Bold Leap: Somaliland Acquires Ethiopian Airlines Stake, Defying Global Non-Recognition

Jan 01 2024

The blog post discusses the unique position of Somaliland, an unrecognized state, acquiring a stake in Ethiopian Airlines, a major move in the aviation industry. It also explores the broader context of Ethiopia’s challenges, including civil war and its strategic maneuvers in the Horn of Africa, reflecting the complexities of regional politics and economics.

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Back To The Future Blunder: United’s Special Flight 200 Lands In The Wrong Year

Jan 01 2024

On Friday I wrote about the five flights that take off one day, and arrive at their destination the previous day thanks to the international date line.

The first, Guam – Honolulu on United, actually would have allowed you to celebrate New Years Eve twice, in two different cities. Go out on December 31st in Guam, then catch an early New Years Day flight to Honolulu – arriving in Hawaii early enough on New Years Eve there to party again.

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I Need 100,000 Miles and 50 Nights to Requalify for Elite Status

Jan 01 2024

Today is the most democratic (small d) day of the year in travel. That’s because it’s January 1, and in many programs everyone’s elite status counters get reset to zero (except for those squirrely foreign programs that have membership years based on the date you joined, and American that has extended the elite earning year by two months).

I have exactly the same number of elite qualifying miles and nights as everyone else today.

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Watch Your Back: Tourists Caught On Video Being Extorted By Cops In Nigeria And Bali

Dec 31 2023

A Dutch motorcyclist and YouTuber documented their ordeal being extorted by police in Nigeria. Through the social media account ‘Itchy Boots’ they shared their travel through Abuja, where she captured a conversation with an officer who demanded money. The officer involved was dismissed. MilesQuest quotes a commenter who seeks sympathy for the officer, arguing that the conditions they face are tough. These men have to buy their uniforms, fuel and repair their patrol vehicles, sometimes repair their guns and buy their ammunition. It’s really a bigger conversation on the condition of service of the Nigerian police men and women. Some even have to make returns to their superiors. It’s common knowledge that the money they get on the streets goes to their superiors in the office. Not to talk of their living conditions. This gets…

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Sharing The Luxury: Hyatt New Elite Transferable Rewards and Expanded Benefits

Dec 31 2023

It was already the best status program among the major hotel chains. It’s getting even better for 2024. I’m excited to see they’ll be onboarding Mr. and Mrs. Smith Hotels which offers amazing luxury and boutique properties. I love the places this will unlock for me to spend my points. So I’m excited about the direction Hyatt is headed.

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Another Kid Flown To Wrong City On U.S. Airline

Dec 31 2023

The 6 year old unaccompanied minor that Spirit Airlines sent to the wrong airport – to Orlando instead of Fort Myers, Florida – isn’t the only minor flown to the wrong place by a U.S. airline this holiday season.

It was, naturally, another Florida flight. The 16 year old was flying from Tampa to Cleveland and wound up in San Juan on December 22.

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