I have written before about the valuable Southwest Airlines Companion Pass (pass holders can take another passenger with them for free). But its value proposition has lost its luster, we find ourselves using it so rarely because the value...
I Found A Needle In My Hotel Room

I stay in hotels often – as many as 200 nights every year – and I thought I had seen everything. Until the day I found a needle in my hotel room. What would you do? If you are...
Affordable: A Year In Bali On Points

Hotel and airline loyalty programs offer beautiful destinations for little to nothing out of pocket. They also offer some destinations for very few points, but rarely do the two converge. In the case of Bali, however, they do. Here’s...
Airline Ticket Rules Are Inequitable Contracts

Airline tickets are contracts between the passenger and the carrier, but it’s the airlines that hold all the cards. From setting the rules to changing them after purchase, passengers are nearly helpless and that’s not right. If you are...
Uber Punitive Star System Bad for Drivers and Passengers

Uber’s star rating system allows passengers and drivers to rate each other anonymously. In some countries, Uber is barring riders from the app for having a four-star rating and that has me scared. If you are considering booking travel or signing...
T-Mobile Reps Don’t Know About Global Pass

I have written before why I Suffer Through T-Mobile Service – their global coverage. However, those speeds are slow and their new Global Pass is reasonably priced and offers fast data. It’s a shame no one has told the...
Gouging: National Car Rental Lost and Found

As a frequent rental car user, I occasionally leave items behind in a vehicle. On a trip to Dallas with National Car Rental, I left a cell phone that I use as a backup. It was simple to locate the...
United Wants Fewer 1Ks, I’ll Oblige

United announced on Friday afternoon that they would increase the spending requirement for their 1K (100,000-mile elite) members from $12,000 per year to $15,000. This is an effort to thin the herd as they have too many top-tier elite...
Review: ANA 777-300ER Business Class Tokyo Haneda – Chicago

As part of my Hong Kong status run, I returned home via Tokyo on ANA in business class. Here is my review of the product and service aboard ANA’s 777-300ER from Haneda to Chicago. If you are considering booking...
Review: ANA Business Class Lounge Tokyo Haneda (HND)

My long journey home from a status run to Hong Kong included flights from Hong Kong to Chicago on ANA via Tokyo Haneda. I had a chance to try the ANA lounge and was impressed with the offering. If...
Review: ANA 767 Business Class Hong Kong To Tokyo

As part of my Hong Kong status run, I returned home via Tokyo on ANA in business class. Here is my ANA 767 business class review of the product and service. If you are considering booking travel or signing up for...
Singapore SilverKris Lounge In Hong Kong Disappoints

During my status run to Hong Kong, I returned to the US on ANA in business class and tried my first Star Alliance lounge in Hong Kong, the Singapore SilverKris Lounge. Despite Singapore’s great reputation, it disappointed. If you...
The Road Warrior Life Is Getting Old

During my status run to Hong Kong, I took stock of all of the traveling I have been doing for both leisure and business. In a moment of clarity at the end of my trip, the toll travel can...
Hidden In Plain Sight: Hyatt Globalists Points Worth More

As a World of Hyatt Globalist, I have been missing a value enhancement to my World of Hyatt points that were hiding in plain sight. The following corrects that notion. If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a...
Overwhelmed at the Shenzhen Electronics Malls

During my status run to Hong Kong, I took a day trip to Shenzhen, a place I have never been before. Once I found my way into the city, I was on a mission to visit some of the...
Getting From Hong Kong to Shenzhen

During my status run to Hong Kong, I took a day trip to Shenzhen, a place I have never been before. Some of the information I found online was incomplete or incorrect so I wanted to share my efficient,...
Pittsburgh Quietly Losing Routes Despite Additions

Pittsburgh has made big headlines over the last five years as they try to grow their footprint back from near obsolescence. However, as announcement after announcement comes from Steel City, the airport is quietly losing routes too. If you...
Review: Hyatt Regency Hong Kong Sha Tin (Suite)

As part of my United status run this year, I returned to the Hyatt Regency Hong Kong Sha Tin – our home away from home in Hong Kong. There was much to love and much to learn about our...
Review: Hyatt Regency Hong Kong Tsim Sha Tsui (Suite)

As part of my United status run this year, I decided to try the Hyatt Regency Hong Kong Tsim Sha Tsui one last time after I hadn’t loved my previous two experiences. The third time was the charm! If...
Counterpoint: Turning Chase’s JetBlue “Lemon” Into Lemonade

Matthew wrote a piece discussing the removal of Chase Ulitmate Rewards partner Korean Air SkyPass and the addition of JetBlue TrueBlue was the equivalent of a car dealer selling a “lemon.” I emphatically disagree, and here’s why I am...