Aspen Airport Now Offers Marijuana-Only Disposal Bins: Keeps You From Breaking Federal Law and Airport Employees Happy

by Gary Leff

man blowing smoke from pot
Aug 22 2016

Although marijuana is legal only in some states, and for medicinal purposes in more, pot remains illegal under federal law (but where it’s legal there are even loyalty programs with reefer-a-friend bonuses). You have to clear a federal checkpoint to fly commercial. And the TSA (T)akes (S)tinkweed (A)way.

Colorado Springs airport installed amnesty boxes so that passengers could leave their weed rather than break the law. This is, in essence, free pot for airport employees. And the practice has spread to the Aspen airport where they offer Pot Only waste bins.

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Waldorf=Astoria Jerusalem No Longer Plays Games With Award Availability

by Gary Leff

Aug 22 2016

A couple of months ago Dan’s Deals wrote about the limited options some chains have in Jerusalem, how the Waldorf=Astoria Jerusalem is probably the nicest property, but that they were playing games with award availability. At one point there were no award rooms available for six months. Then there were no award rooms for Thursday and Friday nights. He quoted a hotel manager saying that the room type for awards was made available only midweek, and that the option was “CLOSED on High season.” I read the post and reached out to the folks at Hilton HHonors. Hilton doesn’t have blackout dates or capacity controls. When a standard room is available for sale, it should be available on points. But what about hotels playing games with their revenue inventory? Hotels aren’t supposed to do this.…

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Report: Marriott Hoping to Back Out of Starwood Merger

by Gary Leff

Aug 21 2016

A deal almost never looks as good as it does the day it’s announced. The longer it takes to close, the more naysayers, the more critical analysis, and more tarnished details emerge. There’s more opportunity for buyer’s remorse, and for conditions which suggested a merger was a good idea to change.

The New York Post is reporting that the high cost to pacify Starwood’s customers combing the Starwood Preferred Guest program with Marriott Rewards, combined with the approval delay by Chinese regulators, is causing Marriott to second guess the merger.

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WOW: $99 Fares to Europe from Several US Cities

by Gary Leff

Aug 20 2016

Yesterday Wow Air announced that they’re moving Stockholm service to the area’s main Arlanda International Airport (ARN) effective November 18 and they dropped some amazing sale fares to promote the service.

In fact, they have $99 one-ways from Boston, Newark, and Baltimore (BWI) to Stockholm. Wow Air services Los Angeles and San Francisco as well, though fares run a comparably ‘expensive’ ~ $178.

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ACT NOW: Great Business Class Award Space to Europe Without Big Fuel Surcharges With American and BA Miles

by Gary Leff

Aug 20 2016

A lot of American AAdvantage members miss transatlantic award space on oneworld partner Iberia, because Iberia awards don’t appear on American’s website.

Iberia flies between Boston, New York JFK, Chicago, Miami, Los Angeles and Madrid. And award space booked far in advance is very good in business class right now.

Iberia has a good business class product — fully flat with all aisle access, but with seats staggered for density.

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