American Bringing Back Year-End Purchase of Qualifying Miles Tomorrow

Over the weekend American’s “status buy back / buy up” page went from ‘offer expired’ to ‘coming soon.’ That made it a pretty good bet that American would be re-introducing a way to either buy back status you had in the previous year but didn’t requalify for, or buy elite qualifying miles to put you […]

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from View from the Wing http://viewfromthewing.boardingarea.com/2014/11/10/american-bringing-back-year-end-purchase-qualifying-miles-tomorrow/

On the Road: Some Benefits for Veterans From the World of Travel

Some airport donations help provide care packages to troops overseas, while United Airlines offers an airfare discount — for a price.

















from NYT > Travel http://rss.nytimes.com/c/34625/f/642561/s/40597007/sc/10/l/0L0Snytimes0N0C20A140C110C110Cbusiness0Csome0Ebenefits0Efor0Eveterans0Efrom0Ethe0Eworld0Eof0Etravel0Bhtml0Dpartner0Frss0Gemc0Frss/story01.htm

500 Free Starpoints!

In September I wrote about Starwood's More For You promotion, which is their global fall promotion, offering double and triple Starpoints on select stays.

The registration deadline has already passed and it's not the world's most lucrative promotion, though there is one thing that they actually added to the promotion, which should interest everyone.

With the redesign of spg.com, Starwood has begun collecting more member preferences, in an effort to better customize stays. After all, when I go to Disney I'm not traveling with the Brady Bunch, and it would be nice if Starwood knew that.

Anyway, Starwood wants you to update your stay preferences on your spg.com profile, and they'll give you 500 bonus Starpoints if you do so by December 15, 2014.

The post 500 Free Starpoints! appeared first on One Mile at a Time.

from One Mile at a Time http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/2014/11/10/500-free-starpoints/

In Transit Blog: Walkabout: U.S. and China Lift Visa Restrictions; Space Tourists Cancel Reservations

A weekly capsule of travel news curated by our writers and editors.

















from NYT > Travel http://rss.nytimes.com/c/34625/f/642561/s/4059039f/sc/10/l/0Lintransit0Bblogs0Bnytimes0N0C20A140C110C10A0Cwalkabout0Eu0Es0Eand0Echina0Elift0Evisa0Erestrictions0Espace0Etourists0Ecancel0Ereservations0C0Dpartner0Frss0Gemc0Frss/story01.htm

United Wants Too Darn Much for Their Miles, 40% Off Edition

Today is overpriced mileage sale day. We had Alaska’s 35% bonus and Hyatt’s 30% bonus. United wants in on the action, too. For one week, United is selling miles at a 40% discount. The problem is that United’s “regular price” is so high that this is still too expensive. Through November 17 you can: Buy […]

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from View from the Wing http://viewfromthewing.boardingarea.com/2014/11/10/united-wants-darn-much-miles-40-edition/

Review: Qatar Airways Al Mourjan Business Class Lounge Doha Airport DOH

I arrived at the Hamad International Airport shortly before 5AM, about three hours before my 7:55AM departure to London Heathrow on the inaugural Qatar Airways A380 flight.

Right as you pull up to the terminal, the first signage is for premium check-in, so I was dropped off there.

The check-in hall is extremely impressive, with high ceilings and a modern look. On the right side of the terminal is the premium check-in area, with business class check-in being on the left and first class check-in being on the right.

I had already been issued my boarding pass to London when I checked in the previous day in Cairo, so just walked past the first class check-in area.

There's plenty of lounge style seating alongside the check-in desks, presumably in the event that you're waiting on someone or have ticketing issues.

The post Review: Qatar Airways Al Mourjan Business Class Lounge Doha Airport DOH appeared first on One Mile at a Time.

from One Mile at a Time http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/2014/11/10/review-qatar-airways-al-mourjan-business-class-lounge-doha-airport-doh/

Celebrating Armistice Day ‘In Flanders Fields’

A hundred years have passed since the outbreak of World War I, a milestone vividly felt in the western Belgian town of Ypres, which endured some of the conflict’s fiercest fighting. On Armistice Day (November 11), thousands will crowd the streets, monuments, and cemeteries of this textile town turned shrine to the fallen.



from Intelligent Travel http://intelligenttravel.nationalgeographic.com/2014/11/10/celebrating-armistice-day-in-flanders-fields/

Who’s At Fault For Not Clarifying Fare Rules?

