Jul
09
2023
I spent the evening of the 4th of July at the Hyatt Regency Austin for the view of the fireworks over the lake, and it turned out to be a fantastic deal.
Review: Hyatt Regency Austin, Staycation For July 4th Fireworks
Monthly Archives
Monthly Archives for July 2023.
Passengers Need To Stop Taking Photos Of Flight Attendants
Jul
09
2023
I’m a strong proponent of passengers being able to take photographs in public, and that includes in publicly-owned airports. While I’m sympathetic to airlines that may want to limit the practice on their private property, I think it’s bad policy. That freedom should have limits.
When A Program Wants To Reward You Too Much – You Let Them
Jul
09
2023
Sometimes a question really just gets it. Is the Bilt World Elite Mastercard too good to be true?? How can they make money giving so much to cardmembers?
When You Want Late Check-Out, Hang This Sign On Your Door
Jul
09
2023
Hotels often offer guests late check-out, sometimes just if they ask and other times for an extra charge. Loyalty programs frequently make this a benefit of status – Hyatt and Marriott guarantee this benefit for qualifying members, while Hilton and IHG make it ‘subject to availability’.
However when you ask for late check-out, and the hotel agrees, two things invariably happen.
Hotels Should Stop Shaming Guests That Don’t Donate To Charity During Their Stay
Jul
09
2023
Marriott partners with UNICEF in the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia-Pacific in a program where hotels can add donations to guest folios on an opt-out basis. Generally $1 is added per night automatically, but guests can tell the front desk to remove the charge.
Autopilot opt out is the opposite of thoughtful philanthropy, so I was sympathetic to a reader who complained about feeling shamed by hotels that do this.
United Airlines Launched A Flight School, And The Place Seems To Be A Mess [Roundup]
Jul
09
2023
A roundup of the most important stories of the day. I keep you up to date on the most interesting writings I find on other sites – the latest news and tips.
Class Warfare Glares On My American Airlines Flight
Jul
08
2023
On Monday my American Eagle flight took a delay for catering after doors close. A crewmember announced to the aircraft that we were delayed “to cater first class.” The glares from coach were palpable.
American Airlines May Now Give Away Your Seat When You Run To Make A Connection
Jul
08
2023
Last month American Airlines fully rolled out a new tool called AURA, the “AUtomated ReAccommodation” tool to rebook passengers when their flights are cancelled or delayed.
But this tool does so predictively. And it’s causing seats to be given away from passengers that make their flight.
Los Angeles Will Vote On Whether Every Hotel In The City Must House The Homeless
Jul
08
2023
New York’s mayor says half of the city’s hotel rooms are being used to house asylum seekers. Los Angeles said: hold my beer.
In March, voters in LA will consider an ordinance requiring hotels to report their number of vacant rooms each day, and make those rooms available to the homeless.
Your Flight To Mexico Wasn’t An Allegory For Wealth Inequality
Jul
08
2023
How much inequality matters, versus absolute living standards which most people think has risen substantially over time, is something people can debate. I just wish they would do this debate less based on their one-off Mexico vacation. And if you are going to insist that it was, maybe spill a few paragraphs of ink considering wealth inequality between the U.S. and Mexico?
