American Promo: 30% Off Short-Haul Award Redemptions

American Airlines is lowering the cost of award redemptions by 30% - for all short-haul flights within the continental. U.S. and Canada. Routes 700 miles or less are eligible for the promotion. Award travel must be ticketed by August 31, 2010, for travel through December 15, 2010. For example, a one-way award ticket which normally costs 12,500 miles is available for 8,750 miles instead.

Related: United Airlines 30% short-haul redemptions

American Drops Close-in Processing Fees for Elites

Effectively immediately, American Airlines is dropping close-in processing fees for Gold and Platinum elite AAdvantage members. Previously, award travel ticketed within 21 days of departure involved paying up to $100.00 - known in the industry as a close-in processing fee. Executive members are already exempt from the fee, while non-elite's will still need to pay up.

American and JetBlue Starting a Relationship

American Airlines and JetBlue Airlines have launched a commercial agreement giving customers the convenience of booking interline service in non-overlapping markets from JFK and Boston airports. This allows customers to book domestic and international tickets on both carriers with a single reservation. The two airlines will also begin a frequent flyer relationship later this year on the cooperative interline routes noted here. This means customers will have the choice to earn either AAdvantage or TrueBlue points when flying select routes.

Earn American Airlines Miles Completing Online Surveys

Opinion Place is an online site where you can share your opinions on a variety of products or services while earning bonus frequent flyer miles (or other rewards). I've used the site for many years, with no problems. Usually 75-150 AAdvantage miles are offered per survey, with an average time commitment of 10-15 minutes on each. Miles are usually credited within a week. This Click here to sign up.

American Airlines to Drop San Francisco - Boston Route

In a bit of a shocker, American Airlines will reportedly drop daily nonstops between San Francisco and Boston. According to the AA timetable, the effective date for this change is November 17, 2010. Currently American operates twice-daily flights, a daytime and a red-eye, between the two cities. No immediate word on why the airline is dropping the route, but certainly Virgin America entering this market early last year may have played a role in the decision.

HOT! San Francisco to Honolulu $261 "all in"

American Airlines just dropped fares to a new season low - just $261 roundtrip, taxes included. Valid for travel through July. This fare is for nonstop flights, $10 bucks more for a 1-stop option. Hurry, these rock bottom fares won't last! Click here and search "my dates are flexible."

Earn 500 AAdvantage Miles for Downloading eShopping Toolbar

Receive 500 bonus American AAdvantage miles when you download their eShopping toolbar on your computer and perform at least one toolbar search or purchase. Using the tool helps you identify sites where you can earn bonus American Airlines miles for browsing or shopping for merchandise. Or, you can simply download the tool - earn the bonus miles, then uninstall the program.

My initial thoughts testing out the toolbar: It's slow. Seems to eat up a lot of computer memory with delayed search returns.

San Francisco to Honolulu $351 RT "all in" Through EOM May

Most of the major airlines continue to offer a pretty decent price SFO to Honolulu; just $351 roundtrip, including all taxes and fees. These are 1-day advance purchase fares! Meaning... you can hop on a plane first thing tomorrow, be on Waikiki or Queens Surf beach by afternoon. Travel must be completed by May 27th. Click here to book - using the "my dates are flexible" option.

San Francisco to Bogota $334 "all in"

American Airlines has filed a $210 roundtrip fare between San Francisco and Bogota, Colombia. Total cost comes to $334, including all taxes and fees. Routing is via Miami (no stopovers allowed at this fare), and is valid for travel any day of the week through June 30, 2010. Click here and search the "my dates are flexible" option.

American Airlines Snips San Francisco - St. Louis Route

As part of a larger cutback in service at St. Louis Airport (STL), American Airlines will eliminate flights to San Francisco and 19 other airports around the country. The airline attributes a softening demand for business travel to St. Louis. The final SFO-STL flight will be Monday, April 5th.

American Airlines to Charge $50 for Standby

American Airlines will begin charging $50 to standby for flights at the airport. That means if you show up at the airport and want or need to take a flight other than your originally ticketed one, you now must fork up $50 for that convenience. The fee applies to tickets purchased starting February 22, 2010, but is waived for American elite members, those flying in premium class, fully-refundable and military fares. American is calling the fee is necessary to improve flight operations.

