Washington Dulles airport won’t be getting rail access any time soon, as a special tax to finance the measure was unanimously voted down. The transit tax district, which would have imposed a 20 percent real estate tax increase on commercial properties along the train route, was to have generated Fairfax County’s share of the project’s cost. But the Town Council’s rejection of the tax district in Herndon, on a 6 to 0 vote, effectively kills the tax district across the county and opens a $540 million hole in the financing scheme designed by state and local leaders. More than $38 million has been spent just to plan the 23 miles of rail. Property owners along the proposed rail line were being asked to foot the project bill, even though many of them would never see…
About Gary Leff
250 Starwood points
Starwood has a survey good for 250 points. (As posted on Flyertalk.com)
Diners Club conversion bonus
Through January 15th you can a 30% bonus when converting Diners Club points into United Mileage Plus miles.
Troubleshooter in Trouble
Travel writer Christopher Elliott has been sacked from his USAToday.com column. Elliott suggests it was because he was too critical of USAirways.The item of greatest note to me is that his firing was not simply for being critical to USAirways (an advertiser) in his online column that USAToday.com was paying for but also for what he wrote about USAirways on his blog.USAToday.com’s editor-in-chief cites content from Mr. Elliott’s blog as a basis for charges underlying his dismissal: Moreover, with your commentary appearing in other forums (for example your Nov. 25 blog item on USAirways), the potential of an appearance of conflict is almost unavoidable. I’ll leave it to the journalism profs and ethicists to comment further. Although the blogosphere may have something to say about this one.
The economics of America West upgrades
America West is earning $25 million a year from its day of departure, space available upgrades. That’s alot of money for a company that is expected to lose money for 2003 and turn a small profit in 2004.There’s no fare distinctions. Any paid passenger qualifies, provided that there’s first class availability four hours or less before the flight. The price varies based on distance of the flight.America West pays a commission of $5 per upgrade that they sell this way.
Elite status means more in Asia?
Air China frequent flyer elite members qualify for preferred tourism visas from Singapore. Upgrades are one with, but legal rights conferred by governments are something else entirely. I wonder whether Air China offers a status match?
Divorce and Frequent Flyer miles
Divorces have always been nasty, and lawyers have always been creative. But it looks like lawyers are getting even more creative. At the annual meeting of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Leonard Karp, a matrimonial lawyer from Tucson, Arizona, made a presentation about identifying unusual, overlooked, and exotic assets. Here are some of the items identified by Mr. Karp: Frequent flyer miles, credit card reward points, and hotel reward points; security deposits for utilities and telephone; future interests in property (such as remainder interests that can be valued based upon actuarial tables); leased property such as timeshares and vehicles; stock options; early retirement benefits; non-vested deferred compensation plans; unused vacation and sick leave that has been accumulated and is paid at the time of retirement; pending income tax refunds and overpayments of taxes; net…
How not to say thank you
Thanks for nothing Pleased with workers who scored top marks on customer service, Air Canada recently picked 100 at random to give them a bonus — a C$5 ($3.78) hamburger coupon that expires in five weeks. Employees winning the award were sent a personal letter containing the coupon, redeemable until Dec. 31 at the Harvey’s hamburger chain, Second Cup coffee shops or other restaurant outlet owned by Cara Operations Ltd., which provides food service for the insolvent airline. Air Canada said the awards came at no cost to the carrier, mainly because the coupons will soon expire.
Another big Radisson Hotels bonus
Rack up two stays at Radisson hotels by February 15, 2004 and earn elite status plus 5000 American Airlines miles. This is in addition to the normal Goldpoints earned on each stay. Registration required.
Your pet needs papers too
The European Commission plans to offer passports for pets. This would standardize travel documents issued by various European countries and would be valid throughout Europe, although Ireland, Sweden and Britain would still have additional vaccination requirements.
