What Is The Greatest Travel Hack You Did?

[Dan]

They didn't let us take a car seat on the plane for a lap child when they know there were plenty of empty seats. They did the same to my brother. Every other airline I've tried has done so. Don't recall if I ever did that on AA.

The FAA strongly recommends airlines allow this, though I don't think they require it.

[MeirS]

A few times I was told by AA GA that even if there were empty seats I wouldn't be able to use it for my lap infants.

UA on the other hand have always tried to accommodate wherever possible.

[Dan]

A few times I was told by AA GA that even if there were empty seats I wouldn't be able to use it for my lap infants.

UA on the other hand have always tried to accommodate wherever possible.

AA is also the least stroller friendly airline and won't gate check larger strollers.

Sorry Ye Mandel, but that's just the facts.

[MeirS]

AA is also the least stroller friendly airline and won't gate check larger strollers.

Sorry Ye Mandel, but that's just the facts.

I've been traveling with infants for almost 3 years now.
My domestic travel was mostly on UA and AA. With UA, in 95% of cases, GAs were helpful and FAs tried to make us comfortable and had pleasant comments.
With AA, 95% of cases, GAs were unwilling or unable to help and FAs would give a grumpy look and try not to make eye contact.
I wonder if that's just a coincidence or has to do with company policy and training.
Let's just say that they used to be my preferred airline for traveling on my own, because a. I have lounge access, and b. the lounge agents used to have some leverage with seat assignments, but that is no longer the case.

Although I learned something new on a recent trip with AA when they got me stuck in PHX overnight due to a "ATC" instruction due to "weather".
If you ever don't get your luggage due to an unplanned overnight connection or for any other reason, apparently, baggage claim offices across the country have "loaner" car seats in different sizes for you to borrow until you are reunited with your luggage.
Anyone else hear of this? If yes, this should probably be wikified, maybe in the infant travel thread.

[herb]

Ime, the only airline that did not allow this was South African Airways.

spirit and frontier did not let but I guess that goes without saying

[Yehudaa]

AA GA and FA didn't let us when we flew F to EZE when Rafi was a newborn. "That seat costs $20,000!"

No such problems in economy on most airlines

If you ever don't get your luggage due to an unplanned overnight connection or for any other reason, apparently, baggage claim offices across the country have "loaner" car seats in different sizes for you to borrow until you are reunited with your luggage.
Anyone else hear of this? If yes, this should probably be wikified, maybe in the infant travel thread.

Interesting. When AC lost my luggage recently they did not offer this- they just said we should rent one with our car rental and they'd reimburse it as part of the general delayed baggage claim. (Haven't received a penny yet but that's a separate issue.)

[YitzyS]

AA is also the least stroller friendly airline and won't gate check larger strollers.

Sorry Ye Mandel, but that's just the facts.

Tell that to the BD of Tel Aviv

[SuperFlyer]

Seems like this thread isn't worthy of hacks.
It gets stuck on every shtuss.

[jj1000]

Seems like this thread isn't worthy of hacks.
It gets stuck on every shtuss.

99.9% of the world can't come close to the hacks you've done, it's nothing personal.

I can attest to some of what @SuperFlyer has been able to pull off, I am astounded and still grateful

[Euclid]

99.9% of the world can't come close to the hacks you've done, it's nothing personal.

SuperFlyer and Clark Cant

[smart man]

Seems like this thread isn't worthy of hacks.
It gets stuck on every shtuss.

Keep them coming please:)

[smart man]

A hack I wasn’t able to pull off. I was flying home yesterday and the price of my ticket dropped from ~90,000 UA miles to 60k after I was checked in with my luggage and sitting at the lounge. Was there something I could have done easily enough?

[Abebee]

Seems like this thread isn't worthy of hacks.
It gets stuck on every shtuss.

Any hacks that are still live I don't think anyone in their right mind is sharing. And the dead ones are not exciting (unless it was one you pulled off yourself and you still smile to yourself when you think of it)

[YitzyS]

I think if you make a thread about your greatest travel mishap you will have a lot more responses...

[KSMH]

Getting DL to change AF F ticket from ALG TO JFK to CMN > JFK

[Dan]

Getting AA to change from GRU-DFW-NRT-DFW-GRU to GRU-DFW-JFK//-NRT//-LAX//-MIA//-GRU on the AVNYC promo ticket that didn't allow for any stopovers.

[Dan]

Using eBay Anything points to generate 1.3M free CX miles.

[Dan]

Using Wendys cups to generate endless free Airtran flights and tens of thousands of dollars of CO ETCs, which later converted into UA ETCs.

[elimmm]

Interesting. When AC lost my luggage recently they did not offer this- they just said we should rent one with our car rental and they'd reimburse it as part of the general delayed baggage claim. (Haven't received a penny yet but that's a separate issue.)

Southwest offered me a loaner car seat until my delayed car seat arrived, but said that luggage delivery company is not required to swap it out for me, and if they dont take it, i must return it to the airport (i declined)

[Abc1234561]

not sure if this is a Hack but i needed a last minute same day flight. The 4pm flight was $300 the 1pm flight was $900 i wanted the 1pm flight.  I bought a ticket for the 4pm and was allowed on the 1pm flight by the gate agent.