The X1 Credit Card: Game Changer?

by Gary Leff

Sep 19 2020

We don’t know enough about this product yet to have a real idea of its value – if you can actually generate a 4% return through spend and referrals that’s going to be really strong, but most people won’t be able to successfully refer someone every month. 

Referrals aside then we’re talking about 2% back on the first $15,000 of spend each year. This card is only interesting for spend above $15,000 to get to 3% back. But you’re going to have to spend substantially more than $15,000 on the card before you’re really getting enough value to make the higher rate of return worthwhile.

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A $2.5 Billion Airline Payroll Support Plan Makes More Sense Than What The Airlines Asked For

by Gary Leff

Sep 19 2020

Airlines have somehow conned the President, the Speaker of the House and myriad members of the House of Representatives and the Senate to sign onto the idea of a $25 billion ‘clean extension’ of CARES Act payroll support. That’s a second $25 billion injection of cash in exchange for not furloughing workers or eliminating service to most cities through March 31, 2021.

Except that the math here is truly insane. No one seems to be doing the math. So let’s talk about what a $2.5 billion package might look like instead.

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Police Meet Flight After Passenger And Flight Attendant Can’t Agree On What A “Mask” Is

by Gary Leff

Sep 19 2020

A passenger and flight attendant on Spirit Airlines got into an argument over whether the passenger’s mask constituted a ‘mask’. The flight attendant offered the passenger a ‘real mask’- instead of an American flag gaiter – which they refused to wear. Police were contacted to meet the plane.

The most 2020 thing ever is a debate over what the word ‘mask’ means on a commercial aircraft.

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New York City Will Allow Restaurant Covid Surcharges, Defrauding Customers And Employees

by Gary Leff

Sep 18 2020

New York City’s council passed a law allowing restaurants to add up to a 10% ‘Covid surcharge’ for eat-in dining. Mayor Bill de Blasio is expected to sign it. It is stupid. Restaurants can already raise their prices.

This accomplishes two things: it lets restaurants charge a higher price than they advertise on their menus, and since customers are willing to pay a certain amount for their meal the surcharge reduces tips. It shifts income from restaurant workers to owners.

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Mideast Peace: Emirates Airlines Sets Up Kosher Food Facility

by Gary Leff

Sep 18 2020

Kosher Arabia should be up and running in January, and will serve Emirates as well as other airlines operating from Dubai. The Dubai-based carrier will no longer have to use a contract caterer to source Kosher meals. Emirates is even exploring opening Kosher restaurants both in Dubai and throughout the region.

For anyone not dedicated to the destruction of Israel, I think, this seems unambiguously a good thing – at least as long as Emirates doesn’t displace some of its fine wines with Manischewitz.

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Commerce Secretary: Not Giving Airlines Another $25 Billion In Taxpayer Money Is “Punishing Them”

by Gary Leff

Sep 18 2020

You wouldn’t buy the basic economy tickets airlines were selling, but they’re going to take your money anyway.

President Trump’s Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross said on Friday that not giving airlines another $25 billion, after providing $25 billion in payroll support and another $25 billion in subsidized loans, is akin to punishing them:

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Earn A Southwest Companion Pass And 125,000 Points To Spend

by Gary Leff

Sep 18 2020

Chase has one of the most lucrative credit card offers we’ve seen for the premium Southwest Airlines business card. It’s a great card as I’ll show you in a moment but let’s first look at the initial bonus offer for the card, meant to make a really big splash and it does with up to 100,000 points as an initial bonus, which in 2020 is enough to earn a Companion Pass. When you earn the bonus you have enough points for a Companion Pass even under standard rules that return in 2021.

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Fare Alert: US to Europe From $82 [$1 Base Fare]

by Gary Leff

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Sep 18 2020

Star Alliance member TAP Air Portugal, known for its cheap business class fares, has deals right now from the U.S. to Europe starting at just $82 one way and $229 round trip. And that’s not just East Coast to Europe, but even from San Francisco as well.

And while most people in the U.S. cannot travel to most destinations in Europe now, at least without quarantining on arrival (U.K.), this fare is available through next summer and at these prices it may be worth taking a flyer.

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