Accompanying Barbara Peterson‘s critical take on airline consolidation in Conde’ Nast Traveler is an interesting infographic that’s worth perusing. One item in particular stood out to me as likely incorrect, but that turns out to be accurate, and offers some interesting historical perspective on the current American-US Airways deal. When I saw the above graphic, and that claim that ‘0’ mergers had been rejected by the government as anti-competitive I knew that was wrong — because the Department of Justice announced that it would sue to stop the proposed United-US Airways merger in July 2001. Except the infographic is right, reading the statistic on the left it refers to ‘the first decade after deregulation’ so only extends through 1988. And the statistic on the right — 0 mergers fought by the government — is accurate…
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Review of the Hyatt Regency Coral Gables, My Current Pick Near the Miami Airport
About a month ago I had to be in South Florida for business and stayed for the first time at the Hyatt Regency Coral Gables. It served my needs perfectly on a one-night stay near the Miami airport and near my morning meetings, and I’ll be staying there again in a few weeks. This wouldn’t be my choice for an airport overnight. It’s not close enough to the airport and there’s no shuttle. But it’s the perfect hotel for me if I need to be in the area of the airport, in and around Coral Gables, the next day. And it’s the perfect hotel for me if I’m coming into Miami late, renting a car, and and have business in South Florida the next day. It’s close enough to the airport, but it’s a hotel…
Buy One-Way Star Alliance Award Tickets at a Discount: Avianca LifeMiles 100% Purchase Bonus Back for August
Avianca is back with a 100% bonus on purchased LifeMiles through August 30. That brings the price of purchased miles down from 3 cents to 1.5 cents apiece — which is cheaper than purchasing US Airways under their 100% bonus. Lifemiles seems to run these bonuses quite frequently. You can buy up to 75,000 miles under this offer and will receive 150,000 miles. The most miles you can buy in a calendar year is 150,000. (That means if you max out this bonus that’s also your limit for the year.) The rules say you have to have been enrolled in the prior prior to August 1 to take advantage of the offer. They say that each time they run this bonus, which is why I suggest enrolling in the program even speculatively just in case…
100% Bonus on Purchased US Airways Miles is Back for August – Not Targeted This Time
US Airways is running tiered bonuses for mileage purchases through August 31. For purchases of 50,000 miles you get 50,000 bonus miles, and your 100,000 miles cost you 1.88 cents per mile. The American Merger and Star Alliance Awards US Airways has been dubbed the ‘consolidator of Star Alliance premium class seats’ (credit to eponymous coward) since seats that aren’t expected to be sold (distressed inventory) tend to be offered as awards, and US Airways has been the most aggressive about letting members straight up buy those seats cheaply via purchased miles — even putting awards on hold before buying the miles (which post instantly). Here’s my guide to using US Airways miles to book awards. It’s an open question whether the merged American-US Airways will similarly become oneworld’s official consolidator once US Airways joins…
San Francisco Airport Cracking Down On — Arresting — Rideshare Drivers
Reader Drew passes along an article about San Francisco airport officials arresting rideshare drivers. In the past month, San Francisco International Airport officials have been citing and arresting drivers from mobile-app enabled rideshare companies that pick up and drop off passengers, an airport spokesman said. Airport spokesman Doug Yakel said there have been seven citizen arrests issued to “various offenders” since July 10. The airport had issued cease and desist letters to several rideshare companies, including Lyft, Sidecar and Uber, in April. The arrests are for trespassing, although legal technicalities aside I’m not sure how the concept of trespass can make sense for someone dropping a passenger off at an airport. And I’m curious how they know a driver is on a trip with Uber rather than making a trip through their normal pre-scheduled car…
Bits ‘n Pieces for July 31, 2013
News and notes from around the interweb: The Managing Editor of Executive Travel tries out “hang up, call back” and — to her surprise — it works! My Globetrotters on Twitter interview. Get a 10% off American Airlines discount code A country’s decision to require a visa reduces tourism by 70%. Southwest fined $200,000 for not making enough DING! fare sale seats available on February 14 (even though those seats didn’t sell out, meaning consumers who saw the sale and wanted the seats could get them) and for failing to make advertised fares to Branson, Missouri available on January 30 (Southwest attributes to a one-time technical glitch). Thank goodness the Department of Transportation is looking out for consumers. Passenger flying Delta from Seattle to New York JFK abandons four bags instead of checking them to…
New Study Proves Premium Cabin International Awards Offer the Best Value for Miles, and Merchandise the Least.. But Doesn’t Understand Why That Is
The authors of a well-known but highly flawed annual award availability study have a new study out that’s much better. It’s titled Premium Class Rewards Provide Best Value for Frequent Flyers. The conclusion is right, though I certainly stopped to wonder, we needed a study to know that? How they reached the conclusion, though, is quite wrong. Like with their award availability study, they refuse to pick up the phone. All of their data comes from award searches online. This time, though, they limited themselves to the United website which is actually pretty good and has access to most partners online. They Don’t Know How Much an Award Costs Two-cabin first class roundtrip to Hawaii is 80,000 miles roundtrip. However, the study confuses roundtrip and one-way award costs (perhaps because the United award chart shows…
My New External Laptop Battery/Charger Keeps Me Powered on Long Flights
I’ve had too many flights recently without seat power — too many connections from an American Airlines MD80 to an American Airlines MD80. With enough connection time I head to the lounge and plug in, my laptop gets back to a 50% charge in under half an hour. But on a quick connection I’m hosed. Meanwhile, my 8 year old Empower adapter stopped working. American’s international 767s have seat power but they still require the adapter. It’s such an outdated technology, I didn’t want to buy a new one — but I have an upcoming 8 hour day flight and I’d want to be able to run my laptop for longer than 4 hours (likely watching movies – I bring my own inflight entertainment and don’t trust even Singapore Airlines or Cathay Pacific to have…
Bits ‘n Pieces for July 30, 2013
News and notes from around the interweb: I’ve been aware of refund.me but not EU Claims which reader Will M. reported got him 400 euros per person for a delay he claimed was due to crew availability and KLM claimed was due to weather. You pay a commission on successful claims but don’t have to hassle with the paperwork and back-and-forth. If your high heels are shaped like, or made from guns the TSA will consider you a threat. A United baggage worked has been charged with stealing luggage from passengers diverted from San Francisco after the Asiana crash. The US Airways mobile app is finally out. As expected, reported are: unimpressive. You can join the 30,000+ people who see these deals and analysis every day — sign up to receive posts by email (just…
Get a Discounted Rimowa Carryon in Conjunction with a Fairmont Hotel Stay
Fairmont has a new promotional room rate in conjunction with Rimowa. Book and stay in a Fairmont Gold room or Suite between July 19 and August 31, 2013 at select destinations across North America and arrive in style with two RIMOWA Salsa Deluxe Cabin Multiwheel® cases. An offer this good doesn’t come around often—get ready to pack your (new) bags! Call 866 379 7700 to reserve your room today. The rate is available at: Fairmont Chateau Whistler Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, Quebec City Fairmont Royal York, Toronto Fairmont Château Laurier, Ottawa Fairmont Hamilton Princess, Bermuda Fairmont Southampton, Bermuda Fairmont Copley Plaza, Boston Fairmont Battery Wharf, Boston Fairmont San Francisco Fairmont Scottsdale Princess A two-night stay is required, and you must book at least a ‘Gold’ room (at least a suite at the Fairmont San Francisco).…
