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New Bank Lets You Earn Miles For Saving Money – Instead of Spending Money

by Gary Leff on January 30, 2020

Jan 30 2020

I’ve been a Texas Capital Bank, N.A. customer since July 2003 when I opened my BankDirect online checking account. Through BankDirect I’ve earned hundreds of thousands of American Airlines AAdvantage® miles.

Texas Capital Bank, N.A. has now launched Bask Bank offering online savings accounts that earn American Airlines AAdvantage® miles. Many of you will earn more miles saving than you will spending whether it’s spending money on a credit card or through an online shopping portal.

Marriott’s Elimination Of Annual Elite Nights For Meetings Is Retroactive

by Gary Leff on January 30, 2020

outside marriott hotel

Jan 30 2020

I suggested in December that they’d kill the benefit entirely and then days later a memo leaked that it would end December 31, 2019.

There are two lingering issues, however. Marriott never told members about the change, and they made the change retroactive.

Delta Agent Delivers A Message Of Hope To Passengers Mourning Kobe Bryant

by Gary Leff on January 30, 2020

Jan 30 2020

A Delta Air Lines agent at New York JFK spoke to passengers waiting to board for Los Angeles shortly after learning about the death of Kobe Bryant and his daughter and the rest of the passengers on board a helicopter on Sunday.

The agent, Courtney, implored passengers to cherish the people most important to them in their lives. She told them “if there is someone you haven’t spoken to today, call them. If there is someone you haven’t reached out to in a while, call them” — and not to text, “We’ve got to pick the phone up.”

Baggage Handler Goes Bowling With Passenger Luggage

by Gary Leff on January 29, 2020

delta baggage handlers

Jan 29 2020

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.

American Adds 2nd Checked Bag Fee For South America Flights

by Gary Leff on January 29, 2020

Jan 29 2020

For tickets purchased starting January 28th, 2020 American is adding a fee for second checked bags for flights to and from South America. This applies to travel to and from Argentina, Brazil, Chila, Peru, Paraguay and Uruguay. It does not apply to Colombia, Guyana, or Ecuador.

Meanwhile customers departing on late flights from Peru, be prepared for a significant inconvenience.

American Suspends LAX – China Flights For A Month And A Half

by Gary Leff on January 29, 2020

Jan 29 2020

American Airlines has suspended is Los Angeles – Beijing and Los Angeles – Shanghai flights between February 9 and March 27. Service continues until February 9 unless there are new developments (such as the federal government ordering earlier cessation of US-China flights) and is attributed to reduction in demand for travel.

Meanwhile in Beijing…

Woman ‘Humiliated’ By United Gate Agent Who Felt Threatened By Her Breasts

by Gary Leff on January 29, 2020

Jan 29 2020

What better name could their be for a frequent traveler than Andrea Worldwide? She’s a United customer who flies “every 10 to 14 days” and earlier this month departing Denver she had a run in with one of the airline’s gate agents. She says she’s a MileagePlus elite member, a status she earns flying for business and taking regular trips to Puerto Rico to visit her boyfriend.

She felt humiliated when a male gate agent stopped her from boarding her Denver – Newark flight because her top was ‘too revealing’.

6 Reasons to Sign Up for SoFi Money’s Quick and Easy Bonus Cash

by Gary Leff on January 29, 2020

hand holding hundreds of dollars in cash

Jan 29 2020

SoFi Money will give you $25 when you sign up and deposit $100, and you can leverage this by referring friends – which gets you $25 each, and they get $25 for their deposit too. You can get up to $10,000 per year this way.

Star Alliance Reduces Lounge Access Benefit For Gold Members

by Gary Leff on January 28, 2020

Jan 28 2020

United Airlines has limited Star Alliance Gold access to lounges across much of its network. This was against Star Alliance policy. Star Alliance policy has been changed to no longer require airlines to offer contract lounge access to Gold members.

Europe Business Class For Just 35,000 Miles

by Gary Leff on January 28, 2020

american airline plane

Jan 28 2020

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.

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 »