Airport lounges used to be the domain of business travelers, with bars and business centers. But the face of travel, and premium travel, has changed. There’s far more premium leisure than there used to be and lounges frequently cater to families.
Sometimes it seems like club lounges are really just daycare centers?
The single best way to protect yourself against airline screwups is to make more than one flight booking, on two different airlines. This has been made much easier and less costly by changes to airline policies since the pandemic.
Brand reputation matters a great deal in luxury. Customer experience matters a great deal in luxury. So while they want to compete to grow scope, joining the race to the bottom puts luxury at greatest risk. It’s an even more dangerous game for Hyatt to choose to play than Marriott.
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.
Each month they offer double points on the 1st for spending with their co-brand credit card. All non-rent spend doubles, and that doesn’t mean just an extra point. Dining earns 3 points per dollar with their card, so earns 6 points per dollar on the first. Travel earns 2 points normally, so earns 4 points on the first.
American Airlines and its flight attendants have a tentative agreement on a new contract, four and a half years after the last one became amendable.
Details of the five year deal are now public. Between immediate pay rate changes and the addition of boarding pay, flight attendants will receive up to 28% raises immediately the month following contract ratification. And they’ll get full retro pay for the time spent without a new contract, which can be over $25,000 per crewmember.
Hotels have been repurposed to house migrants (over 10% of all rooms). The city has largely banned Airbnb. And new hotel construction has been limited, with hotel workers unions given an effective veto over projects.
Now the city wants to drive affordable non-union hotels out of business.
An Emirates passenger sitting in economy decided to pull out “all the gear” he needed to make “artisanal pour-over coffee” inflight. He made it for his companions, and even passed some around to those sitting nearby watching. Legend. He solved one of the great limitations of modern air travel.
American Airlines rolled out a new automated phone system this morning. When you dial, there’s a new voice on the other end. And you have to listen to the entire recorded message – no skipping it by asking for an agent.
Bilt’s monthly Rent Day deals have been revealed, and this month they have an offer on Virgin cruises; a Blade helicopter party; fine dining access at a discount; along with the usual double points on their credit card, SoulCycle offers and a game show to win cash for rent.
I really like the dining deals. I prefer when they have 100%+ transfer bonuses to airlines and status deals. But you don’t get those every month!
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 »
