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.
Enough is Enough: Emirates is Sick and Tired of Snakes on a Plane
Three months ago Garuda Indonesia had snakes but the airline dismissed it claiming they were just ‘legless lizards’ (like that’s better?).
Two months ago there was an actual snake on an Aeromexico flight from Torreon to Mexico City. The flight made it to its destination but was given priority for landing and airline employees ‘secured the reptile’.
Mileage Run-Worthy Business Class Deal: $1900+ Roundtrip to Singapore
Qatar Airways is running a flash sale with some amazing pricing. Note he says you’ll save an additional 15% when paying by Visa and using promo code VISA.
Travel is allowed most any time that discount seats are available, and through end of schedule features economy fares to Southeast Asia for under $500 roundtrip as well.
The Most Generous Hotel Program is Offering Up to 100,000 Bonus Points for Stays
Arguably Club Carlson has been the most rewarding program for in-hotel spend since they launched in 2011.
That’s even after they devalued points transfers to airline miles (and not for the first time), devalued the program across the board, and eliminated the second night free on award stays benefit for co-brand Visa cardholders.
The problem of course is: do Club Carlson’s hotels, like Radisson and Park Inn, work for you?
[Disturbing] Video of First Shots Fired at Ft. Lauderdale Airport and What It Means for Travel
This week’s shooting at the Fort Lauderdale airport was horrible. I’ve held off writing about it until now, because so much of the information immediately following an event like this turns out to be wrong. With wraparound coverage of the event online and on television, there simply wasn’t much that I could add.
This was a terrible thing that happened. It appears to have been carried out by someone who was mentally ill, rather than a coordinated terrorist attack. There’s an old saying that two anecdotes makes a regulation and three makes a law. Nonetheless these incidents are rare, flying remains safer than driving even factoring in what happened in Fort Lauderdale, and I’d rather mourn the people who actually lost their lives than use them as tools to make a pre-existing political point.
Availability Alert: No Fuel Surcharge Business Class Awards to Europe for the Whole Family
Star Alliance member Scandinavian Airlines has great business class award space through the beginning of April for 4 or more (and even 8!) passengers from several US gateways.
You can use miles with United, Aeroplan, ANA, LifeMiles, and many other programs to book awards to and through Copenhagen to most places you’d want to go in Europe. Aeroplan doesn’t add fuel surcharges to SAS awards.
Marriott Still Having Trouble With New Late Check-Out Benefit
According to Marriott Rewards customer service “Gold and Platinum members are guaranteed late check-out. The time-frame is up to the hotel. They can allow late check-out up to 4 PM, but it can also be earlier.”
This is 100% incorrect, and a disservice to members.
Does the Merrill Visa 50,000 Point Offer Make Sense and American’s Uniform Disaster VP Promoted
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.
Australian Tourism Slogan Ruled Obscene
A tourism slogan for Australia’s Northern Territory has been declared obscene.
For those unfamiliar with Australia, it’s located in North Central Australia and its capital is Darwin. Crocodile Dundee‘s “Walkabout Creek” was in the Northern Territory.
Crazy Low Fare: New York, Boston, or Miami Non-stop to Spain from $350 Roundtrip ($45 Base Fares!)
You can fly non-stop to Madrid from $350 roundtrip leaving from New York, Boston, or Miami. It appears to be a $45 base fare in each direction.
Travel is on American Airlines or Iberia and will often come up as a codeshare flight using one of their joint venture airline partners British Airways or Finnair.