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Oneworld Megado Moments

Jan. 28, 2012
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3 min read
Oneworld Megado Moments
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The Oneworld Megado madness continues in Los Angeles this weekend, and seatmate contest winner Conor, Eric and I have been busy in Dallas and Seattle this week hanging out with the folks at American Airlines and Boeing.

We’re still in the midst of all the events, but I thought I’d share some of the lighter moments from our day in Dallas at American Airlines’ CR Smith Center. Don’t worry, I’ll give you the inside scoop from the new head of AAdvantage, Suzanne Rubin, soon, as well as glimpses at a simulated water evacuation, the high-tech flight simulators they use to train pilots, the bustling Systems Operations Control room, and a few interesting facts and figures from the morning seminar.

In the meantime, here are a few photos from the more fun afternoon activities we enjoyed while going through an abbreviated version of the safety training that all AA flight attendants undergo.

Here’s one of me playing the hero as I guide my fellow passengers to safety through the back emergency exit of a Boeing 767. “Come this way! Leave everything behind!” I think I got the hang of it.

Conor, meanwhile, got into character as a panicked passenger dashing from the flames and smoke inside a Boeing 757 simulator. Think he’ll make it out in time? The passenger behind him, meanwhile doesn’t look like he has a care in the world.

And in this final photo, Eric puts some muscle into operating one of the emergency row exits on the 767 set before shepherding his fellow Megadoers to safety through the overwing exit.

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British Airways Giveaway

You might not have gotten to participate in the Megado, but that doesn’t mean you can’t take a little piece of it home with you.

To commemorate the Oneworld Megado and British Airways’ hospitality in London, I’m going to give away a BA amenity kit, insulated mug, a collectible A320 model, luggage tag, and 10,000 American Express Membership Rewards transferred into your Avios account.

To get the 30% bonus and a total of 13,000 Avios points (more than enough for a roundtrip short-haul flight of 600 miles or less each way), this transfer must happen by January 31, 2012, otherwise you’ll just get 10,000. So hurry up!

Enter the giveaway by leaving a comment below with a tip on redeeming Avios miles for the best possible awards. If you need a little assistance or inspiration, you can check out my previous post on maximizing British Airways’ Avios. I'll draw a random winner on Monday at 8am ET and announce it on the blog Monday morning with details on the next (more lucrative) Oneworld Mega Do giveaway!

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at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees
Best for dining at restaurants

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TPG Editor‘s Rating
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4XEarn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
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  • Intro Offer

    As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.

  • Annual Fee

    $325

  • Recommended Credit

    Excellent to Good

Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

Pros

  • 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.