My travels have been a bit too diverting lately, and what little online time I’ve had has been devoted to keeping up with my day job. But I should be blogging again by the middle of next week, say by the 27th at the latest. And I should have some interesting tidbits to share about first class travel on ANA and Thai and some wonderful service and suites.
About Gary Leff
South Park Endorses an Airline! (Or something like that.)
Via Online Travel Review, Kyle from South Park is apparently the mascot for Air Arabia, the discount airline based in Sharjah, U.A.E. Refresh the home page and you’ll see Kyle in various states of Islamic dress.
Reducing your security wait times
The Upgrade Travel Blog points to a Wall Street Journal piece on shortcuts at airport security checkpoints. You don’t always have to go through the security line designated for your your terminal. At DFW, for instance, all the terminals are connected so you can go through any checkpoint — and the checkpoints vary tremendously in wait times. In Detroit you can cut through the airport Westin, which has its own security screening into the airport.
A view worth repeating
HotelChatter links to my photo of sunrise off the deck of bungalow 105 at Bora Bora Nui. I love it too, and nine months later it’s still the background on my laptop’s desktop.
New Advances in Airport Security
Via Marginal Revolution come details of the future of airport security in Russia:Millions of passengers traveling through Russia soon will have to take a lie detector test as part of new airport security measures that could eventually be applied throughout the country. The technology, to be introduced at Moscow’s Domodedovo airport as early as July, is intended to identify terrorists and drugs smugglers. But many passengers will be chilled by the set of four questions they will have to answer into a machine, including, “Have you ever lied to the authorities?” The machine asks four questions: The first is for full identity; the second, unnerving in its Soviet-style abruptness, demands: “Have you ever lied to the authorities?” It then asks whether either weapons or narcotics are being carried. To cut delays, passengers will take the…
Southwest comes to Washington-Dulles
Southwest’s newest destination was announced today: Washington-Dulles. So we lost Independence Air and their crazy $39 walkup fares to pretty much everywhere along the East Coast, but at least we have Southwest coming… and that means mega mileage bonuses from United, at least for whatever Southwest announces as its initial routes, which will be limited as they’ve only requested two gates.Service should start in the fall.
More Information on Starwood Upgrade Program Speculation
Yesterday I posted about a disturbing development with Starwood, where they were apparently testing a change to Platinum upgrade benefits — providing a one room class upgrade instead of upgrade to best available room at checkin, including standard suites. This morning I posted on Flyertalk Starwood is within its rights to change the Terms and Conditions, but frankly changing elite benefits shouldn’t ever be done without substantial notice — people earn their status with butt-in-bed based on the promise of perks the following year. A decision made now to change benefits ought to be implemented beginning in 2008. However… if there is a ‘test’ to provide something other than the best available room at checkin, including standard suites then the test is in violation of Starwood Preferred Guest’s terms and conditions. Starwood writes the T&C.…
Tomorrow
A colleague just pointed out to me On Wednesday at two minutes and three seconds after 1:00 in the morning (AM), and the afternoon (PM), the time and date will be 01:02:03 04/05/06.
A Threat to the Greatest Loyalty Program on Earth
Hyatt sometimes offers suite upgrades to Diamond members, as does Hilton, but neither program offers it as a published benefit. Marriott used to offer their Platinums an upgrade to the best available room at checkin including suites but now suites are explicitly no longer a part of the upgrade benefit. Technically, Intercontinental’s Royal Ambassador status (which doesn’t have explicit qualification criteria but that you can get by learning the secret handshake or being referred by an existing Royal Ambassador, the latter method being how I got mine) does offer upgrades to an Executive Rooms or Suites which in practice varies from hotel to hotel (but which I’ve found to be quite generous if inconsistent). But among major loyalty program top-tier status levels, only Starwood Platinum offers an upgrade to the best available room at check-in…
Starwood Proud of its Credit Card
Starwood’s The Lobby is justifiably beaming with pride over a Fortune magazine piece which declares its co-branded American Express card the best rewards card. Indeed, it is. Two thoughts occur to me, however. First, how come they don’t kvell just as much when I endorse their card as best? Second, the Fortune writer doesn’t seem to know that Diners Club no longer offers two billing cycles to pay. Doesn’t make me the better expert? And more of a reason to kvell over my endorsement? Heh. Oh well, as long as people carry the card then I suppose my work is done.
