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.
I was the first person to report over the summer that Chase would be expanding their 5/24 rule. Chase doesn’t approve most applicants for their cards who have opened 5 or more new credit card accounts in the previous 24 months. This is too blunt of an instrument.
American Airlines is introducing their premium Airbus A321T service to Los Angeles – Boston twice a day starting April 2.
The plane offers a first class cabin with seats similar to their Boeing 777-300ER business class, in a 1-1 configuration meaning that every seat is both a window and an aisle seat. Customers in business class get a flat bed, in a 2-2 configuration.
Hyatt has launched their partnership with Small Luxury Hotels of the World, offering points-earning, elite stay credit and redemption at some SLH member hotels. Along with that comes a new more expensive redemption category 8.
At this point only 54 hotels are participating — nearly all in Europe — though Hyatt says “we expect for more SLH properties to join the program in the coming months.”
Calling out a 5 year old for her name just isn’t appropriate. I’m going to take an unpopular position here though. I’m going to say that the mother did her child a disserving naming her Abcde, because it is completely foreseeable that the girl is going to draw unwanted attention for her name throughout her childhood.
We can and should criticize this Southwest agent, but what the kids she’ll go to school with? Or am I completely off base?
The United Cargo website has historically been the source of all sorts of gems. It used to be that it would list the ‘real reason’ for flight delays. United.com might show you were delayed for weather, but the cargo site would say it was actually lack of crew.
Now there’s another new gem from that website — full, downloadable United Airlines schedules.
IHG Rewards Club is offering 5000 points for sharing a photo of yourself on Twitter or Instagram. It’s supposed to be ‘at home’ or ‘at an IHG hotel’. This is only open to the first 10,000 people who do it.
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.
There may be a very good reason that the UnitedSM Explorer Card has its best-ever public signup offer.
The airline’s financials suggest stagnation in MileagePlus’ growth. I believe they’ve largely been flat outside of revenue from Chase for Ultimate Rewards points transfers.
With China Southern leaving the SkyTeam alliance next year American Airlines — which owns a $200 million stake in the Chinese carrier — will be expanding its codesharing relationship next year. Along with that will come reciprocal mileage-earning and redemption and reciprocal lounge access.
Ultimately this will be a huge net add for AAdvantage members looking to travel to Asia, unless dominoes fall further and eventually push Cathay Pacific out of oneworld. That would not be a worthwhile tradeoff.
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 »
