Monthly Archives

Monthly Archives for April 2016.

Always Check Your Credit Card Statement for Unauthorized Hotel Charges

by Gary Leff

Apr 14 2016

A year and a half ago I wrote about the Hyatt Regency Crystal City improperly charging me for a bottle of water. It’s a tiny matter the scheme of things, but if everyone ignored small charges, it would create a very strong incentive for hotels to purposely tack on charges like that, small enough that no one bothers, but at $3++ per room night actually meaningful. All guests would be worse off.

And I stay at enough hotels (around 150 room nights last year) that those $3 overcharges start to add up. Hotels never seem to leave off charges from my bill. Mistakes always seem to be in the hotel’s favor.

So always check your folio. But that’s not enough. You have to watch your credit card statement too.

Continue Reading »

Bringing Miniature Horses on Planes and an Emotional Support Goat: Have We Gone Too Far?

by Gary Leff

Apr 14 2016

Hollywood Report says this is the golden age of flying thanks to the ability of anyone — Hollywood star or not — bring their emotional support turkey on a plane. For free.

Registrations of service animals rose from about 2400 five years ago to over 20,000 last year. Playboy’s February 1988 Playmate of the Month-turned-interior designer for Jessica Alba and Kristen Bell travels with a 160-pound bulldog. She says he whimpers and that tells her to take medication.

Continue Reading »

5000 Free Icelandair Miles Just for Joining

by Gary Leff

iceland
Apr 14 2016

Icelandair will give you 5000 miles just for joining their Saga Club frequent flyer program.

I haven’t written a ton about Icelandair since there was a way a few years ago to really leverage the program for super cheap Alaska Airlines first class trips to Hawaii.

If nothing else that’s worth about $50 towards onboard food or duty free. And free miles are, after all, free miles.

Continue Reading »

American Has Improved Its Award Rules: Now Allows Cathay Pacific Routings to Indian Subcontinent

by Gary Leff

Apr 13 2016

Back in the fall I spoke with AAdvantage President Suzanne Rubin and suggested that with their higher award pricing (since March 22), they could loosen their routing rules somewhat. She indicated they were looking at that.

And it appears they’ve started to because they now allow flying Cathay Pacific or American Airlines to Hong Kong, and travel beyond to India and the surrounding region on Cathay Pacific, as a single award — instead of requiring you to fly via the Atlantic.

Continue Reading »

Starwood Adds Virgin America as a Transfer Partner at Fantastic Rate, Means Amazing Partner Redemptions

by Gary Leff

Apr 13 2016

Starwood’s Starpoints are already the most valuable loyalty program currency by which I mean that one Starpoint is worth more than one of any other loyalty currency.

They have the most airline transfer partners where points transfer 1:1 and of course when you move Starwood points into 20,000 miles you get 5000 bonus miles. That gets you effectively a 1:1.25 transfer ratio with most airline partners.

Now, Starwood has added a new transfer partner: Virgin America Elevate.

Continue Reading »

Easy Starbucks Gold Status With Just One Purchase Plus Free Stars for You

by Gary Leff

Apr 13 2016

Starbucks has rolled out changes to its Starbucks Rewards program. Some reader reports are that Stars-earning isn’t showing up correctly on receipts (for instance just 2 stars on a $2.95 order rather than 2 stars per dollar). Starbucks said to expect things like this, don’t panic.

Perhaps as a make-good, or to generate some positive buzz, Starbucks is handing out status left and right!

Continue Reading »