Getting audited isn’t common. Usually when they contact you it’s because there’s a pretty strong indication that you have broken rules. The flip side is that folks who aren’t breaking rules don’t often come into contact with a frequent flyer program’s auditing department.
It’s useful to understand what triggers audits, and what you can do if you get audited.
“Alternate reality: people are only allowed 1 credit card at a time, there are no other loyalty restrictions.”
Which card would you pick? What would you compromise?
Back in 2008 and 2009 banks were buying miles super cheap. Now with airlines in a stronger position financially, with fewer airlines to do deals with and banks in a healthier position to compete for those deals, the price of miles has swung up closer to two cents than one.
Meanwhile airlines haven’t needed to spend as much on marketing to fill planes. They’ve been able to devalue their frequent flyer programs. Miles are costing the banks more. Those miles are worth less. Frequent flyer programs may find themselves killing their multibillion dollar goose in the medium-term, though it’s likely on a long-term decline no matter what they do.
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.
I visit the Maldives each year, because I really value the seclusion. The distance to travel, and even the need for a domestic flight and boat ride to reach the Park Hyatt after arriving in the country, create a sense of separation from the world for me. I need that to relax.
There is, however, seclusion much closer to home (although a boat out to reach it will cost as much as domestic Maldivian transfers). But is it the world’s scariest?
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’s something about airplane lavatories that causes passengers to go a little crazy.
Coach passengers get arrested for using the premium cabin lav. People unthinkingly go in without shoes on. And lavatories even lead to legislation. Celebrities use them for smoking pot.
An active duty marine flew Los Angeles to Taipei and was connecting on China Airlines flight CI120 to Okinawa when he was found with 40 rounds of ammunition while going through transit security. The marine explained that he had ‘forgotten to take them out’ of his bag, but he wasn’t carrying a gun to use them with in any case.
The bullets were immediately visible to screeners in Taipei using a standard x-ray machine. To screeners at LAX, not so much. They’re too busy manipulating advanced imaging machines so they could fondle attractive passengers.
oneworld member Malaysia Airlines had posted a notice that they weren’t going to accept checked bags on European flights due to unusual headwinds.
It’s hard to imagine taking a European flight with only carry ons, let alone with an economy allowance of ~ 15 pounds. And it’s unclear what it means for checked baggage to “only arrive later” (perhaps in a few days when the headwinds die down?).
The temporary change, though, is also related to how Malaysia Airlines is responding to the 2014 shooting down of one of their jets.
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 »
