Reader Karin asked, If you had to pick one type of miles to amass for specific trips, what would it be? For instance, what gets you to Asia easiest? Western Europe? South America? Thank you! Europe: Star Alliance has the most partners that will get you to Europe. United miles will get you flights on these airlines without fuel surcharges. Chase Ultimate Rewards points transfer to United. Air Canada’s Aeroplan has good award pricing to Europe and you can avoid fuel surcharges. American Express Membership Rewards points transfer to Aeroplan. (See also How to Book Award Tickets on Star Alliance Partners). If you want awards in first class though you probably want Lufthansa Miles & More miles for a combination of access to quality first class product and better availability than is offered to Star…
About Gary Leff
Will Restaurants Begin Adopting Airline-Style Pricing?
Apr
30
2015
Restaurants are like airlines in that they have seats which – if unused at a given meal – can never be resold. It’s spoiling inventory.
And they want to earn as much per table as possible, a diner spending less than they might is money foregone that can’t even be made back.
So like airlines they should want to vary prices with sophisticated yield management… varying prices based on time of day, day of week, whether or not it’s a holiday, weather, and overall demand.
A Modest Proposal for How Airlines Should Be Required to Handle Mistake Fares
Apr
30
2015
Mistake fares pose tough moral and ethical questions. Here’s why I think it’s perfectly acceptable to book them, but that airlines shouldn’t be required to honor them.
Nevertheless there need to be guidelines that airlines follow if they choose not to honor these tickets. The Department of Transportation hates the rule they adopted three years ago that pretty much says mistake fares have to be honored. They’ve found ways to ignore their own rules as a result. That’s not good.
Instead I propose a new approach to mistake fares that protects consumers, is fair to airlines, and allows for smooth functioning of the nation’s air transport system.
Possible Glitch in British Airways Devaluation Lets You Book Iberia Business Class at Almost Half Off
Iberia’s award chart is different than British Airways’ and you can transfer points between the two programs — plus save on fuel surcharges when you do.
What’s interesting is that BA.com is pricing award travel on Iberia using Iberia’s less expensive award chart. But you’re still going to want to move points from BA to Iberia when you redeem…
The LAX In ‘n Out Trick Dies on Monday. Here’s a Workaround.
Apr
30
2015
The LAX In ‘n Out is one of the hidden gems of any “in the know” frequent flyer. It’s on the edge of the tarmac, but tough to get to. You could always just ride the free Parking Spot shuttle to the garage right next door, though…
Starting Monday Parking Spot is going to limit use of its shuttle to its own customers, apparently catching on to the trick after all these years.
Here’s how you can still catch that free roundtrip ride to hamburger heaven where you can watch all the planes land while eating animal style fries.
1000 Free American Airlines Miles
Apr
29
2015
Watch videos and take quizzes about American AAdvantage to earn up to 1000 free miles.
Fudging Elite Status with Club Carlson and Developing an Airline Partnership, and More From This Morning’s Global Flight Conference
Apr
29
2015
Club Carlson is doing some interesting things with elite qualification and could introduce an airline partner next year. Delta reveals something about the number of miles they’re awarding under the new revenue-based system. And do members even know when their programs go revenue-based?
How to Create Single-Use Credit Card Numbers, More Free Avios, and Which Airline Websites Are Designed Well?
Apr
29
2015
A collection of interesting links (and a video) you’ll want to see, many you’ll want to click.
United Wanted Favors From New Jersey. Apparently They Really Did Give a Politician His Own Flight in Exchange.
Apr
29
2015
In February it was revealed that federal prosecutors were investigating United Airlines operating twice-weekly service for the private benefit of the Chairman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey who referred to this as “the Chairman’s flight.” It was a money loser and was cancelled three days after he stepped down amidst BridgeGate.
Now documents apparently draw a ‘direct link’ between providing this flight and obtaining approval for projects. And the story apparently begins with a dinner between the Chairman and United CEO Jeff Smisek…
United Bringing Back Charlie Trotter’s Ghost to Rethink Meal Service in Both Economy and Premium Cabins
Apr
28
2015
United wants to brand its meals with the halo of chef Charlie Trotter. Trotter passed away, of course, in 2013. So they’re partnering with “alumni chefs of Charlie Trotter’s legendary Chicago restaurant and their culinary peers” instead.
Cue United’s partnership with The Trotter Project.
We’ve been down this road before, with the actual Charlie Trotter. From 2007 to 2010 United served Charlie Trotter meals…
