Apr 11 2015

News and notes from around the interweb: JohnnyJet visited Amanyara and Amangani. I’ve never taken a comped hotel stay, but I’ve never been offered one by an Aman resort, either. DOT, Commerce Department, and State Department will set up a website to hear US airlines’ hypocritical argument that the big Gulf carriers are too subsidized and shouldn’t be granted access to US markets. Because the US government should be taking steps to increase airfares, limit schedules, and depress service. The docket numbers, if you want to file anything at Regulation.gov, are: DOT-OST-2015-0082 (DOT) DOS-2015-0016 (State) DOC-2015-0001 (Commerce) Scoot, the low cost carrier owned by Singapore Airlines, is trolling Spirit Airlines for stealing their corporate branding. What it’s like to visit New York using a 1990s guide book. (HT: Marginal Revolution) If you haven’t already combined…

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Apr 11 2015

Hipmunk is mispricing tickets on Emirates. As reader David H and another reader who asked to be anonymous mentioned to me today, you can pull up all sorts of itineraries using Hipmunk – in business and first class, all over the world – that look like the best deal you’ve ever seen. Search for New York JFK – Nairobi (via Dubai) and you come up with $115 roundtrip itineraries. Change to business class and it promises prices of just $831. That’s cheaper than even a good deal in coach. Unfortunately when you click through from Hipmunk to the Emirates website to make the booking, you’re presented with the ‘real’ price. So when you ask for an itinerary like: And you’re presented with all options running just $3.68 roundtrip (!)… .. it turns out to be…

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Apr 11 2015

A look at the inflight service standards from airlines around the world gives us a sense of things that can be done during a flight — that do not cost an airline anything at all — to make passengers feel more comfortable, more valued, and even… welcome.

US airlines have the tools to do these things, with simple standards. They just need to make it a priority.

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Apr 11 2015

Did you know that there’s a card which earns 1.5 American miles per dollar on all spending, and it isn’t issued by Citibank? It has a 50,000 mile signup bonus and appears to come with full Priority Pass membership which gets you access to most United Clubs. All for a $195 annual fee…

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Apr 11 2015

Via Baccarat_Guy, KLM has a brand mascot for children. It’s Bluey, “a ‘mini’ 747-400, and is friends with another airplane that FARTS! (when nervous, of course!)” Bluey is the theme for KLM’s kids meal. They’ve put together a short animated movie featuring Bluey. I’m terribly frightened, but I couldn’t help but watch.

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Apr 10 2015

An flight from Reykjavik to Denver was struck by lightning. It was only on arrival in Denver that anyone realized there was a gaping hole in the nose. Icelandair flight 671 was responding normally and there was apparently no indication of a need to divert. Lightning strikes aren’t uncommon, and planes are built to withstand them, though seeing the actual damage is striking. A little speed tape and should be good as new..

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Apr 10 2015

Delta is running an award sale for spring travel on certain domestic and Caribbean routes where you can save 2500 miles each way on economy redemptions.

Slipped in there, though, is listing “12,500 miles” (25,000 miles roundtrip) as the new, special ‘sale price’ on some domestic award tickets — which require 21 day advance purchase and have blackout dates.

Just when I thought Delta couldn’t hide the ball even more on program changes, they appear to have moved forward…

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Apr 10 2015

Last day for 1000 free Hilton points, register for 7500 bonus miles per Tokyo roundtrip on any fare, Uber introduces the anti-Uber services where you pay cash for a rickshaw, and other stories to keep you quickly up to date on miles, points and travel..

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Apr 10 2015

Cranky Flier had a great piece on the Department of Transportation’s ruling on Delta’s Seattle – Tokyo Haneda flight.

There are a limited number of permissible flights between the US and Tokyo’s close-in airports. One of the slots is currently held by Delta for Seattle service, but it was hugely unprofitable so Delta has just been sitting on the route.

Delta didn’t really fly it, so American filed to take it away. The DOT sided with Delta, but on the condition they actually operate the route. Now Delta has filed an argument claiming they shouldn’t have to actually provide service to customers in order to have the exclusive right to provide service to customers…

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Apr 10 2015

Silvercar offers a great rental car experience – nice cars, inclusive pricing, good service — and they have lucrative referral bonuses. The program was pretty clunky though, so they’ve revamped it. Here’s how Silvercar works and how you can benefit.

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