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Earn up to 10x United Miles with MileagePlus X App

June 13, 2017 By Trevor 1 Comment





There’s a great promotion going on at the moment with the United MileagePlus X App, where you can earn up to 10x + 25% miles per dollar spent. It titled the Father’s Day Promotion, so I suspect it will be ending soon.

About the United MileagePlus X App

The United MileagePlus X App is a way for you to earn miles for purchases that you might make in store or online. You are essentially buying a gift card from the app, then using it either in store or online. There are drawbacks to this of course, you lose purchase protection, things may get awkward if you do a refund, and it is another step in making a purchase.

How to find the Father’s Day Promotion

Unfortunately, United didn’t make it easy to find the promotion. It takes a few taps to find it, but I’ll save you the time with this walkthrough:

First open the app and select the index button (the 3 horizontal lines) – then you’ll get this screen:

 United MileagePlus X App

Next select “Catalog” and scroll down a little to find “Father’s Day Promotion” 

United MileagePlus X App

Finally, click on “Father’s Day Promotion” and you’ll see the various options – the screenshot below is only a selection:

United MileagePlus X App

Wrapping Up

As you can see – there’s a great opportunity to pick up some additional United MileagePlus miles. There is an added benefit if you have a United credit card, because you will also get a 25% bonus on top of the x miles per dollar. I’ve already found myself accruing so many United Miles as we get closer to the end of the year, and its always fun to fly Lufthansa First Class home from the Christmas Markets. 

Do you have plans to leverage this great MileagePlus X App promotion? 

Filed Under: Airline Programs, Miles and Points Tagged With: United Mileage Plus, United MileagePlus X App

Southwest’s New Seat

May 31, 2017 By Trevor 3 Comments

Lately I’m flying Southwest more than I ever imagined. At least I’ve been able to avoid Seat 28B. It comes down to a different value of time. But I’m impressed with Southwest’s New Seat.

I was rather impressed though with my most recent flight though, which was on their new 737-800.

Southwest 737-800

You see, despite flying more than half a dozen Southwest flights this year, this was my first time flying on Southwest’s newest seat developed by B/E Aerospace. Cranky Flier wrote about these seats in 2015. Here’s what the seat looks like:

Southwest's new Seat 

The seat is an improvement and not. 

Southwest’s New Seat – Improvements

The seat has adjustable headrests. Headrests! The new American Airlines and legacy US Airways economy seats don’t even have headrests. I find them to be that little bit of comfort when you’re in the back of the plane–or in Southwest’s case, that means, behind the cockpit.

Also enhanced is the way Southwest has moved around the seat pocket.

Southwest New Seat

Its perhaps a bit tougher to see, but the literature is actually above the tray table, much like we see on Lufthansa’s regional flights. There’s an added webbing area below the tray table for personal items which I think is a much better approach. 

Southwest’s new seat lacks cushion!

Unfortunately, while Southwest did show some Luv for our necks and heads, they showed none for our behinds or backs. This seat is downright uncomfortable. The seat bottom felt like there was very little cushion at all and was uncomfortable before we even reached cruising altitude. The seat felt reasonable firm to start with, but for a 3 hour plus flight, it became downright uncomfortable far too quickly. 

While I didn’t look around, I didn’t notice any power or USB ports obviously placed either. 

Final Thoughts

I love seeing that Southwest now has headrests, I just wish it didn’t come at the cost of similar amounts of cushioning in the seat bottom.  Overall though, I think the seat is a positive move for Southwest. Headrests are good, and the movement of the literature storage helps to make the seat feel more roomy. It might not be much, but its that little bit more that is helpful. 

 

Filed Under: Airline Programs, Travel Tagged With: #Paxex, Southwest

PSA: Cancel, Don’t Change, Southwest Flights

May 22, 2017 By Trevor 7 Comments

When it comes to the best fare rules in the sky, Southwest flights have the best. Generally speaking, every Southwest flight is refundable, usually as credit to use later, except with the new system.

Unfortunately, that reality has changed as Southwest made their transition to Amadeus. For one reason or another Southwest’s new reservation system doesn’t seem to offer the same flexibility that the old reservation offered with respect to changing your ticket. 

Why cancel Southwest flights instead of changing them?

