Christopher Elliott visits United and files an interesting report. The number of elite passengers on a flight factors into the flight’s priority during weather and air traffic delays. (I believe that generally the number of connections, and whether connecting passengers can be re-accomodated, takes on a greater importance.) The flat tire rule still exists, if you miss your flight but show up at the airport within two hours of your scheduled departure, you can stand by for the next flight at no charge. No guarantees you’ll get on to that next flight, but there’s no charge to be re-accomodated if you can. Of course it might still be worth making a same-day confirmed change before missing your flight. United keeps Economy Plus because it’s profitable. Unsurprising, but has been interesting to watch the evolution. When…
Good Lie Flat Business Class Award Space to Asia Using Delta Skymiles
Delta Skymiles partner China Southern is introducing an Airbus A380 on the Los Angeles – Guangzhou route starting October 12th. They’ve got a new lie-flat business class product, and award availability (per Expertflyer) appears to be wide open. You can fly to destinations beyond Guangzhou without too much difficulty, as intra-Asian award space tends to be pretty good. Delta does add fuel surcharges onto China Southern award tickets, but they’re usually pretty modest — under $300 in most cases rather than $500 per ticket (in addition to taxes). And if it gets you business class award space using Delta miles, you’re already way ahead of the game. Of course, this does require you to find a Delta call center agent that has heard of China Southern, believes that China Southern is a Skyteam member, and…
US Airways Offers Food Delivery to its DC Club Lounge. Sort of.
During the oneworld MegaDO in Dallas I had the opportunity to talk with the food and beverage manager for the American Airlines Admirals Clubs. Now, American clubs are generally nicer (better furnished, in better condition) than United and US Airways lounges. But they have almost no complimentary snacks. Instead they offer paid food options. And the quality of those options vary widely across clubs — even across different clubs in the same airport. The D30 club in Miami, for instance, has a kitchen and a room with food display where you can purchase meals and snacks. Everything is nicely plated on dishware rather than pre-arranged in disposable plastic containers. The D15 club does not. My suggestion to American was, why does it make sense for them to be in the food preparation and storage business?…
Travelocity Cancelling Reservations Booked with $200 Off Coupon
This past weekend I blogged about a $200 off coupon at Travelocity for air and hotel vacation packages of at least three days. You could book the hotel in a separate city from the air travel meaning that there were amazing deals to be had. Some folks found hotels in South or Central Asia that were about $10 a night, yielding $170 off airfare using the coupon. The deal had been around for several weeks and was in its last days when it became publicly known. The terms and conditions said: The promotional code (the Promo Code) for $200 is valid between 12:01 a.m. Central Time on July 2, 2012 and 11:59 p.m. Central Time on August 4, 2012 (the Promotion Period) or until it reaches the redemption limit of 3,500 redemptions. Your use of…
TSA Screeners Get a Union Contract
When the TSA was formed it wasn’t supposed to be unionized, since all decisions were supposed to be made on the basis of promoting security at the nation’s airports. At the beginning of February 2011, however, TSA Administrator John Pistole declared his intention to enter into union negotiations with the screening workforce. As of yesterday, the federal government has agreed to a union contract for screeners. The agreement, which must be ratified by the membership, would create a new performance management system, provide an increased clothing allowance and a standardized vacation bidding process. A side agreement allows officers to take certain issues to the Merit Systems Protection Board or a neutral arbitrator. They’re replacing certification tests with “employee execution of goals and supervisor observations over a year’s time,” increasing screener clothing allowances by 92%, giving…
Was the U.S. Government Prepared to Kill All the Passengers on Board a United Flight to Geneva?
Last summer I noted the story of a United flight that returned to DC after a seat reclining incident. Two passengers tussled over the one in front reclining their seat, and two F-16s were scrambled. At the time I noted that there’s ultimately only one possible thing that those F-16s could possibly do: shoot down the plane and kill everyone on board. That’s what they were clearly moving into position to do, if it was determined that the scuffle presaged a terrorist attack. We learned on September 11, 2001 that planes could be commandeered and used as missiles. I’m not getting into the question at this point of whether it’s the right decision in a given circumstance to trade off the lives of everyone on board for the lives of people on the ground who…
Hyatt’s New Promotion: Bonus Points Every 5 Nights Stayed
Hyatt’s new promo, which will run September 1 through November 30, is bonus points based on number of nights stayed. They’re offering 5000 bonus points after 5 nights and then 10,000 additional bonus points for each incremental 5 nights stayed during the promotion period — up to a maximum of 35 nights. And just like the Gold Passport winter promotion, Hyatt co-branded credit card holders receive an additional 20% bonus on points earned from this promotion. Registration won’t be available until August 15 and will close October 31. I generally like stay-based promotions rather than promos that award the number of nights stayed. But that’s because I tend to have shorter stays, so they benefit me most. Hyatt’s summer promotion rewarded short stays generously with bonus airline miles. So here I’m torn. The summer promo…
Using Hidden City and Throwaway Ticketing to Save Big Money on Airfare
Back in January I explained how to use hidden city and throwaway ticketing to save big money on airfare. Airlines often price tickets from one city to another through a hub cheaper than flights that terminate at the hub. Flying United New York to Milwaukee through Chicago is often much cheaper than just flying New York to Chicago. But if you get off the plane in Chicago and don’t board your connection to Milwaukee, you’ve potentially saved yourself a lot of money. This is called hidden city ticketing. Most people think they’ve purchased two flights, New York to Chicago and Chicago to Milwaukee. They only take one, but the airlines still got paid for both. The airlines don’t like it. And instead of seeing themselves as selling you a ticket from New York to Chicago…
Bits ‘n Pieces for August 1, 2012
Around and ’round we go:In January of last year I explained how Hyatt Stay Certificates can be used to get deep discounts on hotel stays. I once had to book 22 room nights at the Grand Hyatt New York, getting them for $165 a night all-in compared to $519+tax prepaid on the website. Loyalty Lobby offers a nice illustration of how this technique works. Here as well is last year’s primer on getting the best hotel deals. I previously blogged an offer of 500 miles for first use of Groundlink car service with promo code POINTSGL. Deals With Like came across an offer of 1000 miles which is, of course, better. Just use promo code POINTS with your first reservation and you’ll be sent a points.com code in a few weeks that you can redeem…
Instant Free Accor Hotels Top Tier Platinum Elite Status
Le club Accorhotels frequently offers their top tier elite status just for signing up with the program, they’ll market it to a specific group of potential customers but anyone using the offer winds up able to sign up and get the status. Here’s the latest signup link it could be around for a day, days, or weeks so if interested sign up soon. Even if you don’t frequently stay at Sofitel, Novotel, Pullman, Mercure, and other related properties frequently, you never know when you might find yourself in one and having top tier status can’t hurt. Platinum status usually requires 60 nights or 25,000 points earned. It offers double points and at Sofitel, Pullman and MGallery hotels a complimentary drink and welcome gift, and subject to availability and on request 4pm late checkout and an…
