Monthly Archives

Monthly Archives for February 2021.

Stack 10% Off Of Wholesale Hotel Rates Guaranteed To Be The Lowest

by Gary Leff

hotel by beach
Feb 05 2021

I’ve written several times, though not lately, about using Club1 Hotels in the arsenal for finding a great hotel deal. Since they’re a ‘membership site’ (you can sign up for a free membership) they can show hotel rates that are cheaper than what you’ll find on a hotel’s own website, evading Best Rate Guarantees.

Club1 isn’t cheaper on every stay at first search, but readers have saved thousands even on a single stay. They do guarantee savings on every booking and offer price matching. But even better they’re offering 10% off their already-discounted pricing with promo code.

Continue Reading »

United Is Selling Upgrades From Basic Economy To Regular Economy

by Gary Leff

Feb 04 2021

In a move perhaps akin to selling upgrades from United Cargo to Economy, United is offering customers who buy basic economy tickets the ability to pay up after purchase to convert their ticket to regular economy.

With basic economy now a tool to segment business travelers from leisure travelers, and with virtually no business travelers, there’s little downside and only incremental revenue in offering passengers the ability to ‘buy out’ of the restrictions on the tickets they’ve purchased.

Continue Reading »

Right Said Fred Is Too Sexy For To Wear A Mask At London Heathrow

by Gary Leff

Feb 04 2021

In 1991 I’m Too Sexy was an absolute anthem. Right Said Fred hit number one in the U.S. with their debut single, something no other band has done since the Beatles. I’d call them a one hit wonder but their next single “Don’t Talk Just Kiss” did hit #76 on the Billboard top 100.

But did you know that Right Said Fred is still a thing? And that they’ve released an album as recently as 2017? Perhaps desperate for relevance they’ve taken on a new profile criticizing the U.K. government’s response to the pandemic (fair enough) and also refusing to wear masks during air travel and promoting skepticism about vaccines.

Continue Reading »

Marriott Hotels Change Award Category March 3, Here’s What’s Going Up And Down

by Gary Leff

Feb 04 2021

Any time Marriott doesn’t devalue its program that’s a good thing. Annual category creep has worked against you for many years, not just under Bonvoy but years earlier too. However as a result of the pandemic and how long it’s lasted we should see a majority of hotels dropping in category.

Marriott has around 7500 hotels in its portfolio. Only about 100 hotels are dropping in category – after the biggest drop in average daily room rate we’ve seen in history. Rooms cost less and Marriott’s revenue-based program should charge you fewer points. They shouldn’t just be offering ‘low season’ rates as a promotion, they should be offering those year round. And the base category of most hotels should be lower than when the hotel business was at its peak in 2019.

Continue Reading »

Homeless Advocates Execute Coordinated Assault On Hotel, Attacks An Employee, Takes Over Two Floors

by Gary Leff

Feb 03 2021

Sunday morning an employee was assaulted at the Red Lion Suites Governor Hotel as at least a dozen armed people entered the property carrying axes, knives and batons. The rest of the hotel’s staff fled for the basement.

The coordinated assault was done by hotel guests with reservations. The group, Oly Housing Now, booked 17 rooms at the property and put homeless individuals into them – and physically occupied the 4th and 5th floors.

Continue Reading »

Breaking: American Airlines Will Send WARN Act Notices To 13,000 Employees On Friday

by Gary Leff

Feb 03 2021

American Airlines told employees this afternoon that they plan to send WARN Act notices to 13,000 team members on Friday. This starts a 60 day clock to furloughs. It doesn’t mean 13,000 people will lose their jobs in early April – it means that American plans to reduce its workforce again, and that up to 13,000 people could be laid off.

Continue Reading »