News and notes from around the interweb: Emirates spending $500 million on its wine program. I’m skeptical of the number, and it just sounds like prepurchase of years’ worth of bottles in any case. Their wines are better than what US airlines serve, but the eye popping number doesn’t make their wines the best either. And with the airline’s growth, it’s not really that much in any case.. (HT: Milepoint) Australians on government-chartered relief flights don’t earn miles and other odd requests for Aussie consular assistance that the government is cracking down on. (HT: Chris Guillebeau) Restaurant recommendations for those coming to Frequent Traveler University this weekend. This doubles as a good suggestion list for DC/Northern Virginia generally. I agree that Jaleo is the best option in Crystal City/near the airport, and the ‘worth a…
Monthly Archives
Monthly Archives for December 2014.
Loyalty Programs that Surprise and Delight Engender Both Appreciation.. and Bitterness
I’ve just received 1000 free Hyatt points ‘as a Diamond member and Hyatt Visa cardholder’. Naturally this has me speculating that it’s funded in part by Chase. Perhaps because Diamonds benefit less from the credit card since they have no use for its free Platinum status, although on the other hand Hyatt Diamonds likely places a higher value on Hyatt’s points than other members. It’s just 1000 points. I value that at ~ $14. But it’s a surprise gift! I sure loved it when out of the blue Hilton give American Executive Platinums top tier Diamond status. Northwest used to build a bit of surprise and delight into the Worldperks program for Platinum members: 1000 miles every time they didn’t clear a domestic upgrade. On short flights there were frequent flyers hoping not to get…
Another Airline Goes Revenue-Based!
Star Alliance member (and Diners Club Rewards transfer partner) South African Airways is going to revenue-based mileage-earning starting February 1, 2015. They’ll award 1 mile per R1.60 spent on airfare and fuel surcharges This applies only to South African’s own flights THere’s no change to mileage-earning on partner flights. Unlike Delta and United, South African isn’t capping the number of miles you can earn with the most expensive tickets. Since awards as well will be based on price, the mileage cost will be inclusive of fuel surcharges for South African flights. And they’re introducing redemption of miles for any seat on any of their flights with the new revenue-based structure. Another revenue-based change will be that in addition to upgrading from full and nearly-full fare tickets with miles, they’ll let you pay the cash difference…
US Airways Adopted the American Airlines Celebrity Pet Program
Per JonNYC of Traveling Better, American and US Airways aligned their pet policies three months ago. They adopted American’s pet in cabin policies for both carriers. Except that US Airways doesn’t accepted checked pets ‘due to aircraft cargo limitations’ US Airways now offers American’s celebrity pet program. Yes, seriously. American really does have a Celebrity Pet Program. We occasionally allow “celebrity” pets to travel in the cabin under different rules. We used to transport the dog from Frasier quite often, for example, and we have handled other celebrity animals from time to time over the years. They are not covered by standard pet travel fees. But as noted, these seats were paid for.” American also outfitted their Airbus 321Ts flying New York JFK – Los Angeles and San Francisco with a special place for pet…
Delta Will Sell You Elite Qualifying Miles And Even Elite Qualifying Dollars!
As airlines are wont to do (see, for instance, American’s offer), Delta will sell you elite qualifying miles to top off your 2014 total and boost your 2015 status. Delta, looking out for my best interests, won’t sell me any qualifying miles since they’ll sell you between 2500 and 10,000 miles and I’m more than 10,000 from status with them (my current total is 0). Delta seems quite excited in the announcement that spending to buy elite qualifying dollars will count as elite qualifying revenue as well towards the minimum spend requirement for Delta elite status. As I say they won’t sell them to me but that’s alright, buying ‘Medallion Qualifying Dollars’ isn’t an especially good foreign currency play in any case. Though their willingness to sell qualifying dollars leads naturally to a question that…
Nude-o-Scopes on eBay: Buy Your Own Security Theatre at a Deep Discount
The ‘Buy It Now’ price for a Rapiscan backscatter machine, just like they used to use at TSA checkpoints, is $7995. Just what you need to add realism to the airport security play set (which a reader generously gave me for Christmas in 2005). These are government surplus, and I love this line from the description: As you know with most government agencies, when they get a new grant, they have to justify the grant by buying new equipment, leaving good equipment for surplus I do not think that’s what happened in this case. (HT: Yahoo! Travel) You can join the 40,000+ people who see these deals and analysis every day — sign up to receive posts by email (just one e-mail per day) or subscribe to the RSS feed. It’s free. You can also…
Several American Airlines Policy Changes Go Into Effect Tomorrow
From Traveling Better. Photography: AA’s ban on photography will now extend to filming employees at/in “any airline area” including ticket counters, gates, cargo, baggage, (and of course on-board) effective Dec 3rd, Guns: Changes to minimum age to check to 21, and, now unlimited guns per case. Airsoft and BB guns considered guns now. Plus unspecified update(s) to firearms checking on international flights. Bassinets: some changes to bassinet policy/locations Non-Hub connections: unaccompanied minors and checked pets will not be allowed on non-hub connections. I did not know American banned onboard photography and taking pictures at ticket counters and gates. Here’s the new photography policy: Of course I rarely document my domestic travels, which is most of my American Airlines flying. And they actively encouraged photos when I first flew their new business class product. I guess…
Man Arrested at LAX Security Checkpoint Today For… Theft of a Farm Animal
This is from Brian Sumers. Just before noon Pacific time the man proceeded through a security checkpoint in terminal 6. He was found with ammunition in his bag. That’s when screeners called the police, who discovered an outstanding warrant. Police discovered the man was wanted on a warrant for “theft of a farm animal,” according to my law enforcement source. The source did not know what kind of animal it was. Airport police then arrested the man for grand theft. Everyone on his flight can breathe easy knowing that their emotional support animals on board are safe from this menace, thanks to the TSA and LA airport police. You can join the 40,000+ people who see these deals and analysis every day — sign up to receive posts by email (just one e-mail per day)…
An Airfare Pricing Trick, Miles Bonuses for Dining and Parking, Quitting Uber, and Banning Carry on Bags
News and notes from around the interweb: Why you should always search fares for one person even if you’re buying tickets for two Here are complaints from a driver who quit Uber. Their complaints amount to — Uber’s software should be better than it is, and they’re really profitable so they should pay more. (We know Uber’s valuation but far less about their actual operating results than we would a public company.) And that a driver has to pay “insurance, fuel, maintenance and taxes.” Taxes! (HT: Reid F.) From a war on water to a war on everything Miles for parking Dining for Miles (Rewards Network a.k.a. iDine) updates from Free Frequent Flyer Miles: The Delta Airlines Rewards Network (iDine) new member bonus of 2,500 miles was extended to January 5, 2015. United Airlines Rewards…
American Airlines (and other oneworld alliance) Elites Get New Checked Baggage Benefits
The oneworld alliance has improved its free elite checked baggage allowance and priority baggage handling. Specifically mid- and top-tier elites will get priority baggage delivery and mid-tier elites get an increased checked baggage allowance. Priority Baggage Delivery oneworld Emerald and Sapphire members — in the AAdvantage program the equivalent is Platinum and Executive Platinum; with British Airways Silver and Gold — will receive priority luggage tags when checking baggage on any oneworld alliance member. Notice I say the benefit is for priority luggage tags rather than “priority checked baggage” as oneworld advertises — because there’s huge variability across airlines in how well priority bags are delivered. It’s fair to say that the benefit will be equivalent to what’s offered to business class passengers. Whether the execution happens or not varies by airlines and airports, though…
