The Airport Security Screening Playset — unfortunately, it’s out of stock. They’re supposed to email me when it’s available again. Concurring Opinions already has one, and reports that it’s not very realistic: There was only one passenger to be screened. Where were the long lines? The passenger’s clothing wasn’t removable for strip searching. The passenger’s shoes couldn’t be removed either. Her luggage fit easily inside the X-ray machine. There were no silly warning signs not to carry guns or bombs onto the plane. And there was no No Fly List or Selectee List included in the playset. Another oddity was that the toy came with two guns, one for the police officer and one that either belonged to the X-ray screener or the passenger. The luggage actually opened up, and the gun…
Hardly worth mentioning… Amtrak Online Shopping Promo
Amtrak’s online mall is offering 100 points for spending $100 by the end of the year.
20% off at W Hotel Store
The W Hotel Store is offering 20% off everything through December 9 with code P4X8A.
Westin Hotels in the US to go smoke-free in January
USAToday has the story about an upcoming announcement:Westin Hotels & Resorts will announce today that it is snuffing out smoking in all rooms, restaurants, bars and public areas at its 77 U.S., Canadian and Caribbean properties starting in January. Guests may smoke only on balconies or in other outdoor areas.
I hear summer is high season in Kabul…
Apparently tourism to Afghanistan is on the rise. BILLIONAIRE Aga Khan, who’s about to open his multimillion-dollar luxury property in central Kabul – the Kabul Serena Hotel, with rooms from $250 a night – has good timing. Travel to Afghanistan is gaining momentum, relatively speaking. Tourism deputy minister Nasrullah Stanikzai told NYP Travel that this past summer the country saw an increase in the number of tourists over summer 2004 (numbers were not available), and that most were from Korea, Japan and Europe. I still wouldn’t fly Arianna Afghan Airlines, though they’ve at least upgraded their website somewhat in the past 18 months.
Self-Service Combining of Your USAirways and America West Frequent Flyer Accounts
In the Spring, USAirways and America West are going to combine their frequent flyer programs. But if you want to combine miles in your account, perhaps it will help you claim an award now or you want to use miles from one program to take advantage of the award chart of the other, you don’t have to wait. America West frequent flyers can move their miles to USAirways, and vice versa, on their own with no restrictions. (America West miles can be used to claim USAirways Star Alliance awards now!) Just go to points.com and register your USAirways and America West frequent flyer numbers. You won’t be charged a fee, and you can swap miles between the two accounts at a 1:1 ratio instantly. Join the free service. If you’re not already a member, you…
An Easy Credit for Completing a Freepay Electronics Offer
Dec
03
2005
Freepay (the freeipods folks) require you to complete one of their marketing offers in addition to referring friends who do the same. I recently completed an easy one that still showing available on all of the electronics offers I’ve checked, so I thought I’d pass it along. The 30 day free trial of RealArcade GamePass works like a charm. The credit posts in a couple of days, you have a month to cancel, and cancellation is a snap and hassle-free. You can even cancel on the weekends (no waiting for weekday business hours, though admittedly I did have to hold for a few minutes). I’ve been told — though haven’t tried this personally — that the RealArcard trial will work more than once. In other words, you can use it on more than one free…
Another Holiday Online Shopping Promo
Dec
03
2005
Continental is offering 1000 bonus miles for shopping with three different retailers during the month of December.
The End of Diners Club, I No Longer Recommend This Credit Card
This just in from Diners Club, points will no longer be able to be transferred to USAirways, Northwest, America West, or Continental* effective January 1. United transfers go away April 27. Guess what they call this? Naturally, an enhancement. They’ve added a program where you can pay points for travel directly, at a value of 1.25 cents per point. Don’t do it, it isn’t worthwhile. (Okay, it’s better than the 1 cent per point at Capital One but that’s not saying much!) When Diners Club became a Mastercard, I accepted the end of two billing cycles to pay and higher foreign currency conversion rates. It was worthwhile to me in exchange for broader acceptance. But they’re clearly devaluing the program. One of two things must be happening: either the programs being discontinued have exclusivity provisions…
More kudos!
I understand that View from the Wing has been named Budget Travel‘s “Blog of the Week” .. thanks!
