$99+ Fares to Europe are Back!

by Gary Leff

Apr 20 2015

Wow Air flies from Boston and ‘Washington DC’ (cough, Baltimore) to Reykjavik and beyond. And their one-way fares really do start as low as $99 to Iceland, with connecting flights beyond an add-on price. The return flight starts at under $160. Boston – Reykjavik is available at $99 during April, May, June and October. $99 really is the all-in price for the outbound. Return flights start at $164.39. They’re a low cost carrier, so expect fees or everything. Here’s the charges for pre-assigned seating (left column for online payment, right for seat assignments at the airport). You’ll pay for anything more than an 11 pound carry on. Checked bags are expensive — the first checked bag is $48 online in advance, $67 at check-in, and if you are forced to gate check that’s $95. That’s…

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Frequent Traveler University (Advanced) Tickets for August and September are Now Available

by Gary Leff

Tickets for the next two Frequent Traveler University – Advanced events are now available. Hyatt Regency Crystal City at DCA – August 21-23, 2015 Hyatt Regency DFW – September 25-27, 2015 Tickets for each event are $249 rooms for each are available at $99++. The regular Frequent Traveler University events can be huge, they’ve been as large as more than 600 people. Participants often requested smaller, more intimate events allowing for greater in-depth discussion and really getting to know fellow participants. The smaller ‘advanced’ sessions sell out in a day or two at the most, at least in the past. So this time two sessions are being released at once. That way people can decide which one is best for them, without feeling that they’ll lose out if they don’t just on the first available.…

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Is Southwest Considering Dumping their Chase Credit Card?

by Gary Leff

Apr 19 2015

Southwest Airlines has hired an investment bank to help evaluate options for its co-brand credit card. Southwest Airlines is considering replacing JPMorgan Chase as the issuer of its credit card rewards program, according to two people familiar with the matter. One of those people said Southwest has hired investment bank First Annapolis as an adviser as it reviews the relationship with Chase. Who could Southwest rope into making a credible offer for their co-brand franchise? Does Citi have the juice to pick up a second Dallas-based airline, after shooting the moon on Costco? American Express can’t possibly make sense for an airline that pitches itself as discount, and of the people, even in a world where Amex co-brands with Walmart and Target. Barclaycard lost US Airways and clearly needs a prize airline. Southwest’s relationship would…

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American Airlines’ Goldilocks Problem: Boards too Early, Updates Delays Too Late. They Need to Be Just…

by Gary Leff

Apr 18 2015

I love many things about American Airlines. First and foremost is the AAdvantage program, and especially that I’m well taken care of as an Executive Platinum member (100,000 mile flyer). Their lounge agents have been exceptionally good to me during irregular operations. I even like their revenue management, which doesn’t release all first class seats into upgrade a day before departure. When a flight irregularity happens, and I get put onto another flight, it’s even still possible to get an upgrade (and more frequently happens than not). If there were two things I would change about the operation, I would actually bundle them together and call them American’s Goldilocks Problem: they start boarding too early, before scheduled time, and they notify passengers of delays.. in creeping fashion.. usually only after a boarding or departure time…

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My Harebrained Scheme to ‘Commute’ Between Austin and Dallas, and the Two Key Lessons it Taught Me

by Gary Leff

Apr 18 2015

I’m at Frequent Traveler University by the Dallas airport (at the Hyatt Regency DFW).

And since I’m living in Austin now I decided, why not just commute?

Flights go for as little as $64 each way as long as you’re buying them in advance when flights aren’t full and it isn’t an event week(end). That meant I could fly from Austin to Dallas and back for less than the cost of a hotel night at the group rate…

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