I do my own visas where needed, and I’ve never used a service. But it can be a pain in the bum and having a professional handle it can save time and hassle that many consider worth the money. One company offering this service is Allied Passport & Visa and they’re points and miles community members who participate in and even write for blogs at times. Since I haven’t used the services I haven’t written about them, but they came up with a great offer for readers of the blog that I couldn’t resist passing along. I like that their website has examples of how to fill out forms. Often the forms aren’t really clear and I worry that I’m answering a question wrong, that I’ll run into problems getting approved or worse. They’ve offered…
About Gary Leff
Woman BUSTED for Using Her Breast Implants to Smuggle Cocaine
Get it…? Spanish police have arrested a 43-year-old Venezuelan woman who landed in Madrid’s international airport trying to smuggle 3.7 pounds of cocaine via her breast implants. She appeared nervous going through customs, was searched, and eventually ‘copped’ to smuggling cocaine in her breast implants. Just replace saline with cocaine (they even rhyme) and you’ll usually get through (airport security mantra, “you don’t get on until we get off” notwithstanding). You just have to hope that the cocaine doesn’t leak, or the mule may die of one massive overdose. (HT: Alan H.) 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 also follow me on Twitter for…
The Card That Earns More Than 2.6% Back on All Spending (Beats Fidelity and Arrival by 20%+)
Cash back credit cards: KL shares the link to a new card offer that will provide a bigger rebate on general spending than pretty much anything out there. It’s bigger than the 2% cash back on everything with the Fidelity Investment Rewards American Express. It’s bigger than the 2.2%+ rebate towards travel from all spending on the Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite MasterCard. But you have to have $100,000 in cash and investments that you can deposit with Bank of America to take advantage of the offer. Bank of America Travel Rewards gives you 1.5 points per dollar on all spending. That equates to a 1.5% rebate (2500 points = $25). Bank of America Preferred Rewards members earn an additional bonus of 25%, 50%, or 75% depending on the volume of assets on deposit with…
Airport Strategies, Uber and Uber for Planes Behave Badly, and Boeing’s New All-Coach Planes
News and notes from around the interweb: ‘Uber for private planes’ is probably illegal. Because you can’t charge for a seat on a plane unless you have federal permission to do so. The real Uber… behaving badly (HT: Reid F) Pittsburgh is no longer a US Airways hub, so the airport is struggling. In search of new revenue they’re turning to… fracking. Who would have guessed? Southwest Airlines interested in all-coach configured Boeing 737s. The best airport perks. Can tall grass prevent bird strikes? 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 also follow me on Twitter for the latest deals. Don’t miss out!
Why Would ANYONE Do This When Renting a Car?
The line at the Dollar Rent a Car counter was nearly endless this morning at Miami International airport. I genuinely don’t understand why anyone would wait in such a line. If you’re a member of a car rental company’s frequent renter program, you don’t need to in the first place. There are many other rental car companies in Miami. None had lines like this. Outside of Priceline and Hotwire rentals there are still very few prepaid rental rates. There’s generally no penalty for failing to pick up a rental car you’ve reserved. (And you can be nice and ring them and just cancel in any case.) Walk to another counter. Or even if you’re concerned about rate, book a new car on your phone while standing in the Dollar line. At least research your alternatives.…
For an Airport Eatery, This Just Seems Like a Very Bad Idea
Ben’s Chili Bowl is a DC institution. It’s been around for over 50 years, hosted civil rights leaders in the 1960s, and President Obama ate there the month he took the oath of office as President in 2009. The Pelican Brief and State of Play had scenes filmed there. It’s a tourist destination. But I’ve never been especially impressed by the food. They’re open at National’s Park now, and they’ve just opened at National airport last month. It’s this that seems like a very bad idea. To be sure, while I’m not a huge fan, the food is probably better than much of what passes at the airport. But it’s also about the last thing I’d want my seat opponent to eat before a flight. Ben’s is right next to the security checkpoint for B…
Secretary of State John Kerry Flies More Than You Do and Is Excited to Earn Frequent Flyer Miles!
Secretary of State John Kerry has flown a ton. In fact, he has already overtaken his predecessor Hillary Rodham Clinton in his first year as America’s top diplomat, clocking up 519,136 miles to 51 countries in 239 days, according to State Department figures. That’s a whole lot of flying, though not necessarily more than Tom Stuker. Kerry’s Air Force plane broke down in Hawaii on Thursday and he wound up flying back commercial on United (in first class, natch). But “most everyone else” was in coach (no word who else get to fly up front). Kerry commented, “Finally, some frequent-flier miles,” Kerry said when his staffers explained the alternate arrangements, according to a senior State Department official. I wonder if: John Kerry is actually a member of United’s MileagePlus (or airline partner program, although it…
American Express Launches a New Limited-Time Transfer Bonus
American Express is offering a 25% bonus when transferring points to JetBlue through September 15. This is available for all US-based American Express Membership Rewards cardholders who wish to transfer. The normal conversion rate is 250 Amex points transfers to 200 JetBlue TrueBlue points. With this bonus the transfer becomes 1:1. JetBlue prices redemptions based on the cost of the ticket. Each point is worth about a penny and a half. That means with this bonus you’re getting ~ 1.5 cents a point in value for your American Express points. That’s far below what I look for in a redemption, though it’s better than using your points for gift cards or to buy tickets directly through Amex. The only reasons I would take advantage of this is if: You need to transfer a small number…
10,000 Bonus Miles – With Your Choice of Airline – for 10 Hotel Nights
Rocketmiles has a new offer for both current and existing customers: 10,000 bonus miles on top of usual miles earned if you stay 10 nights by September 23. Key terms: Reservations must be booked at the promotion link. Check-out for the 10th night must be by September 23. They specifically forbid cancelling existing reservations and rebooking to get the bonus. The offer isn’t combinable with other bonuses. Definitely better than free beer. New customers get 1000 miles with their first booking. New customers may want to use the offer for 5000 United miles with a 3 night stay or one of the semi-regular 3000 mile first booking offers. Each Rocketmiles bonus usually requires using a specific promotion page to start your booking in order to qualify for the bonus. Existing customers are eligible for the…
Which Frequent Flyer Program Should You Ditch United For?
With United moving to a revenue-based frequent flyer program for mileage-earning next year, customers flying on ‘cheap’ fares will earn fewer miles for their flying. I have to put cheap in quotes though because the break-even point for earning miles is 20 cents (the minimum requirement to earn elite status is only 10 cents..!). If you’re paying less than $900 or $1000 on a cross country flight, you lose out. United has told folks that the total number of miles awarded will stay the same but that hardly makes sense simply because their revenue per passenger mile is substantially lower than yet. Elite frequent flyers will probably ‘suck it up’ and keep flying United and crediting their miles to MileagePlus even though they may earn less, since elite benefits matter and United probably has a…
