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.
Why American is Suspending New York JFK – Madrid Service Despite Their Iberia Joint Venture
American Airlines is suspending their New York JFK – Madrid flight January 7 through February 29. There are three reasons why – and all point to how much American has gutted their New York operation.
New Capital One 33.3% Bonus Transferring Miles to Qantas
Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card and Capital One® Spark® Miles for Business cardholders gained the ability to transfer to airline frequent flyer miles late last year. Now they’re launching their 5th transfer bonus of the year: a one-third (33.3%) bonus on transfers to Qantas.
Qantas is useful for inexpensive short distance awards on oneworld airlines, and for redemptions on partners like El Al and Emirates – and they don’t charge miles or a fare for infant travel on awards.
Lil Wayne Bonvoyed at the Ritz-Carlton St. Louis
Two competing narratives are developing over an altercation between Lil Wayne’s entourage and hotel staff in the lobby of the Ritz-Carlton St. Louis. In both versions Mr. Wayne and crew departed the hotel under duress, and the rapper and record executive blew off his show Saturday night with Blink 182.
American Airlines Named 5 Star Global Airline For the Second Year Running (No, Really)
Last September American Airlines was named a 5 Star Global Airline by the Airline Passenger Experience Associate (APEX). The airline placed logos on their planes beneath the oneworld logo to note the achievement.
American is excited to celebrate their second year of this achievement, which was just awarded.
Marriott Peak Award Pricing is Live, But Some Hotels May Offer Lower Award Rates for a Few Hours
Marriott tells me though that “it may take a few hours to fully update our servers” so there may still be hotels not yet showing peak pricing. And it’s still possible to book awards at those properties as they roll out the changes. I’m not saying to go look for a needle in a haystack, but some glitches and delays in raising prices may be out there.
A Simple Way to Know When a Loyalty Program is Sticking It To You
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.
How the $600 Per Year British Airways Visa Award Travel Statement Credit Works
This was the first airline card I know of to ever offer a 100,000 point initial bonus offer, and there’s currently an offer to earn up to 100,000 Avios.
The card now comes with up to $600 back each year when you redeem awards. It offers a statement credit for taxes and fees when redeeming British Airways Avios for BA transatlantic flights originating in the U.S.
New American Airlines Tool Will Auto-Cancel ‘Backup Flights’ In Your Reservation
American is making it harder once again to deal with irregular operations despite a long hot summer of cancelled flights and displaced passengers.
American has a new system set up to cancel extra backup segments in an itinerary. If agents add extra segments to give you options when things go bad those segments will be removed automatically.
Review: Flying Air Tanzania’s Airbus A220 From Lusaka to Dar es Salaam
Five years ago reader Doug Hess shared his experience flying African low cost carrier: Fly540. Since this was something I haven’t done, but I enjoyed hearing about it, I asked if he wouldn’t mind briefly writing up the experience so that I could pass it along.
Now Doug is back with his experience flying an Air Tanzania Airbus A220 from Lusaka, Zambia to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Oh yes, and he did redeem points for the flight.