Here’s the message that you get when you attempt to change your ticket:

Southwest Airlines, Nonrefundable, Southwest Flights

The second and just as important caveat is the fact that the new reservation will inherit the earliest expiration date, so you no longer have the opportunity of extended funds. What this means is, if you book a flight 6 June 2017, you’ve got only a year from that, whether you book another flight in August and cancel.

Overall this doesn’t necessarily impact the value of flying Southwest, but you just have to be mindful of the new way of doing things–that is, Cancel, don’t change Southwest Flights. 

Have you have any issue changing / cancelling your reservations since the migration to the new system?

 

 

 

Filed Under: Airline Programs, Travel Tagged With: Southwest Airlines

Southwest Rapid Rewards Program

May 10, 2017 By Trevor 5 Comments

If you fly regularly, or even infrequently on Southwest Airlines, it makes sense to understand and enroll in Southwest Rapid Rewards program. 

Understanding the Southwest Rapid Rewards Program

The Southwest Rapid Rewards program at the very basic level is a revenue-based program. Because of that, reward space is pretty much unlimited, as long as you have enough miles. Southwest has no black out dates, and your points don’t expire as long as you have some level of activity every 2 years. Essentially, even if you fly once a year on Southwest, your points are good. 

Southwest Rapid Rewards Program

Really, Southwest is a great value for folks that fly anywhere from infrequently to frequently.

The value of Rapid Rewards Points

Because the Southwest Rapid Rewards program is a revenue-based program, you earn and redeem points based on the fare you buy. There is a multiplier, so its not a 1-for-1 calculation. 

For earning, you can see the multiplier based on the type of fare you buy:

Southwest Rapid Rewards Program

Southwest Rapid Rewards Earning Rate.

The redemption rate is a bit more complicated. I think the “floor” is somewhere in the 1.47 cent range, however on this example of Washington-Dulles to Orlando, the value per point is significantly higher: 

Southwest Rapid Rewards Program

Southwest Rapid Rewards Redemption Rate

The Golden Southwest Ticket

There are a few really awesome aspects of Southwest’s Rapid Rewards program. First is A-List status, which you can earn after 25 one-way flights or 35,000 qualifying points, the benefits aren’t amazing, but for so little flying, they are pretty good.

Southwest Rapid Rewards Program

Southwest A-List

Next is A-List Preferred, which notably provides free in-flight wi-fi, which can be an important perk for regular fliers.

Southwest Rapid Rewards Program

A-List Preferred

The real benefit though, if you fly or otherwise generate 110,00 qualifying rapid rewards points, is the Companion Pass. I will note, earning rapid rewards points via shopping portals still counts toward the companion pass. In fact, this is how I first earned my companion pass.

Southwest Rapid Rewards Program, Companion Pass

Southwest Companion Pass

Its an amazing benefit, really, where you get the companion pass for the year earned, as well as the entire following year. What this means, is that you can nominate a companion–and you can change that companion a couple times each year–who flies free whenever you fly, only paying the September 11th fee of $5.60 per one-way. It is important to mention that the revenue flyer can even burn Southwest points, so effectively 2 people can fly for very little out of pocket.

Wrapping Up

Overall, Southwest’s Rapid Rewards program is a really great program. It doesn’t have the greatest elite status recognition, with respect to upgraded seats, since, well, Southwest flies only economy class 737’s. But, if you can look past the lack of First Class, I think the Rapid Rewards Program is a true winner. I regularly fly Southwest on sub-3 hour flights, and find the free In Flight Entertainment via Dish Network. When you consider the value you can get from redeeming Rapid Rewards Points, it seems like a no brainer.

Are you a fan of Southwest?

Filed Under: Airline Programs

3 times when it makes sense to buy miles

May 9, 2017 By Trevor 2 Comments

Frequent Flyer Programs are big revenue machines for airlines, and those 40% off promotions generally aren’t a good deal, but believe it or not, there are a few cases where it makes sense to buy miles. That said, I would offer that there are fairly limited times when you should and should not buy miles.

#1 Reason to buy miles

Here’s the situation: You’ve either applied to credit cards, flown, or otherwise accrued miles for that amazing trip, like Emirates First Class, but your short miles.

when to buy miles

The Emirates Shower is just calling your name!

If this is the trip you’ve dreamed up, well, buying miles to top up your account is not a bad idea, especially because you already have a purpose, and hopefully, you’ve already identified the availability.

