News and notes from around the interweb: Double Virgin America points through March 31. Registration required. Some commenters are reporting being told that Chase points transfers to Korean will return on January 25. I reached out again to Chase and got simply, “We anticipate the functionality returning soon.” Supreme Court rules air marshall didn’t violate federal law when leaking TSA plans. The new Vietnam Airlines blog, focused on that nation’s carrier and others in Southeast Asia, has new details on the Vietnam Airlines 787 including new lie flat business class seats and a seat map mockup. Now that Delta offers one-way awards I may wind up trying something like this.. Double American AAdvantage miles between the US/Canada and Asia on American and their joint venture partner JAL (though not on American’s China routes). There’s also…
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Eight Ways to Save Money on Airfare… and How Not To Save Money on Airfare
Reader David B. pointed me to Scott McCartney’s column in the Wall Street Journal on what to do — and what not to do — to try to save money on airfare. Here are 8 important ways to save money:
Korean Air’s New First and Business Class Seats Revealed…
I’m a big fan of Korean Air — a good product and great award availability, and plenty of US routes. They also do more intra-Asia flying with a first class cabin than other carriers as well. Whereas most airlines limit their first class to long haul routes, you can fly Korean first class even on many short routes. Korean’s old first class was comfortable, but generations behind. The current long haul first class seat, which I flew the Sunday after Thanksgiving a couple of years ago thanks to their unprecedented award availability, is extremely comfortable, though not especially private. They now have a new first and business class product, and it’s installed in the first few aircraft.
Fuel Surcharges Lose Credibility With Low Fuel Prices, Invite Government Intervention
Airlines like fuel surcharges because: Changing the fuel surcharge in a market can raise or lower every ticket price in that market, no need to re-file every single fare. They allow an airline to raise price even with many fixed-fare agreements. And, of course, because they can be charged to frequent flyers trying to redeem a captive points currency. US frequent flyers — who don’t participate in mileage programs based outside the US — don’t have to deal with fuel surcharges very much. American adds them to awards on British Airways (and to a very modest extent on Iberia) Alaska adds them to awards on British Airways Delta adds them to awards on some partners – like China Southern and China Eastern – and to travel originating in Europe. United doesn’t add them at all.…
The Solution to Sleeping on Short Overnight Flights
Short overnight flights, like flying Eastbound East Coast to Europe, can be frustrating. You leave at night and arrive in the morning and have a full day ahead of you, but to really take advantage of it you need to sleep. (Here’s how I beat jet lag.) New York, DC, or Boston to London or even Paris can take less than 7 hours. You want: A fully flat seat in business class All aisle access so no one is climbing over anyone else and waking them Meal service to end quickly, and lights out quickly, so you can sleep. I don’t want to be woken for breakfast, the second meal on a short overnight isn’t going to be impressive (though I’ll try it if I’m up anyway). I don’t take a Bose noise cancelling headset…
Paris for the Holidays, Saying Goodbye to American’s Old Business Class, and a Suite at the Park Hyatt Vendome
Some months ago there were decent transatlantic fares on American, and while I’m not a huge fan of Western European capitals I do think there’s something completely charming about Paris around the holidays. Paris Over the Holidays The weather isn’t fantastic, a jacket is a good idea, but the City of Light is extra bright around Christmas and the New Year. And unlike summer time, you’ll find actual Parisians there rather than American teenagers. Two years ago as well I spent the period between Christmas and New Years in Paris and it was a blast, ending with New Years eve, the fireworks over the Eiffel Tower, and and endless stream of people running down the Champs Elysee with bottles of champagne.
What’s the Best Airport in the United States?
Brian Sumers expresses concern at the silly naming of LAX as the best airport in North America by Business Traveller magazine. There’s no conceivable universe in which LAX is the best airport in North America. In many ways it belongs grouped with the worst airports. Unquestionably the Tom Bradley terminal is one of the most improved. But many of the terminals are unconnected inside security, and it can take 20 minutes or more just to drive around the terminals. Traffic at that airport is horrendous. Over the summer I named LAX the second worst airport in the U.S.. I grouped it with Miami, New York JFK, and Washington Dulles. You take a train outside security between terminals at JFK.. and a train to where you can pick up hotel shuttles. But what are the best…
Review: Qantas A380 First Class, Sydney – Los Angeles
Must-read Earlier Installments: Singapore, Cathay, and Qantas First Class.. Some of the Best Meals of My Life, and a Tour of Hyatts in Bangkok, Singapore, and Sydney Inside the New Oneworld Lounge at LAX’s Tom Bradley International Terminal Cathay Pacific First Class, Los Angeles – Hong Kong Cathay Pacific “The Wing” First Class Lounge, Hong Kong Cathay Pacific Business Class, Hong Kong – Bangkok Grand Hyatt Bangkok: Suite, Club Lounge, and Facilities Thai Molecular Gastronomy at Sra Bua in Bangkok Getting Custom Tailored Suits Made in Bangkok at Empire Tailors Nahm at the Metropolitan: the Best Thai Food in Thailand? Thailand’s Iron Chef Cooks Ancient Recipes in a Deserted Top Notch Restaurant Eating The Best Local Thai Dishes in the Bangrak Neighborhood of Bangkok Louis Tavern CIP Lounge and Cathay Pacific Business Class, Bangkok-Singapore Grand…
Accor Hotels Secret Loyalty Manual Uploaded Publicly to Google Play. Here’s What it Says..
When loyalty program manuals that are given to hotels leak, they make for interesting readings — about the economics of the program, what hotels are expected to deliver, and how programs ensure (such as through fines) that hotels comply. I’ve written about several of these in the past: Secrets that Holiday Inn Express Tells Hotel Owners Secret Rules of the Club Carlson Hotel Program Best Western’s Hotel Manual Revealed The Le Club Accorhotels Manual turns out to be available free on GooglePlay Books.
Review: Quay, Sydney’s Famed Restaurant Overlooking the Opera House
Must-read Earlier Installments: Singapore, Cathay, and Qantas First Class.. Some of the Best Meals of My Life, and a Tour of Hyatts in Bangkok, Singapore, and Sydney Inside the New Oneworld Lounge at LAX’s Tom Bradley International Terminal Cathay Pacific First Class, Los Angeles – Hong Kong Cathay Pacific “The Wing” First Class Lounge, Hong Kong Cathay Pacific Business Class, Hong Kong – Bangkok Grand Hyatt Bangkok: Suite, Club Lounge, and Facilities Thai Molecular Gastronomy at Sra Bua in Bangkok Getting Custom Tailored Suits Made in Bangkok at Empire Tailors Nahm at the Metropolitan: the Best Thai Food in Thailand? Thailand’s Iron Chef Cooks Ancient Recipes in a Deserted Top Notch Restaurant Eating The Best Local Thai Dishes in the Bangrak Neighborhood of Bangkok Louis Tavern CIP Lounge and Cathay Pacific Business Class, Bangkok-Singapore Grand…
