Rudy Maxa's Tours

25/01/2024

Join us live for our bi-weekly webcast featuring Tommy Danielsen and the FTU team + guests

Guests this episode: Rudy Maxa and Marshall Jackson

Subjects covered

- MAX 9 cleared to fly
- EASA orders inspection of all A320 NEO due to cracks
- SAS leaving Star faster than expected?
- Thailand moves to ban recreational use of cannabis
- Chase opens private lounge with caviar service at La Guardia
- BILT soon to award miles for paying your mortgage
- Frontier launches lots of interesting routes

This webcast is hosted every week. We'll be discussing all the news in the miles and points world, commentary on what's written out there, gossip, compliments and trash talk.

05/01/2024

Today, the FTU team discusses if it's worth chasing after elite status in 2024

04/01/2024

Join us live for our bi-weekly webcast featuring Tommy Danielsen and the FTU team + guests

Guests this episode: Jamie Larounis

Subjects covered

- Is elite status worth it in 2024?
- Hyatt offers new gifting awards options, already facing fraud
- Westin changes its famous bedding
- More train projects in California, Amtrak promo and Brightline looks t Tampa
- How safe are planes in 2024?

This webcast is hosted every Thursday at 3PM PST. We'll be discussing all the news in the miles and points world, commentary on what's written out there, gossip, compliments and trash talk.

08/12/2023

Join us live for our bi-weekly webcast featuring Tommy Danielsen and the FTU team + guests

Guests this episode: Jamie Larounis

Subjects covered

- Is the Alaska/Hawaiian merger a good idea?
- IHG credit card underperforming
- High Speed Rail Updates
- Best hotels of 2024
- December travel challenges

09/11/2023

Join us live for our bi-weekly webcast featuring Tommy Danielsen and the FTU team + guests

Guests this episode: Rudy Maxa This Week:

- Maxa Tours launched new tours for 2024
- Southwest starts flying at night
- Changes to Uniteds loyalty program
- Big upgrade on Amtrak Acela
- US High Speed rail update
- Why Moxy sucks and more

19/10/2023

Big changes for Hilton credit cards: Higher fees, new perks and increased welcome offers

Delta Air Lines is rolling back some of the widespread and unpopular changes to its SkyMiles loyalty program, trimming the increase in requirements for various status levels and adding access to its airport lounges.

16/10/2023

On Monday October 16th Southwest announced significant changes to their loyalty program Rapid Rewards. Rudy Maxa and Tommy Danielsen discusses what these changes mean for frequent travelers

09/10/2023

California is outlawing so-called junk fees, taking aim at a common business practice that frustrates many consumers and has drawn the attention of federal regulators and the Biden administration.

What does it mean for travelers and for the rest of the country? Join travel journalist Rudy Maxa and Tommy Danielsen to explore more.

05/10/2023

Join us live for our bi-weekly webcast featuring Tommy Danielsen and the FTU team + guests

Guests this episode: Marshall Jackson and Rudy Maxa

This Week:

- Europe to ban carry-on fees
- SAS joins SkyTeam and also Delta/Air France/KLM transatlantic JV
- Big United airplane order
- BA focus for Americans
- Capital One Venture X access to Virgin Atlantic Club Houses
- Ticket prices falling

and more

This webcast is hosted every Thursday at 3PM PST. We'll be discussing all the news in the miles and points world, commentary on what's written out there, gossip, compliments and trash talk.

04/10/2023

On October 3rd 2023, SAS announced the are exiting Ch 11 with new owners. Castlelake will take a stake of about 32%, Air France-KLM will own around 20%, Danish investor Lind Invest 8.6% and the Danish state about 26%, SAS said, adding that the remaining equity will likely be distributed among creditors.

This means one of the founding members of Star Alliance, SAS, will be exiting Star Alliance and join SkyTeam

In this video, we will take a look at what this will mean for the network, hubs, routes and frequent flyer programs

03/10/2023

Scandinavian carrier SAS has identified Air France-KLM, and financial firms Castlelake and Lind Invest – along with the Danish government – as participants in the successful consortium to provide investment under the company’s equity solicitation process.

