Apr 10 2015

IHG Rewards Club — the hotel loyalty program for Intercontinental, Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza, and related brands — is introducing an auction for experiences redemption site next month.

Poking around at their beta offering it looks like there will be some cool offerings to start, and these types of projects usually wind up offering great deals at the outset. Those don’t last more than a few months or a year before they become overrun with members who bid up the winning prices, and the offerings themselves usually become stale.

But for now you’ll want to pay close attention and come away with some steals..!

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Apr 09 2015

This isn’t good. The letter doesn’t specify the violations, but those terms could mean issues like aviators not undergoing requisite, periodic check rides overseen by examiners within the required time, or the airline lacking records to document completion of such proficiency checks. The letter also cites problems with scheduling, which could include flying longer than the FAA allows. The FAA approves airlines’ systems governing such matters, and carriers are required to comply with those rules. …In this case, according to the FAA letter, voluntary reports of 12 apparent violations in 13 months stemming “from the same or similar set of circumstances” indicate a “systemic” hazard, requiring United to conduct “a complete review of your processes associated with crew member qualification” and develop an “action plan…to mitigate this hazard.” As a result, the FAA stopped accepting…

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Apr 09 2015

The Port Authority of New York New Jersey – which we care about because it is in charge of New York area airports – just looks more and more corrupt. Federal prosecutors are looking at even more dealings, and unsurprisingly – given United’s Newark hub – they focus on that airline formerly known as Continental.

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Apr 09 2015

A British Airways-filed first class fare from Dubai to Austin looks to be 80% – 90% off, and lets you fly British Airways first class across the pond.. and other certain carriers (even Qantas) for Dubai – London. Refundable ticket, lots of premium cabin bonuses, surely this will be fun for some…!

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Apr 09 2015

Alyssa Milano went through a drama at London’s Heathrow airport worthy of Melrose Place that neither a Charmed witch nor Tony Danza could help her fix.

Milano, who has a 7 month old baby, sought to carry on 10 ounces of breast milk and brought it through security. But she wasn’t actually traveling with her baby.

London Heathrow’s airport security confiscated her breast milk. But she showed them — she pumped more once she got through!

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Apr 09 2015

Great posts on other blogs worth being aware of, and news stories worth seeing, others are doing a great job covering something so I don’t need to. I just point you to what I’ve found interesting that others have written.

Today we’ve got a bunch on aviation safety – a Delta accident, private pilots who never follow procedure, and how to extend the range of an Airbus A320 to fly to Hawaii. We’ve also got tips and tricks for hotels, and a video inside the new Godzilla hotel in Tokyo. I almost want to stay there. Almost…

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Apr 09 2015

This week Steve Belkin who runs Competitours offered to help me cover the $3850 trip for one teammate (team partner responsible for their trip fee). So in the latest Amazing Race for regular folks giveaway the winners are: Scott who wrote, My girlfriend wants to get married, I’m dragging my feet. Sounds like the perfect test for future compatibility! Steve advises that there was a marriage proposal on the 2011 Competitours trip, so be very afraid that it could happen to you and your better half! Shane who wrote, When I was 10 years old, my cousin and I bought a greyhound bus ticket intended for San Diego (from Des Moines). We apparently were too young since we got confused at our stop and ended up in Seattle… At age 14, we did our first…

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Apr 09 2015

US Airways Dividend Miles has been folded into American AAdvantage. Apparently a very large number of customers who had accounts in both programs linked them, and that ensured miles got folded into the right accounts.

If yours didn’t, you can do it yourself. Here’s how to merge your accounts, online, yourself.

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Apr 08 2015

There’s an ongoing spat between United, Delta, and American Airlines on the one hand and Etihad, Emirates, and Qatar on the other. The former US airlines don’t believe they should have to compete against the large aggressive Gulf carriers which they claim are substantially subsidized by their governments. They don’t think consumers should reap the connectivity advantages, service advantages, or low prices that their prices bring. They released a report purporting to do the math on subsidies to the big Gulf carriers. I was not impressed. And I believe that the US airlines can and should compete successfully without government protectionism. A pretty big piece of research dropped that ought to play a signficant role in the debate – detailing just how subsidized the US airlines have been. While they’re throwing potshots at their competitors,…

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Apr 08 2015

The Chinese government has announced a policy of tracking its tourists who behave badly in other countries. Just the thread of having one’s behavior monitors, and logged, while outside the country is expected to serve as a deterrent to tourists who fail to adhere to local customs in an egregious way while on vacation.

Though it responds to a worldwide perception, and results from the new wealth which has led to a tremendous migration from rural areas to cities and has allowed Chinese people to travel outside the country it is likely unnecessary. And it’s darned scary…

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