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How Marriott Rewards Could Be the Best Hotel Loyalty Program in the World

by Gary Leff

Sep 07 2016

With Marriott acquiring Starwood — a deal that hasn’t yet closed thanks to delays by Chinese regulators — a lot of members are going to be seeing changes.

Today Marriott Rewards’ strongest argument is ubiquity. What members tell me most often what they like about Marriott Rewards is ‘no matter where I go, I can earn my points’. In the US at least there are Marriott family properties pretty much anywhere.

Marriott is also already more rewarding for in-hotel spend than Starwood, and certainly clustered in the middle of the pack with competitors. And Marriott has started to improve since announcing its deal with Starwood.

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Why New Celebrity Chefs at Delta and American Matter for Your Next Flight

by Gary Leff

Sep 01 2016

Passengers complain that they aren’t served food anymore in coach most of the time. When I first started traveling for business (and certainly growing up), passengers complained that they were served food. Because airline food was a joke.

Back when United’s premium cabin meals were branded with celebrity chef Jacques Pepin they actually had economy meals which were chef-branded. United’s chef in economy was Sheila Lukins.

Thirty years ago of course United had an economy meals partnership with McDonalds — with happy meal toys (I have both Ronald McDonald and Grimace). United replaced the galley carts with ones specially-designed to keep the burger warm while the lettuce and bun stayed cool.

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GIVEAWAY: Would You Like a Free Stay in the Maldives?

by Gary Leff

Aug 31 2016

Regular readers know that I love the Maldives. I’ve been 5 years in a row. It’s the only place I’ve found where I can really unplug. The distance is a feature not a bug, by the time I get there I’m really ready to relax and the time difference helps me to do it — I can answer work emails in the morning, and everyone is gone from the office the rest of the day so I can just enjoy myself.

I’ve gone to the same place each time, because I could use points, but there are some fantastic properties that I’d love to try some day. One that’s really worth checking out is Loama Resort.

You’re going to get to stay there before me, because I’m giving a stay to a reader.

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ACT NOW: Great Business Class Award Space to Europe Without Big Fuel Surcharges With American and BA Miles

by Gary Leff

Aug 20 2016

A lot of American AAdvantage members miss transatlantic award space on oneworld partner Iberia, because Iberia awards don’t appear on American’s website.

Iberia flies between Boston, New York JFK, Chicago, Miami, Los Angeles and Madrid. And award space booked far in advance is very good in business class right now.

Iberia has a good business class product — fully flat with all aisle access, but with seats staggered for density.

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American Has Improved Its Award Rules: Allows More Transpacific Routings to Indian Subcontinent

by Gary Leff

Aug 19 2016

Last fall I spoke with then-AAdvantage President Suzanne Rubin and suggested that with their higher award pricing (since March 22), they could loosen their routing rules somewhat. She indicated they were looking at that.

And it appears they’ve started to because back in April they started to allow flying Cathay Pacific or American Airlines to Hong Kong, and travel beyond to India and the surrounding region on Cathay Pacific, as a single award — instead of requiring you to fly via the Atlantic.

Now they’ve loosened this further.

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