No, It’s Not Time For (Some Of You) To Stop Traveling

by Gary Leff

Dec 09 2020

Is it time to stop traveling given the Covid-19 wave we’re experiencing in the United States? There are certainly many people who shouldn’t travel right now, and many places where there’s not much to do. But those who have already had the virus, and those who will soon have been vaccinated, are probably ok to travel. And many travelers are more responsible than non-travelers. The focus should be on how to be responsible rather than moralizing against all travel, telling people to stay home so then they gather with their neighbors locally.

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Thailand Now Allowing Tourists From The Whole World (Yes, Even The U.S.)

by Gary Leff

Starwood's Business Card is Better than the Personal American Express Card
Dec 09 2020

Thailand has managed the Covid-19 pandemic well. Despite identifying early cases outside of China at the start of the pandemic, the country hasn’t seen significant virus activity and 90% of cases have been asymptomatic.

The country has been among the most closed to tourism, like much of Asia, but they’re now offering special tourist visas to people from all over the world – there’s a process to jump through and quarantine on arrival, but it’s now possible for Americans to visit.

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Earn Top Hyatt Elite Status On Award Nights For Net Cost Of -16,250 Points (Yes, Negative)

by Gary Leff

hotel room
Dec 08 2020

Hyatt has reduced the qualification requirement for top tier Globalist status from 60 nights to 30 nights for 2021.

You can get double the annual elite nights from a new Hyatt card, stays in January and February count double, and award nights – which start at just 5000 points – count too. Plus Hyatt is rebating points spent on redemptions. You can earn top tier elite status and come out ahead on points.

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United Now Offers Airport Customer Service Agents – Who Are Virtual

by Gary Leff

Dec 08 2020

What this also allows United to do over time is have fewer agents, or at least fewer agents per passenger. Instead of having agents deployed at airports across the terminal in case customers need them, and having down time throughout the day, they can locate agents centrally and optimize staffing based on predicted needs.

That makes this the perfect ‘United under Scott Kirby’s leadership’ initiative: it fosters on-time performance while reducing cost.

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13 Million Americans Eligible For ‘Immunity Passports’

by Gary Leff

passport
Dec 08 2020

Iceland and Hungary welcome people who have recovered from Covid-19 in the past six months. This makes a lot more sense than welcoming people that have tested negative in the past 72 hours. A recent negative test doesn’t mean someone is free of the virus at the time they arrive. But someone that’s recovered from the virus probably doesn’t have it and can’t spread it.

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