Traveling Without Elite Status (Rude Awakening)

Sorry if I’ve been remiss on blog posts this weekend, but I’ve been enjoying a sunny weekend in Miami, courtesy of Starwood Hotels (I won 2 free weekend nights this summer through a Twitter promotion they ran). I’ll have a full report about that, including South Beach recommendations, but in the meantime I’m currently sitting in Miami airport waiting for my flight to JFK.

The difference with this flight is that we booked American because it was 3 times cheaper than Delta, my preferred carrier where I have Platinum (soon to be Diamond)status. So I am in a regular, non-exit row coach seat in the back of the bus. Not only that, I don’t have Admirals Club Lounge access and they aren’t a part of the Priority Pass network, so I’m stuck waiting in the loud terminal like everyone else.

So far, I tried to get on an earlier flight, but was bumped by passengers with AA Elite Status, have had to change in a dirty bathroom and am about to lose battery because there are NO freaking outlets anywhere near the gate (and I refuse to sit in the middle of the walk way like a bum).

To say the least, its been an eye-opening experience and it makes me really value how well I am treated as an elite flyer. Full report to come this week, assuming  I survive my flight in coach!

Tagged as: American, Delta, elite status, miami

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