It’s harder to reach top tier elite status — no more qualifying on stays, no more credit towards top status via credit card spend, and 60 nights instead of 50 to qualify — for those who reach “Globalist” status it’s the most generous top tier in the industry among major programs.
Back before PreCheck I used to opt out of the naked imaging scanners. I’d get a pat down.
The TSA employee called over to do it would offer me a private screening, but I’d turn that down. Then they’d explain what was going to come next, eventually noting they’d bring their hands up the inside of my leg “until they meet resistance.” Invariably they’d then ask if I have any sensitive areas? My reply was always, “only where you meet resistance.”
The Department of Transportation stopped taking comments on a proposed rule that would have mandated how all airline schedules and prices would be displayed.
Typically, it’s being misreported by the media as a simplistic ‘business win over consumer’ story, and a ‘rollback of Obama administration efforts’ story. When that’s really not the case at all.
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.
IHG Rewards Club has been a strong rebate program, but hasn’t offered meaningful elite benefits. They have all the right ideas but really haven’t implemented any of them.
I value British Airways points at 1.2 cents apiece so I should be taking advantage of this. I don’t have need for a dating memberships and can’t really donate them to charity to reduce my cost basis either. I only worry about raising concerns from my wife.
Ivanka Trump’s favorite airline will give you 5000 miles for your first flight when you join their frequent flyer program. And you can get a 50% bonus when you transfer points from a Citi Prestige Card or other ThankYou points card to JetBlue TrueBlue.
Biggest of all JetBlue is offering double base points on all flights systemwide.
I track changes to the terms and conditions in several programs, since we don’t always get word of changes directly. I wish that all programs — airlines, hotels, credit cards, etc. — would send out clear-language messages to members whenever terms change.
Today Delta has announced a revamp of its boarding process.
Five gates in Atlanta’s B concourse now have “branded pillars to create four parallel lanes, keeping customers out of the walkway and providing a separate queuing area for Premium customers and those needing special assistance”
Iranian immigrant and ‘celebrity dentist’ Shawn Sadri — “whose bicoastal practice has been visited by actor Aaron Paul, and athletes Jose Canseco and Gabby Douglas” — was kicked off an American Airlines flight from Los Angeles to New York on Sunday after joking to a flight attendant about Donald Trump.
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 »
