Air Canada’s New Acqua di Parma Amenity Kit

by Gary Leff

Dec 03 2022

I’ve fallen in love with some first class amenity kits over time, from Singapore Airlines to Asiana to Thai Airways. Business class amenity kits are usually far more pedestrian, from the bags themselves to their contents. Still, there are sometimes kits which are quite fun. Before the pandemic, when Delta was more of a premium airline inflight, their last amenity kit was Tumi with a couple of Le Labo items inside.

Air Canada has introduced a new Acqua di Parma amenity kit, a thoughtful premium brand choice.

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How Airlines Treat Your Checked Baggage When You Aren’t Looking

by Gary Leff

Dec 03 2022

The tag line for Kevin Smith’s Clerks was, “just because they serve you doesn’t mean they like you.” Just imagine what they do behind your back! When you aren’t looking, baggage handlers have been known to ignore bags, throw bags for fun, toss them in the trash and steal from them. When a baggage handler has plenty of baggage themselves, bad things happen.

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Bali Tourists Could Face One Year In Prison For Having Sex Under New Law

by Gary Leff

shrine
Dec 03 2022

Indonesia is expected to approve a law this month banning pre-marital sex as well as living together prior to marriage. While Bali is generally more liberal than the rest of the country, the law would apply nationwide, including for tourists.

And while homosexuality is not illegal in Indonesia per se (except in the Aceh province) same sex marriage is not legal. As a result same sex partners living together would become criminalized, under a statute that includes penalties of up to a year in prison.

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Capital One Venture X Priority Pass Cards Losing Airport Restaurant Credits

by Gary Leff

Dec 02 2022

Capital One is eliminating non-lounge airport facilities from Venture X Priority Pass cards effective January 1, 2023. This follows a similar move by American Express in summer 2019.

As a result, Capital One Priority Pass cardholders will not longer be able to swipe their cards for $28 credits at participating restaurants. Chase, by contrast, will still cover restaurant swipes for their Sapphire Reserve cardmembers.

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Lufthansa Starts Selling Miles, Figuring Out How To Circumvent German Law

by Gary Leff

airport pick up
Dec 02 2022

In 2019 Lufthansa abruptly terminated the ability to transfer points from Marriott, Hyatt, Hilton and others into Miles & More. That made it tough for Americans to get their points. For most, it meant you’d need to spend on a Barclays-issued co-brand Miles & More credit card, or credit flights to Lufthansa’s frequent flyer program.

The explanation at the time was that German law made it impossible for them to continue allowing. Germany’s Payment Services Supervision Act was being interpreted to count a mileage transfer as a payment service which requires registration, government supervision, and “strong customer authentication” among other requirements.

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