Miles&Points Adventures: February 2013

Sunday, February 24, 2013

Flying with US Airways (No status)

I have to travel this week for work and since AA (current status: Platinum) does not have a direct flight from SNA to PHX I decided to book with US Airways (After all if/when they become partners my miles will be merged and this will all be worth it, right?)

So I found out:

1. TSA pre-check (benefit I got from AA due to Platinum status) is airline specific. Also located on Terminal A at Orange county airport (while US Airways is terminal B). So if I do not fly American Airlines I can't enjoy the TSA Pre-check benefits
Learn more about TSA Pre-check here: TSA pre-check more information
Currently (at least at SNA airport) this feature is only available when you travel domestically. No international flights will earn you TSA pre-check benefits
Although a TSA agent told me today - they are working on improving that and it will be incorporated later in the year. Sure hope so...

2. I am able to use the Admiral's club (AA) while flying on US Airways because I have a paid membership to the club and it is not based on me flying AA at all. Sweet!!!
US Airways departs from Terminal B but once you go thru security you can easily walk from terminal B to terminal A (where you can find the Admiral's club) without having to go thru security again.

3. Platinum status does not carry over at this time to US Airways. I asked the ticket agent who politely informed me that the merge is not even government approved yet :(
You have to pay for bags ($ 25 for the first one and $ 35 for the second one)
You do not get priority boarding or any other perks (YET) but you can purchase this for $ 15 per flight when you check into your flight.

4. Double and triple your miles is cheap with US Airways. Maybe because its such a short flight
330+ miles each way
$ 9 can get you to double your miles
$ 19 can get you to triple your miles

5. After purchasing the ticket I got "no seat assigned" message. *sigh*
I thought it was because I had entered my United mileage number when I booked the trip, so I called US Airways and requested my Dividend miles (with current miles 0) to be entered in the reservation instead. Painless - it took 2 minutes to get it done, so now I am able to view itinerary and make changes if needed by logging into my Dividend miles account.
After that change BOOM my seat became "4B" - The best middle seat possible. First row. Extra legroom. Of course not as good as First class seat but "Hey" this is a 1 hr 15 min flight so no biggie.

One more hour to boarding time, so I will update this post with my findings after I try their gate and plane service for the first time.

Saturday, February 2, 2013

Admiral's club review: Nashville International Airport

This Admiral's club opens at 5 am every day and closes at either 6:30 PM Saturday or 7:30 PM on all other days.
Located: After Security on Concourse C, Mezzanine Level, across from Gate 11.
According to one of the employees here (not sure his name) - Saturday is their slowest day.
It is a small lounge (compared to DFW or MIA airport) but it is cozy!
Hard to find a soul to serve you a drink and/or food at 6 am on a Saturday morning (Lucky for me I am not that hungry today). They do have OJ, muffins, fruit displayed, but I still need to call to get my Diet coke refilled.

I took some pictures of the different areas you can find at the Admiral's Club Nashville Airport (BNA)

The entrance:

The bar:

Breakfast/Snack area:

The rest of the Lounge:

Friday, February 1, 2013

Hotel Review: Holiday Inn & Suites: Jackson

Hotel Location: 55 Parkstone Place, Jackson, TN 38305
Telephone (731) 736-1174
Length of stay: 5 nights
Total cost $ 728.10
Room # 521

Entrance to the Hotel.
Beware: Since this Hotel is fairly new my GPS had a hard time finding it at first.
You can see the Hotel from the I-40 - Take exit 85 and stop taking directions from GPS. Just go to Hotel.

Breakfast is complimentary here every day of the week. I never made it to breakfast so I can't post a picture of it, but here is a picture of the tables at the breakfast area and also a picture of the coffee area.

Hotel Review: Holiday Inn Express - Brentwood, TN

This hotel is located at: 5566 Franklin Pike Circle in Brentwood, TN 37027
You can contact them by phone at (615) 221-5001
Distance from Nashville International Airport (BNA) to this hotel: 15 miles (20 minutes if you take the I-65S)
Room rate: $ 89 per night (Total incl tax $ 105.07)
Note: Due to my Platinum Status with Intercontinental Hotels (Priority Club) I was upgraded to Room # 426

4Th Floor Hallway

When to enter the room you find a medium size living area with a couch and center table, lamp and a work desk. Also a TV and some drawers.

A small kitchenette is located next to the desk but in a separate area. It includes microwave, bucket for ice, sink, coffee maker and a mini fridge (to keep my diet cokes cold)