I get a lot of the questions on the Ask Lucky page of the blog. Some of them I have an answer to and some of them I don't have an answer to. The below question from reader Ed definitely falls in the latter category. Usually I'd just say "sorry, I'm honestly not sure," but this is an especially unique situation.

Here's the question:

"I wonder if I can ask for your advice and opinion. I recently purchased a round trip business class ticket thru AMEX travel website on British Airways, and when I purchased the ticket I went through their fare rules closely. The outbound is refundable if you pay 500USD in penalty; on the inbound, the fare rules is not available to be viewed. I now need to cancel the ticket and my first conservation with AMEX was not very fruitful. They were able to see the outbound fare rules, but they thought the inbound was not refundable, but referred me to British Airways for confirmation. When I called British Airways, they could see the outbound rules, but the inbound is in a code that they couldn’t decifer, and referred me back to AMEX."

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from One Mile at a Time http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/2014/11/10/whos-at-fault-for-not-clarifying-fare-rules/

Still Waiting in Line at the Airport? Government Programs to Help Expedite Holiday Travel

Holiday travels can be hectic, and delays transiting through airport security, customs, and immigration only add to the frustration. However, there is something you can do about the long waits. If you register now for an expedited travel program you might be able to make a huge impact on transit times during your upcoming travel. […]



from Frugal Travel Guy http://www.frugaltravelguy.com/2014/11/still-waiting-in-line-at-the-airport-government-programs-to-help-expedite-holiday-travel.html

11 idioms only Brits understand

1. Pop one’s clogs: You don’t get much more British than this. To pop one’s clogs is a euphemism for dying or death.



from Matador Network » Matador Network http://matadornetwork.com/abroad/11-idioms-brits-understand/

Extended Visas For Chinese May Bring $85 Billion A Year To US

The US and China announce extended visas for citizens of both countries, meant to help with economic relations.



from Travel Feedly http://www.ibtimes.com/extended-visas-chinese-citizens-may-bring-85-billion-year-us-1721488

In Transit Blog: In Tampa, the World of Poseidon

The Tampa Museum of Art exhibit “Poseidon and the Sea: Myth, Cult and Daily Life” includes more than 100 objects.

















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Hyatt Doesn’t Like Monetizing Their Points But Will Sell Them To You With a Bonus

Hyatt Gold Passport is offering a 30% bonus on purchased points of 5000 or more through December 10. With a 30% bonus Hyatt is selling you points at 1.85 cents apiece. I personally value them at not more than 1.5 cents apiece so this doesn’t make me a buyer (points would have to be priced […]

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from View from the Wing http://viewfromthewing.boardingarea.com/2014/11/10/hyatt-doesnt-like-monetizing-points-will-sell-bonus/

The Icon: Golden Gate Bridge

Engineering wonder or colossal work of art? For many who drive or bike across, or simply admire it from afar, the Golden Gate Bridge is both. Here are some fast facts about this art deco icon.



from Intelligent Travel http://intelligenttravel.nationalgeographic.com/2014/11/10/the-icon-golden-gate-bridge/

Is Hyatt Playing Games With Award Availability?

When it comes to hotel loyalty programs I "trust," Hyatt Gold Passport is at the top of that list. However, there have been a couple of situations lately that leave me scratching my head.

Most of the major hotel chains nowadays don't have blackout dates on free night redemptions. That means as long as a standard room is for sale, you can redeem points for it. In the past it really was that straightforward, though back in July I wrote about an interesting situation at the Park Hyatt New York, whereby they simply weren't selling standard rooms, and therefore you couldn't redeem points for them.

Technically they were acting within the rules, since all standard rooms available for sale were also available on points. ;)

I gave the Park Hyatt New York the benefit of the doubt when they first opened since only a limited number of rooms were operational. And the situation has gotten a little better. A year out they seem to make a couple of Park King rooms available for sale, but that's the extent of it. It seems like snagging a standard room award at the Park Hyatt New York is the equivalent of snagging a Qantas first class award seat between the US and Australia.

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from One Mile at a Time http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/2014/11/10/is-hyatt-playing-games-with-award-availability/