The Upgrd Podcast

This week we are fortunate enough to be joined on our frequent flyer discussion by Scott O'Leary, Managing Director, Customer Experience, for Continental Airlines. Some of you may know him as CO Insider from Flyer Talk. Our contributors had a number of questions for Scott, but to keep things to a sensible timeframe not every question made it. Some topics we discussed: Continental Airlines award availability Starnet blocking!!! Will CO ever have SWUs? 737-900 on LAX-HNL Hot nuts, not-dogs and more... Please send us questions for our upcoming Q&A episode. Also, please take our survey if you have not already. Please accept my apologies for the audio quality. The computer, with the main recording crashed, and I had to use a backup that included many room noises that normally would have been muted.

By Upgrd Podcast - Upgrd Podcast Welcome to this week's frequent flyer show discussing stand by options when flying. We discuss options when you want to take an earlier or later flight on your day of travel. In addition we discuss: The disturbing Continental 3407 NTSB recreation video The poor American Airlines AAdvantage award redemption change Confirmed standby and routing changes when standing by and other recent news We would appreciate your feedback in our first listener survey so we can learn more about your flying habits. The survey is only 9 questions and should be very quick to complete. Please leave a comment, we want to hear from you!

Welcome to this week's frequent flyer show discussing stand by options when flying. We discuss options when you want to take an earlier or later flight on your day of travel. In addition we discuss: The disturbing Continental 3407 NTSB recreation video The poor American Airlines AAdvantage award redemption change Confirmed standby and routing changes when standing by and other recent news We would appreciate your feedback in our first listener survey so we can learn more about your flying habits. The survey is only 9 questions and should be very quick to complete. Please leave a comment, we want to hear from you!

By Upgrd Podcast - Upgrd Podcast This week we are joined by Gary Leff, Flytalk Talkboard President, and View From The Wing blog writer. During this week's frequent flyer podcast we discuss Gary's just completed five carrier Star Alliance first class award. In addition, we banter about: FlyerTalk TalkBoard and why Gary and Ben participate Matthew's unlucky win Viewer mail including award booking on American to Europe, and award booking tools to Europe for Delta A brief discussion on Avis and Hertz's elite renter programs. Let us know what car rental program you use and we'll cover it in an upcoming episode And, as always, Hunter questions the existence of life, the universe, and being a Delta elite Please leave comments and questions below!

This week we are joined by Gary Leff, Flytalk Talkboard President, and View From The Wing blog writer. During this week's frequent flyer podcast we discuss Gary's just completed five carrier Star Alliance first class award. In addition, we banter about: FlyerTalk TalkBoard and why Gary and Ben participate Matthew's unlucky win Viewer mail including award booking on American to Europe, and award booking tools to Europe for Delta A brief discussion on Avis and Hertz's elite renter programs. Let us know what car rental program you use and we'll cover it in an upcoming episode And, as always, Hunter questions the existence of life, the universe, and being a Delta elite Please leave comments and questions below!

By Upgrd Podcast - Upgrd Podcast After a short break we are back with our next frequent flyer podcast. This week we are joined by Josh, a frequent contributor to our podcast and upgrd.com website. Josh has some good information on: The American Airlines Business Extraa program - find out how you can get even more points from American The new 737-800 cabin on American Airlines that we briefly discussed last time We also discuss: LAX Hunter's non-love from Delta and a special shocking request from Hunter for our listeners Write in below!

After a short break we are back with our next frequent flyer podcast. This week we are joined by Josh, a frequent contributor to our podcast and upgrd.com website. Josh has some good information on: The American Airlines Business Extraa program - find out how you can get even more points from American The new 737-800 cabin on American Airlines that we briefly discussed last time We also discuss: LAX Hunter's non-love from Delta and a special shocking request from Hunter for our listeners Write in below!

By Upgrd Podcast - Upgrd Podcast In this week's first class podcast we talk about: Ben's trials and tribulations in economy (gasp!) Video of American Airlines new 737 seats United's new policy for passengers of size Clarification on Ben's "always have upgrade instruments available" claim We are taking next week off, so check back in two weeks for our next episode. Please leave comments below.