28/09/2023

Join us live for our bi-weekly webcast featuring Tommy Danielsen and the FTU team + guests

Guests this episode: Jamie Larounis

This Week:

- Delta walking back changes
- Marriott launches yet another brand
- FT Awards 2023 winners
- BA focus for Americans
- Admirals Club updates
- Hyatt introduces airbnb competitor (again)
- Travel Outlook

and more

This webcast is hosted every Thursday at 3PM PST. We'll be discussing all the news in the miles and points world, commentary on what's written out there, gossip, compliments and trash talk.

17/08/2023

Join us live for our bi-weekly webcast featuring Tommy Danielsen and the FTU team + guests

Guests this episode: Rudy Maxa

This Week:

- Terrible Hawaiian Fires and who is helping
- Air France-KLM’s Flying Blue Paves the Way for €1.5bn Funding
- New AA Routes
- United 777 NTSB report
- Travel Outlook

This webcast is hosted every Thursday at 3PM PST. We'll be discussing all the news in the miles and points world, commentary on what's written out there, gossip, compliments and trash talk.

06/07/2023

Join us live for our bi-weekly webcast featuring Tommy Danielsen and the FTU team + guests

Guests this episode: Marshall Jackson

This Week:

- Norwegian buys Wideroe
- Radisson Rewards outside the US. How to wreck a loyalty program
- AA/JetBlue Deal is dead
- Cruise Crash in San Francisco
- Is this the end of Nordic Choice?

This webcast is hosted every Thursday at 3PM PST. We'll be discussing all the news in the miles and points world, commentary on what's written out there, gossip, compliments and trash talk.

29/06/2023

Join us live for our bi-weekly webcast featuring Tommy Danielsen and the FTU team + guests

Guests this episode: Rudy Maxa

Cruise Special, plus:

- Travel Chaos, what can be done?
- Radisson Rewards outside the US. How to wreck a loyalty program
- Radisson Rewards ends in the Americas, merges with Choice. What to expect
- A look at the Marriott Credit Card lineup
- Is Virgin Cruises as sexy as they try to make themselves?

This webcast is hosted every Thursday at 3PM PST. We'll be discussing all the news in the miles and points world, commentary on what's written out there, gossip, compliments and trash talk.

08/06/2023

Join us live for our bi-weekly webcast featuring Tommy Danielsen and the FTU team + guests

Guests this episode: Marshall Jackson

Cruise Special, plus:

- Turkish Airlines banned to fly to the US?
- Honest Resort Fees
- Scandinavian hotel chain forbids Pride flags at their hotels
- Cruise for miles
- The new Carnival Venezia

This webcast is hosted every Thursday at 3PM PST. We'll be discussing all the news in the miles and points world, commentary on what's written out there, gossip, compliments and trash talk.

01/06/2023

Join us live for our bi-weekly webcast featuring Tommy Danielsen and the FTU team + guests

Guests this episode: Marshall Jackson

Cruise Special, plus:

- DOT steps up the game
- IHG launches suite upgrades on award stays
- Earn miles with Pride
- Air Canada opens Cafe
- Exclusive Delta One checkin at LAX
- Hotel Review news

This webcast is hosted every Thursday at 3PM PST. We'll be discussing all the news in the miles and points world, commentary on what's written out there, gossip, compliments and trash talk.

10/05/2023

Rudy Maxa's World tour season has officially started in Naples, Italy where our guests and Rudy Maxa learns how to make the best Pizza in the world!

27/04/2023

Join us live for our bi-weekly webcast featuring Tommy Danielsen and the FTU team + guests

Guests this episode: Rudy Maxa

- Mistake fares gets canceled
- Why do people love Bilt so much?
- AARP is now a gen z favorite
- Crazy Europe flight pricing this summer
- Park Hyatt Tokyo closing
- Hotels.com gut their loyalty program

This webcast is hosted every Thursday at 3PM PST. We'll be discussing all the news in the miles and points world, commentary on what's written out there, gossip, compliments and trash talk.

13/04/2023

Join us live for our bi-weekly webcast featuring Tommy Danielsen and the FTU team + guests

Guests this episode: Rudy Maxa

- Marriott fined for resort fees
- Credit Card of the week
- Delta sticking it to JetBlue and Norse Atlantic
- International flights are already 75% booked for the summer, Delta says
- United Will Fly Non-Stop to 100+ International Cities This Summer to Meet Soaring Overseas Travel Demand
- UNITED AIRLINES ADDS NEW VISIBLE RECOGNITION OF EMPLOYEE LONGEVITY

This webcast is hosted every Thursday at 3PM PST. We'll be discussing all the news in the miles and points world, commentary on what's written out there, gossip, compliments and trash talk.

