Since news came out that the FCC would consider lifting the ban on cell phone data and voice while inflight, there’s been a public outcry and a bit of backgracking. Scott Mayerowitz reported today that even the FCC Chairman himself doesn’t like the idea of people making voice calls on their cell phones onboard airplanes. The FCC has also gone to some lengths to emphasize that they’re just looking at safety and whether the practice should be banned on that basis, so if there are ultimately cell phone calls on planes it’s your airline you should blame. Eventually it’s highly likely we’ll see the ban lifted, because technology has evolved such that cell providers can make money providing the service rather than just being taxed heavily by inflight users. Airlines offering this would install relays…
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The Jet Airways Pot ‘o Gold: The Passenger in the Lav Before Me Left WHAT?
$1 million in gold bars found in the lavatory toilet of a Jet Airways plane. Cleaners working on a commercial plane in eastern India have found 24 gold bars worth more than $1 million stuffed into a toilet compartment, officials said Wednesday. …The plane belonging to Jet Airways was being cleaned at Kolkata airport on Tuesday after a trip from the eastern city of Patna. It had previously been flying on international routes. “The cleaning staff of the airport were going though their routine duties and found two bags in the toilets of the plane,” director of the airport B.P. Mishra told AFP. At least we know they clean the tpilets! (HT: Alan A.) You can join the 30,000+ people who see these deals and analysis every day — sign up to receive posts by…
Alaska Airlines Visa Considering New Benefits and Bonuses
Some cardholders of the Bank of America Alaska Airlines co-branded Visa are receiving a survey about possible new benefits and bonuses. About one-third of Alaska’s 3 million frequent flyer program members have the card. They expect to make an additional $50 million off the card product in 2014. And yet — while Alaska miles are great — the card itself hasn’t really kept pace with advances in the industry. There aren’t category bonuses (other than spending on Alaska itself), there aren’t travel benefits like free checked bags or priority boarding. And the once great $50 companion ticket is now $99 and doesn’t apply to purchasing first class. The survey covers targeted spending bonuses, free checked bags, earning more than just one companion ticket in a year, reducing the price of the companion ticket to $50,…
Hyatt Honoring Lifetime Elite Status Mistake
Last week Hyatt mistakenly sent out an offer for their co-branded credit card that promised lifetime Diamond elite status (as long as applicants keep the card). They meant, of course, to promise Platinum status, not top-tier Diamond as Platinum is a benefit of the card. The offer seems to have been sent to current Gold Passport Diamond members who don’t already have the card. Perhaps the targeting of Diamond members contributed to the confusion that led to the mistake offer. This is tricky because the mistake is a huge offer. Lifetime Diamond status is normally earned after 1,000,000 base points in the Gold Passport program ($200,000 in eligible spending with Hyatt!). But credit card marketing is also now closely regulated by the federal government. What were they going to do? They’re going to honor the…
One Reader Gets 25,000 Miles.. Is It You?
This week I offered a giveaway of 25,000 Emirates Skywards miles courtesy of American Express, celebrating their new partnership which allows you to transfer points 1:1 to Emirates. And indeed through today only there is a 25% bonus when you convert Membership Rewards points to Emirates Skywards miles. I randomly drew the winner: And the winning entry was: Danr said, Love to go .. which I take to mean that he’d like to go anywhere with the head start given the 25,000 Emirates Skywards miles he’s won from American Express Membership Rewards! If you’re interested in topping off an Emirates account, today is the day to make that transfer in order to get the 25% bonus. Read more about the best uses of Emirates Skywards points, and good values with this 25% bonus. You can…
Four Readers Get Hilton and National Car Rental Elite Status and United Miles. Do You?
This week I offered a giveaway of three Milepoint Premium memberships. Milepoint, the frequent flyer community that I co-founded, is offering a Premium Membership at $49 which gets you: Hilton HHonors Gold elite status through the beginning of 2015. 1000 United miles National Car Rental Executive status One free day of parking with Parking Spot (no minimum stay required) And more. Each of the three winners receives premium membership on Milepoint, which comes with all of the above benefits. There were 1060 entries before the cut-off time of 8pm Eastern yesterday. So I drew 3 winners at random. og said, HH gold Matt B. said, National status. I love being able to pick out a nice car and I’ve found their service to be excellent Michael said, Hilton HHonors Gold please I then decided to…
30% Bonus on Purchased Hyatt Gold Passport Points
Hyatt is offering up to a 30% bonus on purchased points. The more points you purchase the higher the bonus. Receive up to a 30% Point Bonus! Purchase points from November 15 through November 29, 2013 and receive the following bonus:1 Purchase 10,000 to 19,000 points and receive a 10% bonus Purchase 20,000 to 39,000 points and receive a 20% bonus Purchase 40,000 points and receive a 30% bonus When Hyatt offers a bonus on purchased points, it is usually this bonus — such as in June 2012, February 2013, and June 2013. I value Hyatt points at 1.5 cents apiece. I would not do this on a speculative basis. If you were going to buy some points to top off towards an award, it’s great that there’s a bonus. There are a few situations where it would make sense to buy points instead of…
Are You Ready for Inflight Cell Phone Use to Come to US Airlines?
Several days ago I reported that the inflight use of 3G and 4G mobile data plans. This follows US approval of gate-to-gate use of electronics. Lifting the Department of Transportation’s ban on electronics did not allow for the inflight use of a phone’s cellular or data connectivity. That ban was under the authority of the FCC. Now it turns out that the FCC is considering lifting its ban, which would then leave it up to individual airlines whether or not to allow cell phones onboard — for data and for voice. If the Government Allows Inflight Cell Phone Use, What Would Happen? Does this mean you’re going to have to listen to your bloviating seatmate talking about the big deal they’re trying to close? or talking to their paramour? That’s the awful future that many…
Despite Devaluations, the Miles Game Goes On — And We Still Win
When I got started in miles and points I mostly earned through actual butt-in-seat flying. Miles were much harder to earn: Credit card bonuses seemed a big deal when they were 15,000 miles for a signup (I had never seen a 20,000 mile bonus for a United card until April 2002). I thought iDine — earning miles for eating at particular restaurants — was pretty cool. If memory serves, United once limited that to elites. Redeeming awards wasn’t nearly as flexible, either: US frequent flyer programs did not allow one-way awards, and you could not combine more than one partner on a roundtrip award. If you booked a business class award on a partner airline and needed a domestic flight to connect up to the international segment, United would only throw that in ‘as a…
Delta ‘SkyPesos’ Really Has Stuck, and Gone Mainstream
Even in an article I’m not quoted in, and wasn’t interviewed for. Here’s the Wall Street Journal: Besides the lack of availability of awards, travelers complain that raising the price for awards essentially devalues the miles or points in their account. The currency no longer has the same buying power. Frequent fliers on forums such as FlyerTalk and MilePoint jokingly refer to Delta’s SkyMiles as SkyPesos. Truth’s truth, even in the ‘mainstream media’. 😉 You can join the 30,000+ 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 also follow me on Twitter for the latest deals. Don’t miss out!
