US Airways departs Star Alliance on March 30th, and enters the oneworld alliance on March 31. They sent out an update message yesterday and linked to a page on their website that contained some confusing information. Lucky pointed out this page about how the merger and transition to oneworld will change the US Airways Dividend Miles program. And he noted in particular this section: How to redeem Check the American Airlines award chart to see how many miles you need to reach your desired destination. Book award travel on American with your Dividend Miles on usairways.com or call 800-428-4322. Miles cannot be combined between the Dividend Miles and AAdvantage programs to redeem flight awards. American Airlines award travel chart (pdf) The line, “Check the American Airlines award chart” seemed to suggest that US Airways award…
Bank of America Introduces New Existential Credit Card Rewards
From The Onion: ..Bank of America unveiled its new Existential Rewards credit card program at a press event Friday, which will reportedly allow cardholders to accrue a deep sense of fulfillment and purpose on all purchases. …the more they spend with their Existential Rewards credit card, the more meaning they gain in their lives,” said Bank of America spokeswoman Miranda Behr, who added that with no foreign transaction fees and an introductory zero-percent APR, racking up an abiding sense of purpose was as easy as earning three self-realization points for every dollar spent, plus double fulfillment at grocery stores and restaurants. …60,000 points is all you need to attain everlasting enlightenment.” I don’t know, I still prefer points that transfer to American AAdvantage miles. Because I can attain a whole lot of enlightenment if I…
Richard Branson’s Life Advice to Have a Sofa in Your Kitchen, Which Bags Will Get Stolen, and Go Hungry on United (Bits ‘n Pieces for March 21, 2014)
News and notes from around the interweb: A sneak peak at the Park Hyatt Vienna which opens this summer The new list of IHG Rewards PointBreaks hotels is available, with booking starting on Monday. Starwood has a promotion for meeting planners who book by September 30 for events through the end of 2014: a 2% discount on the master bill, 1000 bonus Starpoints for every 10 room nights, plus either a complimentary welcome reception or free room or upgrade for every 35 rooms booked. That’s on top of the usual points earned. I much like Starwood’s meeting planning program which – like Marriott’s – will let you earn elite status through your coompany’s meeting spend. Your first class priority tag might make your bag more attractive to a sticky-fingered baggage handler. And ‘most thefts occur…
Vietnam, Cambodia, Macau and Hong Kong Trip Report: Visiting Angkor Wat and Other Temples in Siem Reap
Angkor Wat Tours: Index: Introduction, Positioning Flight to New York, and the Hilton JFK British Airways First Class Lounge, New York JFK Cathay Pacific First Class, New York JFK – Hong Kong The Pier First Class Lounge and Cathay Pacific Business Class, Hong Kong – Ho Chi Minh City Park Hyatt Saigon Lunch at Pho Hoa, Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam Airlines Business Class, Ho Chi Minh City – Danang Hyatt Regency Danang Resort & Spa Vietnam Airlines Economy, Danang – Siem Reap Park Hyatt Siem Reap Angkor Wat and Other Temples Dragonair Business Class, Siem Reap – Hong Kong Turbojet, Hong Kong Airport – Macau and the Sheraton Macao Hotel The Venetian, Fernando’s, and the Ferry to Hong Kong Grand Hyatt Hong Kong Harbor View Suite Bo Innovation, Hong Kong Amber Restaurant, Hong Kong…
Earning Lifetime Star Gold Status About to Get a Little Harder (But Just a Little)
I have lifetime Star Alliance Gold status and I didn’t even have to fly to earn it. (And note that since I wrote that post Aegean has improved its award ticket change policies.) When british midland was acquired by British Airways and left the Star Alliance, Star member Aegean Airlines offered status matches to bmi elite members. I was a bmi Gold member, and Aegean Airlines gave me Gold status in their Miles&Bonus program. Once you’ve reached Aegean Gold status, it’s lifetime as long as you keep your account active — activity at least once every three years. Of course the rule could change in the future. I used to think I had lifetime Airtran A+ Elite status (based on a status match), but after several years they took that status away. Nonetheless, right now…
