And it isn’t about miles and points. Maybe it’s because I grew up in the car business, but this “investigative journalism” piece, Confessions of a Car Salesman, really hit home. Don’t go off on a test drive without reading it first. It’ll give you a good idea of what to expect — to help equalize the game — and it’s very true to the experience: customers are “ups,” getting fired is getting “blown out,” the finance manager is the “F&I man”.. closers.. desk.. the pack…Just avoid the overwrought moralizing of the last couple of paragraphs and it’ll be a worthwhile read.
About Gary Leff
ANA award discount
All Nippon Airways is offering award tickets for 20% fewer miles — valid for bookings made by November 14th.Don’t have any ANA Mileage Club points? They’re an American Express Membership Rewards transfer partner…This special is good for ANA awards only — not for Star Alliance awards, unfortunately.
Keeping track of your miles and points
The September issue of Inside Flyer magazine is now online. While most articles are available only to subscribers (a la Wall Street Journal), the cover story this month is available for free and surveys the various mileage manager services that help you track your miles and points.If you aren’t already using such a service, it’s worth a read. Personally, I use the free downloadable application MileTracker.
Something to look forward to
The FAA says that air travel will be convenient again in 2025. “All of this can be done by 2025. We want to develop a system that is absolutely seamless and efficient,” (FAA Administrator Marion) Blakey said. Sounds to me like it’s time to find a replacement for Zager and Evans at the top of our nation’s airline security apparatus…
Free webcam ‘n stuff
Circuit City has a webcam that’s free after rebate. But you have to go to a store to get it.And while you’re out of the house on the way to the electronics store, you might as well get a $9.99 oil change from Firestone and pick up a free Krispy Kreme donut.But what to read while munching on your donut and waiting for Firestone to finish your oil change? Well, there’s this free subscription to Golf Digest…
Hawaiian Island Hopping
Interisland Hawaii fares have gone up dramatically but mileage awards between the islands have not. Advantage: frequent flyer awards!
Starwood mailing airline elites with free gold status
Starwood is marketing to the mailing lists of several airline elite programs and offering those elite members Gold status. They have websites set up for the elite members of United, Northwest, American, and USAirways. The mailing contains a Starwood Gold card and interested members go to the aforementioned sites to activate their cards.
Ticketing rule changes
Keith Alexander provides a roundup of major carrier changes to their “use it or lose it” ticketing rule. Upshot: on all the majors except USAirways you can now apply the value of an unused ticket towards future travel, and you have a year in which to book that future ticket.On USAirways — which was the major carrier that introduced the older restrictive rules in the first place — you’re still hosed.The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) provides the nitty gritty details. Most of the carriers, for instance, require their passengers to call and cancel their original reservations in order to retain the value of their tickets. But Northwest Airlines and Delta Air Lines don’t. The airlines also track time differently. Northwest says the clock starts ticking on its yearlong grace period on the date of…
5,000 Bonus America West Miles
Northwest’s Fly Free Faster 3 is ending, and I got my easy 10,000 bonus miles. America West is starting the second go-round at its triple play promotion — but America West’s offer is not nearly as generous as Northwest’s: you have to book three roundtrips, have three car rentals or hotel stays credited to FlightFund, and have three additional partner transactions. That’s quite a bit for just 5,000 bonus miles. Although the title of the website that gives details says these are elite bonus miles, which is a plus, and they counted as elite miles the first time America West made this offer — but the terms and conditions of the offer don’t make it clear that the miles will actually count towards elite status. I’d like to see America West be clearer on this…
Got any extra room in your suitcase?
Ever stolen a hotel towel? Holiday Inn is offering a towel amnesty day.
