Starwood Preferred Guest hotels sold to Marriott a couple of years ago. Now, following the first full year of their combined loyalty program, it’s clearer than ever – SPG should have taken Hyatt’s acquisition offer. If you are considering...
Review: Park Hyatt Paris-Vendome – Suite
A stay in Paris should be magic, and in our case it certainly was. The Park Hyatt Paris-Vendome delivered on a perfect Parisian stay. If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a new credit card please click here. Both...
Unlike Matthew, United’s CEO Change Makes Me Reconsider Loyalty
United announced this week that CEO, Oscar Munoz, would step down with United President, Scott Kirby, taking over May 1st, 2020. Changes like these don’t affect flyers often but I’m reconsidering my loyalty to United. If you are considering...
The Case For, Against Airline Loyalty
Following unwanted management changes at United and unrequited management changes at American, I am re-examining my airline loyalty. Here are the arguments for and against holding loyalty status. If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a new credit...
Manchester’s Principal Hotel Rebranded Kimpton Clocktower
We know Manchester (we lived there for several years) and love The Principal hotel. IHG acquired it (along with 13 others) last year in an effort to bolster the Kimpton brand. In January, the Kimpton Clocktower will launch where...
Cyber Monday Travel Steals Still Available
It’s not too late to grab some Cyber Monday travel deals. Here are some deals you might want to grab for someone special or just for yourself. If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a new credit card...
American Airlines Reinforces My Decision to Leave
I have been rather vocal about my switch from American Airlines to United. But as I still have hundreds of thousands of miles, I need to spend them and American continues to squander opportunities to win me back. If...
Does Terror Alter Your Travel Choices?
Another terror attack in London and the Hague sparked concerns for my family and raised the question of whether or not acts of terror alter our travel choices. If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a new credit...
Has American Airlines Turned The Corner?
American Airlines has had a rough couple of years, but after a decent performance in the third quarter and some management “changes” has the carrier finally turned the corner? If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a new...
Hyatt’s “Surprise and Delight” Does Just That
Hyatt began running a “surprise and delight” campaign for Globalist members of the hotel chain’s World of Hyatt program. The promotion is accomplishing its stated goal. If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a new credit card please...
Keeping United 1K Status via Honolulu
Maintaining my United 1K Status is very important to me and my family. For the last year, distance flown matters more than just money spent (and segments) which means I have one more true mileage run, this year via...
Bonvoyed: Deceptive Redemption Prices Frustrate, Annoy
Marriott’s new Bonvoy program has not been the success CEO Arne Sorenson has suggested it is. Bonvoy’s award redemption nights don’t just deceive members, they also frustrate and annoy them. If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a...
Evaluating Inspirato, a Luxury Travel Subscription
A few readers have asked what I thought of Inspirato, a luxury travel subscription service. I did some investigating and found that for a very narrow audience it may present value but most won’t. If you are considering booking travel or signing...
Hertz is Worse Than Spirit, RyanAir
I am fairly loyal to National Car Rental for a few reasons but until I had to rent from Hertz, I had no idea just how good I had it. By comparison, Hertz is worse than Spirit and RyanAir....
Bonvoyed: SPG Members Leaving Marriott, Data Suggests
Marriott Hotels purchased Starwood and replacing the beloved Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) with a new combined program, Bonvoy. Three data points suggest that SPG members haven’t stayed with the new Bonvoy program. If you are considering booking travel or signing up...
Employee Groups Wage Proxy Boeing Fight for Southwest
The Boeing 737 MAX is a very delicate issue. Airlines are owed for down time but getting passengers back on the planes may be tough. Southwest employee groups are effectively fighting Boeing for Southwest by proxy. If you are...
Lifetime Status: My Pursuits and Results
After traveling for an extended period of time, annual qualifications become a forgone conclusion, but lifetime status overtakes the annual goal. Here are my hotel and airline lifetime progressions and why I seek them. If you are considering booking...
American Airlines Flight Attendants Refuse to Fly the 737 MAX, Southwest Pilots Sue Because They Can’t
Boeing’s 737 MAX has been a divisive issue amongst airlines employees and the traveling public. American Airlines flight attendants refuse to fly it while Southwest pilots sue Boeing because they can’t. What?!? If you are considering booking travel or signing up...
CIBO OTG Taking Over Airport Hubs
If you’ve traversed many of the nation’s largest airports, you’ve encountered been inundated by CIBO or OTG food vendors and restaurants. Increasingly, it seems every restaurant in the airport is one or the other – how did this happen? If...
Review: Chicago Athletic Association (Hyatt Unbound)
The Chicago Athletic Association is a new hotel to the Hyatt family but not a new property in downtown Chicago. Since joining Hyatt, this was our first chance to try the property and we loved it – with one...