In this week's first class podcast we talk about: Ben's trials and tribulations in economy (gasp!) Video of American Airlines new 737 seats United's new policy for passengers of size Clarification on Ben's "always have upgrade instruments available" claim We are taking next week off, so check back in two weeks for our next episode. Please leave comments below.

By Upgrd Podcast - Upgrd Podcast In this week's airline podcast, we are joined by guest contibutor Gray from his Wing and a Prayer blog.  We discuss: Gray's recent trip to Uzbekistan, including how you get there on Star Alliance Matthew's 95,000 United miles accrued already A free op-up on Emirates Our main topic is our opinion on current advertising from the airlines, including some of these recent (and not so recent) ads: Delta "Change" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhNW_3AIek0 80s cheese: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8k4v3EQ6lZk American "We know why you fly" Airline with best tear jerkers http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rts3ezaXQBs Ummmm...someone trying to be creative? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-A5fTVBCcU United - "It's time to fly" Gershwin Too cheap to hire real actors? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9vWCKlseus They don't make em like they used to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AeXrMRf25U8 Contintental "Work hard, fly right" An entire campaign around pseudo meals? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUQaGkgsYEM Take away http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjaFRiWCUMg Which ads do you like? Let us know below!

In this week's airline podcast, we are joined by guest contibutor Gray from his Wing and a Prayer blog.  We discuss: Gray's recent trip to Uzbekistan, including how you get there on Star Alliance Matthew's 95,000 United miles accrued already A free op-up on Emirates Our main topic is our opinion on current advertising from the airlines, including some of these recent (and not so recent) ads: Delta "Change" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhNW_3AIek0 80s cheese: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8k4v3EQ6lZk American "We know why you fly" Airline with best tear jerkers http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rts3ezaXQBs Ummmm...someone trying to be creative? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-A5fTVBCcU United - "It's time to fly" Gershwin Too cheap to hire real actors? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9vWCKlseus They don't make em like they used to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AeXrMRf25U8 Contintental "Work hard, fly right" An entire campaign around pseudo meals? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUQaGkgsYEM Take away http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjaFRiWCUMg Which ads do you like? Let us know below!

By Upgrd Podcast - Upgrd Podcast Listen in to this week's frequent flyer podcast where we discuss: Continued discussion of the double elite qualifying promotion and our current progress We start discussing how we can rate our flights. What criteria do you think we should use? Price comparison of the major airline lounges Amenity differences between carrier lounges Are they worth it? We chime in, but what do you think? Please leave a comment or quetion below.

Listen in to this week's frequent flyer podcast where we discuss: Continued discussion of the double elite qualifying promotion and our current progress We start discussing how we can rate our flights. What criteria do you think we should use? Price comparison of the major airline lounges Amenity differences between carrier lounges Are they worth it? We chime in, but what do you think? Please leave a comment or quetion below.

By Upgrd Podcast - Upgrd Podcast Catchy title, eh? In this week's podcast we discuss the two major frequent flyer program structures between the big four airlines. Both United and American have similar programs, as do Delta and Continental. In addition to the frequent flyer comparison we cover: Ben's taunting of the air marshalls Comparison of the pros and cons of using stickers/coupons to upgrade versus free upgrades Difference in mileage requirements for top status International upgrade coupons and their limited fare classes on some airlines And, shockingly, Ben and Hunter disagree about some things.. Please leave a comment below!

Catchy title, eh? In this week's podcast we discuss the two major frequent flyer program structures between the big four airlines. Both United and American have similar programs, as do Delta and Continental. In addition to the frequent flyer comparison we cover: Ben's taunting of the air marshalls Comparison of the pros and cons of using stickers/coupons to upgrade versus free upgrades Difference in mileage requirements for top status International upgrade coupons and their limited fare classes on some airlines And, shockingly, Ben and Hunter disagree about some things.. Please leave a comment below!