Hyatt Chicago Magnificent Mile Has Magnificent Public Spaces and Diamond Breakfast
I spent a night earlier this week at the Hyatt Chicago Magnificent Mile, since it was the location of a happy hour that Hyatt Gold Passport sponsored for Milepoint frequent flyer community members. Overall I found: The public spaces to be gorgeous, a real thumbs up for that renovation. The breakfast buffet (complimentary for Gold Passport Diamonds) to be fantastic, high quality The rooms to be functional. The ground floor entrance to the hotel has a Starbucks, and an elevator you have to take up to get to reception. That’s when you’re struck by how attractively redone the lobby, the bar off the lobby, and other public spaces are. I was given a room on the 14th floor, a code for complimentary wireless internet, and a breakfast coupon. It was explained to me that Diamonds…
How Throwaway Tickets and Hidden Cities Can Save You Big Money on Airfare
It’s been awhile since I explained how to use hidden city and throwaway ticketing to save big money on airfare, and it’s such an integral part of an arsenal to save money on airline tickets that it’s worth repeating. Airlines often price tickets from one city to another through a hub cheaper than flights that terminate at the hub. Flying United New York to Milwaukee through Chicago is often much cheaper than just flying New York to Chicago. If you get off the plane in Chicago and don’t board your connection to Milwaukee, you’ve potentially saved yourself a lot of money. This is called hidden city ticketing. Most people think they’ve purchased two flights, New York to Chicago and Chicago to Milwaukee. They only take one, but the airlines still got paid for both. The…
Over 10,000 American Airlines Miles for Facebook Game and Flights
American has launched a new Passport Challenge Promotion. Through May 23 American is offering miles for: Learn and earn. Up to 700 miles (50 to 100 per activity) Be social and earn. Up to 350 miles (25 to 50 per activity like following American on Twitter, watching a video, and sharing a video with friends) Fly and earn. 500 to 2500 miles for flying on US Airways, US Airways Shuttle, a new domestic route, flying international, a oneworld airline partner, and exceeding qualifying points goals for up to 9000 miles The first ‘learn and earn’ activity is American Airlines trivia, the questions are easy, you’ll decide whether it’s worth the time for 50 miles. American serves more than 330 destinations. You have to guess their hubs, the correct answer is the choice with the most…
Will You Pay Delta More to Earn More Miles, Pay the UK Lower Taxes, and Fly Airline Partners for a Better Experience? (Bits ‘n Pieces for March 20, 2014)
News and notes from around the interweb: Scott McCartney posits in the Wall Street Journal that Delta’s shift towards a revenue-based frequent flyer program will create further bad incentives between business travelers versus their companies, with travelers putting off booking travel — to net higher fares and thus more miles. United’s Mercedes tarmac transfers will be extended to Los Angeles and San Francisco (Chicago, Houston and Newark already have the feature). Here are the flights you want to take if you’re O’Hare-based. I tell Crain’s Chicago Business that alliance partners of American (like Cathay Pacific and Japan Airlines) and United (like ANA, Asiana, and Turkish) offer flights that passengers might not think of, and that Lufthansa’s Dusseldorf flight often has seats including award space. Please enter Fly & Dine’s Starbucks giveaway. Iron Maiden lead singer…
Vietnam, Cambodia, Macau and Hong Kong Trip Report: Park Hyatt Siem Reap
Index: Introduction, Positioning Flight to New York, and the Hilton JFK British Airways First Class Lounge, New York JFK Cathay Pacific First Class, New York JFK – Hong Kong The Pier First Class Lounge and Cathay Pacific Business Class, Hong Kong – Ho Chi Minh City Park Hyatt Saigon Lunch at Pho Hoa, Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam Airlines Business Class, Ho Chi Minh City – Danang Hyatt Regency Danang Resort & Spa Vietnam Airlines Economy, Danang – Siem Reap Park Hyatt Siem Reap Angkor Wat and Other Temples Dragonair Business Class, Siem Reap – Hong Kong Turbojet, Hong Kong Airport – Macau and the Sheraton Macao Hotel The Venetian, Fernando’s, and the Ferry to Hong Kong Grand Hyatt Hong Kong Harbor View Suite Bo Innovation, Hong Kong Amber Restaurant, Hong Kong Cathay Pacific The…
