If You Want to Upgrade to First Class, Don’t Make This One Simple Mistake

I had to check a bag this morning. I don’t do that often on domestic flights. Since I’d have to visit the counter anyway, I didn’t bother checking in via a mobile app. My first segment was already upgraded to first class, but my connecting flight wasn’t. When the agent checked me in, I dropped […]

The post If You Want to Upgrade to First Class, Don’t Make This One Simple Mistake appeared first on View from the Wing.

from View from the Wing http://viewfromthewing.boardingarea.com/2014/09/14/want-upgrade-first-class-dont-make-one-simple-mistake/

Life of a New Zealand gangster

The short film "Skin" revolves around the personal life of one of the Mob's members, Martyka "Skin Dog" Brandt.



from Matador NetworkMatador Network http://matadornetwork.com/tv/life-times-new-zealands-notrious-gangster/

Review: Lufthansa Senator Lounge Washington Dulles

I arrived at Washington Dulles Airport at around 3PM, and proceeded to the Lufthansa check-in counter. Lufthansa's first class check-in counter is located on the opposite side of the other check-in counters, closer to security.

There was no queue at first class check-in, and within about a minute I had a boarding pass issued for my flight to Frankfurt and connection to Amsterdam.

I proceeded towards security and then took the train to the B Concourse, which is by far the most impressive concourse at Washington Dulles Airport. If only the rest of the airport were as nice...

The post Review: Lufthansa Senator Lounge Washington Dulles appeared first on One Mile at a Time.

from One Mile at a Time http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/2014/09/14/review-lufthansa-senator-lounge-washington-dulles/

Thai Airways Aircraft Changes

I've written in the past about how unreliable Thai Airways' scheduling and aircraft planning is. People think I'm joking and exaggerating. I'm not. I don't think it would be unfair to say that Qatar Airways' A380 delivery schedule was executed with more precision than Thai Airways' aircraft planning.

Thai Airways' aircraft planning is so unreliable that it has its own verb which can be used in lieu of your preferred cuss word -- "TGed." Used in a sentence -- "My flight is scheduled to be operated by a 747 with first class as of now... hopefully I don't get TGed."

So how much "TGing" has Thai been doing lately?

The post Thai Airways Aircraft Changes appeared first on One Mile at a Time.

from One Mile at a Time http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/2014/09/14/thai-airways-aircraft-changes/

What Causes a Frequent Flyer Account Audit: How to Prepare Yourself and Respond

In light of IHG Rewards changing it terms to say they’ll cancel your account if you register for promotions that they let you register for, some recent reports of Chase shutting down accounts for ‘abuse’, and an unreasonable rogue auditor at American, it seemed worth repeating advice I gave about five months ago on how […]

The post What Causes a Frequent Flyer Account Audit: How to Prepare Yourself and Respond appeared first on View from the Wing.

from View from the Wing http://viewfromthewing.boardingarea.com/2014/09/14/frequent-flyer-account-audit/

A Life That Matters

A lot of personal development writers use the phrase “a life that matters,” as in “Here’s how you live a life that matters.” But this phrase is problematic, because everyone’s life has value and “matters” regardless of what they do with it. A better way to think of it is how to live a life…



from The Art of Non-Conformity http://chrisguillebeau.com/a-life-that-matters/

Sharks, stingrays, at the beach

Now of course anytime I go to the beach I'll be on the lookout for dorsal fins sticking out of the water.



from Matador NetworkMatador Network http://matadornetwork.com/life/close-sharks-can-come-shoreline/

More US Pre-Clearance Facilities Coming?

There are already quite a few airports which have US Pre-Clearance facilities. For those of you not familiar with them, it basically means that US Customs Border Protection officers are stationed at an airport outside the US, so you clear customs and immigration before boarding your US bound flight. That means you land in the US as a domestic passenger. In theory that sounds great.

And it looks like the idea is so great, that the US is looking to expand on it by adding five more Pre-Clearance facilities in Europe. Via Air Transport World:

The post More US Pre-Clearance Facilities Coming? appeared first on One Mile at a Time.

from One Mile at a Time http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/2014/09/14/us-pre-clearance-facilities-coming/

4 cool ways people are using drones

The world of travel photography alone has irreversibly changed thanks to the joint appearance of drones and GoPros.



from Matador NetworkMatador Network http://matadornetwork.com/goods/4-creative-inspiring-ways-people-using-drones/

Google Starts Discounting Hotels, and Other Bonuses and Tricks

News and notes from around the interweb: Google rolling out new hotel price discounting approach. It’s all a part of how Google could become your new travel agent. (HT: kalboz on Milepoint) Up to 15,000 Virgin Atlantic miles for Hilton stays An Air Europa Airbus A330 flew through a hail storm. Check out the damage. […]

The post Google Starts Discounting Hotels, and Other Bonuses and Tricks appeared first on View from the Wing.

from View from the Wing http://viewfromthewing.boardingarea.com/2014/09/14/27655/

Which Credit Card Is Best for Miscellaneous Travel Expenses?

TPG reader Gisele emailed me to ask: “I’m organizing a trip to Italy in the spring and would like to know if there’s a good credit card for less obvious travel expenses, such as Eurorail passes, museum tickets, tour buses, etc. I also would like to use Airbnb instead of a hotel. Do you have […]



from The Points Guy http://thepointsguy.com/2014/09/which-credit-card-is-best-for-miscellaneous-travel-expenses/

Last Call: Register For Chase Freedom 3rd Quarter Bonuses

Just a quick reminder that today, Sunday, September 14th, is the final day to activate your 5% cash back bonus on the Chase Freedom® for the July through September period. Keep in mind while it's the last day to register, you can continue to earn the 5% bonus on the third quarter categories through September 30, 2014.

What makes the Chase Freedom® so great is that each quarter they have a different category where you earn 5% cash back. You earn the 5% cash back on up to $1,500 of spend in the bonus categories each quarter. Below is the 5% calendar for 2014:

The post Last Call: Register For Chase Freedom 3rd Quarter Bonuses appeared first on One Mile at a Time.

from One Mile at a Time http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/2014/09/14/last-call-register-chase-freedom-3rd-quarter-bonuses/

Reader Success Story: A Rookie Has a European Adventure

Over the past year, we’ve had many readers share their success stories with us. Folks for whom traveling domestically once a year was a luxury are now traveling the world with just a few credit card sign-up bonuses. And the best part? They are sharing their stories with us and others who benefit from knowing […]



from Frugal Travel Guy http://www.frugaltravelguy.com/2014/09/reader-success-story-a-rookie-has-a-european-adventure.html

Heading to Africa

Cape Town, South Africa PhotoWalk on Oct 7th at 5:30 PM! Pencil in that evening! Here is the Event Info on Google. We’ll get you more specifics soon — really looking forward to it! On the Way to Africa! I’m about to come to Africa for a month! I’ll be in Namibia, Botswana, and South […]



from Stuck in Customs http://www.stuckincustoms.com/2014/09/14/heading-to-africa/

Why your next airline ticket purchase should be like buying a car

from Elliott http://elliott.org/the-navigator/next-airline-ticket-purchase-like-buying-car/