#2 Reason to buy miles

You have that twinkle in your eye of a trip you plan to make. You’ve started to look for award availability, and you see something that might work. You might have some of the miles, but not enough. Your trip is far enough out, that you have some flexibility, that is key. That’s when you start looking for opportunities to buy miles at a discount, since you already have a purpose. 

Examples like Alaska Air’s fairly regular up to 40% bonus:

buy miles

Also American Airlines has hopped on the bandwagon:

Note: this only makes sense when you have a trip in mind! Never buy miles speculatively!

#3 Reason to buy miles

Lets say you don’t fly often. Lets say you only fly internationally once or twice a year, and you don’t churn credit cards or manufacture spend. Maybe you’re a reseller leveraging cashback cards. So, how much would that cost? Well, if you buy AviancaTaca LifeMiles on a 1×2 promotion like this:

Lets say you do this, and effectively buy miles at a 125% bonus, you’d be paying ~1.47 cents per miles (based on One Mile at a Time’s calculations). 

When we take into account the Life Miles Star Alliance Award Chart, we can start putting some cost to the fare:

For example, if you consider a trip to North Asia from North America, at 75,000 each way in business class, your cost is: ~$2,205 plus an booking fees. 

Weekend in Taipei

You could fly in this layflat seat to Asia!

While you might say – Wow! That’s expensive! consider for a moment, the occasional flyer that may have the funds for a big annual trip, but doesn’t want to pay the alternative, lets say, what Cathay Pacific (a different alliance than Life Miles) of:

cathay pacific

To further press home the point, here is a collection of business class fares from Washington, DC to Hong Kong:

hong kong

My point here is that you can effectively buy miles and thus get business class travel–assuming award space–for just over half the price of booking an actual ticket.

You could do it for even less from the US to Japan by purchasing Virgin Atlantic miles, if you have ~10-20k miles already; you could purchase 100,000 Virgin Atlantic miles for only 1,515 GBP or ~$1966 at current rates. 

There are considerations though – for example, you won’t earn miles, and you may have award booking fees. If you need to change your trip, there are likely fees as well–but most revenue fares also have fees.

Wrapping Up

Often times I would not recommend folks buying miles, but there are at least 3 situations when that makes sense. For infrequent international travelers, I think the value proposition is a much bigger difference. When you consider the kind’ve experience that you’ll enjoy in a layflat seat vs. an economy seat, its a big difference! Of course I’m much more focused on the journey than the destination, but when you can arrive rested and refreshed to the destination, then I’d imagine it helps you more fully enjoy your entire trip. 

Have you bought miles to facilitate a trip? 

 

Filed Under: Airline Programs, Awards Tagged With: Business Class Travel, Buy Miles, editorial, Unconventional Ideas

Southwest’s Reservation System Upgrade

May 8, 2017 By Trevor 5 Comments

Southwest Airlines announced that in May they would beginning a major modernization of their reservation system. This is huge in more ways than one. For starters, Southwest is investing $800 million in this upgrade. That’s the largest technology upgrade in Southwest’s ~45 year lifetime!

Southwest’s Reservation System Upgrade

Southwest established a agreement to use Amadeus Altea reservation system first in 2014, when they leverage Amadeus for international routes. Since then, Southwest has been making its way toward shifting all reservations to Amadeus, making the final push, as it were in May 2017.

For those flying in May, you may receive a travel advisory like the one included below:

Southwest's Reservation System Upgrade

Initially, Southwest stated that the switch would be “mostly invisible to travelers” but they seem to warning us all the same. They are also increasing call center staff to support the transition. 

As we’ve learned. IT is Hard, so if you’re flying Southwest in May, please be aware of the migration, and be mindful of it. Inevitably something will go wrong, and you don’t want to be the one that is left to try to pick up the pieces.

Are you flying Southwest in May? Have you experienced any differences?

Filed Under: Airline Programs Tagged With: IT, Southwest Airlines

What is the Worlds Best Business Class?

April 25, 2017 By Trevor 9 Comments

Read

ing a post yesterday evening, something struck me. Lucky made the assertion that Qatar Airways’ Business Class was already the worlds best business class. This even before you factor in their new Qsuites. It occurred to me that I’ve been flying a bunch of business class lately, and Qatar wasn’t the top of the list for me.

