Monthly Archives for December 2016.
Hilton’s current systemwide promotion—double or triple points—was scheduled to expire on December 31. Rather than follow that with an entirely new offer, Hilton has elected to extend the existing promotion for an additional month. Offer Details Through January 31, 2017, Hilton HHonors members can earn double points for every stay at every hotel in the…
On the landing page of a new website touting the consumer benefits of Alaska’s acquisition of Virgin America, which closed today, there’s this: Alaska Airlines and Virgin America are coming together. Like bacon on a donut, electricity and guitars, or Labradors and poodles, we’re an odd couple that works well together. We may seem like…
Just as there are many reasons to visit some countries, so too are there many reasons to avoid other countries. Corruption, and all that implies, should be a red flag, at least, if not a definitive deal-breaker. Transparency International makes it its business to assess corruption levels around the world, and has published a Corruption…
As is becoming an almost monthly occurrence, Delta has announced a 48-hour flash sale on award travel. Last month’s sale was for flights within the U.S.; this time, it’s for flights to Asia. Offer Details Through December 14 (11:59 p.m. EST), SkyMiles members can book award travel between the U.S. and select destinations in Asia…
Unless you’re traveling in first or business class, and maybe even then, longer flights simply mean more discomfort. So while airlines take it as a point of pride that they operate long, longer, and longest flights, most flyers rightly treat long-flight boasts as more threat than promise. The latest such claim comes from Qantas, which…
Enter the Starbucks “Starbucks for Life” sweepstakes by January 16, 2017, for a chance to win one of five grand prizes: one Starbucks food or beverage item per day for 30 years. Runner-up prizes include free Starbucks for a year (25 winners), for a month (125 winners), and for a week (500 winners). To enter,…
Following is our regular summary of the latest travel news and best frequent traveler promotions reviewed during the past week. If it was a good deal—or a notably bad deal—from an airline, hotel, or car rental loyalty program, you can read all about it here, and plan your travel accordingly. Iconic TWA Terminal to Get…
The debate over inflight phone-calling raged hot and heavy two years ago, with the opposing forces seemingly gaining the upper hand. The Association of Flight Attendants called for an outright ban on the calls. A no-call bill was introduced in Congress. The DOT signaled its general opposition to inflight cell use on safety grounds, in…
In yet another assault on the pocketbooks of visitors to Las Vegas, hotel resort fees continue to rise, with no end in sight. Last month, MGM Resorts raised resort fees at five of its properties: Aria, from $32 to $35 per night Bellagio, from $32 to $35 per night Circus Circus, from $21 to $24…
If you flew TWA to or from New York before the airline declared bankruptcy for the third and final time, in 2001, your travel experience was elevated by a walk through one of the world’s most enduring architectural spaces. A masterpiece of midcentury modern design, recognized as a classic by the National Register of Historic…
The main problem with most best-loyalty-program studies is their underlying assumption that there’s a one-size-fits-all solution to the problem. There is no single best program for everyone. What there is is a best program for you, given your goals and travel patterns and spending behavior. A new Best Hotel Rewards Program study from WalletHub is…