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.
10% Rebate on Hyatt Redemptions Through October 31 for Co-Brand Cardmembers
Hyatt Gold Passport announced a promotion for their co-brand credit card holders. Register and receive a 10% rebate on points redeemed through October 31.
In 2015 Hyatt and Chase offered co-brand credit card holders a 20% rebate during a five month period at the beginning of the year. That was the first time they made such an offer. While a 10% rebate is nice, it’s hard not to compare it to last year’s 20%.
Just How Good Can a 200 Mile Flight Be? You’re About to Find Out
The flight attendants handled some difficult passengers with grace and a friendly, helpful manner. Everyone in the cabin who was being difficult was satisfied and reassured they’d be well cared for.
We got a hot meal with choice of entree, a dessert from French bakery Ladurée, multiple passes for drinks and lie flat seats. And the flight came with access to Qatar’s Al Safwa first class lounge.
Why Airlines Should Stop Hedging Fuel Costs
Modern airlines are really transportation system, and part financial trading firm. And sometimes they’re more of the latter than the former.
As Delta lost billions of dollars last year on commodities futures (‘fuel hedges’) I wrote that they’re as much a complex derivatives trading firm as an airline.
Will United’s Flight Attendants Finally Get a Contract and Finish the Airline’s Merger? Not Everyone is Happy.
United and Continental merged in 2010, with Continental management eventually taking over, but six years later that merger is still not complete.
Legacy United and Continental flight attendants still do not operate under a single contract, and as a result United flight attendants work United planes and Continental flight attendants work Continental planes — and new aircraft get split between them.
A couple of weeks ago – finally – United and its flight attendants came to terms on a joint contract. Here’s a union summary of the deal (.pdf) showing that wages go up substantially.
Threatening Hotels With Bad Reviews for Upgrades and Starwood-Marriott Merger Getting Close
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.
127,500 Miles from One Credit Card Signup and Meeting Minimum Spend
It’s a Bank of America offer of up to 90,000 bonus miles for a card that earns 1.5 miles per dollar on all of your spend. I’d stop at earning 75,000 bonus miles, but if you go all the way you’ll earn 127,500 miles including the miles from your spending.
Virgin Atlantic miles aren’t the best miles, but this is a great bonus from a bank you may not already have any rewards cards from.
American’s Boeing 787-9 Inaugural Flights are Now Bookable!
On Thursday American announced details of the launch of their new Boeing 787-9 aircraft.
Inaugural flights have been loaded into American’s schedule and are now available for sale.
Delta Award Sale: Flights as Low as 5000 Miles
Delta is running a domestic economy (and extra legroom seating) award sale. At least they tell us it’s a sale, which means there are regular prices, even though Delta hides what those regular prices are (“an ignorant customer is their best customer”).
At the upper end of value, Chicago Midway – Atlanta is on sale for 5000 miles (and tax of $5.60). That’s better than paying 12,500 miles of course for the same flight. And its actually a good deal. Normally when we see these sales 5000 mile awards correspond to flights less than $90. This time 5000 miles can save you nearly $200.
Inflight Beer on Tap Launching on KLM Next Month
SkyTeam member KLM has been working with Dutch brewery Heineken on a way to offer draft beer inflight.
This is a technical challenge. Most planes are pressurized to 8000 feet, and new aircraft like Boeing 787s and Airbus A350s to 6000 feet.
With less air pressure in the cabin than on the ground, it isn’t just taste buds that change. A beer tap will “only dispense a huge amount of foam” according to Heineken’s Edwin Griffioen.