Years ago it used to be possible to open Citibank checking accounts and fund the initial deposit via credit card. The charge would post as a purchase and not a cash advance (as long as you didn’t use a Citibank credit card, ha!). And there was no limit to the deposit other than your credit limit. At the same I funded a new Citibank account with my United Visa with an initial deposit of $80,000. Three times. Then they told me they didn’t want me doing that anymore. 🙂 Lots of smaller banks still let you make the initial funding of a bank account that you open online using a credit card. And much of the time those charges will post as purchases, meaning they earn miles, rather than cash advances (which not only don’t…
Monthly Archives
Monthly Archives for March 2013.
I’ve Decided to Ban All of My Commenters for Two Days
Or at least BoardingArea is doing that. Well, not exactly. The site is migrating over to a new server starting at 4am Eastern on Friday morning. And during that time I won’t be able to post, and you won’t be able to comment. The good news is that the move is supposed to solve some of the technical problems that folks have experienced on and off the past few months. The bad news is that I will miss you all for the 48 hours or so that this process takes. (The site will be up, you can read all you like, but no new posts or comments from Friday morning through early Sunday.) Don’t worry though, because I’ll be back with a vengeance. And I know you will be too, at least judging from recent…
You Don’t Need to Buy Frequent Traveler University Tickets at Auction…
I think we’ve created a monster. The April Frequent Traveler University in the DC area is sold out, with 650 people expected to be in attendance. Since tickets are freely transferable, I mentioned yesterday seeing a scalping offer online of $200 for a ticket (!). Now I’m seeing something that I truly never thought I would see. A Frequent Traveler University ticket up for auction on eBay. That’s why we wanted to make details known about the September event. You may not be able to buy tickets to April’s FTU, the largest frequent flyer gathering to date. But it’s not your last change to join in one of these gatherings, meet great friends, exchange tips with frequent flyers, and hear from experts. September 27-29 at the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay will be your next chance!…
TAM Leaving Star Alliance, Joining Oneworld
This has been much expected since oneworld member LAN (with subsidiaries throughout South America) merged with Brazilian carrier and Star Alliance member TAM. The two airlines have separate corporate entities under the banner LATAM but were going to be forced to make a decision, and all signs have pointed to choosing oneworld over Star Alliance. That decision is now official. TAM will leave the Star Alliance in the second quarter of 2014, with an immediate entry into oneworld upon departure from Star. LAN Colombia — not currently a part of oneworld — will join in the fourth quarter of 2013. That positions oneworld for quite the fight against Star’s AviancaTACA. (Chile’s LAN has been a member of oneworld since 2000 and LAN Argentina, LAN Ecuador and LAN Peru are current affiliate members.) Oneworld has made…
Wyndham Introduces “Gold Status” 1 Free Night Every 20 Paid Nights
Wyndham has gotten quite a bit of heat for revamping their award chart but doesn’t seem to have done much to promote a new feature of the program: one free night for every 20 eligible nights in a calendar year on top of regular points earned. After 20 nights in a calendar year you receive points based on the average spend during your paid nights: You can earn these bonus points up to three times per year, and the points from the bonus can be combined with your regular Wyndham Rewards points for a free night stay. But these bonus points are tracked separately and expire if unused after four months. For most this will amount to 300 – 500 bonus points per night for those staying 20 nights in a year. Of course the…
Feet on the Bulkhead in First Class?
I don’t like the bulkhead in domestic first class, and especially the bulkhead window, it tends to be pretty claustrophobic and will often prefer the bulkhead in coach, an economy plus style coach aisle, or an emergency exit row. So I don’t know that I think it’s fair to beat up on the person who gets into the first class cabin last and is stuck in the bulkhead. They don’t get to keep their personal items at their feet for takeoff or landing, either. And I suppose it’s a small miracle that I should be thankful for that the guy in front of me on Sunday’s transcon was at least wearing shoes when he had his feet up high against the bulkhead. I’ve been sitting up front when people in bare feet are doing that.…
Priority Club’s Big Facebook Lie: You Will Not Get This Suite on Points
Priority Club posted on their Facebook page that it’s so tough to give up your incredible Priority Club points, except when redemption options are this good… Except: Priority Club does not offer any way to redeem you points for suites. Only standard rooms are offered by the program. That’s in stark contrast to Starwood, Hyatt, Marriott, and Hilton which all make premium rooms available for additional points. Priority Club does not honor elite upgrades on points stays. They’re also the only major chain to officially treat award stays as less rewarding than paid stays. Your ‘reward’ for all of your loyalty is the opportunity to redeem for the lowest category room and to be stuck there. In practice the Intercontinental Times Sqaure does upgrade Royal Ambassador members on points stays although they provide a letter…
September Frequent Traveler University Dates Announced!
We’re ready to announce initial details of this fall’s Frequent Traveler University. April’s Northern Virginia event is already a sell out with expected attendance of 650 people — the largest frequent flyer event ever. We’ve already seen ticket scalping of the event, with posted offers of $200+ (!!). Before anyone cashes in all of their Amex and Chase points for a black market ticket to April’s fTU, we wanted to make folks aware of the next opportunity to attend the frequent flyer event of the season.. It will be held at the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay, September 27-29. You’ll hear from speakers like Lucky of One Mile at a Time and Brian Kelly a.k.a. The Points Guy, as well as Mommy Points and Randy Petersen (and me as well). Tickets are now available for purchase.…
Batter Up! Terrorists Threw a Pitch, TSA Admits They Whiffed
TSA Will Permit Knives, Golf Clubs on U.S. Planes. Implicit admissions their bans did nothing to enhance safety. The U.S. Transportation Security Administration will let people carry small pocketknives onto passenger planes for the first time since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, along with golf clubs, hockey sticks and plastic Wiffle Ball-style bats. The agency will permit knives with retractable blades shorter than 6 centimeters (2.36 inches) and narrower than 1/2 inch, TSA Administrator John Pistole said today at an aviation security conference in Brooklyn. The change, to conform with international rules, takes effect April 25. Apparently wiffle ball bats remain dangerous tools used by terrorists for the next 7 weeks. But terrorists will no longer be using them after that. Passengers will also be allowed to board flights with some other items that are…
The Dust Settles: Where Are We Left in the Aftermath of the Hotel Devaluation Bloodbath?
Joe Brancatelli has a good summary piece explaining where we are now after most of the major chains have taken a chainsaw to their award charts. While I’ve done deep dives like spreadsheets to tease out which hotel programs remain most rewarding for free nights, Joe’s approach is far more accessible to the casual reader. After Marriott, Priority Club and especially Wyndham and Hilton has devalued (and to a lesser extent Starwood, as part of their usual annual adjustments), Joe explains “There’s a certain feeling that the power has shifted” from frequent travelers to the lodging industry, one high-level hotel executive told me earlier this month. “Nightly rates are up, demand is up and we also offer more hotels in more segments in more places around the world than ever before.” Translation: hotels think they…
