I was a frequent traveler growing up. My parents were divorced. I lived in New York and my father in California and I flew back and forth regularly, first as an unaccompanied minor and later without that supervision. As a young child I remember wearing a tie when I flew. As a teenager I flew to Australia — on American Airlines, with a stop in Honolulu — on my own. So I like to think of myself as developing a taste for travel, and an expertise, at a young age. And yet… I was so helpless in so many ways. After I graduated college I moved to the Washington, DC area. By that time ‘home’ was California, and for my first trip back I certainly worked hard to find good airfare… a $300 fare, rather…
About Gary Leff
Have Elite Status With United, American, or Another Airline? Here’s How You Can Get Elite Benefits With Delta, Too
Points to be Made says that China Airlines – a member of Skyteam and thus partner of Delta – is offering status matches. As usual, you will need to provide details of the airline and programme you are matching from, your account number and a screenshot of your activity page. To initiate the process, send an email to ndfp@china-airlines.com who should match your status for one year.. China Airlines’ Emerald status, that they appear to be matching to at least for Star Alliance Gold members but presumably for oneworld Emeralds as well, is “Skyteam Elite Plus” which gets priority check-in, boarding, and baggage handling as well as lounge access when flying internationally. (Unlike top tier status with oneworld or Star Alliance with an airline outside the U.S., you do not get lounge access on a…
Vietnam, Cambodia, Macau and Hong Kong Trip Report: Lunch at Pho Hoa
Index: Introduction, Positioning Flight to New York, and the Hilton JFK British Airways First Class Lounge, New York JFK Cathay Pacific First Class, New York JFK – Hong Kong The Pier First Class Lounge and Cathay Pacific Business Class, Hong Kong – Ho Chi Minh City Park Hyatt Saigon Lunch at Pho Hoa, Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam Airlines Business Class, Ho Chi Minh City – Danang Hyatt Regency Danang Resort & Spa Vietnam Airlines Economy, Danang – Siem Reap Park Hyatt Siem Reap Angkor Wat and Other Temples Dragonair Business Class, Siem Reap – Hong Kong Turbojet, Hong Kong Airport – Macau and the Sheraton Macao Hotel The Venetian, Fernando’s, and the Ferry to Hong Kong Grand Hyatt Hong Kong Harbor View Suite Bo Innovation, Hong Kong Amber Restaurant, Hong Kong Cathay Pacific The…
Vietnam, Cambodia, Macau and Hong Kong Trip Report: Park Hyatt Saigon
Index: Introduction, Positioning Flight to New York, and the Hilton JFK British Airways First Class Lounge, New York JFK Cathay Pacific First Class, New York JFK – Hong Kong The Pier First Class Lounge and Cathay Pacific Business Class, Hong Kong – Ho Chi Minh City Park Hyatt Saigon Lunch at Pho Hoa, Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam Airlines Business Class, Ho Chi Minh City – Danang Hyatt Regency Danang Resort & Spa Vietnam Airlines Economy, Danang – Siem Reap Park Hyatt Siem Reap Angkor Wat and Other Temples Dragonair Business Class, Siem Reap – Hong Kong Turbojet, Hong Kong Airport – Macau and the Sheraton Macao Hotel The Venetian, Fernando’s, and the Ferry to Hong Kong Grand Hyatt Hong Kong Harbor View Suite Bo Innovation, Hong Kong Amber Restaurant, Hong Kong Cathay Pacific The…
Marriott Rewards Denies Any Plan to Gut the Program
Yesterday I linked to a rumor about supposed upcoming changes to Marriott Rewards. I emphasized that it was a rumor, I didn’t have direct knowledge but it was something posted by Loyalty Traveler. It was based on a posting in the Marriott Insiders online community. The gist was a new higher award redemption tier, increased point requirements across the board for all tiers, an end to automatic lounge access for Gold and Platinum members when not upgraded to an executive floor, and confirmed suite upgrades for Platinum Premier members in a new formalized top tier. Marriott Rewards has denied that these changes are pending. (HT: Matt in the comments.) There are no changes planned to Elite benefits. There is nothing hidden in these words – we have no devaluation of Elite benefits in the discussion,…
Why I’m Considering Buying US Airways Club Access — Even Though I Already Have Access (Hint: Just for Elite Qualifying Miles)
