American Airlines Bankruptcy

At Chicago Tribune, "American Airlines files for bankruptcy":

And at Washington Post, "American Airlines travelers: Some see great service, some see cattle cars."

I almost always fly American. I haven't had a problem.

36 Hours in Santa Barbara?

I just wrote about Santa Barbara yesterday, so what the heck?

Here's a travel review from the New York Times:

RECOMMENDATIONS about what to do in Santa Barbara invariably include references to the celebrities who have settled along this beautiful stretch of California’s central coast. Want to take an afternoon hike? Head into the hills near Oprah’s house. Looking for a place to eat? Try the taqueria that Julia Child adored. Just 100 miles north of Los Angeles, this quiet beach community has long been a hideaway for celebrity heavyweights. But over the past few years, the city has also made room for a new downtown scene humming with cool shops and laid-back wine bars, mobile food trucks and casual restaurants. It’s Santa Barbara for every budget — whether you debarked from a private jet at the city’s new $63 million airport terminal or cruised into town off Highway 101.

Forget the celebrities. If you stay in Santa Barbara long enough you'll run into a few. Get out and enjoy the beaches and the town. It's truly paradise.

The Times' recommendations are at the link.

One of mine to eat is Brophy Brothers. Or the Enterprise Fish Company. Or up State Street a bit is Harry's Cafe. I'm sure there are nicer, more prestigious restaurants. But these are the ones we visited time and again.

Giving Up on United Airlines and Mileage Plus

I'm breaking my hiatus, momentarily, to publicly register my dissatisfaction with United Airlines' Mileage Plus program, of which I have been a member for more than a decade. It was once fairly easy to use miles obtain upgrades on United flights, including to Europe. Now, it is nearly impossible. Even when seats are available, they charge a ridiculous premium on top of the already over-priced upgradeable coach fare. United upgrades are no longer worth the effort and cost. Consequently, I will be cashing in my miles for whatever crap I can get, then cancel my Mileage Plus membership and my United Visa Card.

Delta Has More Heart than US Airways

After my sister flew to Arizona this week to take care of my mother, who had suffered an ultimately fatal stroke, she was forced to delay her return home to New Orleans. I arrived in Arizona a couple of days after my sister (but before my mother died), and I had to return home a few days earlier than scheduled, so that I could get my family to Chicago in time for the burial there. I had purchased flight insurance for just that eventuality. However, I still had to pay US Airways (via Travelocity.com) upfront a change fee of $351. The travel insurances policy  eventually should compensate me for that charge, within a few months, after I send in all the correct documents. My sister, who was flying Delta, called and explained the situation to them, and they waived their flight change fee because of the circumstances.

Kudos to Delta for their sensitive approach to this situation, which I believe is also probably the best business practice in the long run. I, for one, will prefer Delta over US Airways, whenever I have a choice between them in the future.