Combine Japanese focus on technology with a commitment to service and what do you get? All Nippon Airways began offering draft beer on Japanese domestic flights on July 20. Draft beer couldn’t be served before because fluctuating air pressure created too much foam, according to Japan Probe. Supposedly, new beer keg technology was developed to remedy the issue. They’re selling the beer in coach, limited quantities are onboard, and the article doesn’t mention availability in premium cabins. But this alone makes me want to take a Japanese domestic flight with ANA.
Monthly Archives
Monthly Archives for July 2010.
Extreme Concierge Requests: Roasted Tarantulas, Pig Eyes, and Handcuffs
The Ottawa Citizen describes some of the ‘crazy’ concierge requests that Fairmont hotel properties have received (and fulfilled) in a story supposedly based on a leaked “internal Fairmont Hotels document obtained by Postmedia News.” I always love these sorts of stories, reported straight-faced as inside scoop when clearly a hotel chain is providing a list in hopes of getting free publicity for what kind of great service they provide and the lengths that they will go for guests. It’s brilliant marketing I suppose, but a bit cheeky for a news reporter to suggest cloak and dagger stuff in getting the real goods on a hotel’s concierge offerings. Granted, asking for help securing pig eyes and requesting that the concierge sub in for you on a blind date make for pretty funny stories. At The Plaza…
ITA Software Introduces iPhone Airfare Shopping App
I can’t test this because I’m not an iPhone guy, and a Blackberry version is still in the works, but still seemed worth passing along. Built on QPX™, ITA’s airfare pricing and shopping engine, OnTheFly offers the same advanced, powerful comparison shopping features used by many travel companies and by ITA’s Matrix airfare search application at http://matrix.itasoftware.com. OnTheFly enables users to easily shop for optimal airfares for any itinerary in the world and provides comprehensive choices to tailor the search and shopping experience. It’s even free from the iPhone app store.
50 Priority Club Poins Per Day: Drive Up to One of Their Hotels and Drive Away
Samir passes along a tip reported by Barbara DeLollis that Priority Club is partnering with TopGuest and will provide 50 Priority Club points every time a guest ‘checks in’ at a Priority Club hotel property (eg Holiday Inn, Intercontinental, Crowne Plaza). You don’t actually have to stay at the hotel, checking in in this sense means showing up and registering your location. You can drive into the parking lot and leave. MilesQuest thinks this “certainly is worthwhile to sign up for the program and download an app like FourSquare to take advantage.” I’m not so sure. I value a Priority Club point at about 3/5ths of a penny apiece, although some redemptions can leverage points much more effectively than that like the occasional PointBreaks redemption of 5000 points for a free Intercontinental night. But with…
Randy Petersen Takes to YouTube to Recommend Your Next Bag
Randy Petersen has taken to YouTube to explain his endorsement of the Lands End Flighwise bags. I’m more of a rollaboard kinda guy, I like my Briggs & Riley 20″ but for more value-oriented quality the Travelpro Crew 7 is a good bag at more like $125 instead of the $279-ish that the Briggs & Riley usually goes for. And for my laptop, I’m still in love with the Tom Bihn Checkpoint Flyer. Randy says in the video that he’s never found a bag with a strap he liked before the Lands End one, but I really do have to recommend Tom Bihn’s absolute shoulder strap — not cheap at $30 but the most comfortable thing I’ve ever carried a bag with. Still, these Lands End bags aren’t expensive, less than the TravelPro Crew series,…
$10 Per Night Discount on Priceline Bookings
Priceline is offering a $10 per room per night discount (“bonus cash”) valid on bids for 2 to 5 nights. The booking needs to be made by July 27 on 3-star, 3.5-star, or 4-star hotels for travel through June, 2011. Just visit the bonus site and enter code IMISSU and Priceline will deposit the coupon into your account. One coupon per e-mail address/account. (Hat tip to Flyertalk’s CalItalian.)
Comprehensive Mileage Expiration Chart: One of the Most Useful Blog Posts Ever Written
Musings of the Global Traveller wrote an exhaustive list in a February blog post about all major frequent flyer program expiration policies. I know most of them, but I have found myself frequently referring back to his list. It’s been extremenly useful to me when I need to remind myself how long I have before my Mexicana Frecuenta miles expire (18 months from last activity, I’ll drop in a mile from Starwood or 1000 from American Express) and how long I can extend my expiring Singapore miles by paying a fee (6 months as I am not a Krisflyer elite). And he’s even been keeping the chart updated — I notice that after I posted the change in Korean Air policy mere days ago, his February post has been adjusted. This may be the go-to…
25% off at the Westin Store
The W Hotel store regularly discounts items including their beds and bedding, such as this 35% discount that I posted about rhree weeks ago (and beds receive free shipping). For those that have a particular affinity for Westin products, though, their online store rarely has discounts or at least significant ones. So it’s actually surprising to see 25% off everything in the Westin at Home store through August 1. Now is a good time if you’ve been wanting a Westin rather than a W bed.
Canadian Court Allows Tax Deduction for Spending Miles in Lieu of Cash
Randy Petersen points out an interesting Canadian tax case where courts there ruled that a person could deduct the value of the miles they redeemed for a ticket to travel for medical care. The government said the taxpayer could only deduct the taxes and fees — actual out of pocket case — but the Court ruled that he gave up something of value, something which could be purchased from Aeroplan, and that he had ‘paid’ for the tickets so could deduct the value of that payment. Now, a Canadian court ruling isn’t an issue for me as a US taxpayer. But what a can of worms this opens! Randy likes the ruling and sees significant implications: This case and the fact that it was uphold on an appeal sets in place a basis for many frequent flyers to have their…
American Express Platinuim Charge Card Adds US Airways Lounge Access
Wandering Aramean reports that American Express and US Airways have struck a lounge access deal — Platinum (and Centurion) cardholders already have access to Continental, Delta, and American Airlines lounges when flying same-day on those airlines’ flights. Now those higher-end Amex cards (with hefty fees) will offer US Airways lounge access as well, and interestingly with no same-day flight requirement as with the other lounges. So if you’re flying on another airline out of a terminal with a US Airways lounge, the card will actually get you in. I’ve long recommended the American Express Platinum as a great road warrior card, combining the Membership Rewards points program (that comes with less expensive Amex products) with lounge access the airlines usually charge for along with benefits like the Fine Hotels and Resorts program. The card used…
