Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan will almost certainly move to revenue-based mileage earning for flights. The airline’s Vice President who oversees loyalty has been telegraphing this in multiple conversations. He doesn’t come out and say the decision has been made, but he’s been claiming that they recently looked at it and that members prefer it.
My view is that airline cards are for the benefits, rather than ongoing spend, and the best time to get one is during elevated limited time initial bonus offers like what they’re offering right now.
The start of the year is a great opportunity to get started with Hyatt. They’re the program that offers the most value transferring points from bank cards to a hotel program, and their status is the most generous of the major chains.
I especially enjoy confirmed suite upgrades at time of booking, real guaranteed late check-out (subject to availability at resorts, everywhere else it is usually proactively offered to me) and a breakfast benefit that actually spells out what breakfast is – and it’s not just ‘continental’.
Venetian and Palazzo Las Vegas are no longer affiliated with IHG after a 15 year partnership. As of today, they are now partners with Hyatt.
The armrests on the seat lower to align with the seat platform and can bear over 500 pounds, facilitating transfers for passengers with mobility impairments. The seat design allows horizontal or assisted transfers without significant obstacles due to pitch of at least 42 inches.
It’s not enough for American to put the seats into service, and be subject to any complaints for violating accessibility rules. Any technical non-compliance requires prior exemption.
A roundup of the most important stories of the day. I keep you up to date on the most interesting writings I find on other sites – the latest news and tips.
An elderly Russian traveler mistakenly stepped onto a baggage conveyor belt at Vladikavkaz Airport, thinking it would lead to her departure gate. She had checked in for a flight to Moscow Domodedovo Airport on suspended oneworld carrier S7 Airlines.
On domestic flights over 1,500 miles, the airline whose mission is not spending a dollar more than they have to will no longer have flight attendants perform a second pass through the aisle with drink service later in the flight – second drinks are on request only. That’s not the only change.
Delta Air Lines is venturing into sports betting as a new frontier in generating revenue. They announced a partnership with DraftKings at CES in Las Vegas. The airline isn’t yet providing details on what the new gambling integration will look like.
PaxEx Aero suggests it could mean onboard gambling through the airline’s inflight entertainment system, but I do not think so. That would be illegal.
A JetBlue flight scheduled to depart Boston’s Logan International Airport for San Juan, Puerto Rico, was interrupted on Tuesday evening when a male passenger allegedly opened an overwing exit door and deployed the emergency slide as the plane was taxiing.
Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel -- a topic he has covered since 2002.
Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »
