The European Union has a new EU-wide policy on paying compensation for flight delays. Patrick Crozier has a response that’s worth quoting from in detail: Now we wouldn’t want to deny there is a downside to this. It means that flying planes will become more expensive for the operators. Which means that in some cases the fares will go up and in others the routes will be abandoned. But don’t you worry your pretty little prole head about it. You might have thought you wanted budget airlines run by dynamic entrepreneurs finding new niches in the market. You might have thought you were prepared to take the risk of a wait if it meant getting a ticket at the right price. You might have thought that airline food was perhaps a luxury you could forgo.…
Online Booking Bonuses are back at Starwood – but you have to register
Register for 500 bonus Starwood points for all online bookings made through August 31.
Free Hilton points
GMAC insurance is still giving 1000 Hilton HHonors points for requesting a car insurance quote through the end of July.
What are the best Frequent Flyer awards?
A current discussion on Flyertalk got me thinking about what the very best loyalty program award values are. In general, the very best values come from redeeming points for international business and first class travel. Beyond that general advice, there are a few specific awards that just seem to me to offer the very best for the fewest number of miles. Mexicana’s Star Alliance awards from the U.S. and Canada to Hawaii. You can flying from anywhere in the US and Canada to Hawaii in First Class using 40,000 Mexicana Frecuenta miles. In contrast, United — the airline you’re most likely to be flying for this award — requires 60,000 miles for a first class ticket to Hawaii. What’s more, you can redeem American Express Membership Rewards points for Mexicana Frecuenta miles. (You can’t redeem…
Win up to 500,000 Miles
Enter for a chance to double your American, Delta, or United mileage balance (up to 500,000 miles) by signing up for the Omni Hotels Select Guest program.
This piece of “news” just emailed to me
At Heathrow Airport today, an individual, later discovered to be a school teacher, was arrested trying to board a flight while in possession of a compass, a protractor, and a graphical calculator. Authorities believe she is a member of the notorious al-Gebra movement. She is being charged with carrying weapons of math instruction.
Non-news
Delta wants to fly to the currently unused Detroit City Airport — but only if the government will give them money from a grant program that the airport probably doesn’t qualify for anyway.
Guess SARS isn’t taking up ALL their time
Stinky feet are on the rise in Singapore. Health officials are concerned.
When will I have time to read all these?
Another free magazine. This time it’s Golf World.
Man Gets Life in Prison for Spitting
I do hope the state courts overturn this verdict. (Link via the Volokh Conspiracy.) An Oklahoma man arrested on suspicion of beating his wife faced year in prison and a fine. But when he spit in an arresting officer’s face, he got a life sentence instead, officials said Wednesday. John Carl Marquez, 36, was convicted of “placing bodily fluid upon a government employee,” a felony that can carry a life sentence because of the possibility of transmitting a potentially deadly disease. State judge April Sellers White sentenced Marquez this week even though Marquez and the officer tested negative for any communicable disease.
