A new Chinese 6% VAT tax on hotel stays went into effect today. Hilton’s website now reflects the VAT, as it should. However their award searches are showing not just the number of points for the award but also this new VAT based on the payment Hilton HHonors makes to the hotel.
This is an error, of course, since Hilton HHonors awards include tax. But it tells us a lot of the economics of the program.
An Iranian student in South Florida named Milad Avazdavani has been charged for “hacking into the AAdvantage accounts of high-mileage customers and siphoning off enough points to charge trips and cars worth more than $260,000.”
In each case the AAdvantage accountholder’s email address was changed and transactions were made from a computer at the same IP address. Changing email address is a flag for potential fraudulent activity made soon thereafter when redemptions are being made in the name of someone other than the accountholder. When a single IP address is linked to name changes and third party redemptions across a number of accounts that’s a pretty good giveaway.
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.
On Friday, April 22 a woman went into labor on Jetstar Asia’s flight 583 from Singapore to Yangon on April 22.
The aircraft made it to the ground and the woman gave birth while still onboard. Three doctors were onboard and assisted with the delivery.
The woman, whose name is Star, named the baby Saw Jet Star in honor of the car she received onboard.
Los Angeles – Sydney roundtrips in August and September are available for $422. That’s certainly cheaper than it ever gets for an Australia roundtrip.
Fares are also available from San Francisco, Dallas, Seattle, and New York and to Brisbane and Melbourne not just Sydney, for a little bit more.
Whether it’s a brand new American Boeing 787, an EgyptAir 737, or a United 777, aircraft incidents happen with surprising frequency.
We usually focus on the damage to planes in the event of a bird strike. But as they say, you should see the other guy.
When United’s CEO Jeff Smisek was pushed out last fall, he received a golden parachute.
It turns out though that he walked away with even more than many realized. In fact he received $36.8 million since his ouster.
A week ago 25 rowdy Scottish passengers had to be removed from a Jet2 flight. Some had apparently broiught their own alcohol onboard which is a real no-no.
Flying a European low cost carrier can be an… experience. Fellow passengers aren’t median business travelers like you’ll find on national flag carriers in the morning at the beginning of the week and early evening at the end of the week.
So perhaps it’s no surprise that Wednesday’s easyJet Belfast – Barcelona flight 6671 led to two women being taken away on arrival after they “allegedly swore at crew and joked about having a bomb on board, with one reportedly yelling ‘we are all here for a f***ing party’.”
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.
You can join the $150 Leading Hotels of the World Leaders Club for free.
Leaders Club is the first tier of paid elite status, with ‘Unlimited’ costing $1200.
The Biltmore, a participating property, is giving away the $150 level.
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 »
