I don’t check such things often, but @LoyaltyTraveler tweets that Ben and I are currently tied for the number one most influential travel blog on Technocrati. I really don’t know what this means, my sense is it has to do with other blogs measured as influential linking to this blog. And certainly these rankings change all the time. But it’s still sort of fun to see, so thanks to Loyalty Traveler for the heads up (and congratulations for being listed at #8!). Congratulations as well to Gadling at number 4, the Points Guy at number 5, and Online Travel Review at number 6! Ironically by linking to these good folks via this blog post, I bet I’m pushing them up in the rankings and will cause myself to drop out of the #1 spot…
American Shuts Down Award Wallet from Accessing AAdvantage Accounts, Workaround On the Way?
In October, I wrote about American Airlines going to war with mileage tracking services. At the time I said I’d be extremely angry at American if Award Wallet, the site I use to track my miles, was forced to stop working with American AAdvantage accounts. This morning I am extremely angry at American, as I’ve just received the following email from Award Wallet: American Airlines has contacted us and stated that we may not access its website on your behalf and that we may not store any of your American Airlines account data on our servers. As a result, in the coming weeks we will release a browser extension which will enable you to check your balance and still display that balance along with the rest of your loyalty account balances; however, the data, such…
25,000 Delta Miles for $500 Skymall Spend
Update: This deal lasted only a few hours, they’ve already reached their cap of miles being offered. As mentioned Wednesday, Skymall has brought back their offer of 25,000 Delta miles for $500 in spend. The website for the offer is now live. They offered this for 1 day in 2010 (and extended it for two weeks). They brought it back this past September 15-18. This time the offer is limited to the first 1000 orders. Once they’ve hit that number, the website will say just 3 miles per dollar. The required $500 in spend excludes tax and shipping. And while they do offer price matches, the order total after price match must still be $500. Gift cards and Bose products are specifically excluded, and coupon codes void the miles. Delta Points plans to buy Samsung…
Attend the 2012 Emmy Awards and other “Travel Deal a Day” Specials
Wendy Perrin shared today that Conde Nast is sharing a travel deal a day each weekday in December on their Facebook page. Each weekday in December we’ll be bringing you an exclusive travel deal on Condé Nast Traveler’s Facebook page. My team and I have hand-picked and vetted these travel experiences for you, so they’re of the highest caliber, guaranteed to leave you and your loved ones with priceless memories. If there’s any better holiday gift than that, I don’t know what it is. Especially when you can get those priceless memories for up to 50 percent off. The trips have been crafted by the world’s top travel planners—the destination specialists, cruise agents, and villa rental experts most trusted and raved about by Conde Nast Traveler editors and readers (and I dare you to find…
Conrad Koh Samui, 2 Bedroom Ocean Pool Villa: “Burn Avios, Burn” Cathay Pacific First Class and Amazing Conrad Suites
Index: Planning the trip US Airways Shuttle to New York and the Sheraton JFK Cathay Pacific First Class, New York – Hong Kong The Pier Lounge and Cathay Pacific Business Class, Hong Kong – Bangkok Conrad Bangkok Deluxe Suite Bangkok Airways Business Class, Bangkok – Koh Samui Conrad Koh Samui, 2 Bedroom Ocean Pool Villa Conrad Koh Samui, Resort Bangkok Airways Business Class, Koh Samui – Bangkok Cathay Pacific Business Class, Bangkok – Hong Kong and Marriott SkyCity Hong Kong Cathay Pacific First Class Hong Kong – Chicago United Airlines Back Home The Conrad Koh Samui was a long-anticipated property. At one point I think it was supposed to open in 2010. That kept getting pushed back, to June 2011… to July and then to October even, and it opened somewhat unexpectedly at the beginning…
Aeroplan Adjusts Fuel Surcharges… AGAIN
@JeffreyAlter tweets to me that there have been some changes to Aeroplan’s fuel surcharges… again. On November 14 they said that we would have fuel surcharges coming for Asiana Airlines, Thai Airways International, All Nippon Airways, Austrian Airlines, LOT Polish Airlines, British Midland Airways, in addition to surcharges they were already imposing on Air Canada and Lufthansa reward flights (the Lufthansa change went into effect with no notice, and we were given 16 days’ notice on the others). At the time they also say to expect fuel surcharges on December 14 for: Aegean Airlines, Japan Airlines, TAM Airlines, South African Airways, TAP Portugal airlines Well, they’ve apparently changed their minds about the December 14 implementation. The list no longer includes Aegean, TAM, and TAP Air Portugal. And it no longer includes Japan Airlines which of…
100% Bonus on Purchased US Airways Miles is Back for December
I noted back on November 22 that US Airways had announced they were bringing back the 100% bonus on purchased miles in December. At the time I said I thought it was odd that they would post on the purchase miles website that a big bonus would be forthcoming, since it seemed like that would discourage miles sales at full price through the end of November and I tried to come up with a rationalization for it. Turns out it probably didn’t make sense to announce it, because shortly afterward they pulled the announcement! But the plan was indeed in the works, as I just received an email from US Airways announcing the 100% bonus. through December 31, 2011. Of course, last month US Airways raised the price of purchased miles for the second time…
The First Class Terminal Rubber Ducky
Lufthansa Flyer offers a retrospective on Lufthansa’s first class rubber duckies. I admit, I’ve never taken a bath at the First Class Terminal in Frankfurt (I much prefer a shower) but on more than one occasion I’ve asked the shower attendant for a rubber ducky. She opens the closet, full of plastic ducks, and hands me one. And I let her know I’d appreciate one for my wife as well, and she obliges.. I had no idea there were so many variations on the classic rubber duck, so check out the whole post. For more on the Lufthansa First Class Terminal, including photos and menus, see here, here, and here. For detail on using the First Class Terminal as a connecting passenger, see here.
Bangkok Airways Business Class, Bangkok – Koh Samui: “Burn Avios, Burn” Cathay Pacific First Class and Amazing Conrad Suites
Index: Planning the trip US Airways Shuttle to New York and the Sheraton JFK Cathay Pacific First Class, New York – Hong Kong The Pier Lounge and Cathay Pacific Business Class, Hong Kong – Bangkok Conrad Bangkok Deluxe Suite Bangkok Airways Business Class, Bangkok – Koh Samui Conrad Koh Samui, 2 Bedroom Ocean Pool Villa Conrad Koh Samui, Resort Bangkok Airways Business Class, Koh Samui – Bangkok Cathay Pacific Business Class, Bangkok – Hong Kong and Marriott SkyCity Hong Kong Cathay Pacific First Class Hong Kong – Chicago United Airlines Back Home I had pre-arranged a car through Image Limo for our return trip to the airport, much earlier than necessary I had arranged it for 12:30pm and my flight didn’t depart until 2:45pm. But I wasn’t doing much around Bangkok in the morning, I…
1500 Bonus Gold Passport Points at Avia, Hotel Sierra, and Summerfield Suites
Via Loyalty Traveler, Hyatt is offering 1500 bonus points per stay at AVIA, Hotel Sierra and Summerfield Suites through January 8 with offer code 1500GP. The code doesn’t generate a higher rate and Ric reports that it works with AAA and AARP rates as well. Avia Napa is on my list, now that Hyatt has acquired the chain, I’m just not sure I’ll make it out there by January 8 (though I do need to do a few American mileage runs in the coming weeks).
