Delta SkyMiles: Europe Business Class For Just 98,000 Miles Roundtrip

by Gary Leff

first class seats
Nov 13 2019

Delta is running a flash sale on SkyMiles redemptions for business class trips to Europe. Book by November 14 for roundtrip travel December 24, 2019 through April 18, 2020.

Most Delta flash sales are for coach travel. It’s nice to see the occasional business class offer, even in off-peak periods. You’re likely only to find availability when prices would otherwise be low. However 98,000 miles roundtrip is a good deal – especially for use of SkyMiles. If you need to top off a Delta account, Membership Rewards points generally transfer instantly.

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Aeroflot Confiscated a Passenger’s Miles Because His Cat Was Too Fat

by Gary Leff

Nov 12 2019

Aeroflot Bonus has confiscated the miles from a member whose cat was discovered to be overweight.

The passenger had a Moscow connection enroute between Latvia and Far Eastern Vladivostok. He registered his cat as a pet in cabin, but his cat was too large so he actually showed a different cat at the check-in desk. It cost him his 400,000 mile balance.

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My Credit Card Spending Priorities for 2020

by Gary Leff

Nov 12 2019

The biggest return on credit card spending is earning a card’s initial bonus. After that it’s either benefits that may be earned at specific thresholds on a card, or earning more than one mile per dollar on specific categories of spending. For me it’s about earning the elite benefits I care about, and some special perks on top that let me travel with my family more than I otherwise would.

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American Airlines Passengers Booked on Malaysia Airlines Codeshares Need to Change Their Itineraries

by Gary Leff

malaysia airlines
Nov 12 2019

The FAA has downgraded Malaysia’s air safety rating. This is a judgment about the government’s regulatory operation, and not about any Malaysian airline.

However the ‘category 2’ rating given means that Malaysia-based airlines cannot start new U.S. service or add to existing service. It also means that US airlines cannot codeshare with them.

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American Airlines Has a New Cost Saving Approach to Bump Vouchers When They Oversell Flights

by Gary Leff

airline ticket
Nov 12 2019

Back in the spring American Airlines started soliciting volunteers in advance to be bumped off of oversold flights, asking what the lowest amount each would take in travel vouchers in exchange for traveling on another flight.

Now they’ve taken things a step farther keeping denied boarding compensation amounts secret, even in announcements at the gate.

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Hyatt In Advanced Talks To Buy Several Kimpton Hotels

by Gary Leff

Nov 11 2019

They’ve tried to grow through strategic partnerships with MGM and SLH hotels, and through acquisitions such as Two Roads Hospitality which has given them Alila, Destination Hotels, Joie de Vivre and Thompson Hotels (as well as the nascent tommie brand).

Hyatt has actually tried and failed at other acquisitions. They were in the running for Starwood, probably even offering more money than Marriott, but their complicated stock structure (the Pritzker family retains outsized control) got in the way. Hyatt tried at the last minute to acquire NH Hotels but that door was already shut. They were also a bidder for Kimpton, but IHG beat them out by $100 million. (Hyatt was right not to overpay the way IHG did.)

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