Normally I like to transfer my Chase Ultimate Rewards points to airline frequent flyer miles or to Hyatt points. However I recently had an interesting use case to spend Ultimate Rewards points for paid travel.
I booked a domestic first class ticket using a combination of points and cash. I was downgraded from first to coach, and the airline was willing to refund the fare difference — to the agency that issued the ticket. And Chase just changed agencies!
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.
American AAdvantage has added two more airlines for online redemption. These are two that most members will never use, but it’s going to add convenience for those who do — especially since that makes connections onto these carriers bookable as part of a larger award.
American is also updating their award chart online around 10 a.m. Eastern this morning to reflect award chart pricing changes for Hawaii that will go into effect January 16th.
The reason Marriott will weather the storm of 500 million records being hacked is because all of our information has already been hacked. First, we’re immune to it. And second there’s really not that much new that’s going to be out there as a result of this network infiltration.
There are (4) things you can do to protect yourself.
Earlier this year Delta, United, and American took out a full page ad praising Donald Trump trying to curry favor, to build up capital, in hopes of cashing in for their own ends.
The lobby shop representing Delta, United, and American — the Orwellian “Partnership for Fair & Open Skies” which lobbies against Open Skies agreements — has put out a statement.
Delta wants you to believe that they are making the cheapest awards more restrictive to help you. Apparently Delta customers have been telling the airline that they want the flexibility not to be allowed to get seat assignments in advance. And they’ve been saying that more rules and restrictions are both simpler and more intuitive. As a result this is an enhancement you should like.
Basic economy tickets aren’t a ‘new way to offer cheaper fares’. They are new restrictions on the cheapest fares, a way of making the product worse so that some passengers will pay more.
Now that United, Delta, and American all offer Basic Economy fares (no advance seat assignment, no cancel/changes, no upgrades or extra legroom seats, and in United’s case no full-sized carry on bag) it’s only been a matter of time before one of the carriers tried booking award tickets into Basic Economy.
I admit to being surprised that it’s happened so quickly, since it’s not in the best interests of the airline – it’s a bad business decision – but I’m not surprised that it appears to be Delta going first.
About 5 years ago the ban on using personal electronics below 10,000 feet on U.S. flights was lifted. Now passengers can use their phones or tablets with the door closed, during taxi, and takeoff. But devices are supposed to be in airplane mode.
This is the first time I’ve heard of a real consequence for not doing that — though as a result of something that would only occur with certain airlines in Europe, the Mideast, and Asia.
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.
Dubai-based Emirates tweeted out a photo of one of their Boeing 777s encrusted in Diamonds. For Emirates this is actually believable. And they serious Need. To. Do. This.
Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel -- a topic he has covered since 2002.
Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »
