About 30,000 people were mistakenly added to a terrorism watch list that causes them to be selected for extra screening. Kennedy said that travelers have had to ask the TSA to clear their identities from watch lists by submitting a “Passenger Identity Verification Form” and three notarized copies of identification documents. On average, he said, it takes officials 45 to 60 days to evaluate the request and make any necessary changes. The government made a mistake. It’s up to affected people to file paperwork to get things straightened out. But even then the government still adds an extra hassle because there’s still someone else (not those affected) out there. After submitting their notarized forms and identifications, and waiting for evaluations, the vast majority of the people mistakenly matched to names on the watch list have…
Big Mileage Plus Wine Bonus
Dec
08
2005
Hartwick and Grove, which offers overpriced wine and expensive shipping, is finally worth buying from. They’ve got a mega-United mileage offer: Earn 25,000 Mileage Plus miles. When you spend over $1,000 on a single Hartwick & Grove order and pay with your Mileage Plus Visa Card, you’ll receive 25 miles per dollar. That’s 25,000 miles for a $1,000 purchase. As you know, 25,000 miles gets you a round trip ticket to anywhere United flies in the continental United States, so start making travel plans. * Harvest special offer now through December 31, 2005. Earn 2500 extra bonus miles when you spend $50. This is in addition to the miles per dollar spent. Offer limited to one 2500 bonus per mileage number. Mileage Plus Visa cardholders: Double Your Miles – Earn 20 miles per dollar spent!…
Now I Know What I Want for Christmas
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.
