I was in Portland this past weekend for Chris Guillebeau’s World Domination Summit. In any gathering of 1000 people it’s hard to say that there’s a common theme or purpose, but largely it’s about finding oneself and one’s place in the world and building an independent space — not waiting for governments to enact the right policies to ‘fix’ the economy, but figuring out how to be entrepreneurial with one’s own life. Here’s J.D. Roth of Get Rich Slowly on the inaugural conference last year. Jonathan Feldman casts a skeptical eye at the conference in Information Week even as he recognizes its value and that some of the people there have something to teach him. I admit the name of the event gives me a bit of pause, probably because despite any air of authority…
Monthly Archives
Monthly Archives for July 2012.
Up to 30,000 American Airlines Miles for New Citibank Checking Account
Reader Robert G. passes along a Citibank offer for a checking account with up to 30,000 bonus American Airlines miles. Offer code CYKS can be used at http://offer.citibank.com/, by phone at 1-866-466-1822 or at a branch through July 31. It is pitched to existing American Airlines co-branded credit card holders but is unlikely to require that one have the card (although with 50,000 mile signup bonuses out there, it’s hard to imagine why you wouldn’t get one if you don’t already have one and haven’t held one in the past 18 months). Once you’ve opened an account, make at least one direct deposit a month for two consecutive months, and make purchases as follows with your accounts debit card A Citigold checking account, $750 in charges for 30,000 American AAdvantage miles. A Citibank checking account,…
Air France KLM Flying Blue 50% Promo Awards for July/August Available
Last month the Air France KLM Flying Blue program posted ‘promo awards’ for July and August, awards bookable for 50% fewer miles. They promptly pulled the list of routes down, showing _no_name_ – _no_name_ (and v.v.) in place of the actual destinations instead. Well, available city pairs have been loaded again and there are fewer destinations than were originally listed. From North America, only Montreal, Chicago, and New York JFK flights are 50% off for business class to Europe. That’s 25,000 miles each way for business class (plus taxes and fuel surcharges). An excellent deal, even though the fuel surcharges mean you’ll be coming out of pocket perhaps half as much as a paid coach ticket. The Flying Blue program is an instant transfer partner of American Express Membership Rewards program in the U.S., making…
Effective August 1, Alaska Airlines Companion Tickets Can No Longer Be Used for First Class
Lucky reports that as of August 1, the $99 companion ticket that comes with the Alaska Airlines co-branded Visa from Bank of America will be valid for coach travel only. Previously there were no capacity controls, whatever booking class the paid ticket was booked into would be the same booking class that the companion ticket was booked into, including paid first class (meaning that the companion ticket would be fully changeable, with last seat availability, and earning class of service bonus for mileage accrual even). Introducing restrictions on the ticket hurts. Sure, folks who used the tickets for coach travel won’t mind so much. But taking away the option to buy one first class ticket and get a second one for $99 plus taxes hurts. I touted this benefit as recently as last week. Back…
Gobs of Singapore Airlines First Class Awards Available to Partner Mileage Programs
Last night I read over on Lucky’s blog that Singapore Airlines had apparently opened up a tremendous swath of premium cabin award space for their partners. The guesses being made — and one shouldn’t try guessing too hard about these things — center mostly around a reservations system update at Singapore Airlines, and the possibility that award space that’s normally offered to their own members only was being made available in error to partner airlines. (Although it certainly appears to me that there was more award space being opened than is normally available to partners.) It was late in the evening, I had a long day at an event where I had just spoken, so I tried playing with it and couldn’t get it to ticket — I called US Airways and they weren’t seeing…
Alternative Summer Vacation Ideas
David Rowell has several vacation suggestions for folks that haven’t planned their summer getaways yet. You can go to Minnesota and drive a tank. A business named Drive-a-Tank offers drivers the chance to pilot surplus military tanks and other armored vehicles around an old limestone quarry and smash junk cars like an action movie hero. …A basic package that includes driving a tank and shooting a machine gun costs $399, with more expensive options for driving several models and shooting other weapons such as assault rifles. Drivers who want to smash a car pay an additional $549; for about $3,500, a customer can drive a tank through a trailer house. You can also book a stay at the Redneck resort. If you want to get away and get mud on your face – and not…
Double Miles in and out of DC’s National Airport on US Airways
US Airways is offering double redeemable miles on all flights in and out of DC for tickets booked by August 5 and travel between July 7 and September 30. No registration required, but the offer applies only to “itineraries starting or ending at Reagan National Airport” and not connections through DCA. This offer “kicks off 30 Days for DC – a month of surprises, community events and giveaways to celebrate our commitment to the Capital City.” Outstanding question: Will tickets booked before July 7 for travel during the promotion period earn the bonus miles? The details of the promo say “Book July 7 – August 5” and that would suggest bookings made before tomorrow do not count. The terms and conditions of the offer, however, do not say that. Instead, they say “Customers must book…
Where Have all the Mistake Fares Gone?
Earlier in the week I wrote about comments I offered on the future of mobile for travel providers and how they’ll need to start understanding the revenue proposition for their investments (it will be more about reducing distribution costs and a defensive measure to avoid losing revenue to competitors than about unloading distressed inventory). After my comments the panel I spoke with someone who works for the Airline Tariff Publishing Company, the airfare clearing house that makes fares available to the computer reservation systems. We chatted a bit about mistake fares, and I must be the last person in the world to realize it, but he shared with me that about 3 years ago they implemented a simple system that’s done a lot to reduce the frequency that “fat finger discounts” (mistyping a price, often…
Bits ‘n Pieces for July 3, 2012
News and Notes from Other Blogs and Fora: Via Delta Points, Gogo inflight internet is offering discounts for pre-purchased 24 hour passes: 2 passes valid through July 8 for $14.50 and 3 passes valid through August 30 for $19.50. Deals We Like explains an American Express offer for a $30 statement credit after spending at least $150 total with a minimum of three merchants in Washington DC in July. It’s mostly hotels and restaurants that are participating (registration required, and though the terms and conditions say you can only register and get the statement credit on one card, in the past similar offers have allowed folks to get the credits on more than one card). American has opened its second US Flagship check-in facility at Miami International Airport. ConciergeKey, Five Star, and three-cabin first class…
Date and Time for Star MegaDO 4 Bookings Announced
Booking for Star MegaDO 4 will open Monday, July 9th at 10 am Eastern (9am Central, 8am Mountain, 7am Pacific) at http://megado.com/events/starmegado/ Seat categories and pricing are as follows: BusinessFirst — each $1,999 USD all in. Tommy Class — each $1,599 all in. (Extra Legroom and No One Next to You) Economy Plus — each $1,249 all in. (Extra Legroom) Economy Class — each $999 all in. At the beginning of the month I blogged about the Star MegaDO launch party in DC, where details of the upcoming event were revealed for the first time. It’s the ultimate frequent flyer adventure, where 150-200 enthusiastic folks get together, charter an aircraft, and go on behind-the-scenes tours of airlines and aircraft, while picking up swag and tons of miles and elite status along the way. To get a feel for what a…
