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.
Federal Government Blinks, All State Drivers Licenses Still Accepted at Security for at Least 2 Years
The federal government was threatening not to accept drivers licenses from 9 states at airport security checkpoints.
The story was being broadly reported that this would happen, since: states aren’t complying with the federal ‘REAL ID’ Act., therefore the federal government wouldn’t accept IDs from those states.
But it is not happening and won’t for at least two years.
Nude-o-Scopes Come to Congress
The U.S. Capitol Visitor Center now has nude-o-scopes. Just like the TSA, they’re using L3’s ProVision2 Advanced Imaging Devices.
The Lounge Tipping Scam and the Shocking Reason Preachers Need Private Jets
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.
Manage Your Credit Score When Signing Up for Rewards Cards
I’ve signed up for scores of cards over many years and I still have an excellent credit score, it was nearly 800 FICO on the three major credit bureaus when I went to get my mortgage. In part because of signing up for more cards, rather than in spite of it.
Delta Just Made Changes to Their Secret Award Chart Without Notice
Delta has made changes to its secret award chart for travel starting October 1. Only they haven’t bothered to tell anyone about it.
Despite eliminating award charts, Delta does have an award chart. There is saver award inventory (all partner awards are saver awards), and the price of awards is fixed when it’s available. Delta just doesn’t publish the chart any longer.
Delta wants to go revenue-based on redemptions, but revenue-based redemptions are transparent…
Marriott MegaBonus is Different This Time and Oscar Munoz’s Recovery
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.
Worst Case Scenario: What to Do If Your Frequent Flyer Account Gets Audited
Getting audited isn’t common. Usually when they contact you it’s because there’s a pretty strong indication that you have broken rules. The flip side is that folks who aren’t breaking rules don’t often come into contact with a frequent flyer program’s auditing department.
It’s useful to understand what triggers audits, and what you can do if you get audited.
Picking a Single Best Rewards Card When You Can Only Have One
“Alternate reality: people are only allowed 1 credit card at a time, there are no other loyalty restrictions.”
Which card would you pick? What would you compromise?
Airlines are Killing Frequent Flyer Programs, but Long Term Technology Will Do It For Them
Back in 2008 and 2009 banks were buying miles super cheap. Now with airlines in a stronger position financially, with fewer airlines to do deals with and banks in a healthier position to compete for those deals, the price of miles has swung up closer to two cents than one.
Meanwhile airlines haven’t needed to spend as much on marketing to fill planes. They’ve been able to devalue their frequent flyer programs. Miles are costing the banks more. Those miles are worth less. Frequent flyer programs may find themselves killing their multibillion dollar goose in the medium-term, though it’s likely on a long-term decline no matter what they do.