HURRY: Grand Hyatt Santiago Suites Bookable at Regular Cash & Points Prices

Aug 01 2016

The Grand Hyatt Santiago is offering suites as cash and points redemptions, for the price of a regular room. This is available throughout the year but this deal is unlikely to last long.

Since these rooms should be cancellable up until the day before arrival, it’s worth making speculative bookings if you might have a need for a room (suite) in Santiago, Chile at some point over the next year.

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How Turkish Airlines is Participating in Post-Coup Attempt Propoganda

Aug 01 2016

Just over two weeks ago there was a failed coup attempt in Turkey seeking to oust Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The U.S. backed the democratically elected very much non-democratic Erdoğan. The likely outcome, had the coup succeeded, is unclear.

Coup plotters claimed to support democracy and oppose the eroding secularism of the country. Either way, the people are likely worse off today with the government’s crackdowns and purges on institutions throughout the country. It’s not clear of course that the people would have been better off had the coup succeeded.

One of those institutions, of course, is Star Alliance member Turkish Airlines.

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One Way Airlines Make Life Harder That Doesn’t Even Improve Their Bottom Line

Jul 31 2016

The Department of Transprtation ruled about four years ago that airlines can only charge you a single checked baggage fee even when you’re traveling on multiple carriers. If they collect $35 from you and you’re traveling on more than one airline that $35 gets split — instead of letting each airline collect a separate $35.

The fully anticipated result (we cannot really call this an unintended consequence since it was predicted and predictable) was that US airlines no longer allow you to through-check luggage onto other airlines when traveling on separate tickets, at least when those airlines aren’t in the same global alliance.

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Review: Etihad First and Business Class Lounge New York JFK

Jul 30 2016

Etihad first and business class passengers receive complimentary car service both on departure and on arrival in most major cities. This is even offered on award tickets.

We were staying at the Andaz 5th Avenue, and Etihad’s driver (contracted through Empire CLS) was right on time for the ride to New York JFK. We checked in with Etihad, and went through security on our way to Etihad’s gorgeous New York JFK lounge.

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