US Airways has long offered a paid status challenge program where you get temporary status for 90 days and then have an opportunity to fly to keep that status on an accelerated basis. Three months ago US Airways eliminated the ability to buy miles towards status, which used to be a great alternative to mileage running for those last few flights you’d need to qualify. In contrast, the US Airways program that you pay for, that gives you temporary status, and where the flying you do during the status period determines the status you keep going forward, you haven’t had to have any status with another airline to qualify at all. The End of US Airways Trial Preferred About seven weeks ago I said that if I were running the program I would end it…
The Strangest Airline Policy Ever Has a Deceptively Simple Explanation
Airline policies can be cumbersome, arcane, even byzantine. One frequent flyer program who works for a major airline told me earlier this year that he finds himself in meetings with his colleagues, talking through how a change might work to the program, and he’ll find himself having to stop and have someone remind the group how things are structured to begin with. The programs can be too complicated for even the program’s own executives to understand. But through an email exchange with Reid F., here’s one that I really struggled trying to puzzle through. Effective with tickets purchased September 3, American adopted the US Airways unaccompanied minor policy. Children aged 12 through 14 traveling alone now have to travel as unaccompanied, at a cost of $150 each way. Previously the policy applied to children up…
Hyatt Announces Free Internet for All Guests: Leaves Hilton in the Cold, and Calls Attention to Sparse Gold Passport Platinum Status
Last Wednesday I wrote that Starwood is introducing free internet for all guests and that this follows Marriott and also IHG. At the time I wrote, It will be interesting to see how long Hyatt (which just extended its room type guarantee to all members) and Hilton can buck the trend, or whether they’ll lose business to Marriott, Starwood, and IHG. Now we know, at least for Hyatt. Starting in February, all Hyatts will offer complimentary wireless internet in guest rooms and social spaces (presumably this excludes conference rooms) to all guests. They won’t require a loyalty program account to get the internet. They won’t require booking through their own booking channels, excluding online travel agencies (as Marriott and Starwood policies require), either. Hyatt’s Platinum and Diamond members will receive premium speed at hotels where…
Don’t Store Babies Inside Overhead Bins (Don’t Steal Their Nutella Either)
News and notes from around the interweb: Nutella jars seized from pregnant mother because they represented terror risk. (HT: Alan H.) The airport staff was ‘just following orders’ so I don’t blame them per se, although along the lines of questions that are rarely asked, if liquids are so dangerous, why are they tossed together in a bin next to the checkpoint instead of dealt with by a hazmat team? In recommending that you not slam someone’s head against an overhead bin as a solution to kids crying on a plan, @danrothschild reminds me that you shouldn’t put babies inside overhead bins either. Troubling. (HT: Milepoint) Air France KLM is deferring deliveries of Boeing 777s due in over the next two years after revising down profit expectations for the third time this year. (HT: Alan…
Denied a Cabana at Cathay Pacific’s “The Wing” First Class Lounge
Must-read Earlier Installments: Singapore, Cathay, and Qantas First Class.. Some of the Best Meals of My Life, and a Tour of Hyatts in Bangkok, Singapore, and Sydney Inside the New Oneworld Lounge at LAX’s Tom Bradley International TerminalCathay Pacific First Class, Los Angeles – Hong Kong On arrival in Hong Kong you head to the nearest transit point where you show your connecting boarding pass and proceed through security. Laptop out, shoes stay on, there’s rarely much of a line. Once past the checkpoint you head up the escalator (or elevator, as you wish) to the departures level and on to your gate or lounge. Cathay Pacific’s flagship lounge is ‘The Wing’. For departing passengers originating in Hong Kong it’s just past immigration (turn left). It’s near the lowest numbered gates one through four. Hong…
Has Barclaycard Started Limiting Targeted Signup Bonus Offers to Members That Are Actually Eligible?
In my post about earning miles by referring your friends to the Barclaycard US Airways card, I point out that Barclaycard has been making an offer of 50,000 miles plus 10,000 miles at card renewal available, marketed to US Airways elite frequent flyers. Many consider the 10,000 mile offer at renewal ‘better’ but as I point out it’s the same as the regular 50,000 mile signup bonus unless you plan to keep the card for a year (and likely pay a second annual fee). Now, I do consider 10,000 miles worth $89 (9/10ths of a cent per mile) but many have long disagreed with me about hanging onto the card for that. But is Barclaycard cracking down on non-US Airways elites signing up for the offer? Commenter tassojunior shares this experience: I used the Preferred…
Exploiting the Freshly Increased Value of Citibank’s Thank You Points
I receive compensation for many links on this blog. You don’t have to use these links, but I am grateful to you if you do. American Express, Citibank, Chase, and other banks are advertising partners of this site. I do not write about all credit cards that are available — instead focusing on miles, points, and cash back (and currencies that can be converted into the same). Citibank Points Have Gotten Much More Valuable This Year Thanks to Airline Mileage Transfers Citibank introduced airline miles as an option for redeeming Thank You points over the summer, instantly increasing the value of their Citi Thank You Cards points substantially. And a month later they even added a transfer partner, signifying that they weren’t done building the program. Thank You Premier and Prestige cardmembers can now transfer…
I Lost a Top Tier Elite Status — and How I Could Get it Back…
You used to be able to
And The Award for Worst Lip Syncing By an Airline Goes To…
Is it just me, or do you get the feeling of being in a dentist’s office rather than soaring with a Thai boutique airline? Bangkok Airways does, of course, have a passion for really bad lip syncing. I’d recommend they take lessons from the professional, skilled lip sync singers of Munich airport. You can join the 40,000+ people who see these deals and analysis every day — sign up to receive posts by email (just one e-mail per day) or subscribe to the RSS feed. It’s free. You can also follow me on Twitter for the latest deals. Don’t miss out!
Air France Forced Down By Chili Peppers, a Wild New MH370 Theory, and Delta Expands Onboard Barbecue
News and notes from around the interweb: A new wild theory from France on MH370: that it was remotely hijacked and shot down by US forces near Diego Garcia. (HT: World Airline News) Is National Car Rental’s Virtual Aisle all that it is cracked up to be? Delta rolls out New York’s best barbecue to more transatlantic flights as a business class meal choice. (‘Best barbecue’ and ‘New York’ is a pretty low bar, and Blue Smoke is way overpriced for what it is, but if it translates to the sky I’m impressed!) Airlines will be compensated because of UK air traffic control meltdown.. but passengers won’t be (HT: Alan H.) Air France flight makes an emergency landing because of chili peppers. (HT: Alan H.) You can join the 40,000+ people who see these deals…
