The internet is sure a crazy place. I reviewed the Tom Bihn Checkpoint Flyer, which I much like. One of the arguments for the bag I’ve seen made online is that it’s made in the USA. I explained that while I think the bag is great, this wasn’t one of the compelling reasons for me. That generated some real vitriol. One of the commenters here on this blog posted a snippet of my review on a political site, Google-stalked me generating a mini-bio for that community, and that was followed up by comments like: “Wouldn’t it be a shame if such a person were to die in his sleep.” “Someone needs to figure out how to teach them some manners again.” “This is another one of those things that I simply will not tolerate. No.…
The Silly Waste of the Small Community Air Service Development Program
Cranky Flier, in his BNet column, takes issue with some of the Small Community Air Service Development Program grant winners. The federal government takes grant applications from small communities to spend in a variety of ways promoting air service. Tunica, Mississippi — 40 miles from Memphis — got $500,000 to subsidize bringing gamblers to town four times a week via Atlanta on Airtran. Rockford, Illinois’ airport — which calls itself Chicago Rockford to emphasize just how close and convenient they are to Chicago, which has plenty of air service as a hub for United and DeltaAmerican (O’Hare) and a busy low cost carrier hub for the likes of Southwest (Midway) — got $500,000 to support non-stop flights to business destinations from Rockford to LA, Minneapolis, Dallas, Atlanta, Washington, and/or New York. Now, Rockford has some…
Starwood Award Category Followup: A Conversation with Chris Holdren, Senior VP for Starwood Preferred Guest
I had a very nice conversation this afternoon with Chris Holdren, Senior Vice President for the Starwood Preferred Guest program. He reached out to me after my post on SPG’s decision not to adjust hotel categories for 2010 — which I called a “stealth devaluation” (and which was picked up USA Today‘s excellent Barbara De Lollis). My original argument was basically that a hotel’s category level in the Starwood program basically rises or falls with its average daily room rate (and Chris confirmed that it is indeed average daily room rate rather than revenue per available room, for all you hotel revenue geeks out there). Now, with hotel rates lower than in 2004, Starwood Preferred Guest hotel category assignments aren’t being adjusted downward to reflect that. In my post last week I initially made the…
35% Off at W Hotels Store
MilesQuest offers up another 35% discount at the W Hotel Store: promo code QDG8Y. For those considering a W Hotel bed, the 40% off codes are rare and I haven’t seen one for awhile. 35% is pretty good. And if you’re considering stocking up on Bliss products (my daily use choice), this isn’t a bad offer either.
US Mint Dollar Coins Update
Frugal Travel Guy reports that there is now a 50 boxes per household limit on the purchase of Native American $1 coins (which come with free shipping, of course).
Texas Lawyer Threatens to Sue Continental, the Airport Food Court, and the City of Houston Because He Lost His Jacket
Seriously. The 62-year-old Ogletree, you see, was headed to Las Vegas on December 30 when he stopped at a pizza place in the Houston airport. Upon departing the food court in Terminal C, Ogletree somehow forgot to take his “expensive black leather coat,” an XL Polo model (with a fashionable plaid lining) worth $800. Not surprisingly, the coat subsequently disappeared. Now Ogletree is threatening to sue the City of Houston, Continental Airlines, and the food court’s management company for failing to have “collected the coat, kept it in a secure place and held it for a reasonable time” until he was able to reunite with the garment. These prospective defendants, Ogletree reasoned, “breached their duty” in connection with how they “manage lost and found items for which they are responsible.” He wants $800 not to…
Award Booking Successes and Frustrations
Grey Roberge details his experiences booking a Star Alliance first class award through Aeroplan. Regular readers of my blog know that I’m a big fan of the Aeroplan program, and in particular their first class award from the US to South Asia (as far south as Singapore) for 120,000 miles — which allows you to transit the Atlantic or Pacific (or one ocean each direction) and to stopover twice in addition to your destination. And I rather like Aeroplan agents, I have found them on the whole to be quite friendly. It’s a Canadian thing. The one thing I don’t like is that they do not permit award holds. Instant ticketing only. Now, you can make changes to an itinerary after ticketing for CAD$90. And as long as you’re three weeks out from travel, you…
“Together We Fly Delta” Team Bonus Mile Promotion
Frugal Travel Guy outlines the Delta Team competition for bonus miles. Find a team captain with an address in Michigan, Minnesota, Tennessee or Washington state. Additional team members can reside anywhere. And up to 4 people can participate as a team. Then the total Delta miles flown by the team through May 31 May 15 on tickets paid for with an American Express card determines the number of bonus miles earned by each member of the team. 2500 total miles flown = 1500 bonus miles per person 5000 total miles flown = 3000 bonus miles per person 15000 total miles flown = 9000 bonus miles per person 20000 total miles flown = 15000 bonus miles per person 25000 total miles flown = 20000 bonus miles per person Registration required by April 15th.
Hilton Point Stretcher Awards Are Back! (Sort of…)
Hilton Point Stretchers — which more or less disappeared last year — are back. Point Stretchers offer 40% off of standard redemption pricing, though historically some participating hotels would offer only a smattering of dates… like two weeks for the whole year. But it’s still worth checking and the website to do so is up. Though currently the only hotel they’re displaying availability for is the Hilton Garden Inn Allentown West — and then only for March 26 – 28 and April 30. Fortunately the ‘real’ list is a little bit longer, and Flyertalkers are building it by hand. For instance, the Hinckley HIlton is available March 2 – May 30.
Hilton’s Very Modest Second Quarter Promo is Coming
I saw the news yesterday and didn’t bother writing about it. Some details of Hilton’s second quarter promotion are out, and they really aren’t all that exciting. Hilton’s first quarter promo was a free night every four stays or 10 nights. When Hyatt runs these sorts of promos, it’s a free night every two stays — far more generous. Fly Gracefully and TM Travel World note that the new offer will be a free night every 10 nights, or double points. Registration and fine print to come, but geez, c’mon. If you’re gonna run a promo, run a promo. It’s better than no promo (by a little bit) so I guess we’ll take it. But c’mon, Hilton, generate some excitement!