Qatar Airways Business Class

While I haven’t flown on Qatar’s new A350, or A380, I have flown a bunch on their 777-300ERs. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a fan of Qatar Airways, after all, they really do treat their business class passengers well. Just look at the amenities:

best business class, qatar

It is also one of the few business class products that include a mattress pad:

Qatar Bed

While I don’t have photos of it, I have flown the 787 with the new B/E Aerospace Super Diamond seat. Its a great seat. The In Flight Entertainment (IFE) is also very good.

And the ground service isn’t bad, with pretty nice lounges. 

But, I’m still not convinced that Qatar’s the best business class.

Cathay Pacific Business Class

I’ve flown Cathay Pacific in business class on both the 777-300ER longhaul and regional business on the A330. 

Cathay Pacific’s food is wonderful, the IFE is above average — in fact, its how I keep up with Game of Thrones. 

I also enjoy the lounges, including The Wing in Hong Kong; although in all fairness, my experiences with Cathay Pacific has primarily been the First Class lounges (which I gain entry via my Executive Platinum status). You can’t beat a champagne lounge after all!

The Best Business Class – EVA Air

While it wasn’t the Hello Kitty airplane, I flew EVA Air from Houston to Taipei, a 14+ hour flight. Onboard the experience was phenomenal. 

The Seat is great; its nearly as good as the Cathay Pacific Seat.

Weekend in Taipei

Eva Air 777-300ER Business Class Seat.

There is of course the pajamas, First Class caliber champagne and Rimowa Amenity Kit:

The service was spectacular. The flight attendants were responsive with a touche of proactiveness, though not overbearing as some can be. I was impressed that when I requested my steak after I had a snooze, there was no problem, and the steak was still nicely prepared.

Eva Air 77W 777-300ER

The bedding by the way is nice. The duvet was one of the best I’ve had in the air.

EVA Air 777-300ER, 77W

The IFE was more than sufficient for multiple 14 hour flights, and the headphones were great.

Overall, I think EVA Air is truly the best business class.

Who do you think has the Best Business Class?

Filed Under: #Avgeek, Airline Programs, Travel

Review: EVA Air 777-300ER Houston to Taipei

March 27, 2017 By Trevor 3 Comments

  • Weekend in Taipei: Introduction
  • Review: Eva Air 777-300ER Houston to Taipei
  • Review: Grand Hyatt Taipei
  • Weekend in Taipei: Touring Taipei
  • Weekend in Taipei: Taipei’s Taoyuan International Airport
  • Review: Cathay Pacific Taipei to Hong Kong
  • Review: Cathay Pacific Hong Kong to Chicago
  • Weekend in Taipei: Conclusion

We had a couple of positioning flights to make it to Houston for our EVA Air 777-300ER flight, and it was totally worth it. There was a slight bit of disappointment, because someone–me–misread the Hello Kitty schedule, and so my wife was just a wee bit disappointed. But alas, this was one of our longer flights, and it was excellent.

Immediately upon boarding I was impressed. The cabin, while a bit gray, was immaculate, and well apportioned. The seat is very similar, but not quite the same as the seat on the American Airlines 777-300ER and Cathay Pacific 777-300ER. 

EVA Air 777-300ER 77W

The seat had a pillow on it, and soon I received a Rimowa Amenity kit. 

EVA Air 777-300ER 77W

EVA Air 777-300ER 77W

Shortly after we were presented with a pre-departure glass of Krug, a hot towel, and of course, a piece of chocolate:

EVA Air 777-300ER, 77W

Because on this after midnight departure, I was exhausted, I had kindly asked the flight attendants if I might enjoy my wonderful steak after a bit of a snooze. They happily complied, so once we got to 10,000 feet–maybe a bit more–I dashed to the lavatory, changed into my pajamas, while the kind flight attendants made my seat into a bed, and dashed right back and dove into bed. 

EVA Air 777-300ER, 77W

I have to say, I was quite impressed with the quality of the EVA Airways duvet. It was on par or better than the Lufthansa First Class duvet. 