This morning Lucky wrote about an offer of 5000 elite qualifying miles for buying a US Airways club membership. 5,000 Preferred-qualifying miles: new & existing members* Earn 5,000 Preferred-qualifying miles when you buy or renew an annual membership by May 31, 2014. Enroll or renew online or call 800-828-8522 and use promo code NM500 for new memberships or CR500 for renewals. Here are the prices for club membership: I already have access to US Airways lounges and to American Airlines lounges. Through March 22, I can use my American Express Platinum card. I have British Airways Gold status, that will soon be downgraded. I’ve signed up for the Citi Executive card that comes with lounge access… and a 100,000 mile signup bonus. And if I didn’t already have club access, I could redeem Business ExtrAA…
Vietnam, Cambodia, Macau and Hong Kong Trip Report: The First Class Side of the Pier Lounge and Flat Seats Hong Kong – Ho Chi Minh City
Index: Introduction, Positioning Flight to New York, and the Hilton JFK British Airways First Class Lounge, New York JFK Cathay Pacific First Class, New York JFK – Hong Kong The Pier First Class Lounge and Cathay Pacific Business Class, Hong Kong – Ho Chi Minh City Park Hyatt Saigon Lunch at Pho Hoa, Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam Airlines Business Class, Ho Chi Minh City – Danang Hyatt Regency Danang Resort & Spa Vietnam Airlines Economy, Danang – Siem Reap Park Hyatt Siem Reap Angkor Wat and Other Temples Dragonair Business Class, Siem Reap – Hong Kong Turbojet, Hong Kong Airport – Macau and the Sheraton Macao Hotel The Venetian, Fernando’s, and the Ferry to Hong Kong Grand Hyatt Hong Kong Harbor View Suite Bo Innovation, Hong Kong Amber Restaurant, Hong Kong Cathay Pacific The…
Big Rumored Devaluations to Marriott Rewards Awards and Elite Benefits
Loyalty Traveler reports on rumored changes to the Marriott Rewards program for 2015. These are uncomfirmed, though Ric is usually quite circumspect in terms of the sorts of rumors he passes along. The points required for award stays will be increased by at least 5,000 points per night across all levels and the 5th night free will disappear. Category 10 will be added and require 60,000 points per night (read mass devaluation). a new level will be announced above Platinum and the requirements will be formally revealed. (i.e. everyone will know how to achieve PP, if that is what it is called) New benefits for Gold, Plat, and the new PP will be announced. These will include things like confirmed suite upgrades (for the new PP), instant upgrades using online check-in, free breakfast (including resorts…
Award Ticket to Hawaii for Credit Card Signup
As I noted last month, Barclays now issues the Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite MasterCard®. When I wrote about the product previously, there was no referral credit available for it. For full disclosure, now there is, I do receive credit if you use my link when signing up for the card. The card offers 35,000 miles after $1000 spend within 90 days. The Value of the Signup Bonus — A Free Ticket to Hawaii.. Or More Than One Since HawaiianMiles cardmembers get a 2500 mile discount each way on award travel, this is enough for a roundtrip economy ticket between the mainland US and Hawaii. A couple could each get the card, each spend $1000, and have enough points for two tickets to Hawaii. What’s more, cardholders are allowed to pool points across multiple accounts (10…
The Short Window to Use US Airways Miles for Award Tickets on Both Star Alliance and oneworld Airlines
US Airways, having taken over merged with larger American Airlines, will be leaving the Star Alliance (where it partners with airlines like United, Lufthansa, Turkish, Asiana, Thai, etc.) on March 30 and joining the oneworld alliance (where it partners with airlines like British Airways, Iberia, LAN, Cathay Pacific, Qantas, etc.) on March 31. As a result, March 30th is the last day to book Star Alliance awards — awards that combine flights on its various Star partners. Starting March 31st you’ll be able to use US Airways miles to book award tickets on its various oneworld partners. Already you’re able to book awards on American Airlines. I’m most looking forward to using British Airways points to book short-distance awards for cheap miles (4500 points each way for flights under 650 miles) from my home airport…
