Feb
15
2018
Marriott’s ‘Leadership’ prefers the Hyatt Regency LAX over the half dozen Marriott properties in the area.
“When It’s an Important Event and the Nearby Marriott Just Won’t Do”
Alaska Airlines Quickly Rolls Back Limits on Last Minute Partner Award Booking
Feb
15
2018
Loyalty fraud is a costly issue for programs. A lot of it originates in China.
The challenge though is limiting the cost of fraud without undercutting the value proposition of the program to legitimate members. That’s what I highlighted earlier in the week with Alaska’s new policy of prohibiting booking awards within 72 hours of travel on Cathay Pacific, JAL, or Hainan Airlines.
Hyatt Regency Aruba Gives the Finger to World of Hyatt Members
Feb
14
2018
When a hotel program promotes that you can use points for any ‘standard room’ available on property, you think that means the most common room at the hotel. It doesn’t. It means the worst or lowest category room at the hotel.
And some hotels use this to prevent members from using their points. Hyatt has had real problems with this at some of its premier properties.
Trump Wants to Sell DC Airports and That’s a Good Idea
Feb
14
2018
There’s a lot of pushback to the Trump administration suggestion to sell off DC area airports.
I’d like to leave aside the particular proposal and make a few points about the concept, both selling the DC airports and federal assets generally. Even if you’re not a fan of the President or of ‘privatizing’ see if you can disagree with these.
I Was First on the Upgrade List and I Didn’t Clear!
Feb
14
2018
I’m driven nuts by upgrade issues like American Airlines agents not handing out upgrades to passengers who aren’t waiting in the gate area or not bothering to process upgrades at the gate because they’re too busy (so first class seats go out empty while passengers on the upgrade list sit in back).
Most of the time though what looks like shenanigans turns out to have a perfectly logical explanation on closer inspection.
Another Hit From the Marriott-Starwood Merger and Saving the A380 Program Gets Real
Feb
14
2018
A roundup of the most important stories of the day. I keep you up to date on the most interesting writings I find on other sites – the latest news and tips.
Fantastic First Class Award Availability to Asia on One of the World’s Best Airlines
Feb
14
2018
ANA first class availability, booked far in advance, is outstanding right now. And it’s accessible using miles from a variety of programs — in the Star Alliance and through other airline partnerships as well. They offer one of the best and most consistent first class products in the world. It’s not as flashy as Emirates or Etihad, but the service and food are fantastic.
Buy Miles at 1.47 Cents Apiece from Star Alliance Program LifeMiles
Feb
14
2018
Star Alliance member Avianca LifeMiles is selling miles with up to a 125% bonus.
They bonus miles purchases very frequently. Sometimes selling miles for even less than the 1.47 cents apiece under this deal, for instance at the end of November they were selling at 1.35 miles apiece.
Delta Employee Caught on Video Cursing at Customer
Feb
13
2018
Delta is apologizing after one of their employees in Portland was caught on video telling a customer, “You can take my f’ing picture if you want to, a-hole.”
They offered the passenger a $200 voucher. They also delivered his luggage. And they report that the employee “has been suspended.”
United Pilot Takes Pictures of the Engine, Tells Air Traffic Control “Roll the Fire Trucks”
Feb
13
2018
United flight UA1175 from San Francisco to Honolulu today declared an emergency around 30 minutes prior to arrival. The aircraft appeared to lose an engine cowling.
