Business Class Awards Available to Australia – For Just 90,000 Miles Roundtrip!

skyline
May 12 2018

Four years ago I covered the best uses of Virgin Atlantic miles. That was long before people started talking about amazing 120,000 mile ANA first class roundtrip awards between the US and Japan.

But did you know you can book US-Australia business class on Air New Zealand for just 90,000 miles roundtrip.. and right now there’s actually availability?

Continue Reading »

US Airlines Finally Declaring Victory, Getting Nothing, and Moving on From Fight Against Gulf Carriers

May 12 2018

For three years Delta, United and American have been complaining that despite being heavily subsidized themselves, and protected from foreign competition in the U.S. market, that it’s not fair that they should have to compete against Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar.

The US airlines finally lost. But the Gulf carriers gave them a way to save face and end the charade.

Continue Reading »

Marriott Thinks They Can Out-Airbnb Airbnb Even Though Their CEO’s Never Tried One

outside marriott hotel
May 11 2018

Arne Sorenson thinks Marriott can out-Airbnb Airbnb by offering consistency, products, and service. His daughter tried an Airbnb once and assures him there’s nothing to worry about there.

If this is a growing piece of the market, Marriott needs to be in it. And they think that they can leverage their loyalty program to make it more attractive to customers.

Continue Reading »

Emirates Says No to Merger With Etihad, Is The Ruling Family of Dubai Telling the Truth?

people boarding from tarmac
May 11 2018

Etihad was an airline that started when Gulf Air eliminated its Abu Dhabi hub and the ruling Al Nahyan family sought to preserve and grow the capital of the UAE as a center of aviation.

But cash and ambition was never going to be enough to turn around carriers like Alitalia and air berlin. They were basket cases. And the ruling Al Nahyans finally decided to stop lighting money on fire as the price of energy fell. They axed the CEO of their airline who, ironically, they had poached in the first place from Gulf Air.

Continue Reading »

Yours is a Very Bad Hotel — or At Least You Have a Very Bad Desk Clerk

photo of man
May 11 2018

Probably the most famous hotel complaint ever is the 2001 Powerpoint Yours is a Very Bad Hotel created by Tom Farmer and Shane Atchison from Seattle who showed up at what was then the Doubletree in Houston. Though they had guaranteed reservations they were being walked and the desk clerk couldn’t have cared less.

I was reminded of that complaint when I saw this video of a front desk clerk losing it at the Country Inn & Suites in Newport News, Virginia last week.

Continue Reading »