With especially rich offers for the Ritz-Carlton Rewards® Credit Card readers have been asking whether you can get a Ritz-Carlton card if you’re a Marriott Rewards member, and vice versa. This is a topic I covered back in 2013. Marriott acquired Ritz-Carlton in 1998, but the hotels had limited participation in the Marriott Rewards program: you could spend points for Ritz-Carlton stays, but that was it. Luxury chains have for the most part eschewed points, the belief was that they provide recognition not freebies and compete to offer the best luxury experience. However they launched the Ritz-Carlton program in the fall of 2010. You are only supposed to have one account between the two programs. You are supposed to choose between Ritz-Carlton Rewards and Marriott Rewards. However, The programs are almost identical. I will go…
New Award Search Tool With Email Alerts — and Hotel Awards, Too!
Aug
27
2016
Pex+ is a new site coming out of Beta that allows you to search for award space across a number of different airlines and data sources all at once, quickly. It offers hotel searches (points and revenue prices, so you can compare). And it even offers to email you when award prices drop (saver space opens).
It doesn’t just tell you whether saver awards are available — it shows you the mileage cost of each award so you can compare up front and it includes taxes and fuel surcharges.
FARE ALERT: Shanghai, Singapore, Malaysia and More from $481 Roundtrip
Aug
27
2016
Airfares this year have been truly unreal. The deals are amazing, with prices I haven’t seen in at least a dozen years. These aren’t mistake fares, these are fares that pop up regularly. But they don’t last long, so it’s important to pay attention.
Here are 4 fantastic fares available right now:
How to Improve Your Chances of an Upgrade and More
Aug
27
2016
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.
If You Don’t Want to Live Near an Airport, Don’t Move Next to One
Aug
26
2016
Santa Monica is a lovely city, home to Shutters on the Beach and Casa Del Mar and of course the famous Santa Monica Pier. And Three’s Company.
Santa Monica Municipal Airport (“SMO”) is a general aviation airport six miles north of LAX. It was home to the Douglas Aircraft Company, and their DC-1 through DC-7 aircraft were built there. The airport was where the first plane to circumnavigate the world took off and landed in 1924. During World War II it was disguised as a fake town to throw off enemies who might wish to bomb it.
This Credit Card Signup Bonus Requires $130,000 in Spend Within 3 Months
Aug
26
2016
American’s small business ‘double dip program’ has its own credit card. American Airlines actually has a co-brand card issued by American Express.
I use the program and have redeemed points to gift Gold elite status in AAdvantage and Admirals Club memberships, and I usually keep a stash of (paper) upgrade certificates on hand.
I mentioned the program’s credit card several years ago. I don’t recall it ever having a signup bonus. But it does now.
President Obama May Be Getting a New Credit Card, Better Than Sapphire Reserve
Aug
26
2016
President Obama carries the JP Morgan Select Card.
You cannot apply directly for this card any longer. When it was available it was basically a Chase Sapphire Preferred card without double miles on dining, or a signup bonus. The card continued to be available to Palladium card cardholders.
What Do You Do When Someone is Invading Your Space on a Plane?
Aug
26
2016
The Chicago Tribune asked me how to deal with someone invading your space on a plane. They wanted to know, “Should you say something to the person or to the flight attendant?”
I thought this was actually a hard question. With planes generally full there aren’t very many options, and I don’t think I had a silver bullet solution to offer so I’d love thoughts on the best way to handle it when the passenger next to you is encroaching your space?
TV Personality Calls Me a Horseman of the Apocalypse and Much More
Aug
26
2016
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.
Moscow Airport Sells Replica Guns and Citibank Double Bogeys
Aug
25
2016
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.
