Neither the Senator nor the donor are being prosecuted for redeeming American Express Membership Rewards at such a low value getting just 3 nights at the Park Hyatt Vendome for 650,000 points.
That’s a crime.
But now that we’re in the midst of Senator Menendez’s trial we’re learning the gory details of his mileage malfeasance.
Watch this small plane in Plainville, Connecticut — “the plane veered into the Carling Technologies parking lot.” — it’s remarkable that the pilot sustained only minor injuries.
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.
The Palacio Duhau – Park Hyatt Buenos Aires is a great city hotel, set in an upscale neighbor apart from the hustle and bustle of the city and just a few blocks from the Four Seasons. There are two separate buildings, connected via underground walkway or outside through the garden. There’s the original Palacio and there’s a new tower. I’ve really enjoyed staying there.
An Air Canada charted flight arrived in Turks and Caicos yesterday with 95 electricians “s part of a humanitarian aid mission” to rebuild the electrical grid on the islands after Hurricane Irma hit while a category 5 storm.
The plane was scheduled to depart from Providenciales International Airport with 95 Canadians onboard, bringing them back to Canada after their having been stranded on the island. But local officials wouldn’t allow them to leave.
Marriott had a boat evacuate guests from the Frenchman’s Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort on St. Thomas after Irma had passed and in advance of Hurricane Jose.
They reportedly had room for a couple hundred people beyond their own guests on the 600 person boat, but refused transport to 30 or more people looking for help off the island..
The New York Times yesterday covered price gouging charges against the airlines in the lead up to Hurricane Irma. Or I should say they covered grandstanding by Senators Richard Blumenthal and Edward J. Markey and Florida Representative Charlie Crist.
The White House’s Director of Social Media tweeted out a since-deleted message on Hurricane Irma.
The problem is that’s not Miami’s airport. In fact the airport took to Twitter to disavow it.
I often write that with all of the difficulties I have in navigating airlines — getting tickets issued properly, correcting agent mistakes — it amazes me that the median traveler is able to manage to get from A to B.
Airlines make things far more complicated and confusing than you’d expect, someone less familiar with the ins and outs of travel is at the mercy of big bureaucracy hardly aimed to solving problems let alone doing so quickly.
Plenty of people have access to your room, when you’re there and when you aren’t. Instead of paying your hotel for extra security, you’re paying the hotel and you’re extra vulnerable. Shudder.
Now add in desperation of a force majeure event and a total breakdown in law and order as appears to be happening on St. Maarten in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma and travel becomes scarier still.
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 »
