I grew up in Glendale, California, home to one of the largest Armenian populations outside of Armenia’s capital city of Yerevan. My best friend in elementary school was Armenian and I have several friends in the Armenian community. In...
Delta Cancels Flight to Charter Basketball Team Instead
Whatever the going rate is for a chartered jet on Delta Air Lines, it must be better than the revenue from a scheduled flight, because when a Delta charter went mechanical on Saturday in Tampa, Delta promptly cancelled a...
Overnight Train from Tbilisi to Yerevan, Armenia
Back just after dusk at Tbilisi’s central railway station, I had a bite to eat in a small food court upstairs before boarding my second consecutive overnight train, tonight bound for Yerevan. I had purchased the ticket earlier in...
How to Expedite US Airways Mileage Transfers with Points.com
Many of you are taking advantage of US Airways’ 100% bonus on Shared Dividend Miles this week and I have encouraged many of my clients to do the same. Transfers from account to account are typically instant, but can...
Cyber Monday Specials at Marriott: Up to 30% Off
Marriott’s relationship with United Airlines has made me a Marriott customer once again and so today’s Cyber Monday 30% off promotion caught my attention. Bottom line–there are actually some very attractive deals with this one-day promotion. A few properties...
100% Bonus on Shared US Airways Miles (Business Class to Europe + Asia for $1027.50)
US Airways is running the most lucrative mileage purchasing promotion this week, from 02-06 December 2013. Notice I said the most lucrative, not its most lucrative. Nowhere else in the airline industry can you generate enough points to travel to...
Pictures: One Day in Tbilisi, Georgia
Tbilisi’s history dates back 15 centuries and like many capital cities, features a mix of war and peace spanning various empires. The Soviets invaded in 1921 and a Bolshevik regime was installed. Independence came in 1991, but like many...
100% Bonus on Shared Miles Returns to US Airways on Monday!
While buying US Airways Dividend Miles with a 100% bonus is a lucrative offer when available, the best deal for those with points already in their account is US Airways’ 100% bonus on shared miles, since transferring miles from...
Last Call for Small Business Saturday – $10 Free from American Express
For a few more hours you can still get $10 off you next statement credit when you spend at least $10 at a local business today. Today is American Express’ annual Small Business Saturday and though not as lucrative...
United Airlines’ Onboard Photography Policy Remains Unclear
Nine months after being thrown off a United Airlines flight for taking a picture of the seat in front of me, I noticed the following picture on United’s Instagram page— From United’s Instagram page. Note the comments. As I...
My Thanksgiving Hypocrisy
I try to avoid political controversy here, but for my annual Thanksgiving post I had planned to write a piece stating that I would not be shopping today or tomorrow and encouraging you to also spend the time with...
Pack a Sack as United Sacks Packs of Snacks in Back to Stay in Black
United Airlines CEO Jeff Smisek promised USD$2 Billion in cuts at the last shareholders’ meeting and the process has already begun. First, route cuts. Next, a threatened furlough of legacy United flight attendants (more on that in a future...
Thanksgiving Travel on United Airlines at Chicago O’Hare
Chicago’s local ABC affiliate did a fluff piece on traveling with United Airlines over the Thanksgiving holiday, but it still merits watching. Note the gate lice at 1:58! I like that the news clip actually paints an accurate picture...
Airport Security Exposed: How to Build a Homemade Shotgun After You Clear Security
No snow globes or yogurt are allowed past airport security checkpoints, but the video below shows that it does not take MacGyver to build a powerful shotgun with material that you can purchase once you get past the full body...
Simplicity: The Key to a Smooth US Airways Award Booking
US Airways mileage awards are perhaps the most enigmatic because there is seemingly no rhyme or reason to what is permitted and what is not. I laid out some general guidelines about booking US Airways awards, but six phone...
TSA-Approved "Detention Pods" at Syracuse Airport
As part of its $60mn renovation, Syracuse International Airport has installed new exit portals that it says will replace the need for security guards or TSA agents to be stationed at exits to the secure part of the airport....
Generous Premium Award Space On British Airways’ 787 Between Austin and London in August 2014
I help a lot of families use their miles and points to book family vacations and even with depressed business demand for premium seats during the summer, finding three or more business class seats on the same flight often...
The Real Reason Behind United’s New Service to Atlantic City
United Airlines announced new service from Houston Bush Intercontinental and Chicago O’Hare to beleaguered Atlantic City, New Jersey this week in a deal that brought NJ Governor Chris Christie and United CEO Jeff Smisek together for a special ceremony...
German Supreme Court: "Loyalty points are currency"
The German Bundesgerichtshof (Federal Court of Justice) (BGH) held today that loyalty points are a type of currency that should not simpy expire. Rewe, a grocery store chain across Germany, ran a promotion in 2011 in which you could collect stickers...
Leaked US Airways Memo: Agents Forbidden to Manually Request Award Space
US Airways apparently did not appreciate my story on how to book blocked Lufthansa award space, because a new memo has been issued that explicitly instructs Dividend Miles agents not to manually request award space on any flight. It was...