After a bit of a snooze, I did wake up, probably about mid-flight, and had my full meal:

Eva Air 77W 777-300ER

 

For an entree, I enjoyed the steak that I had “pre-reserved” (aka, I told the flight attendants that I’d like them to set aside a steak)

Eva Air 77W 777-300ER

To finish off, I had some fruit:

Eva Air 77W 777-300ER

Then it was back to sleep, since this was like a 15 hour flight. It was actually really relaxing. Then when I woke up again, I had some tea and apple juice.

Eva Air 77W 777-300ER

Then, I had a fruit dish, with some yogurt:

Eva Air 77W 777-300ER

And then there was the main entree for breakfast, pancakes!

Eva Air 77W 777-300ER

I have to say, the pancakes were wonderful. I realize the challenges that airlines have in ensuring food is fresh, flavorful and not overly dry, and this dish was wonderful.

Soon after breakfast we landed, but upon disembarking, I was impressed to see some of the wonderful artwork on the plane, like this:

Eva Air 77W 777-300ER

Soon thereafter we were welcomed to Taiwan, with, unfortunately, a long customs line.

Taiwan

Final Thoughts on EVA Air 777-300ER Business Class

I booked this flights with rather high expectations. Admittedly, I was expecting Hello Kitty, but, that was my own goof. I still had high expectations, and I have to say that the crew exceeded them. Everything about this flight was awesome, except for one slight thing about the seat. I don’t have photos to document the difference, but there was about an inch by 3-5 inch difference in the knee room, due to a different approach to how EVA did their tray table. Everything else was great. The attention to detail, the food, the beverages, the Inflight Entertainment (IFE), everything. In short, in a single flight EVA Air became my favorite Asian airline for Business class. 

Have you flown EVA Air? What do you think?

 

 

 

Filed Under: Airline Programs, Travel Tagged With: 777-300ER, 77W, EVA Air

British Airways: I am not a Robot!

January 8, 2017 By Trevor 1 Comment

For anyone who uses the British Airways Search Tool to search for award travel on OneWorld Alliance Airlines, you may be familiar with this sight:

British Airways

Now, if you use the British Airways search tool too much, you’ll see this so often that you may just start to wonder if you may actually be a robot. 

But, we all know:

British Airways, we are not robots! We are just travel hackers!

Filed Under: Airline Programs Tagged With: British Airways

2017 Predictions, because, why not?

January 3, 2017 By Trevor 5 Comments

I’ve never made a post on predictions before, primarily because, I don’t like to think of myself as Nostradamas. But, you know what, it is a new year, so, 2017 Predictions it is!

2017 Predictions: Reselling

  • Reselling will continue to be full of great opportunities, but clearance arbitrage (my new term!) will get harder. We saw last year how Amazon restricted sellers and made it harder to get ungated. 
  • Retail and Online Arbitrage may get harder, but perhaps not as much.
  • Amazon will figure out a new way to combat counterfeiters, but it will hurt more new resellers.
  • Storage Fees will go up. (ok, fine, it’s an easy one!)

2017 Predictions: Loyalty

  • The Marriott-SPG merger will enter the hangover phase. SPG loyalists will be disappointed. Marriott loyalists might be happier, or just rejoice that others will share their despair. 
  • At least one hotel chain will introduce a new higher level redemption category.
  • Kimpton Hotels will become less rewarding, blame IHG. 
  • I can’t offer a thought on airlines, because, well, they killed loyalty in 2016 (except for Alaska, but, the writing is on the wall).

2017 Predictions: Credit Cards

  • Everyone and their brother believes there will be a new Chase Premium card, I believe Barclays is going to get their act together and figure out a way to enter the market.
  • Chase will add 1 airline Ultimate Rewards Partner.
  • Citi Prestige or American Executive will be further devalued. Citi doesn’t seem to have the stomach for the Premium Credit Card game.
  • American Express will enhance their Platinum cards (borrowing this from Doctor of Credit), but, that still wont’ compete with the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
  • Wells Fargo will fade away. Bank of America will continue to grow in prominence, but still fairly low value sign-on bonuses.

2017 Predictions: Miles and Points

  • Alaska will devalue their award chart. Cathay Pacific for 67.5k miles in First is just too good, it won’t last.
  • Qantas will figure out a way to be less rewarding.
  • Garuda will disappoint many after their 90% off award sale. I suspect the disappointment is more likely to come in service cutbacks, assuming more folks are successful in ticketing.

 

Filed Under: Airline Programs Tagged With: Predictions

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