Is this the “golden age of flying”? I’m in daily contact with many travelers, journalists, and industry analysts, and I don’t know anyone who would consider such an assertion to be anything but ludicrous. So my answer is an unqualified “No.” Yet there’s one company that’s claiming just that. And no, it’s not The Onion.…
In February, when Starbucks announced it was converting its frequent-drinker program to a revenue-based scheme, there was a collective groan from the caffeinated crowd. As with similar conversions by the major airlines, Starbucks’ new earning rules would mean fewer rewards for most customers. Under the old scheme, program members earned one Star per visit, and…
Today, two storied travel brands that are destined for the scrap heap announced a marketing partnership that only serves to make their imminent demise that much sadder. Points earned in the loyalty program of Starwood hotels, which will be acquired and absorbed by Marriott, can now be converted at a 1:1 ratio into points in…
InterContinental Hotel Group’s next points promotion, Share Forever, begins next month and features bonuses for both the member’s own IHG Rewards account and to share with other program members. Offer Details Between May 1 and September 5, IHG Rewards members can earn “at least 65,000 bonus points – plus a free night to share.” This…
If asked to name my favorite U.S. airport, most days I’d say it was Smith Reynolds, more commonly known as the Winston-Salem airport in North Carolina. What I’m thinking of is not Smith Reynolds as it exists today, but as it was in the latter years of the 20th century, when I had business reasons…
Enter the PureWow “2016 London Trip” sweepstakes by May 14, 2016, for a chance to win the grand prize: a three-night trip for two to London, including business-class air on La Compagnie, hotel, breakfast, and afternoon tea. To enter, provide the requested contact information (zip code, email, etc.) on the sweepstakes landing page and press…
In case you hadn’t noticed, the Big Three legacy airlines have changed their pricing policy for multi-city trips. And yes, you guessed it: The new policy makes such trips more expensive. In some cases, much more expensive. That’s disconcerting for travelers, who for years have been told that roundtrips were cheaper than one-ways. But price…
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. Alaska-Virgin America Merger Begets Sadness,…
Travelers who grumble that the airlines have gone too far in shrinking the width and legroom of coach-class seats won’t be getting any relief from Congress any time soon. Yesterday, the Senate voted down a bill proposed by Chuck Schumer (D-NY) that would have set standards for airline seating and prohibited airlines from further reducing…
In 2015, flyers filed 15,260 complaints with the Department of Transportation. That was a 34 percent increase over 2014’s 11,365 complaints. The more damning statistic, however, is only visible in the longer view: 2015 was the worst year for traveler complaints since 2000, when flyers filed 20,564 gripes with the Department. Helpfully, the DOT’s Air…
Understandably, Virgin America loyalists are an unsettled lot, with their perky, tech-forward airline now set to be absorbed by an airline whose personality is represented by a scowling Eskimo. Where might those disenfranchised Virgin flyers turn if, as expected, Alaska Airlines dumbs down and sanitizes the Virgin America experience? There’s only one option, really: JetBlue.…