Jan
10
2018
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.
Frequent Flyer’s Scam Ends Badly and the Worst Gate in America
About Gary Leff
Air Travel in Real Life Comedy Sketch
Jan
10
2018
Tripp and Tyler have a new ‘in real life’ video, along the lines of email in real life (4.2 million views) and every meeting ever (1.2 million views).
The conceit is that passengers are all in an SUV driving but the experience is portrayed just like a flight.
Torture Prison Ritz-Carlton Riyadh Re-opens to Guests for a Very Special Valentine’s Day
Jan
10
2018
In early November Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia moved to consolidate power, arresting senior princes, the wealthy, and former government leaders under the banner of a new anti-corruption campaign.
The high profile prisoners were held inside the Ritz-Carlton Riyadh. All guests on property were unilaterally kicked out, reservations dishonored. But guests will apparently be welcomed back for Valentine’s Day.
IHG Guts Best Rate Guarantee, Eliminates Free Nights, Gives 24% Back in Points Instead
Jan
10
2018
Hotel Best Rate Guarantees are mostly vaporware. Hotel chains want you to book directly through them because it costs them less to make a reservation themselves than it does to pay a commission to Expedia or other online travel sites (or travel agents). So they want you to believe you’ll get the best rate booking direct.
Best rate gurantees are largely a marketing claim rather than a promise, and they generally contain so much fine print and so many hoops as to be meaningless (on purpose).
Rapper’s Manager Charged for Threatening to Off Flight Attendant’s Head, Claims Racism
Jan
10
2018
Rapper Rich the Kid touched down on an American Airlines flight at LAX on Tuesday and got up to use the lavatory while the plane taxied to the gate. A flight attendant told him to sit down. His road manager got into an argument with the flight attendant threatening to cut their head off.
That’s what it takes for American Airlines to deny charges of racial discrimination, it seems.
Rumor: British Airways Ditching Plans for New Custom Business Class Seat
Jan
09
2018
You choose to fly British Airways business class when they have the best non-stop schedule to Heathrow and that’s where you need to go, or for connecting destinations when they’re the cheapest.
While they were a leader in introducing fully flat business class seating, today they offer one of the worst flat business class products in the industry. Their Boeing 777s, for instance, are so dense they seat eight-across.
10 Uber Credit for Existing Users, Hurry Won’t Last
Jan
09
2018
In the Uber app go to Payment and scroll down to ‘Add Promo/Gift Code’. I had no problem adding it to my account. This certainly won’t last.
Air India Considers Offering Laptops in Business Class to Make Up for Poor Inflight Entertainment
Jan
09
2018
Air India knows its inflight entertainment offerings lag the industry. They also know that long haul business class loads hover around 50%. So they’re considering giving out laptops to business class passengers.
Starwood Offering Elite Status Challenges But Only Through June 30
Jan
09
2018
Starwood Preferred Guest eliminated elite status matches in March 2011 and replaced them with ‘status challenges’.
Status challenges let you earn status more quickly — fewer nights in a compressed period of time — though in Starwood’s case they don’t advance you the status while you’re working on the challenge.
Trick to Save at Disney and Flying the Air France First Class Mistake Fare
Jan
09
2018
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.