01/03/2023

Hyatts annual award chart updates will take effect on March 28, meaning the number of points required for a free night at some hotels is changing.

We take a look at all the properties moving up and down

23/02/2023

Join us live for our bi-weekly webcast featuring Tommy Danielsen and the FTU team + guests

Guests this episode: Rudy Maxa and Marshall Jackson

- Revenue based redemptions are coming in full force. What's the breaking point before loyalty programs become useless?
- Will the Park Hyatt Los Angeles ever get finished?
- Lufthansa refusing refunds
- New Hyatt promo
- Qantas new business class
- Delta Airlines new choice benefits for Diamonds and Plats

This webcast is hosted every other Thursday at 3PM PST. We'll be discussing all the news in the miles and points world, commentary on what's written out there, gossip, compliments and trash talk.

28/01/2023

Hey, Washington DC! Come out and meet Rudy Maxa!

Rudy Maxa's Tours is offering free tickets to the DC Travel & Adventure Show, hosted Saturday & Sunday, February 4-5 at the Washington Convention Center.

Tickets are limited and offer ends soon! Click below to claim your tickets.

https://tinyurl.com/ye2yej67

19/01/2023

Join us live for our bi-weekly webcast featuring Tommy Danielsen and the FTU team + guests

Guests this episode: Rudy Maxa and Marshall Jackson

- Southwest compensations
- Targeted Promos and gamification. Bad idea?
- United updates their plane interiors
- Marriott looking to introduce convertible rooms with retractable beds

This webcast is hosted every other Thursday at 230PM PST. We'll be discussing all the news in the miles and points world, commentary on what's written out there, gossip, compliments and trash talk.

12/01/2023

Attention Chicagoland folks!

Rudy Maxa's Tours will be exhibiting this weekend at the Travel & Adventure Show hosted at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center

We have secured a limited number of complimentary tickets for this weekend's show!

Send an email to [email protected] and we'll provide you up to 2 tickets

First come, first served. We hope to see you there!

The annual Chicago Travel & Adventure Show is where travel lovers come for travel inspiration, expert information and fun, cultural interaction.

05/01/2023

Join us live for our bi-weekly webcast featuring Tommy Danielsen and the FTU team + guests

Guests this episode: Marshall Jackson

- Southwest Meltdown, will regulations come soon?
- Status strategy for 2023
- Should you leave children alone in your hotel room?
- Credit card strategy for 2023
- Is free hotel breakfast with status going away?

This webcast is hosted every other Thursday at 230PM PST. We'll be discussing all the news in the miles and points world, commentary on what's written out there, gossip, compliments and trash talk.

09/12/2022

Join us live for our bi-weekly webcast featuring Tommy Danielsen and the FTU team + guests

Guests this episode: Marshall Jackson

- Delta announces dramatic changes to airline lounge access - what's the future of airline lounge access?
- Massive Boeing order
- Andaz changes their concept
- Award Logic - the best award searching tool?
- British Airways lightens up on fuel surcharges in exchange for miles
- Venture X card changes
- California High Speed Rail news

This webcast is hosted every other Thursday at 2PM PST. We'll be discussing all the news in the miles and points world, commentary on what's written out there, gossip, compliments and trash talk.

27/10/2022

Meet Matt Haney, a Minnesota business owner who lived to tell about the breakdowns and other adventures of driving through India in a noisy, polluting tuk-tuk. He's my friend, so I can call him crazy. And YOU can do it , too!

20/10/2022

Join us for today's latest news and gossip in the travel, miles and points world

13/10/2022

Join us live for our bi-weekly webcast featuring Tommy Danielsen and the FTU team + guests

Guests this episode: Marshall Jackson and Rudy Maxa

- AirTags update
- How to get IHG Top Tier with two clicks
- Air Tahiti Nui opens Seattle-Paris
- Lufthansa puts their first 787 into service
- Earn miles instead of interest on your savings account
- California High Speed Rail news
- Capital One Venture X turns out to be a terrible card

This webcast is hosted every other Thursday at 2PM PST. We'll be discussing all the news in the miles and points world, commentary on what's written out there, gossip, compliments and trash talk.