CrankyFlier gives a gold star to a new Air Canada program where passengers can pay in advance with their ticket to have weather-related irregular operations treated the same as events within the airline’s control — entitled to transportation on other carriers, hotels and meals, etc. While it’s certainly creative on Air Canada’s part, I wouldn’t call it the ‘win-win’ that Cranky does (except in the limited way that any voluntary market transaction is win-win for the participants, since each enters in it only to the extent that they perceive themselves as better off). Air Canada is selling insurance not against catastrophic losses but against relatively low cost risks. Think extended warranties at Best Buy — only electronics warranties are likely easier to collect on than the alternative transportation that Air Canada is offering. First, in…
General
Category Archives for General.
Free Marriott Gold Status
Update… The instant Marriott Gold status offer does appear to work. I should add that I fully expect Marriott to eventually audit the signups with this offer. So unclear how long the status will last for those not really eligible. Although these audits are rarely perfect, after all folks sign up with different addresses for different accounts (eg business, home)… data matches aren’t perfect… names are written slightly differently (with middle name, first name as nick name, etc). So some will probably sneak through for the full duration of the offer. Those looking to boost their odds of keeping status might want to use a non-US address, since the Flying Blue program isn’t usually open to US residents and Marriott presumbly knows that.
This May Break Heathrow’s String of Bad Luck (Incompetence)
Naomi Campbell has been arrested at Heathrow’s Terminal 5. Just the sort of seminal event that may be an inflection point for the beleaguered new terminal. Supermodel Naomi Campbell has been arrested at Heathrow Airport’s Terminal 5 for allegedly spitting at a police officer, Sky News television reported Thursday… …In 2000, Campbell pleaded guilty in Toronto to an assault charge for beating an assistant while making a film in Canada in 1998. Under an agreement with prosecutors, Campbell expressed remorse and was released without punishment or a criminal record. In January 2007, Campbell pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault for throwing her mobile phone at her maid in a dispute over a missing pair of jeans. So it seems that now T5 is ‘just like every place else.’ (Hat tip Dan.)
The Italians are More Efficient Than the Brits!#?$?
Via Online Travel Review, Heathrow is now so backed up with lost luggage — they can’t handle any more — that they’re shipping bags en masse to Milan and hope to sort out the mess over there. I’m not touching Terminal 5 next week, but I am transiting Heathrow with BA. Egads.
ATA Ceases Operations
Via Joe Sharkey, ATA has ceased operations. I’m fortunate never to have had to fly the airline. And they withdrew from my home market some months back anyway. But the disruption is never helpful. I pass this along only because it may be important for some readers, one person emailed me that they only learned about Aloha’s demise from this site and they had travel booked in three weeks. Fortunately new intra-island fares remain not all that expensive, and they were able to purchase new ticket… Good luck to all those booked on ATA, and may the carrier rest in peace.
Lufthansa First Class – Beijing to Frankfurt
Beijing, China (PEK) to Frankfurt, Germany (FRA) 11:25 am Lufthansa 0721, Boeing 747, First Class, Seats 81C, 81A Scheduled Flight time: 10h 10m This was my best Lufthansa flight out of my four long-haul First Class segments – best food, best service, I didn’t sleep on the flight but the ten hours just flew by. We had a 10 minute departure delay which the captain came on to tell us “was not because of the new terminal.” Rather, a checked-in passenger didn’t board and they had to offload bags. Load in F was 5/16, and this time we had a wonderful crew eager to provide service and quick with every request. In fact, they were happy to adjust the speed of each course or provide things whenever you wished. The man seated in row 82 took…
Instant Gold Status from Marriott?
Marriott is sending Air France-KLM Flying Blue elite members an offer to sign up for a new Marriott Rewards account with instant gold status. The offer includes triple Flying Blue miles through June 30. Gold status should last for the first program year of enrollment. Signing up through this offer will generate an account number right away, but the actual signup will that 3-5 days to process, and it won’t be possible to create an online account until that’s completed. So perhaps there is a process in place for checking Flying Blue accounts against elite status, although this isn’t clear, so it remains to be seen whether anyone can use the link to sign up with Gold status. As they say, “your mileage may vary.”
Aloha Airlines Ceases Operations
Well that was quick, they just went back in bankruptcy on March 20th. Joe Sharkey points to United’s statement about their partner’s collapse. For customers who are flying on a United ticket, United will rebook them on an alternate flight where space is available, for no additional charge. For customers traveling on an Aloha ticket, United is offering discounted one-way fares through the end of April that will make it easier for them to return home.United will continue to honor reservations that AlohaPass frequent flier members have on a United flight. United will refund frequent flier miles at no additional charge to United Mileage Plus members who have an award ticket reservation on an Aloha flight. Apparently Aloha’s cargo operation remains profitable and will continue operation, being auctioned off in April. Update: Hawaiian is making…
Delta Double Elite Qualifying Miles
Delta is offering double Medallion Qualification Miles for Delta-coded flights booked at delta.com between March 31 and April 30, for travel through June 30, 2008. Registration required. With three months to fly under this offer, (the next level of) elite status will be a gimme for many. With just 75,000 qualifying miles for top tier, and with elite qualifying miles available to high spenders on both the personal and small business co-branded American Express card, Delta right now is the easiest top tier status to obtain among major US carriers. On the one hand, their program has gotten increasingly unfriendly. I’ve long said the only reason to focus on Delta is if you’re living in Atlanta and more or less captive. But top tier elites get many of the unfriendly fees waives (such as award…
Accessory for Concealing Cash While Traveling
I’ve been known to wear a discrete money belt when traveling, a regular belt with a zipper lining on the inside that lets me conceal perhaps 15 bills. But if you really want to be sure that no one takes your stash of cash, well, this may be the most brilliant (and truly frightening) invention ever. Dirty underwear, complete with skid marks, to hide you funds. I’m truly speechless, and yet in awe.
