Aug 22 2016

A couple of months ago Dan’s Deals wrote about the limited options some chains have in Jerusalem, how the Waldorf=Astoria Jerusalem is probably the nicest property, but that they were playing games with award availability. At one point there were no award rooms available for six months. Then there were no award rooms for Thursday and Friday nights. He quoted a hotel manager saying that the room type for awards was made available only midweek, and that the option was “CLOSED on High season.” I read the post and reached out to the folks at Hilton HHonors. Hilton doesn’t have blackout dates or capacity controls. When a standard room is available for sale, it should be available on points. But what about hotels playing games with their revenue inventory? Hotels aren’t supposed to do this.…

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Aug 21 2016

As airlines try to pacify Wall Street by squeezing customers, they may actually be leaving revenue on the table.

That’s because caring about customers matters for an airline’s bottom line. It’s no accident that Alaska Airlines has one of the best operating margins of any airline in the world.

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Aug 21 2016

During the false alarm of a supposed shooter at New York JFK’s terminal 8, which may have been caused by passengers clapping at Usain Bolt’s Olympic win, how did the TSA do?

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Aug 21 2016

A deal almost never looks as good as it does the day it’s announced. The longer it takes to close, the more naysayers, the more critical analysis, and more tarnished details emerge. There’s more opportunity for buyer’s remorse, and for conditions which suggested a merger was a good idea to change.

The New York Post is reporting that the high cost to pacify Starwood’s customers combing the Starwood Preferred Guest program with Marriott Rewards, combined with the approval delay by Chinese regulators, is causing Marriott to second guess the merger.

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Aug 20 2016

United and Air Canada have a fare between several US cities and Dubai that starts at $508 roundtrip. Travel is via Toronto on Air Canada.

You can fly from Newark, Washington DC (Dulles or National), Chicago, Boston, Atlanta, and possibly other cities as well.

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Aug 20 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.

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Aug 20 2016

Yesterday Wow Air announced that they’re moving Stockholm service to the area’s main Arlanda International Airport (ARN) effective November 18 and they dropped some amazing sale fares to promote the service.

In fact, they have $99 one-ways from Boston, Newark, and Baltimore (BWI) to Stockholm. Wow Air services Los Angeles and San Francisco as well, though fares run a comparably ‘expensive’ ~ $178.

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Aug 20 2016

A lot of American AAdvantage members miss transatlantic award space on oneworld partner Iberia, because Iberia awards don’t appear on American’s website.

Iberia flies between Boston, New York JFK, Chicago, Miami, Los Angeles and Madrid. And award space booked far in advance is very good in business class right now.

Iberia has a good business class product — fully flat with all aisle access, but with seats staggered for density.

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Aug 20 2016

When I bought a condo I earned six figures in United miles for being referred to a realtor. Basically they were rebating a bit more than half their commission in the form of United miles.

There are opportunities to earn miles for mortgages as well, and for using a moving company. Big dollars are involved in real estate, so big miles are too.

There are several existing offers, and one that’s new — at least to me.

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Aug 19 2016

A little over two years ago American introduced multiple levels of prices for these higher-priced awards. Occasionally these cost 20% fewer miles, most of the time they cost a lot more miles.

The price did not vary by flight (how sold out it was, or how likely to sell out) but by date. So some days were more expensive than others. You could still book the last seat available on an almost sold out flight for the lowest extra miles cost if it fell on a lowest price date.

THIS NO LONGER HOLDS TRUE at least for New York JFK – Los Angeles and New York JFK – San Francisco. WITHOUT NOTICE American changed how they manage awards on these flights on Monday August 15.

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