Redemptions for Kimpton Hotels Now Live at IHG Rewards Club

by Gary Leff

Jan 10 2018

IHG folded Kimpton and its Karma Rewards program into IHG Rewards Club. In the process they sanitized the benefits offered to elites, although they’re maintaining Kimpton’s top ‘Inner Circle’ level as an invitation-only program similar to Intercontinental properties and Royal Ambassador, with no public criteria for how members will earn it.

The upside to all of this is supposed to be for IHG Rewards Club members generally, more nice and interesting properties to use there points at. And that is now live on the IHG website.

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Star Alliance Member EVA Air Introducing New Amenities to All Classes

by Gary Leff

Jan 10 2018

There are a number of minor service changes that EVA Air is making. But the fact that they’re paying attention to the minor details like this is part of what makes them a quality carrier. They offer one of the better business class products in the world, and good service throughout the cabin.

There’s new pajamas and even menu covers in business class, new bedding in premium economy, and even gourmet snacks in coach on Hong Kong flights.

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Torture Prison Ritz-Carlton Riyadh Re-opens to Guests for a Very Special Valentine’s Day

by Gary Leff

hotel lobby
Jan 10 2018

In early November Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia moved to consolidate power, arresting senior princes, the wealthy, and former government leaders under the banner of a new anti-corruption campaign.

The high profile prisoners were held inside the Ritz-Carlton Riyadh. All guests on property were unilaterally kicked out, reservations dishonored. But guests will apparently be welcomed back for Valentine’s Day.

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IHG Guts Best Rate Guarantee, Eliminates Free Nights, Gives 24% Back in Points Instead

by Gary Leff

skyscrapers in city
Jan 10 2018

Hotel Best Rate Guarantees are mostly vaporware. Hotel chains want you to book directly through them because it costs them less to make a reservation themselves than it does to pay a commission to Expedia or other online travel sites (or travel agents). So they want you to believe you’ll get the best rate booking direct.

Best rate gurantees are largely a marketing claim rather than a promise, and they generally contain so much fine print and so many hoops as to be meaningless (on purpose).

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Rapper’s Manager Charged for Threatening to Off Flight Attendant’s Head, Claims Racism

by Gary Leff

Jan 10 2018

Rapper Rich the Kid touched down on an American Airlines flight at LAX on Tuesday and got up to use the lavatory while the plane taxied to the gate. A flight attendant told him to sit down. His road manager got into an argument with the flight attendant threatening to cut their head off.

That’s what it takes for American Airlines to deny charges of racial discrimination, it seems.

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Rumor: British Airways Ditching Plans for New Custom Business Class Seat

by Gary Leff

Jan 09 2018

You choose to fly British Airways business class when they have the best non-stop schedule to Heathrow and that’s where you need to go, or for connecting destinations when they’re the cheapest.

While they were a leader in introducing fully flat business class seating, today they offer one of the worst flat business class products in the industry. Their Boeing 777s, for instance, are so dense they seat eight-across.

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