For example, if you go to Hyatt and just put in 1 night at the Park Hyatt Paris Vendome, June 25/26, it’s 1900 Euros (about $2,000) for 45k points.
That’s an incredible redemption rate compared to Marriott.
The biggest issue with Hyatt is they dont have as many hotels as Marriott/Hilton. And their partner hotel affiliations are normal redemption rates (ie Mr and Mrs Smith brand).
We also have terrible luck in Charlotte. My h is there frequently for work and between weather and mechanical trouble he never gets out on time.
I’ve been flying in and out of Charlotte since the late 80s because my parents live in NC. I don’t remember a time when the airport wasn’t under construction!
The biggest issue with CLT is it’s too crowded. I don’t think it was built to handle as many passengers as they have now so you have tons of people everywhere (especially in B and C) and it’s a congested mess.
It’s still better than ORD with it’s confusing and crowded G, H, K, L gates.
I agree. I flew there a few times years ago and felt like I was the ball in a pinball machine, bouncing off other flyers just to get down a concourse. No where to sit near the gate and I didn’t dare leave for fear I’d never get back to the gate in time.
We’ve had to fly American out of Atlanta to the Caribbean a few times (apparently more flights than Delta) and they either route us through CLT or Miami. We have decided as a family to pay twice as much to avoid Miami either way in or out of the country - filthy, horrible, worst airport I’e encountered. CLT, very clean and smooth departure and return but we were going during regular business hours so likely well staffed at the time.
Yes. Miami is probably the worst of the American hubs.
Are we voting? If so…Philadelphia is the airport I avoid for connections…like the plague.
We loved Star Alliance, until they lost over 75,000 miles that both my DH and I each had with them. We tried and tried to get them…and it was a no go.
That’s funny, I’ve had good luck in Philadelphia.
IMO, PHL has improved. That’s just based on when Ive flown there and not any statistical evidence.
The workers there arent the friendliest but no one really cares as long as you get there from A to B.
The F terminal connection to another terminal can be a pain (especially if you have a tight connection) but otherwise, it’s better than it used to be (at least for me).
True about the workers. I encountered such a rude bartender that I filed a complaint when I got home!
Good to hear Philadelphia airport has improved. After many screwed up connections there, I stopped routing myself through that airport. Maybe I’ll try it again…maybe.
My general approach is:
Flight times - arrival/departure (obvious)
Connection time (at least 1 hour, for me 1.5 hours is the sweet spot for domestic)
On time arrival %
How many flights does that airport have to where I’m going. For example, if my connection is 2pm CLT to XYZ, and miss that connection, is there a 5pm flight from CLT to XYZ, 10pm flight from CLT to XYZ?
How full is the plane. This is a crapshoot because the earlier you book, the less likely you know if it’ll fill up. I try to get a less crowded plane because: board faster/deplane faster, more likely you’ll have more space and not have a person in the middle and potential upgrade.
If I fly international, I will fly out of NY or Boston because they have so many flights.
In the winter time, I will avoid airports in the North (which is why I fly American because they have a lot more hubs in the Mid-Atlantic/South: CLT/DFW/DCA/MIA vs Delta which will primarily take me through ATL).
Well, Hnl to SAN on totally full flight. We had a very nice crew but sadly some kids who yelled and screamed and kicked seats. We were glad the flight was “just” 5 hour. It was Hawaiian and otherwise fine.
Are there any flights anymore that are not 90%+ booked? Seems this is the trend - very full planes.
Headphones can be very helpful on a plane. 
A few weeks ago I flew from Denver to Mexico and our flight had 55 empty seats, so about 1/3 empty. It was great to have the center seat empty.
On the way back? Not so lucky.
I have been on full flights before but never with people behind screaming, kicking seats and a guy beside me who kept elbowing me to make a remark. It was not a restful experience.
Yes. Really late flights (Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday).
D has caught sone flights. HNL to Ontario CA where every passenger got like a whole row! It was a weekday on Hawaiian Airlines.
My sister and her son flew on a flight where each passenger ended with an entire row as well.
We once were flying home to Chicago from Bradley. The plane was so badly delayed that almost all other passengers were rebooked the next day - they all had connecting flights they would have missed. Southwest needed to get the plane and crew to Chicago for the next day, so about ten of us passengers had the plane to ourselves.