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Double Dip: Earn Hyatt Points and American Miles on Hyatt Place/Hyatt House Stays

by Gary Leff on February 23, 2018

japanese style room

Feb 23 2018

When hotels began their loyalty programs a lot more attention was paid to airline programs. Guests were regularly given the choice to each points with the hotel’s program or earn airline miles. Hilton made their name with the ‘double dip’ giving you both points and miles, you didn’t have to choose. Hotel programs have all grown up, and double dipping (earning styles) go away April 1.

Hyatt though is offering its own double dip with American AAdvantage through June 30.

Good American Business Class Award Space to South America for 4, Book Now

by Gary Leff on February 23, 2018

book flight chart

Feb 23 2018

Through July 4 and then starting again August 7 and ending December 6 there’s great availability for four passengers in business class on American’s New York JFK – Rio de Janeiro flight.

Not quite as good but there’s availability for four passengers in business class New York JFK – Sao Paulo as well, and a bit better for two passengers.

American Airlines Employee Podcast: How They Choose Planes and Routes

by Gary Leff on February 23, 2018

outside airport

Feb 23 2018

The latest American Airlines “Tell Me Why” podcast for employees explains how they choose aircraft for routes, where to fly to, and why they’ve scaled back so many destinations from New York.

Chinese Travel Conglomerate Anbang Taken Over By Government, HNA Group Teetering

by Gary Leff on February 23, 2018

waldorf

Feb 23 2018

There’s little transparency in large Chinese conglomerates. They’re often layers of companies with unclear ownership and difficult to verify financials. Their leadership is often politically well-connected.

At the same time regulation of these entities is unclear as well. When the Chinese government decides to take an interest in the operation and systemic risks posed by these companies which rapidly expand through acquisitions both domestically and around the world, it’s not always clear whether it’s because of regulatory violations (or explicit as to which ones) or a signal of internal power struggles inside the government — whose faction is in and whose is out?

American Airlines is Changing How Their Safety Video Ends

by Gary Leff on February 22, 2018

american airlines flight attendant

Feb 22 2018

Over time the American Airlines video will take on less importance on domestic flights. That’s because the new standard domestic configuration does not include seat back video or drop down screens in the cabin either.

However in the meantime the airline has made a minor tweak to the way the video plays on overhead screens, and in March the change will roll out to those aircraft with seat back monitors.

Europeans Can Buy Business Class, Fly First Instead

by Gary Leff on February 22, 2018

airline bed

Feb 22 2018

British Airways is back with their buy business, fly first promotion.

British Airways business class isn’t a very good product so if you can get into first you want to.

British Airways Tells Quadriplegic Teen With Broken Wheel Chair to Pay a Porter For Help

by Gary Leff on February 22, 2018

asian restaurants

Feb 22 2018

A father and daughter were traveling from Toronto to London. The 14 year old girl is quadriplegic and has cerebral palsy. They had gone to Canada to watch ice hockey after her deep brain stimulation treatments.

At the airport staff dropped her wheelchair and broke it. Here’s British Airways’ response.

BUSINESS CLASS Fare Alert: New York – Buenos Aires $1292 Roundtrip

by Gary Leff on February 22, 2018

picture of hotel outside

Feb 22 2018

There’s a business class fare from June through early December of $1292 roundtrip between New York and Buenos Aires on Star Alliance carrier Avianca.

In contrast American Airlines non-stop business class is generally over $3000 (and sometimes $4000) on this route.

SHOCKING: US Immigration Doesn’t Check the Validity of Foreign E-Passports

by Gary Leff on February 22, 2018

passport getting stamped

Feb 22 2018

Senators Ron Wyden and Claire McCaskill sent a letter (.pdf) to the acting commission of US Customers and Border Protection today asking that the US government actually start using the “anti-tamper and anti-forgery features in e-Passports, which have gone unused by CBP since their implementation in 2007.”

Police Pepper Spray Air France Employees

by Gary Leff on February 22, 2018

air france plane

Feb 22 2018

Air France strikes are rarely worth covering. On any given day of course there’s a threat of a strike. They’re French. That’s what they do.

While much of the Air France KLM business has performed well, though not as well as peers, mainline Air France managed just a 1% operating margin in the fourth quarter. That’s despite holding labor costs constant. They have a revenue problem, and labor groups aren’t happy that they don’t have a cost problem too.

Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel -- a topic he has covered since 2002.

Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »