Just because your frequent flyer program no longer allows stopovers included free as part of an international award (American eliminated them entirely, Delta sheds them completely January 1), doesn’t mean you shouldn’t book a stopover. The point of this post isn’t that it’s possible to still trick a program into giving you a stopover for free, although some programs with distance-based award charts can give you cheaper awards with a stopover than without one. (British Airways, which prices each segment separately, can be an example of this.) Rather the point is that a stopover may cost you fewer miles than you think — certainly fewer miles than making an additional trip to another region of the world. So it may make sense to spend the miles to visit another city, even though it isn’t “free.”…
Massive Airline Ticket Fraud, 22% Off Hyatt, and Pig Kicked Off of US Airways
News and notes from around the interweb: Washington Dulles airport is shrinking, and that’s a problem for Washington. The reason is simple: Washington Dulles is a very bad airport. 118 arrests in massive airline ticket fraud A woman brought a pig onboard a US Airways flight on Wednesday as an emotional support animal. The woman and the pig were asked to deplane (prior to departure) ‘after it became disruptive’. (HT: Reid F.) The FAA has ruled in favor of US Airways in the past for carrying a pig onboard (in first class). The sun will rise in the East, and United will eliminate stopovers on awards. 94 Year Old Has a Firearm Seized at New York LaGuardia Stackable Hyatt savings for 22% off. You can join the 40,000+ people who see these deals and analysis…
International First Class Isn’t Disappearing – It’s Surging Like Never Before!
Last month I asked, Why is International First Class Disappearing? I concluded that it isn’t — there are certain trends that are causing it to disappearing from some airlines and some markets, and for those airlines that retain it to ‘right-sze’ the cabins (no more 16 seat first class cabins on Lufthansa!). But airlines aren’t letting first class die, they’re re-investing in some of the greatest products we’ve seen — like Singapore’s Suites and Emirates’ onboard showers. And even where it’s going away, it’s merely then name that disappears — because today’s top international business class products are far better than what first class used to be. The Financial Times now makes the case that far from disappearing, international first class is seeing a resurgence (subscription may be required). In fact, the number of first…
Another Star Alliance Program Devalues
tommy777 passes along two articles in Norwegian cover the details of SAS EuroBonus’ plans to devalue their program on January 1. Changes from January 1, 2015 in brief: Lower point earnings on the cheapest tickets in SAS Go and SAS Plus Europe will be 1 zone (not 3 as before) Higher point earnings in SAS Business to/from the US and Asia Lower point requirements for Gold status: 45 000 Basic points (previously 50 000) or 45 one-way trips* (previously 50) Lower point requirements for Diamond status: 90 000 Basic points (previously 100 000) or 90 one-way trips* (previously 100) *Valid on SAS flights and selected destinations on Widerøe. The new earning rates have fixed earn based on where you’re traveling. All of Europe has a single amount of miles earned based on the fare class…
Inside Donald Trump’s 757
Donald Trump has made a lot of money by always appearing in character, as a buffoon. He’s done some awful high profile real estate deals, which led to three bankruptcies — but has also earned a large amount of money as a public character (although he may not be as wealthy as he says he is). Part of projecting success is having an over-the-top private jet. Trump’s is a 757… not Middle Eastern Prince-worthy, but still quite impressive by US business standards. And there’s a touch of Middle East sheikh chic: “You’ll notice the seatbelts, as well as everything else, are 24 karat gold plated.” This doesn’t impress me, even the Trump Shuttle (earlier the Eastern Shuttle, now the US Airways Shuttle) used to have gold plated fixtures in the lavatory.. Here’s a three year…
50% Off Awards to Europe from New York and Chicago
Air France KLM’s Flying Blue program should be interesting to U.S. frequent flyers for several reasons. They offer one-way awards, which Delta won’t have until next year. They are an American Express Membership Rewards and a Citi Thank You points transfer partner. They have access to award space that Delta won’t let you have. They have most of their partners available for online booking Unfortunately their call centers are frustrating, their website can be too (and has been known to show ‘phantom’ award availability, seats that look available but aren’t really here to book). And they add fuel surcharges onto award tickets. One of the great values, historically, has been their ‘promo awards’. Award tickets discounted as much as half the cost of their regular award chart can be a great value, for a relatively…
50% Off Audi Car Rentals With Loads of Features from Silvercar
All-Audi all-inclusive car rental company Silvercar (see How I Made $12 on My Audi Rental Car) is offering 50% off rentals (!) with promo code WACKFRIDAY if you book by December 1 at midnight and rent in December. Silvercar has locations in: Austin Dallas Love Field Dallas Ft. Worth Denver Los Angeles Miami Phoenix San Francisco When you rent from Silvercar, their all-inclusive model comes with free GPS, wifi, and satellite radio. You pay only actual tolls (no administrative charges) and can pay a flat $5 and they’ll refuel your car at market rate. No $9.79 per gallon charges, and no filling up at the gas station near rental car return charging nearly $5 a gallon. Here’s my referral code. They’re giving out $100 for referring new renters currently, and I’d much appreciate it if…
Free Hotel Nights for Your Facebook Friends, and How to Fix Heathrow
News and notes from around the interweb: Swedish hotel gives free stays to people with lots of Instagram followers and Facebook friends. (HT: Alan H.) Entrepreneurial flight attendant sells extra business class meal to economy passenger. The TSA’s instagram feed (HT: Lots of folks in my Facebook feed) Man enroute to a movie shoot in Dubai was arrested at JFK airport taking a stun gun, pellet gun, and machete through security. The amazing thing? The TSA caught it. (HT: Alan H.) Here’s what seems a rather ingenious proposal to extend Heathrow’s runways to allow for simultaneous takeoffs and landings and expand the airport’s capacity. There will be many objections, likely coming from the local community and incumbent airlines owning existing takeoff and landing slots who don’t want more competition. You can join the 40,000+ people…
The World’s First Suitcase With Its Own Smartphone App
It purports to be the first suitcase with its own smartphone app. The luggage: Weighs itself Lets you know whether it’s onboard your flight Tells you if it has been opened by anyone between the time you drop it off an pick it up at baggage claim Acts as a stereo in your hotel room. I’d be surprised if this suitcase is permitted to be transported in a luggage hold, since it uses wifi technology that I don’t believe shuts off inflight. Surely the Department of Homeland Security will consider it a risk in some sort of movie theater-style plot, given the possibility of remote detonation. But if it is allowed, would you buy high tech luggage? Or would you prefer an old fashioned suitcase on wheels that lacks this sort of connectivity? Would it…
US Airways Reduces Top Tier Elite Qualification Requirement.. for One Year Only
US Airways Dividend Miles will be combined into American AAdvantage next year — the official word is second quarter 2015. If I had to be it would be on the early end of that timeframe, since they’ve made an announcement of when they’ll do it they are confident they’ll be able to hit the target (why announce a target you may not hit?). That tells me they think they can be ready even earlier. When the two programs are combined, elite qualifying activity from 2014 between the two programs will get combined to determine 2015 elite status. So someone that had qualifying miles or segments in both American and US Airways during 2014 can get their status bumped up as a result of merging the programs. Someone might have 90,000 qualifying miles with American and…
