Representative John Mica (R-FL) has introduced legislation to cap checked bag fees at $4.50.
He’s grandstanding. Because people don’t like paying checked bag fees. So he proposes to eliminate them. To borrow a line from Milton Friedman, Southwest notwithstanding, “there’s no such thing as a free checked bag.”
A year and a half ago Hyatt introduced a new top redemption category 7 costing 30,000 points per night. They also increased the price of category 6 hotels from 22,000 to 25,000 points per night.
This year the Park Hyatt Maldives jumped up to category 7. So in two years it went from 22,000 points a night to 30,000 points per night, a 36% increase.
American Airlines returns to Sydney with a flight December 17. The Los Angeles – Sydney service, operated by a Boeing 777-300ER, will become bookable this Sunday.
The Southwest Airlines – Chase relationship was up for renewal. That’s a big deal for cardmembers, and also for folks with Chase Ultimate Rewards points because those points transfer to Southwest.
Back in April Southwest engaged an investment bank to evaluate options. I wrote at the time that I expected Chase to retain the card “because it’s more valuable to them than a new bank [because of their installed cardmember base], and because they have the resources.” And indeed Chase has secured a multi-year extension of the Southwest co-brand.
New York and Philadephia – Amsterdam is running as low as $545 roundtrip. Other cities — like Dallas, Chicago, Miami, and Los Angeles — are available for slightly more.
“[T]he nation’s airlines will begin installing awkwardly placed bumps in every airplane seatback this week because it reportedly brings great pleasure to them.”
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I want to take issue with the claim by Delta’s Anthony Black that mileage prices are like airfares and so there shouldn’t be a posted award chart or advance notice of changes.
First of all, frequent flyer miles aren’t supposed to be mere rebates in the form of an airline’s currency, they’re supposed to be a reward for loyalty. That’s why mileage tickets used to be so much more flexible than paid tickets, they were a thank you for past business.
Perhaps more importantly though award prices aren’t like paid ticket prices, and certainly miles aren’t really like money.
The Grand Hyatt Baha Mar, part of the larger Baha Mar project which is said to represent 12% of its island’s GDP, is in bankruptcy. They aren’t opening as planned. And all Hyatt is offering cancelled guests is $300 towards airline change fees.
Buying Business Travel interviewed United Chairman and CEO Jeff Smisek who made several interesting comments about international first class, his competitors (!), and about the big Middle East airlines.
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 »
