View from the Wing - Page 2 of 1990 - Thought Leader in Travel

The 6 Best Value Rewards Cards, Big Rewards at a Low Price

by Gary Leff on February 22, 2020

credit cards

Feb 22 2020

Customers who pocket big bonuses, use their rewards, and spend most heavily in the fastest earning spending categories — all while paying off their card in full each month — may not wind up being a profitable customer for a bank. That’s especially true with the richest rewards cards, however those also come with the heftiest annual fees.

Not everyone is willing to apply for a $450 or $550 annual fee credit card. So here are some of the best value cards with annual fees less than $100 that deliver the strongest benefits and rewards.

8 New Controversial Claims By Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary

by Gary Leff on February 22, 2020

ryan air plane landing

Feb 22 2020

Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary believes a lot of controversial things and says them. I’ve often been skeptical that he even believes what he says – whenever he’s been out of the news for awhile he’ll talk about making customers of the European low cost carrier pay to use the lavatory, which I guess he believes entrenches the belief in customers’ minds that his airline is cheap.

However in a new interview he made made several claims only a couple of which are clearly self-serving.

Flight Attendant Fired For Being 1.5 Pounds Overweight

by Gary Leff on February 22, 2020

malaysia airlines

Feb 22 2020

Malaysia Airlines flight attendant Ina Meliesa Hassim filed a case against her employer after being fired for weighing in 1.5 pounds over the airline’s standard for her height.

She lost the case. The court chairman concludedthat there was just cause for the termination.

Airport Security Director Fired After Falling For A Scammer’s Trick, Buying Him Gift Cards

by Gary Leff on February 22, 2020

Feb 22 2020

Milwaukee airport’s security manager has been fired after falling for a scam, buying gift cards and sending them to someone in Saudi Arabia posing as her boss.

She’s the security director and she’s not careful dealing with online scammers. That’s not a good look, and she was let go for “substandard or careless job performance.” However what she ran into is very common and part of a multi-billion dollar scam that I’ve run into many times over the past three years.

United And Chase Extend Credit Card Deal Through 2029

by Gary Leff on February 21, 2020

united-plane

Feb 21 2020

Chase and United have extended their credit card agreement into 2029. United will remain a Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer partner. And Chase is, it seems, paying United more for the miles that it awards to customers – the airline says its bottom line will improve $400 million in 2020 alone.

Fare Alert: Business Class Roundtrip To Russia From $1622

by Gary Leff on February 21, 2020

st. basils cathedral

Feb 21 2020

There’s currently business class tickets between New York and Russia – either Moscow or St. Petersburg – from just $1622 roundtrip with the transatlantic portion of the journey on oneworld member Finnair. That’s an amazing fare, and it’s available exactly when you’d want to make the trip whether you want the best weather or to steal an election.

United Increasing Checked Bag Fees – Unless You Prepay Online

by Gary Leff on February 21, 2020

Feb 21 2020

Last month JetBlue increased its first checked bag fee to $35 but kept it at $30 if prepaid online. Now United has announced they’re matching the move on domestic and short haul Latin America and Caribbean routes.

With United getting rid of bag sizers at the gate and higher bag fees may exacerbate the ‘bring everything on board’ mentality.

IHG Card’s Best-Ever 140,000 Point Offer

by Gary Leff on February 21, 2020

skyscrapers in city

Feb 21 2020

Last year Chase had an initial offer of 125,000 points with an IHG credit card. That was really impressive — the standard offer used to be 60,000 and we’d get excited when it bumped up to 80,000. Now Chase has trumped even that offer.

How can you not jump at a 140,000 point initial bonus offer?

American Express Centurion Lounge Charlotte Opens Monday

by Gary Leff on February 21, 2020

Feb 21 2020

The 13,295 square foot lounge is located between the D and E concourses on the top level (you take an elevator upstairs). It features a bar, showers, family rooms, and great views of downtown and of airport operations.

Marriott Extending Status, Waiving Cancel Fees and Points Expiration For Chinese Members

by Gary Leff on February 21, 2020

chinese temple

Feb 21 2020

Following a similar move already announced by Hyatt, Marriott is extending elite status by a year for residents of China and its Special Administrative Regions (as well as Taiwan so as not to get in trouble by differentiating it) due to the coronavirus outbreak and concomitant drop in travel to and from the region. This is based on account address date as of February 1, 2020.

Marriott is also extending Suite Night Awards and Free Night awards for these customers won’t expire points in these members’ accounts until February 2021.

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 »

View from the Wing is a project of Miles and Points Consulting, LLC. This site is for entertainment purpose only. The owner of this site is not an investment advisor, financial planner, nor legal or tax professional and articles here are of an opinion and general nature and should not be relied upon for individual circumstances.

Advertiser Disclosure: Many (but not all) of the credit card offers on the site are from banks from which we receive compensation if you are approved. Compensation does not impact the placement of cards in content. Banner advertising, in contrast, is paid for by advertisers (we do not directly control the banner advertising on this blog).

I don't include all US credit card offers available on this site. Instead, I write primarily about cards which earn airline miles, hotel points, and some cash back (or have points that can be converted into the same).

Editorial Note: The opinions, analyses, and evaluations here are mine and not provided by any bank including (but not limited to) American Express, Chase, Citibank, US Bank, Barclays or any other company. They have not reviewed, approved or endorsed what I have to say.

Comments made in response to posts are not provided or commissioned nor have they been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any bank. It is not the responsibility of any advertiser to ensure that questions are answered.

BoardingArea