Chris Elliott looked into hotel rating sites like TripAdvisor.com and found that hotels are sometimes cooking the books, posting fake reviews themselves or offering discounts to travelers in exchange for positive reviews posted online. This is in addition to all of the other problems with using broad-based experiences of travelers posted online, such as that only the best and worst experiences tend to get posted, that hotels do change and renovate over time (so recent stays are key), and that each guest has a somewhat different filter. Numerical rankings aren’t going to be consistent across individual travelers. All of this is true, but I’m not sure how much it really matters. It’s important obscure and lesser-traveled destinations, where hotels may have only a couple reviews at most. But it’s difficult to overwhelm the vast majority…
Yearly Archives
Yearly Archives for 2006.
What Power Converters/Transformers/Adapters Do I Need?
InflightHQ points to a neat online offering from Magellans that helps you determine what you’ll need in order to use your electric and electronic appliances abroad. My super-duper all-purpose converter/adapter burned out a few months ago when my wife used it with her curling iron. After 6 years, may she rest in peace. The online guides I’ve looked at have been helpful, but this one is better because it’s both user friendly and comprehensive — I was looking for information on Rwanda yesterday but couldn’t find it. This one has it. (Note, ebates offers 7% cash back at Magellan’s, and you can also earn miles via the online malls of Alaska and Delta there.)
Up to 15,000 Bonus Miles to Australia
Feb
11
2006
United is offering up to 15,000 bonus miles for roundtrip flights to Australia from the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico or U.S. Virgin Islands from March 1 through April 30, 2006. Registration is required. 15,000 bonus miles for purchasing and flying a paid, qualifying roundtrip in United First® (F fare only) 10,000 bonus miles in qualifying United Business® (C, D fares only) 7,500 bonus miles in qualifying United Economy® (Y, B, M, H fares only) 5,000 bonus miles in qualifying United Economy (Q, V, W fares only) (No bonus miles are offered on the absolute lowest — S and T — fares.) Partner and code share flights don’t qualify for the offer. Tickets must be electronic. Miles should post 6 to 8 weeks after completing the return flight.
USAirways/America West Extends Elite Status
Feb
11
2006
USAirways and America West haven’t quite gotten their act together combining their two frequent flyer programs. They don’t want to send out new elite membership cards under the old programs and can’t send out new cards under the combined programs (which count status from having flown both airlines) until they’re further along with integration. So they’re extending everyone’s elite status in the meantime. If your status was set to expire or be downgraded on February 28th, you have a reprieve. If you were counting on combining last year’s flying from both carriers to boost your status, you’ll have to wait. An email like the following was sent to current elite members: As a valued Gold Elite member, we want to make you aware of some important information about your membership. The new Dividend Miles program…
More Bonus Miles with the Delta American Express
Feb
11
2006
American Express is offering a 20% bonus (up to 10,000 bonus miles) on spending with their Delta card from March 1 through April 30, 2006. Registration is required by April 30, and bonus miles should post eight to twelve weeks after that.
Sir Freddie Laker, R.I.P.
Sir Freddie Laker died today. May he rest in peace. My thoughts are with Lady Jacqueline and his family. A true pioneer and a gentleman, whom I had the pleasure to meet in Colorado Springs in 2003 and again in New YOrk in 2004 at the Freddie Awards. Update 2/11/06: The London Times ran a nice obituary on Sir Freddie Laker yesterday.
Ted Birthday Bonus
Feb
09
2006
Register to receive 1000 bonus miles on a roundtrip flown on United’s low cost subsidiary, Ted. The bonus can be earned twice between February 12 and May 12, 2006. The bonus is meant to “Wish Ted a Happy Birthday.” Personally I wish the operating gurus in Elk Grove had smothered him at birth. RAR!
Best Mileage Offer for Valentine’s Flowers
FTD offers 30 United miles per dollar spent. It’s an old offer that’s been around a long time, I’m not even sure who there realizes it’s still active. And it says it’s for United’s top-tier elites only. But it still works and it works for anyone — elite or not. Truly a great offer.
$598 from New York to New Zealand
Jared Blank points to $598 + tax ($786 all-in) fares from New York to Auckland, New Zealand on Air Tahiti Nui. Tickets must be purchased by February 22 for travel between March 27 and June 10. A stopover in Tahiti is permitted. The explanation for fares like this is simple. Air Tahiti Nui’s service out of New York is failing miserably.[T]he New York and Paris trips are clear disasters with passenger loads of only 25-35%, way below the 70% minimum needed for profit.
United CFO’s Presentation to Bond Investors
Feb
09
2006
Pursuant to Regulation FD, United filed its presentation to the JPMorgan Annual High Yield Conference with the SEC. It makes for interesting reading. United has cut labor costs per available seat mile by 32%. Only USAirways — which went through two bankruptcies — has gone further. Northwest, just entering the bankruptcy process, has only cut their labor costs 3% over the same period of time. Northwest has the highest costs of any major carrier. Shocker — United has far less debt after bankruptcy. The reduction is all centered around rejecting pensions, retirement benefits, and some leases. Playing with numbers — United compares its operating margins with Southwest’s by removing Southwest’s fuel hedges. Going forward United plans to de-peak hubs (more continuous flow of aircraft so they don’t pay people to sit around, people wait for…
