notice I didn't say "a way around this."
One does not get "around" AA.)

Instead of my fam loaning me miles,

they are going to "purchase" my ticket one way
 with their miles, plus only $2.50 tax!

(Plus $35, I'm quite sure!!!!!)
I'll get the ticket the other way!

Then I will pay them back by purchasing

tickets for them!

I'm cautiously excited.

I'm also wiped out of Aadvantage miles

from here to eternity.

Thank goodness I won't need any

to get to Heaven!