V A N T A G E P O I N T
AMERICANWAY
DECEMBER 1 2008
8
PHOTOGRAPHBYCHETSNEDDEN
We’d love to hearwhat you think about our
airline and our employees. Pleasewrite to us
atwww.aa.com/customerrelations.
via e-mail. Recipients can use up to eight
GiftCards at one time toward thepurchase
of travel throughout our global network.
If Gift Cards aren’t your style, we also
have the giftAAmiles program, whereby
AAdvantage members can purchase miles
andgive themas gifts tootherAAdvantage
members. There’s also the shareAAmiles
program,which enablesmembers to trans-
fermiles from their existingbalance to that
of anAAdvantagemember of their choos-
ing. All thedetails areavailableatAA.com.
Of course, someof thepeopleonyour list
probably travel all the time.For them,what
better gift is there than an Admirals Club
membership? Every time they relax in the
quiet comfort of our clubs— andwe have
dozens spread all over the world— they’ll
think of you. One-year memberships can
be bought at AA.com or at any Admirals
Club. And if a fullmembership seems abit
on the extravagant side, One-Day Passes
arealsoavailable.
Tome, travel is simply theperfectgift for
anyone, young or old. It has been said that
we travel the world in search of what we
need and return home to find it. Explora-
tion.Discovery. Adventure. And a renewed
appreciation of home. That sure beats a
sweater or a fruitcake!
Whether today’s journey is taking you
someplace new and exotic or someplace
familiar, like home, we are happy and ap-
preciative that you have chosen to fly with
us.Onbehalf of everyone atAmericanAir-
lines, happyholidays and thebest of every-
thing in2009.
ThePerfectGift
Gerard J. Arpey
Chairman&CEO
AmericanAirlines
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T
The gift-giving season is upon us, and let’s
face it: It’s a joyful time, but it can be a
stressful time too. Even for American Air-
lines customers, who obviously have very
discerning taste, finding the right gift for
everyoneon the list is a challenge.
In my experience, the hardest people
to shop for are young adults. Trying to se-
lect clothes, books, music, or anything else
they’ll like is a veritableminefield. The po-
tential for awkwardnessor evenembarrass-
ment onboth sides of the exchange is high.
But you don’t have to put yourself through
that.Here’smycompletelyunbiasedadvice:
Give travel! Instead of opening something
they’ll stick inadrawer and forget, thepeo-
ple you care about will have an experience
they’ll remember for years to come.
Travel isaparticularlygoodgift foryoung
adultswhohave limitedmeans andare try-
ing tofind theirway in theworld. “Findyour
passion; then follow it,” theyhavebeen told.
But where to look? I say look everywhere.
Coming from an airline CEO, that’s a con-
venient suggestion, but as youarea traveler
yourself, I’m sure you agree that the more
young people experience of the world, the
more they will discover about themselves
and their true interests.
I know what some of you are thinking:
You love your niece or nephew but your
gift budget calls for a sweater, not a trip to
Shanghai. Fair enough. But consider this:
At American Airlines, we offer a number
of ways for friends, family members, and
loved ones to pitch in without necessar-
ily paying for an entire trip. AAGift Cards
can be bought and redeemed at AA.com
in any denomination between $50 and
$1,500. You canbuyaplastic cardandhave
it mailed to the person it’s for, or you can
have a virtual card delivered to the giftee
