News and notes from around the interweb: There’s a new app that tells you when you can take a very short walk to avoid Uber’s surge pricing. That seems to me very much in the spirit of surge pricing itself, getting both consumers and drivers to react, to shift both supply and demand. One blogger who drives for Uber REALLY doesn’t like the idea, though! How to visit Cuba while it’s still illegal, of course these are tips we likely won’t need very soon. Free Geek Squad help at Chicago O’Hare until December 23 5000 bonus points and extra baggage allowance for using Etihad’s ‘Moonlight Check-in’ Etihad unveils its A380, 787, and new cabin crew uniforms A guy who ticketed a mistake fare in his ex’s name has found someone else with the same name…
What is a Minimum Connection Time? And What’s a Legal Connection?
This question is prompted by Anthony M.. There’s noting illegal about a ‘legal’ connection. A legal connection is a term of art that really means a permissible connection. Each airport has a set amount of connecting time that’s considered necessary to transfer from one flight to another. That time varies based on: Whether you are connecting domestic-to-domestic, domestic-to-international, international-to-international, or international-to-domestic. That’s because you may or may not have to go through immigration formalities. Whether there’s a change of terminals involved. That may be baked into ‘domestic-to-international’ (where domestic and international flights are in separate terminals) or by exception (because certain airlines mean you’re flying in and out of different terminals. The airline and flight you’re connecting to and from. Again, some connections are more arduous than others. Assuming your flights are on time these…
Inside the New Oneworld Lounge at LAX’s Tom Bradley International Terminal
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 This was my first visit to the Tom Bradley International Terminal at LAX since it was renovated, and boy what a difference. You notice it from the moment you step up curbside. It’s no longer entirely an entirely an embarassment (well, it’s still part of LAX). It’s modern and bright and far better organized. Ok, it’s still part of LAX. But it’s a huge improvement. I checked in and proceeded through security. Unfortunately there’s no PreCheck, but the nude-o-scope was backed up with passengers and so they allowed me to proceed through the metal detector only — no opt-out required. I was confronted by the array of shops…
American Express’ New Lounge Opening, United’s Unpublished “Award Sale” and Losing Your Job Over Travel Deals
News and notes from around the interweb: It’s amazing how long United’s ‘unofficial award sale’ seems to last.. Doubletree’s new bath amenities. Things like amenities — and cookies — provide consistency, which is especially important for Doubletree which is Hilton’s conversion brand. There’s little across Doubletree that is otherwise the same and makes a ‘brand’. New American Express lounge that Platinum carhdolders can use opens in Sydney Travel hacker banned from UK finance industry for gaming train fares. Alaska will open a Boardroom in United’s old club space in the North Satellite terminal at SeaTac in mid-2015. I’d guess that it, like the Boardroom in the main terminal, will become accessible to Priority Pass and Lounge Club cardholders as well as partner lounge members. You can join the 40,000+ people who see these deals and…
How Can You Get More Vacation Time From Work?
Chris asked, Can you tell me how I can convince my boss to give me more time off so I can travel more? For most people this question may not be meaningful, since on average Americans take only half the vacation time they’re already ‘given’. But if you use yours and what more, the simple answer is to tell you to become your own boss. But many entrepreneurs find that they’re able to take even less time off, rather than more — there’s huge responsibilities, and there are consequences if things go wrong. They don’t have, and maybe can’t pay for, someone they can trust to manage things in their absence. A knowledge economy business may be able to work better from the road, but if you need to be on the phone with clients…
Marriott’s MegaBonus is Dead, But the Name Lives On. Here are the Offers.
As mentioned, Marriott is back with their MegaBonus offer — although it seems to be MegaBonus in ‘name only’. MegaBonus, archetypically, means “stay twice and earn a free night” (generally capped at category 4 redemptions). It’s been a perennial offering. This new iteration, set for February 1 – April 30 earning, offers points only. Like recent versions of their promotions continuing to use the MegaBonus name, there’s no free night offer. Log into your account and visit the promotions page to see your targeted offer. Deals We Like has a list of different offers that Marriott seems to be deploying for different members. (In the past, folks – especially elites – could call and request to switch to a different offer.) 20 nights = 25,000 points; each additional night earns 2,000 points per night, up…
A Card With 8% Return at Grocery Stores and Beyond, and Getting Money Back from Paypal When They Shut You Down
News and notes from around the interweb: Heartwarming: United’s fantasy flight to the North Pole for sick kids. Frequent Miler ‘may’ have had his account frozen by Paypal for buying Paypal My Cash cards and cashing them out. Here’s how he got his money back. Per the South African Airways Voyager newsletter, the US Airways-South African frequent flyer partnership ends January 17, so book any remaining awards by January 16. The final unwinding of US Airways Dividend Miles bilateral relationships with Star Alliance carriers begins, in advance of the Dividend Miles program getting folded into American AAdvantage. (HT: Ribka) A card that lets you earn an 8% return (towards merchandise) on up to $7000 spend each month in a rotating set of categories. ‘Twas the Overnight Before Christmas: The Merry Tale of Air Cargo Deregulation.…
Starwood’s Free Internet Domino May Tip the Lodging Industry to Free Worldwide Internet for Everyone
Effective February 2, Starwood will offer complimentary internet at all hotels to all members as long as reservations are made through an SPG channel. Non-status members are only entitled to throttled speeds, where applicable. Golds, who can already choose internet as an amenity option, will get high speed internet and can still select a points or beverage amenity. Starwood is a follower here — IHG Rewards came out with internet for everyone a year ago (though of course most of their hotels already gave it to everyone as a brand standard, only the upper-tier ones did not and in certain regions). And Marriott announced this two months ago, with a similar restriction of having to book through Marriott channels. (Though of course this doesn’t mean free internet in meeting spaces.) That leaves Hilton and Hyatt…
Vanilla Reloads Being Discontinued!
Vanilla Reload cards used to be a widely available and amazing tool. You were basically buying money that could be loaded onto a variety of prepaid card products. And many places took credit cards when purchasing them. Back when they were sold by office supply stores, many cardholders earned 5 points per dollar. And when they were sold broadly at drugstores like CVS, there were still category bonuses (including 5 less valuable Thank You points per dollar). The option to purchase Vanilla Reload cards with a credit card ended at CVS back in April. That was sad because of CVS’ reach, and because they were permitting the purchase of $5000 worth of cards each and every day. Some smaller, regional chains or individual stores within chains still allowed it. According to a notice that American…
Travel to Cuba! Here’s What Americans Can Expect…
The President’s actions on Cuba today don’t yet allow for increased tourism, though that’s the next logical step. Wednesday’s announcement that the U.S. will move toward restoring diplomatic ties with Cuba will also make it easier for Americans to travel to Cuba and do business with the Cuban people by extending general licenses, officials said. While the more liberal travel restrictions won’t allow for tourism, they will permit greater American travel to the island. Here are the current changes to policy: The State Department will consider removing Cuba from its list of sponsors of terrorism. The US will expand export of goods and services to Cuba, inc;luding construction materials and communications equipment. (Only 5% of Cubans have access to the internet today, that will eventually change.) US credit and debit cards will be able to…
