In February I wrote that the big US airlines wouldn’t get their way with the government opening formal consultations with the governments of the UAE and Qatar. Instead, I suggested that “[t]he US carriers could still eke out a face save” because “[t]hey still have powerful friends.”
And it looks like that’s what’s happening, according to Politico.
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.
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.
There were two blasts and gunfire reported inside the terminal at Istanbul Atatürk Airport today causing multiple injuries.
As with any incident like this, most initial reports are either wrong in key details or incomplete. We do not yet know who did this, why, the extent of the damage or what this will mean for airport operations. It’s definitely a developing story.
Japan Airlines has a fantastic first class product. Getting to Australia on miles, let alone for more than two passengers, is hard. So while there are only a subset of readers who will use this, it’s worth knowing when Japan Airlines award space becomes available for four or more passengers in first class between Tokyo and Sydney.
Sometimes you just want to get to your hotel room as quickly as possible. Hotel chains had the idea that they could accommodate this guest desire, and save on front desk labor costs, by rolling out check-in kiosks.
I even won a whole bunch of Starpoints a dozen years ago by winning a contest to name Sheraton’s solution (“Sheraton SpeedCheck”). But I never actually used one. And it turns out that people don’t choose to go to the kiosk instead of the front desk.
Japan Airlines already has one of my favorite programs, allowing redemption not just on oneworld airlines like American, Cathay Pacific, and Qatar but on other partners like Emirates, Bangkok Airways, and Air France as well as Alaska Airlines.
Japan Airlines Mileage Bank is a Starwood transfer partner. 20,000 Starwood points transfer to 25,000 JAL miles.
United is selling miles with up to a 100% bonus through August 15.
This is a little more than what I value the miles at. But it’s closer than it’s ever been. I’m not going to buy the miles speculatively, but I would certainly buy to top off an account to the level needed for an award that I’d be interested in booking within the next few months.
And they have an interesting sweepstakes, too.
There was a medical emergency onboard Delta flight DL1772 from Atlanta to Phoenix.
Tim Tebow‘s not a doctor, but he is apparently a decent guy and famous enough that people care. And he sat with the family “as they cried on his shoulder” and prayed with those so inclined. As the plane landed, the man’s pulse came back.
Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan is fantastic because of its diverse partnerships. They are partners with many of the airlines both in the SkyTeam and oneworld alliances (and even some airlines like Emirates and Hainan Airlines that are in neither).
In the U.S. that means they’re partners with both American Airlines and with Delta, although with Delta they’re frenemies at best given the efforts Delta has made at building its own hub in Alaska’s home base of Seattle.
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 »
