The Sheraton Damascus is being used as a prison for the country’s business elite where the government extracts payments in exchange for their freedom. This has been an ongoing use for the hotel property for the past two and a half years.
Hotel guests are told they have to “deposit US dollars into the central bank in order to help stabilise the Syrian lira, or they would not be released.”
Places are only touristy if you spend your time in touristy places. But I’m a big fan of popular attractions during shoulder season. There are fewer people – fewer tourists – but the same great things to do and see much of the time.
American Airlines will only sell basic economy fares directly, not through traditional or online travel agencies. There are some cheaper fares that they reserve to their own channels as well. But generally speaking there are two sets of fares depending where outside of American Airlines that you book.
Google has just introduced a price guarantee for airline tickets. If you buy a flight they say is at the right price, and the fare drops later, they’ll give you the difference. This should bring more attention to the generally-excellent Google Flights.
A roundup of the most important stories of the day. I keep you up to date on the most interesting writings I find on other sites – the latest news and tips.
The U.K. has set a June 2024 deadline to eliminate the ban on liquids over 100 milliliters at airport security checkpoints, with the widespread use of scanners that also mean travelers will no longer have to remove electronics from their carry on luggage.
Forward bookings must be weak. United Airlines is offering a 15% off coupon for coach travel booked by April 30 and completed by June 28. The promo code is UASKIES.
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency is proposing to require that all passengers on flights in and out of the United States provide a U.S. address; two phone numbers, and an email address – or be denied boarding.
Southwest is offering six weeks of a companion pass – bring someone with you when you travel on points or cash for just the taxes – after you take just a single trip.
Register, purchase one roundtrip or two one way flights by April 5, and then travel by May 24. Your companion pass will be valid August 15 – September 30, 2023.
Staff for the Vice President are reportedly “revolting” over “the inferior quality of lunches on Air Force Two, the vice president’s plane.”
President Biden’s staff on Air Force One receive filet mignon, and the service comes on “gold-rimmed plates, accompanied by cold beers.” In contrast, staff for Kamala Harris receive “soggy sandwiches in brown paper bags – and no booze.” Instead, expect “cold pasta salads and water.” One staffer calls it “horrible slop.”
Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel -- a topic he has covered since 2002.
Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »
