This is an open thread, I would love to hear what you’re thinking.
- What have your travels been like this week?
- What are you wondering, or what would you like to know?
- Booked any great awards?
- Frustrated with your airline or hotel program?
- How’s your team doing?
The comments are yours to do with as you wish, please express yourself, and I may drop in here or there with answers or use your suggestions as a jumping-off point for posts.
Hope you’re making it through the week!
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I’ll start: US lost my car seat on a weekend trip! 🙂 And I was very disappointed to see the DCA north pier 5 guys closed for remodeling.
got 4 award tickets non stop bellingham honolulu on AS for 25k RT each and 5 usd each with BA AVIOS during spring break 2015 and those avios were acquired with 30% bonus transfer from amex platinum
then interisland flights 5k each with aa miles…
sweet!!!
Older daughter appears to be coming down with something today, so we are probably going to have to cancel tomorrow’s road trip to Sonoma County & the Russian River. Bummer. But I’ve been catching up on my travel blog writing while she naps it off, so that is something good from bad.
@AWTY – sorry to hear about the car seat loss. Never lost one yet, but there is a first time for everything. How did US handle it?
4:15 pm US Airways flight from PHL-BOS cancelled last week due to Hurricane Arthur. Got on next flight an hour later thanks to Priority Standby which was 2 hours late as well. Was going to miss my 7:55 pm JetBlue flight from BOS-BUF but that was over 2 hours late as well meaning I would make it and didn’t have to buy another JetBlue BOS-BUF flight on the day. Just found an email from JetBlue apologizing for their delay with a $50 credit. A win-win!!
This week: Got two Delta business class tickets for one from JFK to LAS for later in August using my Delta AmEx annual 2 for 1 e-coupon. Reminds me why I have the card.
For me, the game is to stay Diamond Medallion (another reason I have the card for all those bonus MQMs), it’s really not just about points – it’s about my upgrades. (My idea of a vacation, mostly, does not involve getting on an airplane. I use my points to fly my family and friends to visit me in New York.) The upgrade game still works well for me on domestic flights, but I wonder if I’m playing the game right for my international flights. Truth is, I’m okay with being in premium economy most of the time internationally, but it’s off the chart worse than it used to be with respect to upgrades for all the Middle East and Asian flights I do. I just can’t stomach playing roulette with a Delta M-fare hoping that I can use an upgrade certificate to get into business class – so premium economy it is. And my experience with KLM (a Delta partner, really???) is that they treat Delta Diamond Medallions like chopped liver (when it comes to upgrades). I fly A LOT for business (I joke that I’m really happy that they got George Clooney to play me), but on international trips, it’s just not the same. Is there a better strategy out there for someone like me???
I’ve been trying to find good Hyatt deals for Seoul in November, but I’m getting frustrated with that. The flash sales are usually good only for about 60 days away, and the new BRG process has been very annoying! The old one worked better in that you knew within 30 minutes whether you got it or not, roughly.
I’m also trying to get Hyatt Diamond via this trip, and the CapitalOne IHG Visa is very weird in that it requires no credit inquiries within 6 months of application (Canadian version). First time I’ve seen this before…
Booked a AA first award for a half a day in HKG, most will say its pretty crazy, but I want to check out CX F and JAL F. Final routing is ORD-HKG(CX F)-HKG-NRT(CX J)-NRT-LAX(JAL F)-LAX-PHX-MKE (US F). Anyone have ideas what to do in HKG from 8pm till 10am the next morning? What will be my lougne access in HKG. With my JAL F ticket will it just be the WING J lounge.
Overwhelming travel week. Realized that my strategy to move away from delta might leave us w no status on all airlines next year – maybe silver delta by default, but just shy on US and Jet Blue – even w the mosaic match. Less travel for work is the root cause of this miscalculation!
That, and frustrated trying to figure out best strategy to get to Europe in October w London as the goal w a stopover somewhere else…either expensive or way too complicated w points.
Otherwise, the silver lining is looking….
But I do love the marriott retweet for points!
Any thoughts on the best way to get from seattle to athens, greece on miles? much appreciated.
I’m trying to befriend a US airways ticketing agent at SFO to give me a more favorable award routing. Wondering if they can issue award tickets at the airport ticketing office.
I am looking for a last minute outdoor type family award trip. I was originally think Switzerland, but am now thinking Canada. Does anyone have any recommendations for a beautiful trip in Canada? ideally there is also a nice hotel bookable with points.
I used rocket miles for the first time this week because I needed a hotel close to a family event and there were not any good chains there. The hotel worked out very well and although the miles haven’t posted yet I received emails from rocketmiles stating how to get that in motion and I have faith it will come through.