Alaska Airlines ends San Francisco to Los Angeles Flights

Alaska Airlines officially ends SFO-LAX flights today. The airline had been down to just a single flight daily. Codeshare partner American will continue to operate several daily flights between the city pairs.

Japan Airlines to Partner with Delta, Join SkyTeam

Cash-strapped Japan Airlines announced today they will join in partnership with Delta Airlines and integrate into the SkyTeam alliance. The airline had been negotiating with both American (OneWorld) and Delta (SkyTeam) for a capital partner.

United Picks Up San Francisco - St.Louis Route

United Airlines announced Thursday it will pick up operations between San Francisco and St. Louis (STL). The new once-daily flight begins February 11, 2010, operated by an Airbus 319 aircraft.

Last month, American announced huge forthcoming cuts at STL to destinations across the country, including to SFO. The AA timetable no longer shows nonstop service between SFO and STL beyond April 5, 2010.

Continental and Mexicana Join New Alliances Soon

Continental Airlines joins Star Alliance (United, U.S Air,et al. ) effective October 27, 2009.

Mexicana Airlines joins OneWorld (American Airlines, et al.) eff November 10, 2009.

If you have flights planned with either of these carriers, be sure you are receiving proper mileage credit in the corresponding airline/alliance program.

American Dropping Bay Area Flights Into Orange County

The latest American Airlines scheduler shows all flights from San Jose and San Francisco to Santa Ana/Orange County will be discontinued effective November 18, 2009. Currently six daily departures are offered between these cities, operated by affiliate American Eagle.

American has been trimming away departures from the Bay Area the past several months, and over the summer announced plans to cut the San Jose - Austin "nerd bird" route at the end of this month.

How to Request Flight Mileage Credit On Old Itineraries

By Mike Grasso

Even the most seasoned travelers forget to include their frequent flyer number to their flight reservation on occasion (or can place blame on the forgetful corporate travel agent). Or perhaps you included your frequent flyer number but the airline failed to credit your hard earn miles. Either way, fear nothing as you can request mileage credit for previously flown flights up to 24 months in the past, as long as you were a member of the respective airlines frequent flyer program at the time of the flight. The best documentation to have on hand would be your boarding pass or other documentation showing the airline's ticket and flight number.

Here are direct links to major U.S carriers, and information on how to submit your mileage credit request:

United (last 12 months of travel)

American (last 12 months)

Delta (last 6 months)

Northwest (last 9 months)

Continental (last 6 months)

Southwest (last 24 months!)

Virgin America (last 12 months)

American Hikes Baggage Fees Another $5

In a press release, American Airlines announced it plans to hike the fees for checked bags another $5. The extra charge applies to tickets purchased on or after August 14, 2009 for all flights within the United States and U.S territories. The new fee is $20 for the first bag, $30 for the second, up from $15 and $25 respectively. As is the current policy, elite members, full-fare economy, as well and first and business class passengers are exempt from baggage check fees.

To compare, many other U.S.-based airlines charge around $15 to check a single bag. Southwest and JetBlue are the lone airlines who continue allow one piece of luggage free of charge.

American Airlines To Ground San Jose-Austin Nerd Bird Route

The Austin American-Statesman reports American Airlines will cease flights between San Jose and Austin effective August 25, 2009. Flights between these cities, often dubbed the "nerd bird" route because of the large number of high-tech workers, have been part of the Silicon Valley for over 15 years. American cites the cancellation on the overall recession and a weakening demand on business travel, including on the Nerd Bird. Read the full story here.

Earn Bonus Miles With New Netflix Subscription

First time Netflix customers can earn bonus frequent flyer miles when signing up for new service. Netflix offers the convenience of ordering movies online, and having them shipped, usually within 24 hours, directly to your home. Some titles can also be watched online, real-time.
Here are direct links to some of the participating airlines:

American Airlines: 2500 Bonus miles offer
United Airlines: 2000 Bonus miles offer
Delta Airlines: 3000 Bonus miles offer

Tip: Be sure to print out a copy of the offer in the event your miles do not automatically post. This will serve as proof of your registering for the offer.