FrequentFlier.com

11/11/2015

The Luxor hotel, a stone’s throw from the Las Vegas airport, isn’t what most travelers would call a resort. Sure, it has a pool, but so does the nearby Motel 6. And no one is likely to mistake the Vegas Strip for Bali Hai.

03/11/2015

It’s no secret that airlines spend millions of dollars, year in and year out, lobbying the government on issues ranging from regulation to taxes to safety standards. The lobbying efforts take several forms: one-on-one entreaties by airline management directly to regulators; via independent lobbyists…

28/10/2015

If you’re one of the many travelers who took advantage of British Airways’ uncommonly generous series of credit card sign-up offers, you may be sitting on 100,000 or more Executive Club miles. I know I am.

24/10/2015

The intersections of politics and travel are mostly hidden behind the scenes, in the form of budgetary and regulatory skirmishes that are too esoteric for public consumption. But when would-be president Hillary Clinton called out the airline industry for gouging customers, Delta couldn’t let the cha…

22/10/2015

Ever had an otherwise pleasant hotel stay ruined by another guest’s misbehavior? Probably. And if you haven’t yet, you almost certainly will.

20/10/2015

“Alaska Airlines Announces New Seattle Board Room, Expanded Partner Lounge Access for Board Room Members.” So reads the headline of Alaska Airlines’ latest news release, issued this morning at 5:03 a.m. (PT).

16/10/2015

Seventy-four years later, after absorbing Lake Central Airlines, Mohawk Airlines, Piedmont, and Pacific Southwest Airlines, and being acquired by America West, US Airways merged with American Airlines. And on Saturday, October 17, when flight US1939 (the year of the airline’s founding) lands in Phil…

14/10/2015

If you haven’t been following the dispute between the Big Three U.S. airlines (American, Delta, United) and the three Gulf carriers (Etihad, Emirates, Qatar), it boils down to charges that the Gulf carriers are government-subsidized, and therefore enjoy an unfair competitive advantage and should be…

13/10/2015

Starwood boasts a network of more than 1,200 hotels in 100 countries. Which are the most popular? Not necessarily those with the highest occupancy rate, although they could be. And not necessarily the best deals, although they might be that as well. Simply the most popular, in the sense that travele…

09/10/2015

Points sharing is hardly a new concept, but in practice it’s typically limited to family members or burdened with onerous fees. Marriott hasn’t yet disclosed full details of its sharing plan, but based on what we know so far, it will allow sharing with anyone, for either no or low cost. Nice.

08/10/2015

Got an AAdvantage credit card issued by Citibank or Barclays? Then you may be entitled to book award flights for fewer miles.

06/10/2015

And the latest, according to the Atlanta Constitution: Delta will cut an unspecified number of management jobs, to “improve productivity.”

01/10/2015

Today, in full-page ads in a handful of major newspapers, United’s new CEO, Oscar Munoz, admitted that “the journey hasn’t always been smooth.”

25/09/2015

There’s no reason not to. The prices are the same. And by making your purchases through the airline’s portal, you’ll be earning miles — typically between one and 10 miles per $1 spent — that you don’t get when dealing direct through the merchant.

21/09/2015

Enter the Treasury Wine Estates “19 Crimes Banishment” sweepstakes by October 31, 2015, for a chance to win the grand prize: a week-long trip for two to Australia, including air, accommodations, rental car, meal allowance, and excursions.

18/09/2015

In the aftermath of United’s abrupt dismissal of its discredited CEO, Jeff Smisek, and the appointment of Oscar Munoz as his replacement, the media, both mainstream and social, has been abuzz with questions and predictions. Trending: How will Munoz fix what Smisek broke?

17/09/2015

With the airlines flying more than 80 percent full, there’s been little reason to offer anything in the way of extra incentives recently.

14/09/2015

American, Delta Refuse to Cooperate on Stranded Flyers

Despite the veneer of fierce competition, airlines function within an industry ecosystem that thrives on cooperation. Airlines pass bags back and forth when passengers make connections between different carriers. They accept each other’s tickets. And when one airline cancels a flight, there are norm…

09/09/2015

One Simple Rule for Surviving an Airline Emergency (Hint: Empty-Handed)

Yesterday, a London-bound British Airways B777 caught fire during takeoff from Las Vegas airport. The takeoff was aborted and, as the plane sat smoking on the tarmac, passengers and crew used inflatable emergency slides to escape the aircraft. There were only a few injuries, all minor.

08/09/2015

Hilton, Uber Get Together (But No Points)

Hilton has taken a small step toward embracing the sharing economy with its newly announced partnership with ride-sharing service Uber.

04/09/2015

Between October 1 and December 20, Starwood Preferred Guest members can earn double points for stays of two or more nights, plus an extra 500 points for stays of three or more nights.

02/09/2015

Delta Will Pay for Delayed Flights!

These days, Delta is all about running a tight ship, betting that operational excellence — maximizing on-time flights, minimizing mishandled bags — is the key to winning market share and boosting profits.

01/09/2015

Join the Mile High Club? There’s an App for That

There are apps to facilitate just about every imaginable type of hook-up. There’s Ashley Madison for married would-be cheaters. Tinder for gay men looking for brief encounters. Match for those in the market for long-term relationships. And on and on and on.

28/08/2015

There's an easy way to earn Marriott points, but there's a "but"

Is the battle for the hearts and minds of travelers best fought in the trenches of social media? Marriott seems to think so, and is using Marriott Rewards points to both engage consumers and enlist them as marketing shills.

24/08/2015

National’s ‘One Two Free’ Promo Returns

As recurring travel promotions go, National Car Rental’s “One Two Free” has been a perennial winner. Unlike Marriott’s MegaBonus offer, which has shed considerable value in its last few iterations, the just-announced version of “One Two Free” is potentially more generous than it was in past years.

21/08/2015

Book Select IHG Award Nights for 50% Fewer Points

Collectors of loyalty-program miles and points are caught in a two-way squeeze. On the one hand, the programs are continually upping the prices for award travel, effectively reducing the value of points. And on the other hand, with the continuing trend to spend-based programs, points are ever-harder…

20/08/2015

When to Forego a ‘Free’ $5,000 Trip

In the world of airline loyalty programs, it’s been years since an award flight came unencumbered with all manner of fees, including the so-called fuel surcharges that can run up the cost of that nominally free flight to stratospheric levels.

17/08/2015

How to Survive This Summer's Full Flights:

This week, several of the largest airlines reported operating results for July, including their load factors (the percentage of seats occupied) for the month. If you’ve traveled by air this summer, the results won’t come as any surprise: The airlines have been flying full. As in record-breaking full…

10/08/2015

Senate Calls for Crackdown on Airline Fees:

If you’re fed up with the airlines’ fee-for-all, you’re not alone. The widespread frustration with the proliferation of confusing and onerous fees hasn’t been lost on members of Congress, who tend to be frequent flyers themselves.

30/07/2015

These 10 Airlines Have the BEST Wine Programs

If the travails of travel have driven you to drink, you’re in good company. But if wine is your preferred libation, your options are limited.