US Airways Pulls Its Elite Challenge (“Trial Preferred”) Offer

US Airways has long offered a paid status challenge program where you get temporary status for 90 days and then have an opportunity to fly to keep that status on an accelerated basis. Three months ago US Airways eliminated the ability to buy miles towards status, which used to be a great alternative to mileage […]

The post US Airways Pulls Its Elite Challenge (“Trial Preferred”) Offer appeared first on View from the Wing.

from View from the Wing http://viewfromthewing.boardingarea.com/2014/12/22/us-airways-pulls-elite-challenge-trial-preferred-offer/

US Airways Discontinues Trial Preferred Program

I've previously written about the US Airways Trial Preferred program, which is hands down the best way to earn top tier status with US Airways (and now by connection, with the new American).

It’s one of the few “shortcuts” to top tier elite status, so understandably many people were interested in taking advantage of the status trial.

According to the US Airways website, the Trial Preferred program has been discontinued, effective immediately:

The post US Airways Discontinues Trial Preferred Program appeared first on One Mile at a Time.

from One Mile at a Time http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/2014/12/22/us-airways-discontinues-trial-preferred-program/

Travel Inspiration: Six Free Deals to Access Now

I’ve come across a few great free offers lately and wanted to pass them along to you. Enjoy! Free DVD Rentals Movies can inspire us to travel. I remember seeing a movie recently entitled Land Ho, about two older guys who go to Iceland. The movie was a bit weird, but the scenery was amazing […]



from Frugal Travel Guy http://www.frugaltravelguy.com/2014/12/travel-inspiration-six-free-deals-to-access-now.html

Event-o-Rama: 5 Must-Dos in January

There are some amazing events on tap all over the world, all the time. Here’s a taste of what you can see and do in January.



from Intelligent Travel http://intelligenttravel.nationalgeographic.com/2014/12/22/event-o-rama-5-must-dos-in-january/

Hyatt To Offer Free WiFi For All Guests Starting February 2015

Free WiFi is fast becoming less of a benefit and more of a given for hotel guests around the world. Whereas even a year ago many of the major chains charged everyone but elites for using WiFi while smaller hotels enticed business travelers with the promise of free internet access, the larger hotel brands finally […]



from The Points Guy http://thepointsguy.com/2014/12/hyatt-to-offer-free-wifi-for-all-guests-starting-february-2015/

Pivotal moments in 2014 – when Hilton embraced mobile

Looking wistfully back at 2014, I’d say a pivotal moment in travel technology came when Hilton Worldwide became the first major hotel ...



from Tnooz http://www.tnooz.com/article/pivotal-moments-2014-hilton-embraced-mobile/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=pivotal-moments-2014-hilton-embraced-mobile

Travel bloggers go to Washington

Americans need more international experiences. And apparently, the government is starting to do something about it.



from Matador Network » Matador Network http://matadornetwork.com/pulse/white-house-invited-travel-bloggers-global-citizenship-summit-heres-talked/

The Strangest Airline Policy Ever Has a Deceptively Simple Explanation

Airline policies can be cumbersome, arcane, even byzantine. One frequent flyer program who works for a major airline told me earlier this year that he finds himself in meetings with his colleagues, talking through how a change might work to the program, and he’ll find himself having to stop and have someone remind the group […]

The post The Strangest Airline Policy Ever Has a Deceptively Simple Explanation appeared first on View from the Wing.

from View from the Wing http://viewfromthewing.boardingarea.com/2014/12/22/strangest-airline-policy-ever-deceptively-simple-explanation/

How to tell it's a Finland Christmas

Traffic jams outside the cemetery? Almonds in everyone's porridge? All signs it's the festive season in the land of Finns!



from Matador Network » Matador Network http://matadornetwork.com/abroad/9-ways-know-christmas-time-finland/

Oh Bag, Where Art Thou?!

On Friday I shared the somewhat crazy story of how my plane side bag was simply left on the tarmac in Salt Lake City, and all the drama that followed. The "highlight" of the drama, no doubt, was when a supervisor threatened to call the cops on me for something I didn't do.

At the end of the last installment I discovered that my bag had been sitting on the tarmac in Salt Lake City all along. The previously hostile but now overly friendly supevisor, P, informed me that my bag would be placed on the next flight to Los Angeles. It was scheduled to land at 3:30PM. Apparently they couldn’t check the bag through to my final destination, but rather I’d have to pick it up at baggage claim.

My connection was at 4:45PM, so that could have worked... barely.

The post Oh Bag, Where Art Thou?! appeared first on One Mile at a Time.

from One Mile at a Time http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/2014/12/22/oh-bag-art-thou/

Special Report: Front Row Center: Performance Guide

A lineup of top opera, dance and orchestra performances taking place across the world in the winter months.

















from NYT > Travel http://rss.nytimes.com/c/34625/f/642561/s/41b0ee15/sc/10/l/0L0Snytimes0N0C20A140C120C230Carts0Cinternational0Cguide0Etop0Eopera0Edance0Eand0Eorchestra0Eperformances0Ethis0Ewinter0Bhtml0Dpartner0Frss0Gemc0Frss/story01.htm

Golden opportunity: Upselling ups positive reviews and guest satisfaction

A recent report has found a direct link between front desk upselling and both positive reviews and guest satisfaction. The research was ...



from Tnooz http://www.tnooz.com/article/upselling-ups-positive-reviews-guest-satisfaction/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=upselling-ups-positive-reviews-guest-satisfaction

Reshaping online travel – hurdles and opportunities

Over the past few years, I’ve read numerous articles from various industry pundits lamenting the lack of innovation in the online travel ...



from Tnooz http://www.tnooz.com/article/reshaping-online-travel/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=reshaping-online-travel

Mexico by Mexicans v Gringos

Cancún Mexicans: The Caribbean! Gringos: Mexico!



from Matador Network » Matador Network http://matadornetwork.com/abroad/mexican-culture-viewed-mexicans-versus-gringos/

The Far Edge of Travel: Albania

Travelers have largely overlooked the Balkan region, which has long been shrouded by a troubled past. But its enigmatic nature may prove to be its most potent drawing card.



from Intelligent Travel http://intelligenttravel.nationalgeographic.com/2014/12/22/the-far-edge-of-travel-albania/