It’s back to the future for American Express Membership Rewards and their new partnership to allow you to use points at Chili’s. Radisson Hotels used to share a loyalty program with TGI Friday’s. That was a bad use of points, and so is this. But with a few points you can get a quesadilla explosion…
Since I didn’t have much time, and I’m not an expert on either Sri Lankan food or getting around the capital, I decided to hire a guide for a few hours on my day in Colombo.
I found an excellent guide, and since it’s Sri Lanka it was reasonably priced. We began at the floating market, stopped at a street vendor and for some dessert, and at a Sri Lankan vegetarian buffet.
I will never look at eating my fruits and vegetables the same way again, and especially loved the kottu, made of roti, vegetables, egg, meat, and spices…
A USA Today column made the claim today that passengers are booking away from American Airlines due to customer service. It gets facts wrong, concedes customers aren’t *actually* avoiding flying American, and then points out one of the places it says customers are going – United – has more DOT complaints than American.
The article has been clogging up frequent flyer forums and my Facebook feed all day. Some logic needs to be applied here.
Star Alliance member Copa Airlines is breaking away from United’s MileagePlus and starting their own ConnectMiles program. They’ve promised that ‘one mile flown earns one mile’. How are they keeping their promises, and what does their award chart look like?
A collection of interesting links you’ll want to see, many you’ll want to click.
A major league ballplayer getting called up from the minors may not be around for long, and in an expensive city like New York what are they to do for lodging?
The answer? Turn to online techniques for big hotel savings.
I had one night to spend in Colombo. It’s a popular stopover to and from the Maldives, since it’s inexpensive and easier to get in and out of than Male, though there the Maldives capital is increasingly accessible.
I actually wanted to spend the night in Colombo, though, and set up the trip this way on purpose. I could have done an outright stopover on my one-way Alaska Airlines-issued Emirates award, but I just booked it as a 23 hour connection. That was enough to grab some food in Sri Lanka.
For the night I chose one of the only Western chain hotels, the Hilton which is very much a business property.
Japan Airlines first class — sometimes four seats and even more — wide open for redeeming American AAdvantage miles on the Chicago and San Francisco – Tokyo routes. Book quickly.
A collection of interesting links you’ll want to see, many you’ll want to click.
American CEO Doug Parker thinks that when the government picks up his airline’s obligations, that’s not a subsidy because they haven’t given him cash.
Delta CEO RIchard Anderson thinks because they pay corporate taxes they aren’t getting tax (or other) subsidies.
Or at least that’s what they *say* they believe. They can’t possibly really think that, though, right?
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 »
