Tagged With "loyalty programs"
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Re: Calabria to Sicily: A bridge too far?
I like it when people take on huge tasks and succeed at them. The American Space Program was like that -- expensive, risky, exciting and one of man kind's greatest achievements. This bridge would be a great engineering triump. And I think it would be important to link Sicily more closely to Italy. It would make the island much more accessible and allow freer flow of people. 9 billion Euros is a lot of money, but is probably comparable to the debt the US government runs up in a few days, so...
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Re: Marriott buys Starwood for $12.2 billion...what's in it for loyalists?
Received this e-mail this morning. Today we're excited to share the news that Starwood Hotels & Resorts will join together with Marriott International to create the world's largest hotel company. For our Starwood Preferred Guest® (SPG® members, this will mean even more choices in even more places, giving you access to 1.1 million rooms across 5,500 hotels and resorts in more than 100 countries. We will work to bring you the very best of SPG and Marriott Rewards®, two of the most...
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Re: Marriott buys Starwood for $12.2 billion...what's in it for loyalists?
I'm hopeful, since I think the last thing in the world Marriott should want to do is to signal Starwood loyalists that they aren't valued. Wonder how long before SPG rewards will book Marriott rooms...that could be a quick thing to do!
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Re: Marriott buys Starwood for $12.2 billion...what's in it for loyalists?
As I'm also a Marriott rewards member, I wonder when I'll get an e-mail from them.
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Re: India Easing Visa Requirements
Advance visas have always been something of a bother for potential visitors to any country but the last year or so residents of the US have been plagued by difficulties trying to obtain visas to visit India. Originally processed by the consulates, of late the process has been subcontracted to a private operator, BLS, and it's been a nightmare for many. Visas have been delayed beyond the proposed departure dates and numbers of passports have even been lost entirely. Forums are rife with...
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Re: Everglades raccoon
Invasive species cause havoc not just with cute native species, but also agriculture, people's health and livelihoods. The Park Service has a number of interesting management programs, including a parntership with Florida Fish and Wildlife. Fish and Wildlife has a Pet Amnesty Program so that people can rehome unwanted exotic pets, rather than thoughtlessly placing them in the wild. The exotic animals are offered to adopters, who are given instructions on proper care. Fish and Wildlife offers...
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Re: Whom did you say was flying this plane?
I don't mind autopilot and I don't mind a second opinion from a computer, but I don't like the computer deciding when to "fly" and override the humans, unless with very clear program instructions (eg. If plane is clearly out of control. JFK Jr could have used such a system to prevent his plane crash because he was completely disoriented when he crashed his private plane)
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Re: Where in the World is Gumbo? 7.8
It does look like a puggle. Of course that could be either a baby platypus or a baby echidna. In either case it is likely to be in Australia. My guess is that is an echidna. Since there is a breeding program for echidnas at the Perth zoo it could be there. My guess for the location, however, is the Australia Zoo, former home base of the late Steve Irwin, the crocodile hunter.
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Re: Space Shuttle Atlantis exhibit, Kennedy Space Center
Thanks for an orbit of memory lane! I think for me the most amazing aspect of the whole space program is how we have moved from each launch being a major news event before, during and after to seeing space in the papers only when something goes wrong--and these days, it seems to be mostly plumbing issues on the International Space Station. Looking at the pictures...it's amazing how big some aspects are, and how small the actual shuttle is!
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Re: Space Shuttle Atlantis exhibit, Kennedy Space Center
Thanks for the comments, guys! The entire shuttle is actually much longer than I'd thought, maybe 180 ft. What was surprising is how small the living/pilot compartment is where the astronauts spent so much time. It's that space in front of the opened cargo door. The US space program is just a former shadow of itself with the retirement of the Shuttle program and nothing ready to take its place. But I was pleased to hear that NASA is working on the Orion project. It is a rocket based space...
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Re: Portugal's 'Golden Visa' Gaining Traction
The U.S. has a somewhat similar program. If you are prepared to invest $1,000,000 in a U.S. business that will create 10 jobs ($500,000 if it's in a rural or high unemployment area) you and your immediate family are eligible for immediate green cards for permanent residence. Oh, sorry...it is limited to the first 10,000 millionaires each year. The program is the EB-5 visa. If you've got the million, or just the curiosity, click HERE .
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Re: Up, Up and Away: Airline miles cards with big bonuses
I LOVE my airline credit card, but it's great to have all this information in one place to see if I could do better. Probably not without some whopping fees, but whopping bonuses, too. Thank you sir, for showing us all these choices!
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Re: Up, Up and Away: Airline miles cards with big bonuses
I have a Delta American Express Platinum card that has served us well. The fee is higher than the gold card, but we can check two bags free, priority boarding, and a free companion pass yearly. We fly two or three times a year and the value of the waived baggage fee and the companion pass far exceed the $150 annual fee. The card also accrues one mile for each dollar spent and lately has offered cash back incentives. For example: spend $15 at Panera's using the card and receive $5 credit on...
