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AMERICAN INSIGHT A A .COM/FINAL APPROACH Travel Smart Tips to ease your holiday travel plans With more than 330 destinations across our enhanced network, American Airlines can get you anywhere you need to be this holiday season. Whether you're traveling to Grandma's house or escaping to an exotic beach, here are some tips to simplify your travels: CHECK YOUR FLIGHT STATUS. While we know that weather can sometimes impact your travel plans, we want to make sure you have the most up-to-date information on your flight. Download the American Airlines app, recently enhanced for iOS8 and Android, to check in for your flight and to check flight status and flight schedules. Learn more at aa.com/app. ARRIVE EARLY. Be sure to allow more time to get to the airport, proceed through security and make your way to the gate. Given that the holiday season is one of the busiest times for air travel, lines at the airport can be a little lengthy. Save yourself some time and check in online or with our app. You can even send your boarding passes directly to your mobile phone, saving you the time spent printing them at the airport. SIGN UP TO RECEIVE NOTIFICATIONS. Want to get flight-status notifications in case there's a change to your trip? Sign up for Flight Status Notification at aa.com/fsn and receive information via text, email or voice mail. STAY CONNECTED. We're making it easier for you to stay connected to the people and things that matter the most. With more than 825 planes with Wi-Fi, you can catch up on work while on the road or even finish your holiday shopping. And if you need to stay powered up on the go, our new planes include USB ports and 110v AC power outlets at every seat in every cabin. RELAX AND ENJOY. Remove a little stress from holiday travel by taking it easy before you take off. If you want to check your email, enjoy a refreshing cocktail or simply relax before your flight, a One-Day Admirals Club® Pass allows you to make the most of your time at the airport. There are more than 50 Admirals Club locations in which to experience a peaceful and private environment within the airport. Purchase your pass or membership at aa.com/admiralsclub. What type of work do you do? "I'm an artist- relations director at Compassion International. We partner with artists and speakers to use their influence to get the word out about the children we serve in developing countries." How often do you travel? "I travel almost every week. About 75 percent of the time I'm traveling domestically. Last weekend I was in L. A ., but next weekend I'm in Cleveland. I work a lot in Nashville, because many of the artists we work with are located there. The other part of the time I'm traveling internationally to Central or South America, Africa or Asia." What's your favorite destination? "My favorite destination has been Rome. You can do Rome in a day. You can literally walk around the city without having to hop in a cab or rent a car. There's so much history behind the city. You are walking on the same streets that have been there for thousands of years. When I'm travel- ing for work, India has been my favorite by far. The only way to describe India is as an assault on your senses." Check or carry on? "Man, I never check a bag. I always carry on. It doesn't matter how long I'm traveling. If I'm traveling for a week, I still won't check a bag." If you could only travel with three items, what would they be? "A cellphone, running shoes and probably a light jacket." What are your hobbies? "I love triathlons. When I'm traveling, it's easy to get out and run. It's also a great way to see a city. When I'm home, I'm typically training for some type of triathlon event. I have completed more than 30 — and also one Ironman. When I'm traveling, I like to compete in 5K races, which helps me with my travel schedule." What are your tips for other Road Warriors? "Travel smart: Be sure to get enough sleep, stay hydrated and find a system that works well for you. I also use the Flight Status Notifications that American offers. The text messages that I get an hour before my flight really help. Also, if you're an elite-status member, use all of those perks to your benefit." Do you sleep, work or relax in flight? "I used to sleep or read quite a bit. I've found with my travels lately, since there's Wi-Fi access, it's been easier to get work done. When I land, I don't have to take care of anything online and my work is all finished. I'm great at the catnap, though. From the time we push back from the gate to right before takeoff, there's just some- thing about it that lulls me to sleep." Follow Spence's travels on Twitter at @SpenceSmith. American operates daily nonstop service to Hong Kong from DFW. AAdvantage Member Spotlight Executive Platinum AAdvantage member Spence Smith travels weekly – and when he has a bit of downtime, he's training for his next triathlon. A A .CO M/A M E R I C A NWAY D EC E M B E R 2 01 4 1 05