Monthly Archives

Monthly Archives for June 2023.

IHG Now Lets Elite Members Confirm Suites On Award Stays!

by Gary Leff

Jun 01 2023

IHG now has, in my view, the second best elite upgrade program behind Hyatt – which allows confirmed upgrades at booking to suites, and allows them more often for their heaviest stay guests – but whose confirmed upgrade benefits only start after 50 nights. Marriott allows confirmed upgrades based on availability (and only into capacity controlled suite inventory) starting 5 days prior to check-in for elites after 50 nights. And Hilton doesn’t require hotels to upgrade elites to suites at all.

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Is “Throwaway Ticketing” Worth It To Save Money On Airfare?

by Gary Leff

airline ticket
Jun 01 2023

Throwaway ticketing is a practice that’s gone on for decades. Airlines often charge more money for non-stops than they do for connecting itineraries. So people book a flight with a connection through the city they want to travel to, and just don’t take that second connecting flight. As a result, they can often save money, but there are risks you should know about.

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Why U.S. Credit Card Customers Are Being Turned Away From Virgin Atlantic Lounges

by Gary Leff

Jun 01 2023

Readers have shared a frustration by e-mail and in the comments to various posts about access to Virgin Atlantic Clubhouses in the U.S. using their credit cards which are supposed to provide them entry.

Access rules can be complicated, but it appears that especially for the San Francisco lounge, a manager there has instructed staff to in essence violate their contract and deny access out of an antipathy for credit card guests.

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