It’s hard to even imagine the experience. The plane was hijacked one hour after take-off. This is how it went down. After entering the plane, I went to my seat: economy class, window-side and next to the right wing. As it was around midnight, I quickly fell asleep during take-off. I was waken up an hour later due to the sound of all the oxygen mask going down. I immediatly thought « what the… » I looked at my neighbor, she seemed as confused at me: the plane was not behaving oddly so I thought it was a simple technical glitch or somebody pressed the wrong button. Everybody looked at each other, thinking what’s going on. Suddenly, a deep and angry voice talked through the cabin radio: “SIT DOWN, PUT YOUR MASKS ON, I’M CUTTING…
Self-Checking Baggage Plays an Important Role in Debates Over Future Technology and Economic Growth
Tyler Cowen flags a National Bureau of Economic Research paper that’s skeptical of the ability of automation to replace human labor; limitations on technological advances thus limiting future growth. This lack of multitasking ability is dismissed by the robot enthusiasts – just wait, it is coming. Soon our robots will not only be able to win at Jeopardy but also will be able to check in your bags at the sky cap station at the airport, thus displacing the skycaps. But the physical tasks that humans can do are unlikely to be replaced in the next several decades by robots. Surely multiple-function robots will be developed, but it will be a long and gradual process before robots outside of the manufacturing and wholesaling sectors become a significant factor in replacing human jobs in the service…
The Secret to the Perfect Trip Report, Revealed!
I’m working on a report of my recent trip to Vietnam, Cambodia, Hong Kong and Macau — some great first class flights, a couple of airlines I haven’t flown before, some new hotels and some amazong food recommendations (plus the local attractions I hadn’t visited before). Trying to figure out the best way to share this information with you, I decided to ask for reader advice. I’ve found that my trip reports bring out varied reactions, some people love them, others don’t find them useful, and I wanted to know how to deliver the best content that would serve you – my readers – best. And combing through the comments, it’s clear that I now have the secret to writing the perfect trip report. I should stick to the flights and hotels, and ignore the…
Quick $200 Giveaway – Leave a Comment Here
Quick giveaway: $200 (2 prizes of $100 gift cards) I received 5000 Starwood Starpoints from a complaint that I didn’t feel was a great idea for me to take. Rather than trying to get them to claw back the points, I feel better giving something away in its place. A few readers had proactively suggested (I didn’t ask for advice… 😛 ) that I give away Starpoints, but I can’t really transfer them and they’re expensive to buy. So a $100 gift card seems appropriate there. And in addition I had an extra $100 card I had purchased to do a few experiments with, and that I don’t wind up needing. Obviously it’s money, and I could either use the card or manage to get the funds back into a bank account. But the card…
Competition: Airport Dining Heats Up, One Government Fines Another, Discounts on Miles and Cars (Bits ‘n Pieces for February 17, 2014)
News and notes from around the interweb: Is this the most upscale dining competition at an airport? Gordon Ramsey has an outpost at London Heathrow’s Terminal 5 (“Plane Food”) and they offer three-course to-go picnic baskets. Meanwhile the new Star Alliance terminal will feature a Heston Blumenthal restaurant (I’ve only ever eaten at one of those). LAX is considering a settlement of 5 fines by the TSA. British Airways is offering up to a 25% bonus on purchased miles. Which isn’t a very good deal for most at 2.27 cents per point. I recently discussed booking a $9 Audi rental car from Silvercar. Here’s a valid $50 off couppn code so you can do the same. You can join the 30,000+ people who see these deals and analysis every day — sign up to receive…
Go Three, Go Free is Back
The Amtrak Guest Rewards home page has a banner for its new ‘Go Three, Go Free’ promotion. Register by March 14 and take three qualifying roundtrips on Acela Express by then as well and earn a free roundtrip on Acela for use July 1 through Aug. 31, 2014. The offer has apparently been valid since January but I somehow missed it. There is a minimum spend requirement of $90 each way, and they won’t credit more than two one way segments per day. Amtrak Select Executive members get to redeem for Acela’s first class. Up to 4 free one-ways can be earned. Free ride blackout dates of July 3, 6, and August 29 apply. (HT: Notiflyer) You can join the 30,000+ people who see these deals and analysis every day — sign up to receive…
1000 Bonus Miles for Presidents Day for Rocketmiles Hotel Bookings in Obscure Presidents Home States
Rocketmiles 1000 bonus miles in your choice of program for hotels booked today in the states of New York, Vermont, Virginia, Ohio, or Pennsylvania. Why? “To commemorate our least remembered Presidents.” How did they arrive at these states? William Taft’s (Ohio) jovial demeanor and affection for baths. Millard Fillmore’s (New York) contagious laugh and cloth-making skills. Martin Van Buren’s (New York) expertise of English, his second language. John Tyler (Virginia) and Chester Arthur (Vermont), for never whining when asked to step into the presidential role unexpectedly. Lifelong bachelor James “Old Buck” Buchanan (Pennsylvania), for doing it all without a First Lady. The bonus is not combinable with other offers. If you’re a first-time Rocketmiles customer you’re best off with 3000 Aeroplan miles or 3000 United miles, but this could be useful for someone that has…
Unlocking the Virgin Australia Award Chart (Now that They’re a Starwood Transfer Partner)
Virgin Australia has more non-stop award availability, especially in premium cabins, between the US and Australia than anyone else. By far. They have flights from Los Angeles to Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney. I’ve managed to get four business class awards on the Brisbane flight over Christmas. They’re a Delta frequent flyer partner, and though Delta charges a pricey 160,000 miles roundtrip for business class between the US and Australia (fortunately, they no longer add fuel surcharges in addition to miles), this is more or less the best Australia redemption out there. The only alternatives, much of the time and certainly during peak season, involve flying via Asia — often double the travel time. And that’s really the only extent to which I’ve paid attention to them. (You can use Virgin America miles on Virgin Australia,…
I Need Your Help Before I Write My Next Trip Report!
I’m about to start another trip report and I’d really appreciate your feedback on how I should go about it. Back at the end of August it looked like American was going to start adding fuel surcharges onto all partner awards (where the partner charged those on paid tickets). It turns out to have been a system glitch, compounded by a vaguely worded memo talking about changes to certain revenue tickets, and then mistakenly confirmed by American’s twitter team. Oops. But during the few hours that this was going on I decided to book an award ticket, to get in under the wire and burn some miles and presumably save myself some money on fuel surcharges in the process. I booked Cathay Pacific first class New York – Hong Kong and return, and then added…
Hyatt’s Facebook Game: Choose Bonus Points or Free Nights… or a Night With a Supermodel
Hyatt Gold Passport has a really cool Facebook game promoting Hyatt’s bonus points or free nights offer that runs through April 30. Here’s how to strategically game the signup process. Just like the Gold passport promotion asks you to choose between earning free nights or bonus points, Hyatt’s Facebook app asks you to choose ‘which one would you prefer’ with some options between two really good things… and some decisions that more closely resemble Sophie’s Choice. Would you rather book the same vacation as your ex or your boss? I was surprised to learn that more Hyatt Gold Passport members would rather be rescued in minutes than stuck overnight on a ski lift with a supermodel. But I guess it’s cold, the choice wasn’t being rescued or stuck in the ski lodge. Hyatt execs really…
