News and notes from around the interweb: Southwest Airlines will offer Cartoon Network programming inflight via wifi Passenger hit over head with bottle of Jack Daniels inflight between Sydney and Bangkok. “There was blood everywhere.” (HT: Alan H.) Six countries that US airlines are prohibited from flying over (HT: Alan H.) Uber starting to offer wifi-equipped black cars at no extra charge. 20% off Turkish Miles&Smiles awards on new routes through end of year. The biggest luxury city hotel opening of the year? The Peninsula Paris is expected to welcome guests starting August 1. (HT: Alan H.) You can join the 40,000+ people who see these deals and analysis every day — sign up to receive posts by email (just one e-mail per day) or subscribe to the RSS feed. It’s free. You can also…
100 Free Aeroplan Miles
But you have to sign up to receive text messages from the program. Here is what you can expect from the Aeroplan Text Message Service No more than 2 or 3 text messages per month. Up-to-the-minute opportunities to earn more miles. Program news and information. If you’re willing to do this, here’s how to sign up. You can unsubscribe from text messages after the miles post in 3-4 weeks. Last year I called Aeroplan the most devalued program in North America. First there was the gutting of their award chart on July 15, 2011. For instance, my favorite award — first class to most of Asia — went from 120,000 miles to 175,000 miles (a 46% increase in one shot). Australia awards went from 75,000 to 80,000 in coach; 100,000 to 135,000 in business (35%…
The Missing Citi Points Transfer Partner
I receive compensation for many links on this blog. You don’t have to use these links, but I am grateful to you if you do. I do not write about all credit cards that are available — instead focusing on miles, points, and cash back (and currencies that can be converted into the same). The Citi Thank You Points program — which long ago used to be one of my favorites — breathed some new life into the offering today with the introduction of airline mileage transfer partners. Earlier today I listed (7) airlines that you can transfer points to: Cathay Pacific AsiaMiles EVA Air Infinity MileageLands Etihad Guest Garuda Indonesia Frequent Flyer Qatar Airways Privilege Club Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus Those are the seven listed as partner programs. But The…
Register to Earn Double and Triple Points at Hilton
Hilton is offering double points on Monday through Thursday nights, and trip points for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights between August 1 and October 31. Registration is required. Because this is Hilton, there will be a ton of hotels that have chosen not to participate. As of now we don’t know which those are. In fact, the promotion’s FAQ is still from last year’s version of the offer as I write this. So they aren’t quite ready with this one year, but we know what the next promotion will be. This isn’t a huge promotion, it isn’t one that will shift any of my business for sure, but it’s roughly in line with what we’ve seen from other hotel chains of late when rooms are reasonably full and they don’t need to spend big marketing…
Citi Thank You Points Just Became Really Useful Again!
Two-plus years ago there was much speculation about Citi introduces points transfer partners to the Thank You Points program. A year and a half ago they introduces transfers to Hilton HHonors. And that was it. Now they’ve gone ahead and done it!
A Hilton HHonors Bonus You Can Earn Even on Award Stays, and More!
News and notes from around the interweb: Conrad and Waldorf=Astoria property bonuses posting — even when you’re staying on points. Be sure to have something charged to your room folio while you’re there. One of the coolest things you didn’t know about Silvercar’s technology. I do much like Silvercar but I don’t think the typical rental experience is quite as bad as they say especially if you follow basic tips. Are mileage runs for top tier status still worth it? Help someone decide. Ben’s Chili Bowl will finally have its delayed opening at National airport on Wednesday. It’s located outside of security in the main terminal. I’m not personally a fan, but it’s a famous DC spot. Of course, the last thing I want my seat opponent eating prior to boarding is Ben’s Chili Bowl.…
Is This The End of Award Space to Australia?
Delta miles are great (yes, they really are!) for: Virgin Australia business class between the US and Australia. Australia awards, especially without transiting Asia, are among the very toughest to get but Delta miles have been this easy in the past. Saudia. Want to take your whole extended family in business class to India and surrounds on the same long haul flight? And they actually have a bit better of a product than you think. Virgin Atlantic without fuel surcharges, now that Delta owns 49% of the airline. Last month I highlighted Virgin Australia’s amazing award availability between the U.S. and Australia. Specifically, I showed just how many dates you’d find at least four business class seats on the Los Angeles – Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne routes. Sadly wide-open availability is no longer the case.
Where is Delta’s Award Chart Going Next, and Why Won’t They Book Air France Seats Everyone Else Can?
In this post I am going to offer some possible insight into what’s going on with Delta Skymiles — award availability, and the future of redemption — based on conversations with several different knowledgeable people regarding the transition to a revenue-based program and the agreements they have in place with their partners. None of those people shared the full picture, so it’s possible that this is slightly off but nonetheless I believe it’s at a minimum directionally-correct.
MEME Alert: The #1 Ranked Hotel in Republic of Zubrowka
I much liked Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel. (What a cast! with Bill Murray, Harvey Keitel, F. Murray Abraham, Owen Wilson, and Jeff Goldblum in supporting roles.) So, too, apparently did a number of TripAdvisor reviewers. (HT: Jenny F.) For an interwar period property, I like complaints such as “No free wifi.” TripAdvisor warns that the hotel is unbookable: Without the warning this could have become TripAdvisor’s Tuscan Whole Milk. One word of caution — milk, even when frozen into a baseball-bat shape, is nigh worthless as a baseball bat, merely shattering into cloudy fragments at the first strike of a baseball. You can join the 40,000+ people who see these deals and analysis every day — sign up to receive posts by email (just one e-mail per day) or subscribe to the RSS…
LifeMiles Reveals Its Big Star Alliance Award Chart Changes..
Since Avianca’s LifeMiles joined Star Alliance, it has been one of the most lucrative frequent flyer programs in the world. They’ve announced a new award chart starting October 15th, and have now released the details of the chart. Are there some great hidden gems? Are the increases bad? Will they change how to play this program?
