Sep
20
2024
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.
United Finally Kills Million Miler Status Loophole [Roundup]
New Hotel Status Match Offer, Your Premium Rewards Credit Card Is Enough For Top Tier
Sep
20
2024
GHA Discovery is the loyalty program across 40 hotel brands and over 800 properties such as Viceroy, Pan Pacific, Outrigger, Kempinski, NH Hotels, Marco Polo, Anantara and Capella.
They’re just wrapping up one of the boldest earning promotions I’ve ever seen offering up to a 94% rebate on stays (excluding taxes and fees). They’ve been adding elite benefits like breakfast at several brands since the program’s relaunch three years ago. And they now have an exceptionally broad status match campaign.
DOT Investigates SkyMiles: Delta’s ‘Free Benefits’ Claim Faces Backlash
Sep
19
2024
Delta’s President views SkyMiles as a ‘giveaway program’ rather than something his customers invest in and can expect a return from. So it’s no surprise that Delta can charge more than 4 times as many miles for the same Delta seat that their partners will charge to their own customers. The Vice President running SkyMiles even admits they’re not trying to compete over offering value to customers.
All Passengers Departing Beirut Are Now Banned From Traveling With Pagers, Walkie Talkies
Sep
19
2024
Lebanon’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation has banned passengers departing from Beirut from traveling with walkie talkies and pagers – either with them into the cabin, or in checked luggage. I fully expect calls to broaden the ban put in place by Lebanon – to electronics broadly, and even wifi, out of fear that a connected device could be ordered to detonate.
American Airlines Gate Agent Gets Physical With Passenger, Grabbing At Her Phone In Heated Boarding Dispute
Sep
19
2024
A confrontation took place between an American Airlines passenger and gate agent in Miami, with the passenger walking down the jetbridge without being given permission to board and – it seems – the employee grabbing at the woman’s phone (she was filming the interaction) and grabbing her.
JetBlue Will Introduce Airport Lounges And New Premium Credit Card
Sep
19
2024
Six months ago I wrote that JetBlue would open lounges at New York JFK and Boston Logan airports. The carrier pushed back on this – in June the airline said that lounges were too expensive and not profitable – but today they’ve announced it.
Alien Intrigue: Ex-General And National Security Advisor Hints at Non-Human Visitors [Roundup]
Sep
19
2024
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.
Alaska And Hawaiian Will Allow Miles Transfers This Month, Status Matches This Year
Sep
18
2024
With the deal for Alaska Airlines to buy Hawaiian Airlines ,now done, they’re beginning to move forward on integrating the two carriers.
Avis And Budget’s Hidden Fees Exposed In New Lawsuit: The Dirty Secret Of Rental Car Pricing
Sep
18
2024
Consumer group Travelers United has sued Avis Budget Group under the Washington, D.C. Consumer Protection Procedures Act for egregious junk fees charged on top of advertised rental car prices, characterizing the practice as “bait and switch” and “drip pricing.”
Doctor Gives Up Lie-Flat Seat to Save American Airlines Flight—Gets Ignored and Exiled to Coach
Sep
18
2024
Dr. Erin Nance, a New York-based orthopedic hand surgeon, and founder of a social media platform for women dealing with chronic health issues, flew American Airlines in business class to Europe. She stepped in and gave up her lie flat seat to save the flight from having to divert to Canada. And now the airline is pretending they don’t know who she is when she’s asking about a make-good on her ticket.
