Despite a veto threat if Congress did not include $2,000 direct payments to Americans, President Donald Trump ultimately signed the $900 billion coronavirus relief bill. When can you expect to see the $600 in your bank account? Expect New...
How To Obtain A Visa On Arrival In Togo
The process of obtaining a visa on arrival to Togo was simple and straightforward, but I came prepared. Instructions: Visa On Arrival In Togo After stamping out of Ghana in Aflao, I walked directly across the road (sorry, no...
What Do You Do If An Airline Cancels Your Return Ticket And Blames You?
You fly to your destination. You have a great time. But when you check-in for your return trip, you find your itinerary (not your flight) has been cancelled. You call the airline or ask an agent at the airport...
My Global Entry Enrollment On Arrival Interview
My Global Entry was up for renewal this year. Rather than schedule an interview appointment and make an extra trip to the airport, I took advantage of the “Enrollment on Arrival” program to knock out my interview at San...
Today: Chicago Seminars 2020
Today marks the 11th annual Chicago Seminars, the “original” travel conference that brings experts and novices together to talk miles, points, credit cards, airline, and hotel loyalty programs in a low-key format. This year’s event will be in the...
The Perfect Gift For A Four-Year-Old AvGeek
My son Augustine recently celebrated his fourth birthday. Thanks to my bad influence, he’s an AvGeek by every stretch of the word. A small gift from my brother proved to delight him like nothing I’ve ever seen. A Perfect...
How To Cross The U.S. – Mexican Border With Ease
Last week I spent an afternoon and evening in Tijuana, Mexico. This border town in Baja California remains open during the pandemic for essential purposes and I want to address what to expect in terms of crossing in both...
My PPP Funding Arrived…It’s Not Too Late For You!
It came down to the wire, but I finally received Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funding for Live and Let’s Fly. If you are still waiting on a conventional institution, it’s time to look elsewhere. PPP: Chase, You Let Me...
The Peril Of Buying Gift Cards…
I don’t buy gift cards, unless I am gifting them in small amounts. A recent bankruptcy illustrates why you should also be careful about ever stocking up on gift cards. First, perhaps, we should take a step back. The...
Why You Should Avoid Redeeming Miles For Merchandise
Put simply, using miles for merchandise is generally a horrible deal versus using your miles for travel. Airlines Are Happy To Send You Fancy Electronics In Exchange For Your Miles Most loyalty programs are happy to let you burn...
If The Airline Refund Doesn’t Impute, You Must Dispute…
Let me put it bluntly: if your flight is canceled and an airline doesn’t issue a prompt refund, you should dispute the charge with your credit card company. In 1994, charismatic attorney for O.J Simpson Johnnie Cochran told the...
Five Ways I Protect Myself Against Coronavirus As I Travel The World
As the COVID-19 strain of coronavirus continues to spread, raising more alarms, my international travel has not slowed. Here are five things I am doing to minimize my chances of getting sick while traveling. First, let me say what...
Considering A One-Way Delta SkyMiles Award? Check Round-Trip Pricing First
While I understand the economics of airline pricing to the extent that distance and price rarely correlate, the idea of charging more for A alone than A + B still requires the suspension of logic. Today, I’m not talking...
Checking Baggage Before Your Flight? Arrive Early. Get Aggressive, If Necessary.
What happens when you attempt to check-in late for your flight with baggage? The answer is, you get stuck. And may even forfeit the value of your ticket. This is the busiest travel week of the year and many...
How To Save Big On Uber And Lyft At LAX
As Matthew recently wrote, LAX shared ride pickups have been a mess since the switch to a central pick-up zone. But you can save money and perhaps even time on your next Uber or Lyft ride with a little...
Should You Always Include Middle Name(s) On Airline Ticket?
Is it always necessary to include your middle name(s) in an airline reservation? In short, no…but it’s still foolish not to. The Guardian shares the story of a passenger who booked with Blue Panorama, an Italian airline operating from...
An Intriguing Upside To United’s Radical MileagePlus Changes
For those willing to invest the time, the changes to United MileagePlus actually may make it cheaper to qualify for top-tier status on United than it is now. But it will take some serious and creative mileage running… United...
A New Drink To Fight Jet Lag?
Over 39 million annual flights are forecast to occur by the end of 2019. That’s an all-time high. That also likely means an all-time high in jet lag. But one Danish company claims to have found a breakthrough solution....
Matthew In The Middle: Should I Have Been More Assertive In Claiming Armrests?
We know that middle seat passengers have a claim to both armrests, but would you actually fight for them? Earlier this week I booked a very last-minute ticket to fly from Los Angeles to Houston. I ended up with...
How I Called Back An Airline Reservation Agent And Reached Her Instantly
Recently, I found myself speaking to one of the loveliest United reservations agents I had ever encountered. She was so cheerful and competent. I needed some help with an award ticket, and that can get very tricky when working...
