LEAKED: New Marriott Rewards Terms and Conditions

by Gary Leff

hotel room
Aug 11 2018

Since announcing the new Marriott program in April there’s been inconsistent information about breakfast, about lounge access, and about redemptions for Starwood properties that previously charged double points compared to the standard award chart.

They haven’t been ready for prime time for instance they haven’t shared what would happen with travel packages redeemed prior to the start of the new program but where award certificates hadn’t yet been used for a reservation. And they hadn’t even published the terms and conditions for the new program. They don’t plan to share those things until the program launch on August 18.

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Here’s How Marriott Travel Packages Will Work in the New Program

by Gary Leff

outside marriott hotel
Aug 11 2018

Existing travel packages have been an outstanding questions. Members who redeem for a travel package, transfer points to miles, and hold onto the hotel stay certificate to use later have wondered ‘since Marriott’s award charts are changing, and my certificates are for a specific redemption category, what’s going to happen? what hotels will I be able to use them for?’

Marriott is sharing that travel packages are going to be adjusted so that they will be used on ‘similarly valued’ hotel categories.

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Watch: TSA Agent Grab a Smoking Bag at Security Checkpoint

by Gary Leff

smoking bag tsa
Aug 11 2018

On July 20 at the Savannah-Hilton Head airport the battery of an e-cigarette malfunctioned. TSA has just released video of the incident, because this happened, no one was hurt, and they didn’t even shut down the airport.

You can see the bag smoking once it’s gone through the x-ray. Initially the TSA screener saunters over, picks up the bag, and walks off. You can then see him on another camera speeding up.

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Ground Worker Stole and Crashed an Alaska Airlines Regional Plane Last Night

by Gary Leff

alaska airlines plane
Aug 11 2018

Last night a ground worker stole a Bombardier Q400 at Seattle Tacoma airport belonging to Alaska Airlines wholly-owned regional carrier Horizon Air. While much of the initial reporting suggested the plane was stolen by a mechanic, it was a 29 year old Horizon Air ground service agent.

The plane (N449QX) was taken from maintenance around 8 p.m. local time in Seattle and crashed on Ketron Island about an hour later.

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Existing Marriott Travel Package Awards: Unavailable for a Month, Uncertain After That

by Gary Leff

outside marriott hotel
Aug 10 2018

Marriott is launching a new program August 18th which will be the same for all of Marriott Rewards, Starwood Preferred Guest, and Ritz-Carlton Rewards.

Accessing frequent guest accounts, and even making reservations, is expected to be offline most of that day. In addition Marriott Rewards and Ritz-Carlton Rewards accounts may be unavailable during overnight hours between now and the 18th. These overnight outages shouldn’t affect Starwood accounts.

Starting August 18th though you won’t be able to use previous travel package redemptions for a month.

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Mother Arrested in Dubai for ‘Drinking Glass of Wine on Emirates Flights’. True?

by Gary Leff

private airplane bar
Aug 10 2018

A 44 year old woman and mother of three arrived in Dubai off an Emirates flight on July 13. She learned her single entry visa, already used, was not valid for re-entry into the UAE.

It’s not clear why the woman wasn’t eligible for a new visa on arrival, however even if she was apparently the exchange became testy. She was with her four year old. She was asked whether she had been drinking (she was tested and came up 0.04. She acknowledged drinking a glass of wine on her Emirates flight.

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United Airlines Sued by the Federal Government For Failing to Stop Pilot’s Sexual Harassment

by Gary Leff

airplanes docked on tarmac
Aug 10 2018

The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has announced a lawsuit against United Airlines for failing to discipline a pilot they say was harassing a flight attendant.

The government alleges this pilot “frequently posted sexually explicit images of a United flight attendant to various websites… referencing the airline’s tagline ‘Fly the Friendly Skies.” They argue United was aware of the harassment “but took no responsibility to put a stop to it.” Make no mistake these were x-rated photos.

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