Two-plus years ago there was much speculation about Citi introduces points transfer partners to the Thank You Points program. A year and a half ago they introduces transfers to Hilton HHonors. And that was it. Now they’ve gone ahead and done it!
A Hilton HHonors Bonus You Can Earn Even on Award Stays, and More!
News and notes from around the interweb: Conrad and Waldorf=Astoria property bonuses posting — even when you’re staying on points. Be sure to have something charged to your room folio while you’re there. One of the coolest things you didn’t know about Silvercar’s technology. I do much like Silvercar but I don’t think the typical rental experience is quite as bad as they say especially if you follow basic tips. Are mileage runs for top tier status still worth it? Help someone decide. Ben’s Chili Bowl will finally have its delayed opening at National airport on Wednesday. It’s located outside of security in the main terminal. I’m not personally a fan, but it’s a famous DC spot. Of course, the last thing I want my seat opponent eating prior to boarding is Ben’s Chili Bowl.…
Is This The End of Award Space to Australia?
Delta miles are great (yes, they really are!) for: Virgin Australia business class between the US and Australia. Australia awards, especially without transiting Asia, are among the very toughest to get but Delta miles have been this easy in the past. Saudia. Want to take your whole extended family in business class to India and surrounds on the same long haul flight? And they actually have a bit better of a product than you think. Virgin Atlantic without fuel surcharges, now that Delta owns 49% of the airline. Last month I highlighted Virgin Australia’s amazing award availability between the U.S. and Australia. Specifically, I showed just how many dates you’d find at least four business class seats on the Los Angeles – Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne routes. Sadly wide-open availability is no longer the case.
Where is Delta’s Award Chart Going Next, and Why Won’t They Book Air France Seats Everyone Else Can?
In this post I am going to offer some possible insight into what’s going on with Delta Skymiles — award availability, and the future of redemption — based on conversations with several different knowledgeable people regarding the transition to a revenue-based program and the agreements they have in place with their partners. None of those people shared the full picture, so it’s possible that this is slightly off but nonetheless I believe it’s at a minimum directionally-correct.
MEME Alert: The #1 Ranked Hotel in Republic of Zubrowka
I much liked Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel. (What a cast! with Bill Murray, Harvey Keitel, F. Murray Abraham, Owen Wilson, and Jeff Goldblum in supporting roles.) So, too, apparently did a number of TripAdvisor reviewers. (HT: Jenny F.) For an interwar period property, I like complaints such as “No free wifi.” TripAdvisor warns that the hotel is unbookable: Without the warning this could have become TripAdvisor’s Tuscan Whole Milk. One word of caution — milk, even when frozen into a baseball-bat shape, is nigh worthless as a baseball bat, merely shattering into cloudy fragments at the first strike of a baseball. 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…
LifeMiles Reveals Its Big Star Alliance Award Chart Changes..
Since Avianca’s LifeMiles joined Star Alliance, it has been one of the most lucrative frequent flyer programs in the world. They’ve announced a new award chart starting October 15th, and have now released the details of the chart. Are there some great hidden gems? Are the increases bad? Will they change how to play this program?
Don’t Inadvertently Lose Global Entry and PreCheck!
I only just signed up for Global Entry in April of last year. And yet I just had to update my passport number in my Global Entry profile. I almost forgot to do it, so it seemed like — though this will be obvious to some, and too obscure for others — worth sharing. I’ve loved having Global Entry. Re-entering the U.S. is quick and easy. Not only do I skip the immigration queue (which can be quite long arriving at Washington Dulles around 3pm), but also the customs queue too (it gets really long in Miami, since everyone really is smuggling in drugs). I get TSA PreCheck every time. I used to get it most of the time flying American where my elite status flagged me as unlikely to be a threat. But now…
Here’s the 75,000 Hyatt Gold Passport Points Giveaway
As you may know I’m giving away 75,000 Hyatt points.
What’s the Best Place in the World to Live for Convenient Travel?
Reader Jeff asks a question that may be too subject for me to answer definitely, what do you think? What is the best place in the world to live in to take advantage of not just miles/points, but to have relatively close access to great travel destinations? Criteria: — best proximity to desirable travel areas. I realize this is incredibly subjective, but, in general, most people would put Europe and SE Asia high on the list of desirable travel destinations.. Places with good climates, reasonably safe, etc. — major hub for an airline alliance — a nice place to live He goes on to speculate that outside of New York and Washington DC (with Star Alliance hubs and short travel time to all of the Americas and Western Europe) you’d rule out both North and…
Man Earns 422 Million Points, 20% Off Paid First Class, and What the Numbers Say About Airline Safety
News and notes from around the interweb: Chinese man earns 422 million Amex points with one purchase. He bought a ceramic cup at auction, and earned a a fairly inflated Chinese American Express points with his Centurion card. If you ask me, it’s not a very efficient way to earn points — unless he can turn around and re-sell the cup for more than he paid for it net of auction fees. It’s unlikely he’ll go that route, though, considering he didn’t even know his Amex card earned points. Purchase by tomorrow and travel between August 1 and September 1 and Virgin America will give you 20% off paid non-refundable main cabin select and first class fares. (HT: Lucky) Not as good as 50% off paid first class, but with the promotion some West Coast…
