JonNYC is speculating (and such speculations usually pan out) that American AAdvantage will begin adding fuel surcharges to awards on another partner imminently. Currently they add fuel surcharges onto awards booked on British Airways. A London roundtrip might add $850 cash cost in addition to taxes. A South Africa roundtrip from the US might add $1450. American began adding these fuel surcharges with the advent of their joint business venture. Previously AAdvantage members could not book awards between the US and London on British Airways (but could between Canada and the Caribbean and London, as well as between London and the rest of the world) but with no fuel surcharges. The US transatlantic restriction was lifted, but these cash surcharges were added to all BA awards. And they began adding much more modest surcharges to…
The Future of Trip Reports is Video, and an Outstanding Review of the W Koh Samui
More than Mary reviews the W Koh Samui and what I’m most impressed by is the quality of the video review. I stayed at the Conrad Koh Samui this past November and certainly detailed my two-bedroom ocean pool villa and also the resort itself along with the food there. But clearly the future in trip reports is going to be video, and really well-produced video at that. Seeing Mary Rambin’s report on the W I really do get a feel for the property and the sense that while I very much enjoyed the Conrad — I think it represents one of the absolute best values as a points redemption that there is — that the W is probably the resort property that I would enjoy more. And it tells me that I need to improve…
500 US Airways Miles for Downloading ‘StoreFront Assistant’
Back when FreeCause ran the Dividend Miles mall there was a ‘toolbar’ you could download which would automatically cause you to earn US Airways miles when shopping at a participating merchant, and they also gave you a handful of miles for internet searches. US Airways changed companies administering their mall, they now use Cartera Commerce which runs the American and Delta malls for instance. Cartera has introduced a similar tool and they will give you 500 miles for downloading it and using it once (such as doing just one internet search with it). You can of course uninstall it afterward. Here’s the FAQ for the StoreFront Assistant.
$50 Off Alaska Airlines Flight for New Mileage Plan Members
Registering for Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan with a California address using this link will provide you with a $50 discount on an Alaska Airlines flight. Register for Mileage Plan as a California resident by October 26 (though it’s conceivable that Alaska could pull the offer earlier). You’ll receive an email with the $50 discount within 48 hours of registration. Discount must be used for the Mileage Plan member’s travel only. Valid for travel between September 5 and November 10 for travel departing from California, and excludes travel to Prudhoe Bay. It’s the requirement that travel must originate in California that presumably helps them limit non-California residents from registering with a California address. Though I wonder how well that will work, since Alaska generally prices roundtrips simply as two one-ways and the terms and conditions don’t…
Alaska Visa 40,000 Mile Signup Bonus
Bank of America is offering a 40,000 mile signup bonus on the Alaska Airlines Visa: 25,000 miles on approval and then 15,000 more after $7500 in spend within 6 months of account open. $75 annual fee not waived the first year. I’ve only seen a 40,000 mile signup bonus on this card once before (albeit that was with no spend requirement). The standard bonus is 25,000 miles on account opening. Alaska partners with several members of Skyteam and of oneworld, and has a new partnership with Emirates and Icelandair. Their award chart is generally reasonable and fuel surcharges apply only on British Airways awards. The only real drawbacks are that there are no one-way awards on partners, that you cannot mix and match different partners on a single award either so you have to fly…
Lucky and I Were Flying Los Angeles to Melbourne…
Two Qantas first class passengers delayed a flight when they refused to fly without first class pajamas that fit and refused substitutes from business class. They chose to leave the plane and the flight waited for 30 minutes while their baggage was offloaded. The A380 – which can carry more than 400 passengers – eventually arrived in Melbourne on time this morning. I do think that Qantas should have properly stocked their A380 so that first class passengers had first class pajamas that fit, the size in question is not unusual. I cannot, however, imagine offloading oneself from the flight because of it. (HT: @GlobeTrotScott)
Reminder to Enter to Win My Starwood Starpoints Giveaway
Just a reminder that I’m giving away 60,000 Starwood points — 30,000 points apiece to two lucky readers. Enter by Tuesday August 14 at 5pm Eastern (and you can enter once every 24 hours). American Express offered the points to help you “stretch your summer” with a last-minute getaway. Click to enter to win the Starpoints here. Now, for all of the folks entering and trying to be cute saying they’d love to “stretch their summer” with a stay at the St. Regis Llasa, let me just suggest that unless you’re a group of 5 or more coming in from Nepal or a citizen of the UK, Norway, Korea, Austria, the Philippines or Vietnam, good luck getting a Tibetan Visa for end of summer. Just sayin’. (Note that the links to the Starwood Preferred Guest…
100 Free ANA Mileage Club Miles for a Quick Survey — And Why That Matters to You
ANA has a survey you can take for 100 miles in their Mileage Club program. It’s 11 multiple choice questions (including an optional free form question at the end for your additional comments) about their New York – Tokyo service going twice daily and which flight you prefer. Here’s why you care. Two years ago ANA made it difficult to search for awards for folks without any miles in their account, although there was also a workaround which I described. Folks who use the KVS Tool to access award search on the ANA website effectively have the workaround automated. But with 100 miles in your account you can search for Star Alliance award space using the All Nippon website, find the flights that are available, an ring up your preferred frequent flyer program with flight…
Frequent Traveler University Los Angeles Announced!
The next Frequent Traveler University will be held November 30th through December 2nd at the Sheraton Gateway LAX. Here’s the Milepoint discussion thread for the event. The last two Frequent Traveler Universities (both in the New York area) sold out. Cost of the event is $99, register here. The event runs Friday evening with a kickoff holiday cocktail party, includes lunch Saturday and Sunday, and a Starbucks card for use in the lobby courtesy of Million Mile Secrets. The group rate for the hotel is $105 per night including internet, bookable here. Speakers confirmed so far include: Gary Leff (gleff – that’s me) and Ben Schlappig (lucky9876coins of the One Mile at a Time blog) — you are certain to learn a ton about redeeming your points. Million Mile Secrets will offer a solid introduction…
Premier Silver Sues United Over Loss of Economy Plus
A frequent flyer is suing United over their taking away economy plus at booking and two free checked bags from Premier Silver members. He argues that United published a set of benefits in 2011 which induced members of the program to fly that year in exchange for benefits in 2012. But after members had done most of that flying, United reneged on the deal. The elimination of economy plus at booking (making it subject to availability at check-in only) for 25,000 mile flyers was announced in September 2011. I have always said that I believed the right thing to do is to announce substantive changes at the beginning of a year to take place the following year. Anything less is duplicitous. I am not sure, however, that it is actionable. Incidentally, the individual seeking to…
