Now Earn Miles for Breast Augmentation and Other Plastic Surgery

by Gary Leff

Feb 07 2016

You really can earn miles for everything. People will do crazy things for miles, and why not? They’re the most successful marketing innovation of our time. Airlines rent their programs to motivate customers of others businesses, and earn billions in return.

I’ve done plenty of crazy things for miles like renting and returning cars that you do not need and don’t actually drive, going to a Bosley hair loss consultation for 20,000 Delta miles when I’m not actually bald (and before I had lost any hair).

Before I wore glasses there was Lasik eye exams for 5000 Delta miles. And then there was dumpster diving for Wendys sode cups when those were redeemable for Airtran A+ Rewards credits.

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2 Free Nights at Al Maha Desert Resort

by Gary Leff

Feb 07 2016

I’m going to visit Al Maha Desert Resort next month. Lucky called it his favorite Starwood Starpoints redemption ever. It’s an all-inclusive with standalone villas and infinity pools in the desert outside Dubai where rates can exceed $1700 per night and is consistently deemed one of the world’s best properties on TripAdvisor.

For bookings made by March 8 Starwood is offering awards there for ‘only’ 39,000 points a night instead of the usual 60,000. And I’m going to use some of my points there. And one lucky reader gets 2 nights free.

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Chris Christie Campaign Spent Over $1400 on an Uber Ride, Averages Over $200 Per Trip

by Gary Leff

Feb 07 2016

Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders barely use Uber. Hillary has fleets of limos paid for by Goldman Sachs isn’t going to offend entrenched urban interests. Sanders walks (30 miles, backwards, in the snow).

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie’s campaign is among the least frequent users of Uber. That’s probably because they think Uber is so expensive: their average Uber trip cost $215.38. Someone on his campaign spend nearly $1500 on a single Uber trip on December 11.

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Airline Loses Thousands of Passengers While Employees Turn Violent

by Gary Leff

Feb 06 2016

Pakistan is required to privatize the PIA under terms of an IMF loan. Of course the longer that’s put off, the more loss-making quarters private investors will realize.

Employee protests have turned violent in clashes with police involving rubber bullets, water cannons and tear gas.

With the airline’s operations crippled, they do not even know where stranded passengers are.

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GAME ON: United Adds 3-Cabin Service to Premium New York-West Coast Routes

by Gary Leff

Feb 06 2016

Los Angeles is a hyper-competitive market. There’s no more high revenue market than New York – Los Angeles, with New York – San Francisco following it.

That’s why the routes are so competitive, not just with so many airlines offering service but also with a better product than what’s offered domestically on other routes.

United is introducing 3-cabin Boeing 777 service between Newark and both Los Angeles and San Francisco and between Washington Dulles and those two cities.

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HURRY: Redeem American Miles West Coast to South America in Business Class for the Whole Family

by Gary Leff

Feb 06 2016

oneworld member LAN will be flying Los Angeles to Santiago, Chile (where they have a whole route network beyond to elsewhere in the region) 3 times a week between October 16 and March 25 operated by a Boeing 787. The aircraft offers 2-2-2 fully flat seats.

Here’s a look at 4 business class seats and see availability in both directions. Availability is best for November and through mid-December.

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2-for-1 Hawaii Tickets from 110 Cities in North America

by Gary Leff

Feb 06 2016

Virgin America has a 2-for-1 sale on San Francisco – Honolulu and Maui flights in economy for a limited set of dates, and it’s pretty good.

That’s from San Francisco only, but you can actually get 2-for-1 tickets to Hawaii from 110 different cities and get them any day of the year you wish where flights aren’t sold out. I’ll explain how.

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British Airways Flight Attendants Win the Right to Wear Pants! Is That a Good Thing?

by Gary Leff

southwest flight attendants taking picture outside plane
Feb 05 2016

Female British Airways flight attendants no longer have to wear skirts.

Legacy flight attendants assigned to British Airways’ “Worldwide” fleet could wear pants already. “Mixed fleet” — flight attendants hired over the past 6 years for lower pay, and as a broad generalization that I find provide far better service — required women to wear skirts.

Clearly the role of the flight attendant has changed over time and societal attitudes have changed too.

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