Aviation with Krish

Citi and American Airlines have grown their partnership, which allows AA to be one of the card issuer’s transfer partners. This new arrangement allows travelers to transfer points and book award flights operated by American. In addition to the new transfer, Citi has created a new way to access Admirals Club Lounges. The Citi-American agreement should attract more flyers who value award travel using ThankYou points and casual American Airlines flyers that might be happy with lounge access.

In the coming months, American Airlines will not only begin flying Premium Economy on its transcontinental routes; they will be deploying widebody aircraft between New York and LAX for the first time in years.

Flying between London and New York is a very competitive route. And while British Airways offers the most daily flights between the two cities, Virgin Atlantic wants its travelers to know that they’re the best option. Both airlines offer a premium Business Class product across the pond, and I had the chance to try both Club World and Upper Class in the latter quarter of 2024. Continue reading to find out which airline came out on top!

A recent flight from San Francisco to New York in American Airlines Flagship Business Class was the perfect opportunity for me to visit the Admirals Club in SFO. It’s a slightly smaller Admirals Club Lounge, but still offers several amenities and feels cozy compared to the United Club in Terminal 3. If you have access to the club and are passing through Harvey Milk Terminal 1, where the lounge is located, then it might be worth stopping by to relax.

As the newest Club Lounge on the U.S. west coast, The Club SFO spans 12,000 square feet and offers its guests a comfortable experience. It features several amenities, a better food spread than most other domestic airport lounges in San Francisco, and an inspiring ambiance. With great seating and a gorgeous design, SFO’s The Club is a lounge in the Priority Pass network that you won’t want to miss out on.

It’s not every day that an airline will launch a Business Class product on a new aircraft. Not too long ago, Emirates took delivery of the Airbus A350-900 and has been flying them on various short and medium haul flights to Europe and Asia. The A350 features a modern and spacious Business Class cabin that I had the chance to put to the test on a recent flight from Ahmedabad to Dubai. Thanks to several in-seat features such as plentiful storage, plush padding, and large seat consoles, the A350 Business Class seat is the best Business Class product in the Emirates fleet. 

Hyatt’s award chart can be difficult to utilize because there are many room types you can book. The price changes during peak and off-peak times of the year, which can make booking your Hyatt stay even more complicated. I hope that the visibility of the charts brings some more clarity into any future Hyatt bookings.

The hotel scene in Paris is very luxurious, with several boutique hotels and major brands, an example of which is Hyatt. One of Hyatt’s nicest and most high-end properties is the Park Hyatt Paris/Vendome, with excellent service, luxurious amenities, and elegant rooms. On a trip to Paris at the end of last year, I couldn’t wait to stay at the Park Hyatt Vendome and see if it lived up to the hype. 

American Express Membership Rewards has made a major change with one of its transfer partners, and it’s for the worse. Points and miles enthusiasts will surely not be happy with this move being made by Amex. 

American Express joined the airport lounge industry in 2013 with its first outpost at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas. Still today, the Centurion Lounge in LAS is among one of the issuer’s most busy lounges that is almost always operating on a waitlist. Finding an open seat in the lounge can be very difficult. Plus, it’s one of the smaller lounges in the Amex portfolio, making it even more crowded among cardholders during peak hours.