Oct
15
2016
In response to United’s devaluation of how they price awards, several readers want to know what can be done, what I can do about it.
Here’s What’s Going to Stop the Frequent Flyer Devaluations
About Gary Leff
DON’T WAIT: Buy Your Holiday Airline Tickets Now
The way airlines are pricing tickets has changed. You can often buy cheap fares at the last minute now. You used to have to buy 14 or 21 days in advance for the lowest fares, and that’s one way airlines separated business from leisure travelers, but ultra low cost carriers like Spirit, Frontier and Allegiant have changed that model and advance purchase alone is no longer a guaranteed way for airlines to charge business travelers more.
You can still get the best airfare deals in advance though (last minute can be a risk). And those last minute deals are especially unlikely to happen around holidays, because planes will be full.
Future of Philadephia International Flights? And Hang Out With an Icelander During Your Stopover
Oct
15
2016
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.
Are People Transferring More Points to Marriott or to Starwood, and How are They Redeeming?
Oct
15
2016
There are some important lessons to be learned from traffic flows. For instance which way traffic went over the Berlin Wall said almost everything you needed to know about socialism.
We’ve got some early indication of which way points are flowing now that members can freely move points between Marriott Rewards and Starwood Preferred Guest at a ratio of 3 Marriott points to 1 Starwood point.
$100 Airfare Discount is an Authorized User Benefit?!
Ritz-Carlton Rewards® Credit Card Earlier this week I wrote about how to leverage the $100 Visa Infinite companion airfare discount that’s one of the many great things about the Ritz-Carlton Rewards® Credit Card. The card offers Gold Elite status (which is honored at Marriott hotels (complimentary the first year and that you retain each year you spend $10,000 on the card); a $300 Airline Fee credit, $100 Global Entry credit, and unlimited use $100 Airline Ticket discounts when buying for 2 or more passengers; 3 complimentary upgrades to The Ritz-Carlton Club® Level each year valid on paid stays of up to seven nights; plus airport lounge access and a premium concierge, the card gives you: And it has a great signup bonus of 3 complimentary nights at any participating Tier 1-4 Ritz-Carlton hotel after $5,000…
Delta Award Space for the Whole Family to Hawaii for Just 25,000 Miles Roundtrip
Oct
14
2016
US frequent flyer programs overcharge for Hawaii awards relative to ticket price — at 45,000 miles roundtrip, even from the West Coast, you’re not getting much for your miles. But Hawaii awards are in high demand, people earning miles for business travel and wanting to use them for leisure often want to take the family to Hawaii.
But non-US frequent flyer programs offer better deals with miles, even though you’re flying US airlines between the mainland and Hawaii. Delta is notoriously tough for award space, but right now there’s some good availability.
You Can Now Bring Back Unlimited Cigars from Cuba
Oct
14
2016
There’s a huge curiosity factor that’s driving travel to Cuba, since it was forbidden for so long.
And in a reversal of how we usually think these things work, Cubans may be flocking to their own beaches before Americans ruin them.
RUMOR: Chase to Remove 5x Earning Categories on Ink Cards
I’ve seen this a couple of places, and I do not have first-hand information about the veracity of the information. Doctor of Credit has the best summary of the rumor that is going around: A good source indicates that Chase has imminent plans of changing the 5x category on the Chase INK line cards to earn just 3x. This change will not affect existing cardholders. Only new card applicants. The new 3x category has been in the planning stages for quite some time, and will probably go into effect sometime within the next few months. The news is not all bad, though. According to the source, all 5x and 2x categories will become 3x. Therefore it would be wise to consider signing up for an Ink card now, if the rumor is true then you…
Man Sues Airline After Burning Himself With His Own E-Cigarette
Oct
14
2016
A man is suing Norwegian Air because he burned his hands on his e-cigarette during flight.
E-cigarette use is already banned in flight and they’re not allowed in checked luggage either. However he contends that “[t]he airline should never have let him bring the e-cig on the flight or let him charge it.”
Cathay Pacific Introduced ‘Priority Awards’ for Premium Cabins – Not Good for Redemptions
Oct
14
2016
Cathay Pacific now has ‘priority awards’ for business and first class. In other words, there’s no longer just one reward tier, but two different levels of pricing when using Cathay Pacific’s own AsiaMiles.
It will almost certainly – at least over time – mean less saver award availability, since members can spend more points for more seats. And saver awards are what’s available to partners like American AAdvantage and Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan.
