American Express is Testing Just Buying You Business and First Class Tickets When Awards Are Available on American and United

The new American Express Points Match program is a targeted test which allows some small business cardmembers to redeem their Membership Rewards points for travel on United and American without transferring points to a partner frequent flyer program like Aeroplan or British Airways. When awards are available on American or United, targeted members can call […]

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from View from the Wing http://viewfromthewing.boardingarea.com/2015/01/19/american-express-testing-just-buying-business-first-class-tickets-awards-available-american-united/

Can Delta SkyMiles No Longer Be Redeemed For Saudia Business Class?

I've argued that the relative value of Delta SkyMiles has increased over the past couple of years. For my personal redemptions, I'd say the value of SkyMiles increased even further this year, given that one-way awards are now possible for half the cost of a roundtrip (unfortunately that came at the expense of stopovers on roundtrip awards).

Primarily I like redeeming SkyMiles for travel on Alitalia, KLM, Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Australia, etc.

But there's no denying that SkyMiles have historically also been extremely useful for travel to the Middle East. That's because Saudia is in SkyTeam, and they've historically released an almost unlimited amount of business class award space. It was kind of insane, they had at least seven business class award seats available on most flights.

The post Can Delta SkyMiles No Longer Be Redeemed For Saudia Business Class? appeared first on One Mile at a Time.

from One Mile at a Time http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/2015/01/19/can-delta-skymiles-no-longer-redeemed-saudia-business-class/

Three Days Left Until Hyatt Award Chart Changes

On January 22, 2015, Hyatt will implement changes to the Hyatt Gold Passport Award Chart. A total of 48 hotels will be moving to a lower category, while 22 hotels will be moving to a higher category. Existing reservations for stays subsequent to January 21, 2015 will receive a refund for the point difference if […]



from Frugal Travel Guy http://www.frugaltravelguy.com/2015/01/three-days-left-until-hyatt-award-chart-changes.html

Where to Find the Best Macarons in the World

Previous installments: Introduction: Paris for the Holidays, Saying Goodbye to American’s Old Business Class, and a Suite at the Park Hyatt Vendome American First Class Lounge Chicago O’Hare and Business Class, Chicago – Paris Park Hyatt Paris Vendome Executive Suite Avoiding Tourist Traps: Good Places to Eat Near the Eiffel Tower and Picasso Museum in […]

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from View from the Wing http://viewfromthewing.boardingarea.com/2015/01/19/find-best-macarons-world/

On the Road: Cuba May Be Opening, but Business Travel Remains Limited

Consultants say there isn’t much business on the island and not enough hotels. And United States airlines hoping to begin service face a long approval process.

















from NYT > Travel http://rss.nytimes.com/c/34625/f/642561/s/427cedf4/sc/8/l/0L0Snytimes0N0C20A150C0A10C20A0Cbusiness0Ccuba0Emay0Ebe0Eopening0Ebut0Ebusiness0Etravel0Emarket0Eremains0Elimited0Bhtml0Dpartner0Frss0Gemc0Frss/story01.htm

Flying With His Excellency Akbar Al Baker, Qatar Airways’ CEO

On Thursday I had the opportunity to fly on Qatar Airways' inaugural commercial A350 flight from Doha to Frankfurt.

The plane itself was gorgeous, the business class hard product was great, and the plane was so quiet.

But I left out what may have been the most interesting detail of the flight -- Qatar Airways' CEO, Akbar Al Baker, was aboard.

The airline industry is my life. I'm passionate about it beyond words. It's one of the most interesting and challenging industries out there given the number of moving parts that have to come together for everything to work well.

The post Flying With His Excellency Akbar Al Baker, Qatar Airways’ CEO appeared first on One Mile at a Time.

from One Mile at a Time http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/2015/01/19/flying-excellency-akbar-al-baker-qatar-airways-ceo/

What cocktail fits your personality?

What drink best fits your personality? Take our latest quiz and find out!



from Matador Network » Matador Network http://matadornetwork.com/life/classic-cocktail-best-fits-personality-quiz/

Should Higher Revenue Flights, or With More Elites, Get to Land First?

New technology will make it easier for air traffic control to prioritize certain flights over others. Richard Deakin, the chief executive of National Air Traffic Services (NATS), said the introduction of remote technology, sensors and infrared cameras would increase the amount of data air controllers received from flights, The Sunday Times reported. Controversially, this would […]

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from View from the Wing http://viewfromthewing.boardingarea.com/2015/01/19/higher-revenue-flights-elites-get-land-first/

So You Like Searching for Deals? Try Hunting for Treasure

If your domestic vacation were a treasure hunt, it’s possible that your haul could pay for your getaway. Whether you hunt for diamonds, gemstones, gold or even fossils, there’s value in finding these treasures (and even more in the fun you’re sure to have!). Here are some examples of treasure-hunting destinations that would make pleasurable […]



from Frugal Travel Guy http://www.frugaltravelguy.com/2015/01/five-places-for-the-best-domestic-treasure-hunting-vacations.html

NASA releases the highest resolution photo ever taken

This is the sharpest image of our galactic next-door neighbor and the highest resolution photo ever taken. Hubble is one powerful telescope.



from Matador Network » Matador Network http://matadornetwork.com/life/nasa-releases-highest-resolution-photo-ever-taken/

On the trail of pumas in Patagonia

"I came to Torres del Paine National Park in Chilean Patagonia to hike the famous ‘W’ trek but also to photograph wildlife, particularly its top predator, the elusive and rarely seen puma."



from Matador Network » Matador Network http://matadornetwork.com/trips/trail-pumas-patagonia/

Review: Park Hyatt Sydney

Hands down the hotel I was most looking forward to on this trip was the Park Hyatt Sydney. It's unarguably the best hotel in Sydney, and arguably the nicest Park Hyatt in the world.

The last time I was in Sydney the hotel was undergoing a renovation, so I was excited to check out the "finished" product, even if I was a couple of years late.

I booked our four night stay at the Park Hyatt for 22,000 Gold Passport points per night. Last January this hotel went from being a Category 6 to being a Category 7 property, meaning that a stay at this property now costs 30,000 Gold Passport points per night, or pending Points + Cash availability, 15,000 Gold Passport points plus $300 per night.

Anyway, we arrived at the Park Hyatt shortly after 4PM. The entrance to the hotel is located off Hickson Road, right below the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

The post Review: Park Hyatt Sydney appeared first on One Mile at a Time.

from One Mile at a Time http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/2015/01/19/review-park-hyatt-sydney-2/

Citibank Now Offering Free FICO Credit Scores to Cardmembers!

I receive compensation for many links on this blog. You don’t have to use these links, but I am grateful to you if you do. American Express, Citibank, Chase, and other banks are advertising partners of this site. I do not write about all credit cards that are available — instead focusing on miles, points, […]

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from View from the Wing http://viewfromthewing.boardingarea.com/2015/01/19/citibank-now-offering-free-fico-credit-scores-cardmembers/

Video: Adrift in the Dordogne Valley

I was first sent to the Dordogne Valley in southwestern France more than two decades ago to shoot a story about a truffle farmer for a food magazine. Later, when I tasted my first black truffle, I thought my head was going to explode with the heady new flavor. And by dark that first day, I was as hooked on truffles as I was on the place of their origin.



from Intelligent Travel http://intelligenttravel.nationalgeographic.com/2015/01/19/video-adrift-in-the-dordogne-valley/

So you’re a hotel expert? Prove it

from Elliott http://elliott.org/blog/youre-hotel-expert-prove/