As though I don’t have enough on my plate! But both have real potential. Shoes Off is a new BoardingArea blog by a TSA Screener (“TSA Tina”) and she’s rather funny and isn’t a total TSA apologist, either, she makes fun of passengers sure but she also comes down pretty hard on the Newark screener who wasn’t at his post when the student went airside to express love and the government cleared the terminal and re-screened everyone as a result. (Frank Lautenberg, by the way, is a moron — blame the screener don’t grandstand against the kid.) Some other new miles and points blogs have appeared on the scene, Greekquentflyer and Ahlay Travel who today publishes the British Airways Gold elite US phone number, reporting that they don’t require you to enter your Executive Club…
About Gary Leff
What Elite Status Levels Does Richard Quest Hold?
In part two of the CNN Business Traveller “Mileage Millionaires” segment for January, I do feature somewhat prominently. Frequent commenter on this blog, Gene, makes an appearance talking about the recent US Airways 250% holiday shopping promotion. I found interesting that at 4:25, Richard Quest does the elite status card throwdown. Assuming he was using his own cards for this, he’s got: Hilton Hhonors Silver Starwood Platinum United 1K Hyatt Diamond Hertz Five Star Intercontinental Ambassador He opened by tossing out a Citibank American Airlines credit card. C’mon Richard, that had better not be your primary mileage accumulating credit card. He also tossed out a card he identified as Platinum, it was blue in color and I couldn’t make out the program, it was right after Hyatt Diamond, before Hertz Five Star. Anyone catch what that…
Whose In Charge of Enforcing the No Fly List? TSA and US Airways Disagree
A man with tuberculosis was added to the no fly list, apparently by the Centers for Disease Control, but flew from Philadelphia to San Francisco anyway. The CDC says there was little risk to passengers because the flight was less than 8 hours. If that’s true, why was he not supposed to fly in the first place? Sounds to me like either the no fly list in this case wasn’t necessary, and the CDC screwed up, or it was necessary and someone else screwed up. But the actions (adding to the no fly list) and the statements (no risk) are difficult to reconcile, outside of bureaucratic covering up after the fact. More interestingly, though, the TSA and US Airways are pointing fingers at each other. The airline told Eyewitness News it is up to the…
CNN Business Traveler January, “Mileage Millionaires”
I was just watching the January episode of CNN Business Traveller. It debuted at 9:30 GMT this morning, and isn’t yet available to watch online. This month’s episode is on frequent flyer programs. I was interviewed for it in early December. Since then they reconceptualized the episode, opening with the new security procedures coming down the pike (Nude-o-Scans) in the wake of the wannabe pants on fire bomber, and then explaining that elite program membership helps speed through the airport. Can’t speak to the content, though, because about 10 minutes in CNN broke into the show for a press conference by General Douglas Fraser, US Southern Command, talking about the US response to the earthquake in Haiti. An important major story, put my frequent flyer obsession on hold, but at the same time I was…
Free Gold Status in Accor A|Club Hotel Program
According to this Flyertalk thread you can receive Gold status in the Accor A|Club program by signing up for a new account using promotion code CMBANKACLUB. Accor Gold isn’t particularly rewarding, but as they say it’s better than a hole in the head if you’re going to stay at a Sofitel or other affiliated property anyway. Gold status is normally earned after 30 nights or 10,000 points accumulated in a year, and gets you 75% point bonus, guaranteed availability five days out, late checkout, and upgrade on arrival. The promo is likely marketed to customers of a partner (CM Bank?) and if they run the list of new Gold status members against an eligible customer list from the partner they may take the status away. So definitely your mileage may vary.
Second Night Free at Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas
In addition to the Buy One Get One at Wynn and Encore, there’s also a Buy One Get One going on at Mandarin Oriental. Second night free when you book two nights, promo code is E1320531. Valid for stays through February 28. This is actually a hotel promotion, bookable by anyone. But you can book through American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts to receive those additional amenities (room upgrade based on availability, daily breakfast for 2, $100 spa credit). You can also book via a Virtuoso agent to pick up amenities.
Priority Club First Quarter and Other Bonuses
Prompted by the release of Priority Club first quarter promos, Loyalty Traveller offers a rundown and points to the Flyertalk master thread on Priority Club promos for 2010. It’s always worth doing a checkup with that thread and registering for offers regularly, as Priority Club is one of the truly great programs out there for bonuses many of which you can double dip or even triple dip on which makes it special. For the first quarter offer you can register for the one that makes the most sense for your travels. (Registration for Priority Club promotions can be done at http://www.priorityclub.com/register. Enter your account information and the promotion code.) Through March 31, there are the following stay x nights, get a certain number of points: Stay 3, Get 5,000 – Code 1003 Stay 4, Get…
Czech Airlines Status Match Offer
On the continuing topic of status matches being offered by carriers around the world, and having mentioned one oneworld carrier (British Airways) and one Star Alliance carrier (Lufthansa), a reader sends me the offer from Czech Airlines (Skyteam). FIll in the application and send it along with a copy of your current elite card from a non-Skyteam airline, and — depending on where you’re reading in the offer details — “fly on one OK flight operated by Czech Airlines, purchased in any price package with the exception of Value Special and Click4sky” or “All you need to do is purchase a ticket for any OK flight operated by Czech Airlines (with the exception of the Value Special price package)..” In other words, unclear on whether you need to purchase a ticket or fly in order…
Buy One Get One Night at Wynn and Encore
Wynn and Encore in Las Vegas are offering first night free on a minimum two night stay through the American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts program (for Platinum and Centurion cardmembers). You can only use the offer once, for a booking made by April 15 and stay through June 30. Standard American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts benefits apply. Promotion code is E1320542 and the offer can be booked at the American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts online booking site. Flyertalk discussion of the deal is here.
Lufthansa Offers Status Match to Residents of Russian Federation, Kazakhstan, Ukraine
Unlike the British Airways status match offer I posted yesterday, Lufthansa actually requires a paid roundtrip flight taken by February 28 before granting status, and the flights must be on Lufthansa, Austrian, Swiss, LOT Polish, Brussels Airlines, Croatia, or Adria Airlines. The very short application form (.pdf) needs to be completed and submitted along with a copy of your elite status card from a non-Star Alliance airline. Status will be valid through February, 2011. Lufthansa is another airline that doesn’t normally offer status matches, aside from the occasional offerings of a Star Alliance-wide matching program. So if you know anyone whose address you can borrow in Russia, Kazakhstan, or the Ukraine . . .
