United Launching One of World’s Longest Flights, San Francisco – Singapore

Jan 28 2016

United is launching San Francisco – Singapore service June 1 operated by a Boeing 787-9.

This flight is 132 miles shorter than Qantas’ Sydney – Dallas, which is the current longest flight in the world. And it’s shorter, of course, than the Dubai – Auckland, New Zealand flight that Emirates just announced for March. United will terminate service between Singapore and Tokyo/Narita effective June 2, 2016 (eastbound).

There are several things striking about this development.

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Japan Airlines First Class Award Space, Spend Your American Miles Before Devaluation

Jan 28 2016

There is plenty of first class award space on Japan Airlines for New York JFK – Tokyo and Chicago – Tokyo over the next 6 weeks. There’s also a new pattern for American’s Dallas and Los Angeles – Tokyo flights releasing premium cabin award seats.

When there’s first class available it’s on JAL’s Boeing 777-300ER which has their new first class suites. American charges 62,500 miles each way between the US and Japan (as well as Korea). Make Tokyo your connection and continue on in Asia and first class awards are 67,500 miles each way.

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IHG Rewards Club Top Tier ‘Spire Elite’ Members Finally Get a Benefit

Jan 28 2016

Last year IHG Rewards Club (née Priority Club, the loyalty program for Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza, and related brands) introduced a new top tier elite level, Spire Elite. It offers almost nothing to improve in-hotel treatment: no promise of suites, or club lounge, or breakfast, or even late checkout.

But they’ve now sent out a new benefit. And it means more points for everyone else, too.

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American Introduces New Designer Amenity Kits With C.O. Bigelow, Clark’s and 3LAB Products

Jan 27 2016

A year ago American Airlines introduced collectors edition Heritage amenity kits featuring red flower amenities honoring the airlines that over time merged to create the world’s largest airline…

Now American is introducing new amenity kits in March — a custom-designed Cole Haan bag “inspired by their pinnacle design and innovation collection, ZerøGrand” including…

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Earn Delta Award Flights for 3 Cheap Car Rentals or Scale the Deal for Longer Flight in Business Class

Jan 27 2016

Frequent Flyer Bonuses points out an interesting promotion to earn 5000 bonus GarudaMiles plus 3 miles per dollar via Rentalcars.com. The offer is valid through March 31.

GarudaMiles is the frequent flyer program of Skyteam member Garuda Indonesia. They’re also a transfer partner of Citi ThankYou Rewards.

Here’s the interesting thing. The 5000 mile bonus doesn’t say it applies to first rental only, it seems like it would apply to each rental via RentalCars.com made using their referral link that you complete during the promotion period with no minimum car size or rental length.

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