The EU adopted new rules limiting interchange fees, or the prices that payment networks can charge, for credit and debit cards.
I asked, are credit cards about to be killed off in Europe? The economics of credit cards as we know them are predicated on fees that go to the payment networks and banks in exchange for processing transactions.
Miles from Blighty pointed out today that Capital One has stopped issuing some rewards cards and is informing existing customers that their cards will receive less in the future....
Continue reading Let’s All Pity Our Neighbors in Europe as Their Rewards Cards Go Down the Drain...
News and notes from around the interweb: JohnnyJet visited Amanyara and Amangani. I’ve never taken a comped hotel stay, but I’ve never been offered one by an Aman resort, either. DOT, Commerce Department, and State Department will set up a website to hear US airlines’ hypocritical argument that the big Gulf carriers are too subsidized and shouldn’t be granted access to US markets. Because the US government should be taking steps to increase airfares, limit schedules, and depress service. The docket numbers, if you want to file anything at Regulation.gov, are: DOT-OST-2015-0082 (DOT) DOS-2015-0016 (State) DOC-2015-0001 (Commerce) Scoot, the low cost carrier owned by Singapore Airlines, is trolling Spirit Airlines for stealing their corporate branding. What it’s like to visit New York using a 1990s guide book. (HT: Marginal Revolution) If you haven’t already combined…
Continue reading The US Gov’t Finds Its True Role, JohnnyJet Finds Heaven, and a Trick If You Haven’t Combined American/US Airways Accounts...
Aside from seat recline and toddlers on planes, I feel like there's not a more hot-button topic in our community than tipping.
As I've said many times before, I tend to over-tip. Is the tipping system in the US screwed up? Absolutely. But at the same time I don't want a bad system to negatively impact those providing me with great service who rely on tips to make ends meet.
Let me also say that I try not to judge others when it comes to tipping "norms" -- in other words, in situations where there's not an obvious right or wrong approach, I don't judge those that don't tip.
There are some scenarios -- like in a US restaurant -- where I think we all agree it's appropriate and necessary to tip (even if you disagree with the system as such). But then there are many gray areas, some of which I've addressed in the past:
The post Tipping At Hotels Outside The US appeared first on One Mile at a Time.
Hipmunk is mispricing tickets on Emirates. As reader David H and another reader who asked to be anonymous mentioned to me today, you can pull up all sorts of itineraries using Hipmunk – in business and first class, all over the world – that look like the best deal you’ve ever seen. Search for New York JFK – Nairobi (via Dubai) and you come up with $115 roundtrip itineraries. Change to business class and it promises prices of just $831. That’s cheaper than even a good deal in coach. Unfortunately when you click through from Hipmunk to the Emirates website to make the booking, you’re presented with the ‘real’ price. So when you ask for an itinerary like: And you’re presented with all options running just $3.68 roundtrip (!)… .. it turns out to be…
Continue reading So Close and Yet So Far: A Currently-Available Mistake Fare I Can’t Quite Buy...
Hello from Hong Kong (again)!
I've been to the Maldives and back this week, and am currently enjoying a long layover before my return flight to the US.
I'll have the trip report up as soon as I can, but if you'd like to swoon over some gorgeous scenery make sure you're following along on Instagram and Twitter!
The post Weekly Review: April 11, 2015 appeared first on One Mile at a Time.
A look at the inflight service standards from airlines around the world gives us a sense of things that can be done during a flight -- that do not cost an airline anything at all -- to make passengers feel more comfortable, more valued, and even... welcome.
US airlines have the tools to do these things, with simple standards. They just need to make it a priority.
Continue reading US Airlines Really Could Provide Better Service With The Tools They Have. Here’s a Start:...
For better or worse (or probably both), the AAdvantage and Dividend Miles programs were integrated into one a couple of weekends ago.
Prior to the integration it was possible to link your AAdvantage and Dividend Miles accounts so that your mileage totals could be combined. However, a few days before the integration of the programs they discontinued the ability to do so, given that they needed to be able to "freeze" data for a smooth transition.
Then as of this week they've once again added the functionality to merge AAdvantage accounts. It's almost a no brainer to do this, given that it's advantageous to have all your AAdvantage miles in a single account, as opposed to having them spread between a couple of accounts.
The post One Reason You Shouldn’t Merge AAdvantage Accounts appeared first on One Mile at a Time.
Did you know that there's a card which earns 1.5 American miles per dollar on all spending, and it isn't issued by Citibank? It has a 50,000 mile signup bonus and appears to come with full Priority Pass membership which gets you access to most United Clubs. All for a $195 annual fee...
Continue reading The AAdvantage Credit Card That Earns 1.5 Miles Per Dollar on All Spend and United Club Access...
I'm a big fan of KLM's branding & marketing, in spite of their cringe worthy signature baby blue "motif."
A couple of days ago KLM unveiled a pretty cute animated short film targeted at kids, which features their mascot, Bluey. Here's how KLM describes the video:
"KLM presents with pride the first short animation movie for children about Bluey, the fun KLM mascotte. Watch and experience the adventures of Bluey.
In this first episode, Bluey has an adventure in the Netherlands, involving a Dutch flower parade."
The post KLM’s Short Animated Film About Farting Airplanes appeared first on One Mile at a Time.
Via Baccarat_Guy, KLM has a brand mascot for children. It’s Bluey, “a ‘mini’ 747-400, and is friends with another airplane that FARTS! (when nervous, of course!)” Bluey is the theme for KLM’s kids meal. They’ve put together a short animated movie featuring Bluey. I’m terribly frightened, but I couldn’t help but watch.
Continue reading Introducing “Bluey” the Animated Baby 747, and He’s Awesome!!...
The story is emerging of a lady who allegedly claimed to be the relative of a Germanwings crash victim in order to score free tickets to the South of France. Via The Local:
"The Halterner Zeitung, a local paper from the town which lost 16 school pupils in the March 24th Germanwings crash, reported that the woman claimed to be the cousin of one of the two teachers on the plane. The teachers and students were on their way back from an exchange programme in Barcelona.
The woman brought three people with her on two trips to the south of France at Lufthansa's expense, as well as visiting the crash site and memorial and accepting psychological counselling."
The post This Is Low: Lady Pretends To Be Germanwings Crash Victim For Free Flights appeared first on One Mile at a Time.