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…
It was almost exactly a year ago that JetBlue announced that Amazon Prime members could stream Amazon video inflight. At the time, the two companies also promised that the partnership would be expanded to allow TrueBlue members to earn points for Amazon purchases sometime in 2016. “Sometime” was a long time in coming, but it…
As recurring travel promotions go, National Car Rental’s “One Two Free” has been a perennial winner. For this year, National has wisely retained everything that has made the promotion a favorite, and added a couple of new positive twists as well. And the promotion has now been extended for an extra month. Offer Details Through…
It has been a publicly stated goal of the Department of Homeland Security to sign up 25 million members of the PreCheck and Global Entry prescreening programs. A big number, with a big payoff. Increasing the numbers of travelers routed through the expedited screening lines would have multifold benefits. Most obviously, the prescreened flyers themselves…
New York Senator Chuck Schumer has looked into United’s Basic Economy fares, set to launch early next year, and he doesn’t like what he sees. He’s particularly outraged that the new ultra-low-priced fares will restrict customers to a single small carry-on, leaving the overhead bins for the exclusive use of those paying higher fares. Here’s…
Enter the Williams-Sonoma “Britain Calling” sweepstakes by December 31, 2016, for a chance to win the grand prize: a six-night trip to England (London and South East England) for two, including airfare, accommodations, rental car, some meals, a cooking class, wine tasting, high tea and tour of Fortnum & Mason. To enter, provide the requested…
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. If Thanksgiving Was Any Indication,…
I’m old enough to remember when Las Vegas was as much about cheap as it was about sin. The sin itself might cost you, but everything else was a bargain. Cheap room rates. Cheap all-you-can-eat prime rib buffets. Free cocktails. Penny slots. And free parking. Those were the days when gambling profits subsidized everything else.…