American Airlines' Reservation System Fails, Grounds Airline

American Airlines grounded their fleet today because of a computer system failure.  This happens to United every two or three years, so I won't make any jokes.  Re-booking and cancellation fees are waived, so it is a positive for a very small number of passengers. 

AA MD-80

Every Airport Code United Airlines and United Express Serves

I spent some time with the United Airlines timetable and pulled a list of all the airport codes for United and United Express (current as of March 30, 2013).  These are especially useful for finding mileage runs with ITA Matrix.  My goal is to make 1 million United miles soon, so I am spending a little more to fly United rather than US Airways (upgrades help too).  

United Airlines 737 and 777

ABE, ABI, ABQ, ABR, ABX, ABY, ACA, ACK, ACT, ACV, AEX, AGS, AGU, ALB, AMA, AMS, ANC, ANU, AOO, APN, ARN, ASE, ATL, ATW, AUA, AUS, AVL, AVP, AZO, BAH, BCN, BDA, BDL, BFL, BFS, BGM, BGR, BHM, BHX, BIL, BIS, BJI, BJX, BKK, BKW, BMI, BNA, BNE, BOG, BOI, BOM, BON, BOS, BPT, BQK, BQN, BRD, BRO, BRU, BTM, BTR, BTV, BUF, BUR, BWI, BZE, BZN, CAE, CAK, CBR, CCS, CDC, CDG, CHA, CHO, CHS, CIC, CID, CKB, CLD, CLE, CLL, CLT, CME, CMH, CMX, CNS, COD, COS, CPR, CRP, CRW, CSG, CTS, CUN, CUU, CVG, CWA, CZM, DAB, DAL, DAY, DCA, DEL, DEN, DFW, DGO, DHN, DLH, DNA, DOH, DRO, DRT, DSM, DTW, DUB, DUJ, DXB, EAU, EDI, EGE, EKO, ELH, ELM, ELP, EMD, ERI, EUG, EVV, EWN, EWR, EYW, EZE, FAI, FAR, FAT, FAY, FCA, FCO, FKL, FLL, FNT, FPO, FRA, FSD, FSM, FUK, FWA, GDL, GDV, GEG, GFK, GGT, GGW, GHB, GIG, GLA, GLH, GLT, GNV, GPT, GRB, GRK, GRR, GRU, GSO, GSP, GTF, GTR, GUA, GUC, GUM, GVA, HAM, HDN, HIB, HIJ, HKG, HLN, HNL, HOB, HOU, HPN, HRL, HSV, HUX, HVR, IAD, ICT, IDA, IMT, IND, INL, IPL, IST, ITH, ITO, IYK, JAC, JAN, JAX, JFK, KIJ, KIX, KOA, KWA, KWI, LAN, LAS, LAW, LAX, LBB, LCH, LEX, LFT, LGA, LHR, LIH, LIM, LIR, LIS, LIT, LMT, LNK, LOS, LRD, LSE, LWS, LWT, MAD, MAF, MAJ, MAN, MBJ, MBS, MCI, MCO, MDT, MEI, MEL, MEM, MEX, MFE, MFR, MGA, MGM, MHT, MIA, MID, MKC, MKE, MKG, MLB, MLI, MLM, MLS, MLU, MNL, MOB, MOD, MOT, MRY, MSL, MSN, MSO, MSP, MSY, MTJ, MTY, MUC, MXP, MYR, NAS, NBW, NGO, NRT, OAK, OAX, OGG, OKC, OKJ, OLF, OMA, ONT, ORD, ORF, OSL, OTH, PAH, PAP, PBC, PBI, PDX, PHL, PHX, PIA, PIB, PIH, PIT, PKB, PLN, PNS, PQQ, PSC, PSP, PTY, PVD, PVR, PWM, QRO, RAP, RDD, RDM, RDU, RHI, RIC, RNO, ROA, ROC, ROK, ROR, RST, RSW, RTB, SAL, SAN, SAP, SAT, SAV, SBA, SBN, SBP, SCE, SDF, SDJ, SDY, SEA, SFO, SGF, SGU, SHV, SIN, SJC, SJD, SJO, SJT, SJU, SLC, SLP, SLW, SMF, SMX, SNA, SNN, SPI, SRQ, STL, STR, SWO, SYD, SYR, TAM, TCB, TCL, TGU, TLH, TLV, TPA, TPE, TRC, TRI, TUL, TUP, TUS, TVC, TXK, TXL, TYR, TYS, UIO, UOX, VER, VLD, VPS, VSA, XNA, YAP, YEG, YHZ, YLW, YMM, YOW, YQB, YQM, YQR, YQT, YUL, YUM, YVR, YWG, YXE, YXU, YYC, YYJ, YYT, YYZ, ZIH, ZLO, ZRH

Another Fun Picture

Here's another fun picture.

United 737-800

Here's A Picture I Like

It's snowing in Denver, but this picture has me dreaming of a trip on Singapore Airlines.  

Rear View of Singapore 777

Happy Spring

Bike riders are clogging the roads, Home Depot has a full parking lot, and the de-icing trucks are stowed at DEN.  Spring has arrived and delays shouldn't be very bad for a while.  It's time to fly.

No More Pictures Like This For a Few Months

Update 4/8:  Maybe not.  Denver could get 6-12 inches tomorrow.  http://denver.cbslocal.com/guide/colorado-denver-weather-forecast-rain-snow-storm/

The Lufthansa 747 Looks Outstanding

The Lufthansa 747 looks majestic, it has to be the best looking airplane / livery combination in service.  Also the new American is much better in person, it actually looks good. The United Continental colors are also growing on me.

Lufthansa, American, and United at Denver

Flying to Iceland on Frequent Flyer Miles

The Euro crisis is starting to impact my travel plans.  Air service to Iceland (KEF) has been reduced dramatically since the Icelanders started having currency problems (they have since been made to look responsible thanks to Greece, Italy, Spain, Ireland, Portugal, and Cyprus).  Despite not being in the news, air service to the Continent has shrunk to EasyJet, airberlin (oneworld), SAS (Star Alliance), and Iceland Air.  I'm not 100% certain, but SAS and airberlin are my most likely options.

Iceland Air 757 Having an Overnight Stay at DEN

Yes, I know I can fly direct from New York on Delta, but where is the fun in that?  Delta charges twice as many miles to go JKF-KEF than JFK-SFO and KEF is just 7 miles farther away.  If I'm not completely crossing the Atlantic, I refuse to pay full price.  Same complaint for Iceland Air's Saga miles, the rates are atrocious (Alaska is an Iceland Air partner until June 1, 2013 and their rates are also high).  SAS is the best option for me because I can fly from anywhere in Europe to Oslo and then to Iceland.  This will cost 25,000 United or US Airways miles round trip (or 40,000 miles in business class) from another European city.  I can also use American Airlines or British Airways miles to fly airberlin (both would cost 20,000 miles round trip in coach).  Iceland can also be a destination for my United or US Airways ticket and then I can stop at a Star Alliance hub for my free stopover (AA and BA don't have free stopovers).  

I Won't Be Flying Delta