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Re: Airbus patents a new Monster Airplane
It will be interesting to see if this goes anywhere, and what airlines are telling Airbus about it! As mentioned in a post here earlier this month, Airbus has barely broken even on the A380 program, has sold less than 25% of what they thought they could, and has had no new orders for 2 years. While there's a big demand for air-freighters (it's what's keeping the 747 in production), I doubt there's a big market for a freighter that also carries 6-800 passengers, since there are few routes...
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Re: Air Miles vs Low Fare Airline
Continuing my search for an economical way to use my miles and avoid absurd fees, I tried a combination of 2 one-way flights, one with miles, one on Norwegian. One way on Norwegian is as low as $286. If I avoid using BA with points, flights on AA to Paris are 20,000 miles (before May 15th) plus a $5 fee (excellent!) but with a stupid schedule, 3 flights and 2 days to get there. And 1 possibility available. All the rest are BA flights, $326 in fees + 20,000 miles. Next thought, why is AA...
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Re: Is it time to regulate airplane seats? Chris Elliott thinks so!
The trouble with a mandate is that it has deadlines and airlines who fly to the US would have to go through an expensive seat replacement program. That cost is one we share, or that puts the airlines in the red and in jeopardy. Makes sense to pressure them to improve, but that's just my opinion. But I do like the idea of "grading" seats. Helps me know what I'm buying. For example, Canadian airlines definitely have larger seats that American carriers. I'll preferentially fly Air Canada to...
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Re: Above and Below at the beach
It’s actually a fairly long-standing program now…started in 2002, with just the one on Rive Droite, just below the Hotel de Ville. We first noticed it in 2005. By 2006, they had added one on the Rive Gauche, and in 2007 on the Bassin de la Villette. I don’t know how long they’ve been doing the on in front of the city hall, but when we saw it last week it was set up for beach volleyball!
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Re: Booking.com Changes as Travelers Change : Interview With Stuart Frisby
I was curious if Booking.com was going to start some kind of "Rewards" program? A way to built up points or something towards a free stay?
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Re: Price War Continues in Air Travel to Scandinavia
Rob, I've had a couple of good looks at fares to Europe on Norwegian and I'm amazed. I'm also pleased that seats are available 1 way, making it a great fit with the American AAdvantage program when just 1 way is available in a desired time frame. Thanks so much for the information.
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Re: TSA limits PreCheck to those who've paid
Well, shoot. I've benefited on "Managed Inclusion" during the last few trips at Oakland for work. I've been contemplating the actual program or Global Entry because I will be traveling for work so much, now it looks like I may have to bite the bullet.
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Re: Air Canada Launches Free Layover Program in Toronto
http://www.aircanada.com/us/en...to-stopover-program/ This is what the Air Canada site says about the program. It says you have to book by October 31, 2015 to get the offer.
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Re: Baggage Fees Paid For By Using Luggage with Ads
If there's not a catch to this program, it seems like a great deal for the consumer. Some of the ad bags actually look like they have cool designs.
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Re: Tanzania 'Clean Cookstove' project: hope and health
It's a wonderful program. I am The cookstoves are such a wonderful way to help the Tanzanian people. It's great airlines are supporting it as well!
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Re: Hotel Rewards Programs. Worthwhile or not?
That's what I do, too, SayMoi. I think it's a good plan. Use my rewards for expensive cities. Pay in lower priced cities and built up more points there. It is nice to get little upgrades and free nights for being a member of a program. Plus I like having a place of consistent quality I can count on. I like knowing what kind of room I'm going to get.
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Re: John F Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral, Florida
It seems impossible that it's over half a century since the first little grapefruit-sized satellites went up, and amazing that a program that seemed to move on constantly has become so dormant...as if personal computer development had rushed forward rapidly...and then stopped at Windows 95! I wonder what this will look like to historians in the distant future...
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Re: I get to Boomerang to Spain ! Cheap !
All things to be watched closely, by the way; by January the new AA will start rolling out updated program rules and procedures for what will be a merged program. We'll need to watch closely to see what changes!
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Re: A Day at the Zoo: San Diego, California
Thanks IslandMan! Probably the rarest animal at the zoo is the California Condor. Only the San Diego and Los Angeles zoos exhibit these birds and were instrumental in saving them from extinction. With only a few dozen birds left in the wild, a controversial decision was made several decades ago to capture them all and place the remaining birds in these two zoos for a captive breeding program. They now number several hundred and are slowly being re-introduced into the wild, with limited...
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More Frequent Flier changes in the air
The world of award travel and elite perks continues to shake and shift. Delta, which like United, has switched for next year to awarding flight miles based not on distance but on price paid for ticket—a move that hurts many frequent...
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Update: Loyalty Programs and Credit Cards
For some of us, credit cards are more than a convenient way to pay—they are the lifeline to free travel through loyalty programs. Between points for purchases and bonuses for opening or upgrading credit card accounts, it's possible to get quite...
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Hyatt Latest Chain to Announce Free Wifi
Starting in February, Hyatt will offer free wifi to all hotel guests at its properties . Earlier this year ,Marriott announced free wifi but for members of its loyalty rewards program. Read More: ...
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Ottawa – NOT the coldest Capital in the world!
Ottawa is a vibrant and charming small city — so pleasant that it’s hard to believe it’s home to soooo many politicians. Of the national capitals I've visited, Ottawa seems the most livable to me (ie. if...
