You can now use points to pay down student debt. But if you do it, and accept the low value redemptions offered, are you really learning the right financial lessons?
Singapore flew non-stop Newark – Singapore as the longest flight in the world onboard an Airbus A340-500. They also flew Los Angeles – Singapore non-stop, and Thai Airways flew New York JFK – Bangkok using that plane type.
The Singapore Airlines ultra-long haul flights were originally operated in two cabin configuration, and changed to all business class service. The goal was selling fewer seats at a significant premium. The economics didn’t work.
The A340-500 was more or less a flying gas can. And carrying so much fuel for such a long distance means carrying more fuel to handle the weight of that fuel. As the price of avgas rose, operating costs of the plane became worse and worse. Eventually all three of those flights came to and end.
Data breaches and account security are a pretty big deal these days. Is this the best way for United to be promoting that?
I spoke with American on Wednesday morning about an upcoming very modest tweak to their award chart, that actually moves them further in the direction of matching award pricing with ticket cost and tells us some things about how members use the program.
Just a few months ago young Conrad Hilton went berserk on a London – Los Angeles flight threatening to fight and ‘own’ the ‘peasants’ on the plane. And he smoked pot in the lavatory. The sentence is in: he gets away with it.
A collection of the most interesting links you’ll want to see, many you’ll want to click.
Charles Clarke had his life savings confiscated at the Cincinnati airport because his bag smelled like pot and he was flying on a one-way ticket. He was never convicted, but it’s a long shot he’ll ever get his money back.
Here’s what you need to know so that this doesn’t happen to you.
Hilton is offering a 5000 point per stay bonus at all of their hotels worldwide (nothing excluded) that stacks on top of their current double points promotion. Definitely worth registering, even though it’s only available for about three weeks.
American Airlines AAdvantage has one of the least expensive award charts for premium cabin travel to many regions, and they only add significant fuel surcharges to one of their airline partners. But their routing rules, the way you’re allowed to construct an award, are complex and they don’t even publish them at AA.com.
Not only are they published here, but they’re explained. This is an advanced post worth bookmarking if you collect American miles.
A collection of the most interesting links you’ll want to see, many you’ll want to click.
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 »