@Robbie Plafker – it could conceivably be done, everything is manual
@samuel you need to start with the miles you have, there can be good availability on seattle – paris with air france miles
I’m waiting on the calendar to progress so I can book my trip to Berlin next summer and clean out my Skymiles account. BWI-XXX-AMS-TXL-CDG-XXX-BWI, or so I hope.
@samuel – SEA-PHL-ATH on US metal, SEA-FRA-ATH with LH strike me as the logical routings, no idea on availability. Or fly south and try out of LAX/SFO?
Three day beach weekend starting tomorrow courtesy of Hyatt cat 1-4 anniversary night certificates. Not a bad use considering high season prices.
@jeremy – you should have access to the first class side of the wing, don’t have good OVERNIGHT suggestions of things to do in hong kong, can you extend the trip a day? 🙂
@Rob Jaffe you should be selecting the confirmed international upgrades that Delta introduced as your choice benefit. personally i would prefer American Executive Platinum if their New York service worked for you, given the 8 confirmed upgrades from any fare, and great domestic upgrades but Delta is getting better with international upgrades for diamonds. I hate Delta’s JFK-LAX/SFO/SEA upgrade policies and wouldn’t stick with Delta at all as a JFK flyer if I was flying non-stop to the Coasts.
@Jim good on ya!
@Are we there yet? – The Five Guys has been closed WAY TOO LONG, it was supposed to be open already! I genuinely don’t know the point of the remodel, it was perfectly functional before.
Met a really nice guy with great advice at the omelette station at andaz maui today :-). I value my hyatt points more than any other and am paying for the amenities on this trip with my hyatt card as I want 3x not the 2.14 with my sapphire. Based on yesterdays post I am making the right move right?
After returning Wednesday from our former hometown, Chicago, we decided it is a great vacation destination. Parks, trees, flowers, and fountains abound. The city has some of the finest museums. Restaurants are great fun and the prices everywhere are reasonable.
Could have taken $200 offers both directions on UA. Both flights grossly overbooked.
Scored points and dollars Conrad in Singapore. Great deal and location. I don’t like the Orchard Road craziness or would have had many options. Have club room at Hong Kong Hyatt and HKG Radisson on return. Was a great booking week. All flights J on CX. Nice! And that was my week.
@Jeremy – I would just look for a great restaurant for dinner and call it quits. Anyone have a suggestion near HKG? I will need the same in December.
About to take award holy grail trip : Qantas A380 in F: I’m ridiculously excited (LAX-SYD / MEL-LAX)
@michael – awesome…! i’ve got SYD-LAX booked for later in the year too.
@David Dolnick – since you’d probably transfer the chase points to hyatt, i suppose i agree..! 🙂 But with your Hyatt balance you might want to diversify, at least i would, hence the preference for chase.. Best, Gary
@jen – I swear by mountain sober travel
@gary – staying at both park hyatt’s (Sydney and Melbourne), the former on 22k points and the latter for 170AUS (recent Asia sale), so very happy and going to splurge on Tetsuya and Quay in Sydney, but do you have any Melbourne restaurant recs
Currently have a trip planned that includes 3 days in Phuket, but Singapore has been on my mind lately for some reason. Obviously 2 very different locations, but I wanted to know if you think 3 days is enough to get a good feel for Singapore and hit up the main spots? Also, the ticket is a pre-devaluation UA award ticket, I know SQ doesn’t show on United.com anymore, but is this still bookable if I call in? I found flights on aeroplan that work out well.
Gary,
I am trying to book United economy saver award from IST to any United hub preferable on the east coast or midwest on the 30th or 31st…
Cant find anything even on ANA tool… Any suggestions?
@naif – did you look at the new IST-BOS route on Turkish ? then should easily be able to get somewhere (or a United hub)…cheers
Is there a listing of airline award programs that offer connecting flights from secondary cities that are not covered by online routes? For instance, flying STL-FRA on LH, or TYS-NRT on SQ.
Even with Global Entry, I got secondaried at YOW US preclearance today because the officer thought I travel to the US too often. (Unlike most other Canadian and US airports I’ve been to, at YOW, despite having a Global Entry receipt, they still usually ask the same questions as they do to people without GE, and evidently look up your travel history too).
I would have at least liked to have been thanked for my contribution of tens of thousands of dollars to the US economy.
@CP@YOW…
That’s frustrating. If you don’t travel quite a bit, why in hell would you bother to have Global Entry and/or NEXUS?
Travel is an adventure. My agent booked an int’l ticket under my wife’s maiden name, which of course does not match her passport. So, no ticket and miles spent. We’re out of the US now, so hopefully we can get BA to change it.
