In the race to develop new ancillary fees, the airline that wins is going to be the one that’s first to charge you for your emotional baggage. So Funny or Die revives a fictional Western Airlines (no, not the Western that Delta Air Lines acquired in late 1986) and they’re sharing with you what you can expect this holiday season. You are a cog in the modern transportation machine and we will burn your a– up like jet fuel. You are nothing to us. Nothing. You have no choice in air travel. You have no one to turn to if we wrong you. You are the dirty water we make coffee with. You are the flavorless peanuts we shove down your throats to keep you quiet for an extra minute. So this holiday season we…
Holy Smokes: 90% Off Award Tickets in All Classes of Service on Garuda Indonesia
Citibank ThankYou points transfer partner and SkyTeam member Garuda Indonesia just introduced online award booking last month. Until then you had to ticket in person at a sales office (there are only four in the U.S.).
I have a ton of Citibank points as a result of spending over the past year or so earning triple points on air and hotel and double points on restaurants and entertainment with my Citi Prestige Card — and I’m really tempted to use them on this new offer.
American Airlines Won a Jury Verdict Against Sabre, and It Could Change the Way You Buy Airline Tickets
United used to offer discount Twitter fares available nowhere else (called ‘TWARES’). Those ended because they ran afoul of United’s contractual obligations to offer their best fares to everyone.
15 years ago most US airlines offered email specials. They’d be valid for the coming weekend, dumping unsold inventory, and ensuring that the allowable travel dates didn’t coincide with business travel times. United had them. So did American. So did US Airways. Continental used to refer to them as CO.O.L. Travel specials (COOL stood for Continental On Line). We don’t see those anymore.
And… Virgin America Transfers Are Back on the Starwood Website (Phew!)
With Starwood points transfers at 1:1 probably too good a deal to begin with — other currencies transferring to Virgin America usually offered just half the value at 2:1 — and with Alaska Airlines’ acquisition of Virgin America which has already led to the announced end to Citibank transfers to the Elevate program, it sure raised alarm bells when Virgin America transfers disappeared from the Starwood website.
Virgin America Gone as a Starwood Transfer Partner Without Notice?
Starwood points have transferred 1:1 into Virgin America. 20,000 Starwood points yield 25,000 Virgin America points. And a 30% conversion bonus, given Alaska’s purchase of Virgin America, will mean 32,500 Alaska miles.
That was the theory anyway, and it was an opportunity which was available briefly.
The 20% Chance Donald Trump is an Evil Genius and Hilton’s Jealousy Over Marriott’s Nonsense Brands
A roundup of the most important stories of the day. I keep you up to date on the most interesting writings I find on other sites – the latest news and tips.
$5.28 Free (Unlimited) from La Quinta
La Quinta Returns has a new feature that lets you use your points to buy pretty much anything at retail. And they’ll give you points for signing up for the feature, which amounts to free money.
Passenger Disputes Claim of YouTube Prankster ‘Kicked Off Delta For Speaking Arabic’
Flyertalk member rwoman reported being on the flight from London Heathrow to New York JFK that self-described ‘professional idiot’ Adam Saleh claimed he was kicked off of for speaking Arabic. And she disputes his version of events.
IHG Rewards Club Finally Adding Late Check-out Benefit
Effective January 1 IHG Rewards Club says they’re introducing a late check-out benefit for all elites (Gold and higher).
Self-Described Professional Idiot Kicked Off Delta Flight This Morning for Speaking Arabic
This morning a man named Adam Saleh was about to fly Delta but was kicked off the plane, allegedly because he spoke Arabic on the phone and also to a traveling companion. He filmed the incident, and it’s going viral (over 50,000 shares in the first 2 hours). He mentions on the video that he’s even a SkyMiles member.