Do an American AAdvantage Status Challenge Now Before They Raise the Requirements

american airlines planes
Jan 06 2019

For a long time American AAdvantage has offered status ‘challenges’ that do not require you to already have status with another airline and that you pay for. These allow you to earn elite status more quickly with travel over a compressed period of time.

American started requiring minimum spend as part of these challenges, and is expected to increase the spend required — so if you’re interested in a status challenge you may want to request it sooner than later.

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Reward Night Prices Changing at 700 IHG Rewards Club Hotels in 8 Days

ic hanoi
Jan 06 2019

IHG has not communicated this to members, so they aren’t even giving us the 8 days notice, members have discovered this on our own. If there are any hotels going up in price you want to book, get on it since if you book future stays prior to January 14th you can do so at the lower pricing. What’s more, consider making speculative bookings, since most redemptions are cancellable.

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Is United in the Process of Eliminating Award Charts?

flight chart
Jan 05 2019

Delta SkyMiles eliminated award charts. They charge you whatever they happen to want to charge you for a flight on a given day. SkyMiles aren’t like money, you can’t spend them anywhere you want (say for travel on American). It’s a company town, SkyMiles are their scrip, and they make no promises about what you should expect to get for your points in the future with a published price list.

A year and a half ago United made fun of the idea. However they’ve taken down the fulll .pdf award chart, and the interactive price tool doesn’t even display premium economy award prices at all.

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During Government Shutdown Global Entry Interviews are Cancelled, No One is Protecting Data Privacy

passport getting stamped
Jan 05 2019

During the government shutdown Global Entry enrollment centers are generally closed. All that’s on the website is that the website isn’t being updated. Helpful.

However several readers have gotten emails and even personal phone calls letting them know their appointment cannot be honored. And apparently little regard is being paid to privacy.

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