Jamie Larounis is a travel industry analyst and loyalty programs educator. His writing at UpgradedPoints.com and social media accounts @theforwardcabin share his experiences, musings, reviews, tips, tricks, resources and industry news with you, the fellow traveler. Among many projects, he also helps power the Frequent Traveler Awards, Loyalty Summit and Frequent Traveler University with sales and sponsorship support.

Highlighting on his knowledge of airline customer experience, James was featured in American Airlines’ “Elevate” training program presented to all employees in 2016. Among several media spotlights, he’s spoken at Princeton University, and the New York Times Travel Show, been quoted in The New York Times, Travel and Leisure Magazine, The New York Post, The Fiscal Times, Skift, the BBC, the Washington Post, Forbes, New York Magazine, and Condé Nast Traveler, been featured on CNN and FOX News, and written for Forbes, InsideFlyer, and Road Warrior Voices/USA Today.

In 2018, he was awarded the highest honor for exceptional customer service for Washington Dulles International Airport. Today, Jamie is the resident expert on American Airlines at UpgradedPoints.com, and provides travel industry consulting support to MeetSelect.com, a lifestyle membership service for influential individuals.