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Hilton Confirms: New Top 120,000 Points Redemption Level For Only One Hotel So Far

by Gary Leff on February 12, 2019

Feb 12 2019

Earlier I wrote about Hilton’s new highest priced award. Up until this week no hotel cost more than 95,000 points per night. That’s been the maximum since Hilton increased some of their most expensive hotels like the Conrad Koh Samui in Thailand (all stand-alone villas) from 50,000 to 95,000 during high season in 2013.

When they eliminated award charts 2 years ago we were told that hotels wouldn’t get more expensive, that the top rates in place would apply but pricing might go down.

Now with the opening of the Waldorf Astoria in the Maldives we’re seeing standard awards there pricing at 120,000 points per night.

American Airlines Appears to Be Entering a Death Spiral at New York JFK

by Gary Leff on February 12, 2019

plane model

Feb 12 2019

American today could have been a real player in New York. Instead the world’s largest airline doesn’t seem to know what to do – or if they should do anything at all – with the nation’s most important air city.

They don’t serve New York JFK – Zurich. They don’t serve Frankfurt. Or Munich. Or Amsterdam. Or Tel Aviv. Or.. Denver. And they keep cutting markets.

New Card Offers Qantas First Class Lounge Passes and 150,000 Bonus Points and Airports as Chess Pieces

by Gary Leff on February 12, 2019

airport seat

Feb 12 2019

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.

When Hilton Eliminated Award Charts They Promised Top Prices Remained 95,000 Points. Why is One Hotel Charging 120,000?

by Gary Leff on February 12, 2019

Feb 12 2019

The new Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi is open and bookable on points. And it prices at 120,000 points per night for a standard room.

We don’t yet see hotels like the Conrad Maldives, Conrad Bora Bora, or Conrad Koh Samui pricing at over 95,000 points per night. But Hilton is no longer anchored to a 95,000 point maximum. At least that is how it appears at first blush. I’ve reached out to Hilton, hoping to learn that this is some sort of mistake.

Academy Award Nominee Jessica Chastain Takes Up Flight Attendant Pay Justice on Twitter

by Gary Leff on February 11, 2019

Feb 11 2019

Actress Jessica Chastain is aghast that flight attendants aren’t ‘getting paid’ during boarding, they are working, how can this be legal she wants to know?

The Academy Award nominee isn’t alone. Several flight attendants who read this blog feel they shouldn’t have to serve predeparture beverages since they ‘aren’t getting paid’.

Use Points Advance to Lock In Current Marriott Redemption Rates Before Prices Go Up

by Gary Leff on February 11, 2019

fancy hotel

Feb 11 2019

When Marriott announced their award category changes that go into effect March 5, I noted that 346 hotels would cost more points and 37 would cost fewer.

I initially wrote that you could use points advance to lock in reservations now at the current rate even if you don’t have the points, and redeem later (after March 5 when prices go up). Several readers pointed out to me that Marriott implied in their announcement that this wasn’t the case. However I’ve re-confirmed this still works.

Hyatt Will Adjust Award Categories at One-Third of Hotels March 18th, Act Now to Save

by Gary Leff on February 11, 2019

Feb 11 2019

Hyatt has announced changes to hotel award category assignments that will go into effect March 18 at 11:01 p.m. Central time. A total of 259 hotels change category, about a third of Hyatt’s portfolio, but this is balanced with an equal number going up (130) and down (129).

You can book future stays at hotels going up in award price and lock in their current price up until March 18. If you have a future stay at a hotel that’s going down in price, Hyatt will refund the points difference to you automatically. They’ll be doing a sweep starting March 19.

Marriott’s New Champagne Vending Machine and BYO Wine on Planes

by Gary Leff on February 11, 2019

Feb 11 2019

News and notes from around the interweb: Is it snobby to bring your own wine on planes? I think when Delta serves $4 Andre in business class the answer is clearly no. I love trying new wines when I’m flying Singapore (especially) but also Qantas and other carriers in first class. When the wines are mediocre or poorly-paired I just won’t just drink. It’s always a bad idea to drink booze that a flight attendant does not serve to you. My seat opponent on a Dallas – Austin flight was once written up for bringing a to-go cup from the Admirals Club with wine in it — and refusing to give it up when called out by a flight attendant. Her reasoning: she didn’t want to waste the company’s resources. The Emir of Kuwait’s holding…

United Slams Boarding Door in Face of Big Bang Theory Actress

by Gary Leff on February 11, 2019

Feb 11 2019

Carry on bags are a challenge for airlines that are trying to depart on time. That’s become far more the case over the past 11 years since US airlines added checked bag fees (so passengers try to carry on more) and they’ve resisted adding flights (capacity discipline) so that planes are increasingly full.

It takes time to store carry on bags on the plane, but perhaps more importantly when passengers discover at the last minute that there’s no overhead bin space left it takes time to gate check their bags.

Triple Amputee Purple Heart Veteran Undergoes Invasive Pat Down at Tucson Airport

by Gary Leff on February 10, 2019

security line

Feb 10 2019

The TSA itself said there were no actual active threats in the years following 9/11. However if there were the TSA wouldn’t likely be able to stop them since they miss most of the contraband going through checkpoints.

Nonetheless because of our fears – even our imagined ones – we’ve given up our freedom to travel. We have to carry papers with us and show them to authorities on demand. We go through invasive screening. And it’s all become so normal we don’t even question it.