Flying United business class to Europe on an Aeroplan award. Positioning flight is on AA. If for some reason I can’t get to EWR in time, would I be able to pay a miles redeposit fee right before departure?
I’m switching from an 100+ segment a year job to a 0 segment/year job: is the status game still worth playing on my own dime? is the miles game still worth playing?
Gary, it appears Pres.Obama shares your opinion as to good BBQ in Austin, stopping at Franklin BBQ for $300 worth of grub to take on Air Force One back to DC.
Gary, when were you able to book your c+p at the PH Maldives for your last spring trip? We stayed at the Conrad this past April and are planning a returb trip for next April at the PH. Thanks.
@Derek turkish seems to have blocked all their US flights for United members… They only release space for flights that are 4-5 months in future
Very annoyed with Hilton HHonors. Needed 3 nights in Boston. Checked on the website and it was pricing out at 40,000 points a night. 120,000 points total. $300 a night so .75 cents a point. With the new HHonors, that seemed fine! Was 10,000 points short so I began using my Hilton Surpass Amex very aggressively… even for non-bonused spend. At 3 HH points per dollar and .75 cents a point, it seemed justifiable.
My points post to my account and I go to book the nights… the price has been increased to 60,000 points per night! There are still standard rooms available in the hotel. I checked the award chart and it says 30,000 to 60,000 points per night… what does that mean? I definitely feel like in Peanuts when the football is pulled up just when I go to kick it. Totally giving up on Hilton HHonors now and putting my credit card in a sock drawer. I’ll redeem for 2 nights at 60,000 each just to get rid of the points even though that’s “only” 0.5 cents each. Basically all that spend I thought was earning 2.25% was only earning 1.5% cashback in the end. It just goes to show why cash is king and hotel points with an unreliable partner can be a folly. Fidelity Amex > Hilton HHonors Amex. I mean, seriously, is Hilton taking its cues from the central bank of Venezuela???
I recently relocated from NYC to London for work (side note: blessing and a curse for points – Air Passenger Duty is a kick in the you-know-what, but availability is MUCH better than the US). I’m headed back to NYC for a wedding and currently booked on AA economy 77W RT to save $ and points. Trying to rationalize upgrading to BA F on the return. Can you talk some “sense” into me? I have experienced it before, but oh the Grand Siècle!
Any updates on loading into Bluebird, since I can’t buy Vanilla Reload cards with a credit card?
I can use the Visa Gift-debit cards to pay Federal Estimated taxed for a small fee though.
Trigger Alert! This is a first world issue. I am not complaining, it is just the nature of the work I do.
Back in June we confirmed a meeting in France for the week of 12 July – the Project Manager told me to book the flight (company policy is Business Class for international travel). I get a really sweet deal – DL codeshare AF non-stop IAH-CDG for $6200 – booked in discounted First (same price as discounted business). Two weeks later, the client moves the meeting back a week.
It seems that it was a special deal – because the difference in new fare and change penalty came to over $3100. I get approval and rebook.
Yesterday at about 10 AM, another client wants a meeting in the wilds of China this coming Monday. I look to see what could be done – another $4000, with other folks tickets running comparable costs ($12000 to $15000). We decide to push back to the week after the meeting in France.
Don not let anyone even try to imply that business travel is “fun”.
I forgot to mention that when I had to do the initial rebook, I had to drop back to Business Class, because the same seat was another $2000.
So I fly to France on a Sunday, back on Friday, then off to China 2 days after the return.
Going to Thailand and Vietnam soon. Where would you choose to burn two award nights ? I have reservations for Park Hyatt Saigon now.
I was traveling with a group yesterday and some members had TSA PreCheck and some didn’t. At DFW an agent was at the security entrance point saying people traveling in a group should identify themselves. We didn’t, because we thought that then everyone would be sent to the slow line to go through the dreary process together. But what is the reason – would we all be sent to the slow line or the fast line, or would they have just clustered us into channels inside each process differently?
I leave on my first international trip tomorrow for a week and I can’t help but me pretty nervous/anxious/excited. Does you or anyone have any recommendations on how to make this (mostly nervousness) subside? Does reading a book or writing down your experiences as you go help?
@FJ – I booked cash and points right after the option went live in January, I do not think the property had tightened up on availability for that yet
@RDCROWE sure should be able to
@Naif – try United’s own website and the Aeroplan sites as those will offer more connecting ideas than ANA does
@Patrick – SQ is still bookable if you call, you need to see availability on offer from the ANA or Aeroplan sites (not the Singapore site). And I think 3 days in Singapore is plenty.