News and notes from around the interweb: A good overview of Southeast Asia scams you’ll likely run into as a tourist. A good companion to my Common Tourist Scams and How to Avoid Them The taxi industry outspends Uber and Lyft on lobbying 3500:1 Hipster scarf saves an American tourist’s life in Germany The New York Times on how money laundering and fraud are causing the screws to tighten on prepaid financial products. Uber launching business accounts and partnering with travel and expense company Concur. The article notes that Uber’s cut of each fare is 20%. (HT: S.) You can join the 40,000+ people who see these deals and analysis every day — sign up to receive posts by email (just one e-mail per day) or subscribe to the RSS feed. It’s free. You can…
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Google Wallet Eliminates Fees on Debit Card Transactions
A couple of weeks ago Google Wallet eliminated fees on debit card transactions. They now allow you to send money to other people, funded by debit card, and won’t charge you a fee to pull the money off your debit card. After all, the Durbin Amendment drove down the cost of debit card transactions. (Which is also why banks have mostly gotten out of the game of rewarding those transactions, and have imposed more burdensome requirements for waiving account fees generally since having a checking account no longer correlates with making debit transactions that are profitable for banks). Here’s what I see when going to make a payment: Adam P. asked me about the usefulness of this yesterday. And since he was wondering, I thought others might be as well (or would be soon). Google…
Miami Airport Lounge Staff Steal Millions
The Club America lounge at the Miami airport is a rather sorry place. It’s moderately better than sitting in the terminal. Actually there used to be 2 Club America lounges at the airport, if memory serves — one in terminal F and the other in terminal J. The terminal J lounge appears to have been renamed for LATAM and operated by LAN now. And now I know why. The lounge is actually owned by the airport authority. There was a contract with a private company to run it (in place since 1999). Airlines pay for use of the lounge. 20% of the checks were deposited by lounge employees into their own accounts, instead of the airport authority’s account. In all at least $2.19 million was taken — although the true amount is likely much higher.…
Thai Taste Really Tastes Great!
I had dinner last night at Thai Taste by Kob in Wheaton, Maryland with Tyler Cowen, MarginalRevolution.com commenter teatotaler, and “econ prodigy” Nathaniel Bechhofer. The restaurant opened earlier this year, about six months ago. They have a large menu. Tyler offered that I play dictator and order for the group, or at least make an initial proposal. But not knowing what they’re especially good at we decided to challenge the restaurant to simply bring us their best.
The Truth About Hilton’s Future, and What They’re Getting Rid of Next
Scott Mayerowitz interviews Hilton’s CEO Chris Nassetta and offers fascinating insight into how they think about what they want to offer their guests. And I’m reminded throughout of the idea earlier in Nassetta’s tenure when they were talking about building new Embassy Suites hotels where the rooms weren’t all suites. Let’s get rid of bellmen, robes, slippers, and turndown service. Rolling suitcases have eliminated the need for bellmen and Nassetta questions if guests truly desire robes, slippers or nightly turndown service. Or at least are willing to pay the higher room rates they require. “Do you get turndown service at home? If you do, let me know because I’d like to ask my family,” Nassetta jokes. Lots of guests get annoyed by tip-seeking bellman wanting to carry your small rollaboard, though help with big suitcases…
Fee-Free Visa Gift Cards, 5000 United Miles, and the New Hyatt LAX
News and notes from around the interweb: What happens when you’re caught using Lyft or Uber in a state where it’s illegal? Fee-free Visa gift cards today only, though may not have ability to set a PIN code and use as a debit card. Rocketmiles is offering 5000 United miles for first-time users in addition to the regular miles earned for hotel bookings of 3 nights or more if you reserve by August 31 and stay by the end of the year. The closest hotel to LAX becoming a Hyatt. It used to be the Radisson and is getting a full makeover. A new plane design for a regional jet with enough bin space for every passenger to fit a roll-aboard above their seat Suing the TSA over increased fees Debit card override hack You…
50% Off Air France and KLM Awards Out for October/November Travel
Air France KLM’s Flying Blue program should be interesting to U.S. frequent flyers for several reasons. They offer one-way awards, which Delta won’t have until next year. They are an American Express Membership Rewards transfer partner (points transfer instantly). They have access to award space that Delta won’t let you have. They have most of their partners available for online booking Unfortunately their call centers are frustrating, their website can be too (and has been known to show ‘phantom’ award availability, seats that look available but aren’t really here to book). And they add fuel surcharges onto award tickets. One of the great values, historically, has been their ‘promo awards’. Award tickets at half the cost of their regular award chart can be a great value, for a relatively short booking window and for travel…
United’s Apology Mad Libs
Via Reddit (and my Facebook feed), here’s an apology letter received by a customer this month. Companies clearly have customer service template letters. Frequently it seems as though the wrong one is selected to use when replying to comments, when the response doesn’t seem to answer the concerns that were raised. But usually the employee at least fills in the blanks, instead of leaving it to us to do for them: (Click to enlarge) Isn’t it comforting to know that your comments regarding (specific item) are taken so seriously that they’ll be incorporated into United’s training going forward? You can join the 40,000+ people who see these deals and analysis every day — sign up to receive posts by email (just one e-mail per day) or subscribe to the RSS feed. It’s free. You can…
Best Options for Buying Gift Cards and Big Bonus for Booking Hotels Plus Another Program Devalues
News and notes from around the interweb: Jetstar (Australia) reminds passengers to dispose of their drugs before landing. There was a rush for the lavatories. Rocketmiles has extended their 3000 bonus miles for first hotel booking through August 8. That’s on top of the usual miles you earn for booking hotels for yourself or others. The site has a limited number of hotels and in a limited – but growing – number of cities. It rebates you a potentially large number of miles for your reservations. (You generally won’t earn hotel points for your stays booked through the site.) Best options for buying Visa and MasterCard gift cards. Even as Thai Airways rolls back their devaluation and promises notice of future ones, Jet Airways of India appears to be charging 50% – 60% more for…
Hotel Charges Man $127 for Water (Travel Can Be Very. Expensive. So Know What You’re Getting Into)
The Crystal Bar at the Wellesley hotel in Knightsbridge, London isn’t a cheap place to sit down and drink. So there’s lots of mileage out there about a man who was charged $127 for 3 bottles of water. Edward Heaton had a business meeting at the five star Wellesley Hotel in Knightsbridge, London. It was hot so they opted to sit outside on the cigar terrace of the Crystal Bar, and order three small bottles of San Pellegrino sparkling water. After the meeting concluded, and Mr. Heaton requested the bill, imagine his surprise, when the total came out to $127. The story isn’t exactly true. The charge per bottle of sparkling Pellegrino was five and a half pounds each. The hotel has a minimum charge on their cigar terrace, so the bill was topped off…
