Review: Park Hyatt Sydney Opera Deluxe Room

by Gary Leff

Jun 27 2015

I stayed at the Park Hyatt Sydney back over Thanksgiving, having reserved the hotel before it went up to category 7. I had a decidedly mixed stay, largely colored by an insistence that if I wanted an Opera View room upgrade (not even an Opera Deluxe, let alone a suite) I would have to pay a $100 per night upcharge as a Gold Passport Diamond member.

That was all sorted at the end of the stay, and I was happy to return and give the hotel another shot. I was in Sydney for my cousin’s wedding, and the location of the hotel is actually perfect for me since it’s right by the ferries that take me out to the suburbs where they live.

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Hyatt Speaks Out on Hotels Playing Games With Reward Space and Confirmed Upgrades

by Gary Leff

Jun 27 2015

This week I wrote about two significant challenges with the Hyatt Gold Passport program.

Yesterday I spoke with Jeff Zidell, Hyatt’s Senior Vice President for the Gold Passport program, about these issues.

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Challenges Upgrading a Family of Four on an International Trip

by Gary Leff

Jun 27 2015

American AAdvantage gives (8) confirmed systemwide upgrades each year to their 100,000 mile flyers (Executive Platinum members). In addition, four systemwide upgrades are awarded upon achieving lifetime Platinum status (2 million miles) and at each subsequent million mile threshold.

These can be used to upgrade one direction of flying on American flights on just about any fare.

Reader S. asked about using his American systemwide upgrades for a family of four traveling together on American Airlines.

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ACT QUICKLY: United’s Premium Newark-Los Angeles/San Francisco Flat Bed Awards Are Wide Open

by Gary Leff

Jun 26 2015

United is ending service at New York JFK October 24 and increasing the number of flights they operate to San Francisco and Los Angeles from Newark.

They’ve loaded those additional flights into the schedule. All are operated by internationally-configured Boeing 757s with lie flat beds in business class.

And award space is wide open.

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New Pyongyang Airport Terminal is Absolute Perfection! Built in Harmony With Modern Aesthetic Taste and National Character!

by Gary Leff

kim jong ung looking over balcony
Jun 26 2015

Earlier this week, Kim Jong Un visited the new domestic terminal of Pyongyang International Airport.

The terminal was ordered built in July 2012 because the existing domestic terminal was seen as too run down compared to what countries around the world had. Last November much of the work was ordered torn down and redone because the project didn’t “reflect North Korea’s “Juche” (self-reliance) philosophy and national identity.” (The official in charge was purged.)

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