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New plans "Motivate" Alta Bike Share
Alta, the biggest US player in the bicycle sharing market (with contracts in New York, Chicago, Columbus and other cities) is under new management—and a new name. The company's moving from Portland to NYC, has hired Jay Walder, an experienced...
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A summer trip to Valencia, Spain
Last Summer, in 2014, I went on an internship program in Valencia, Spain. My internship took place in a nice hotel near the center of the town and lasted 3 months. While I was there I could visit and enjoy many touristic points while also...
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British Air Avios: The rich will get richer and...
British Airways announced major changes in its Avios loyalty currency, which it shares with Iberia. While it comes dressed up in more guaranteed award seats, and lower off-season redemption prices, the big impact is that passengers in the cheapest...
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Road Trip, Day 1: City of Ten Thousand Buddhas and The Skunk
Gateway to the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas March 9, 2015 In the late ‘80s, I lived in L.A. for a couple of years. My S.O. knew lots of cool L.A. stuff. One of those was something he’d read that...
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AA/USAir miles programs merge starting Saturday
The time has come for the next step in the 15-month-old merger of American Airlines and USAir: merger of the USAir Dividend Miles program into American's AAdvantage. All USAir accounts will be frozen on Thursday, Mar. 26 for the transfer; anyone...
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TSA hits the million mark for Pre-check
TSA's Pre-check program has enrolled a million "trusted travelers" in its program, designed to speed up processing at airport security.
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Slow TV Comes to the Travel Channel
A live 12 hour road trip will air Friday, November 27, at 9 a.m. ET on the Travel Channel. The BBC of the UK has also commissioned a series of programs doing away with commentary, script or drama. This format is called Slow TV. It became...
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TSA Pre-Check: Less access if you're not signed up
TSA's Pre-Check, which allows travelers to pass through airport security without having to remove shoes, unpack laptops and generally move faster, will focus on passengers directly enrolled in the program, or in other government "Trusted Traveler"...
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NYC&Co: We bring you tourists, we'll show you how to serve them
Taking a step beyond just beefing up the number of tourists arriving, New York City's tourism promotion agency, NYC&Co. has developed a program to help businesses and attractions in all five boroughs be ready for the numbers. And they are impressive numbers. Last year 56.4 million visitors came to New York; the city is pushing to hit 67 million by 2021. The new program, called "Tourism Ready" builds on Brooklyn's success in branding and marketing itself; experts including former...
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"Poo-Powered" buses debut in Bristol, Oslo
Yes, the headline's real...buses powered by human waste are on the road, one in Bristol, and more than 100 in Oslo. They're diesel buses, powered by methane, the same as the natural gas-powered buses elsewhere...except that the methane in this case is...
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Brooklyn's Spectacular Botanic Garden (Where Gumbo Was #112)
The Brooklyn Botanic Garden, a pint-size treasure that always seems bigger than it is (and which occupies an outsize place in botanical research) was this week's answer to Where in the World is TravelGumbo? Because the Garden presents an array...
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Amex's new idea: Plenti points across industries
American Express has launched a new points program, called Plenti, that has some unique features. It's a "coalition" program, which doesn't tie points to a particular card or industry. There are interesting features: Although Amex runs it, you can...
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Inspectors in Paris Fine Homeowners for Illegal Airbnb Rentals
Inspectors has been deployed to go to Airbnb rentals in some of the Paris' most touristy areas and this inspection program is expected to continue for the next few weeks. On the first day, 30 homeowners out of 80 properties inspected were...
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United adds cruise awards for DividendMiles
Take your choice...cruise or fly. United Airlines has connected with a dozen or so cruise lines to offer cruises as awards for its loyalty program. DividendMiles members who buy cruises on some of those lines through United's website can also earn...
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A little good news from Delta's SkyMiles: a lower fare
After months of mostly bad news for loyalty-program members, as numbers of airlines reduced opportunities for accumulating points by flying, and some also raised the cost in points for award tickets, Delta (one of the most criticized for previous...
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AA-USAir loyalty merger...and a maybe last chance
American Airlines will merge its two loyalty programs "within 30 days" according to e-mails sent yesterday to all members of the USAir Dividend Miles program, which will be folded into the AAdvantage program. All existing miles will transfer; for some...
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American, USAir loyalty programs will merge Q2 2015
American and USAir have just notified their frequent flier program members (AAdvantage and Dividend Miles) of more detailed plans for merging the two plans, including a date: 2nd quarter of 2015, as well as details of the merger plan. All USAir...
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World's largest plane visits Ireland
No, it's not the Airbus Beluga we've shown here or its Boeing equivalent; Russia's Antonov 225 Mirya, a 6-engined monster originally designed to move a space station to its launch site, recently visited Shannon in Ireland on a tour. Next stop, France....
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AA offers 25% bonus for your hotel points
American Airlines is making an unusual (for them, anyway) offer. Between now and March 31, you can convert loyalty points from all the major hotel programs (Choice, Hilton, Hyatt, Wyndham and more) to AAdvantage miles, and get a 25% bonus in AA miles....