Alaska Offering Mileage Plan Members Free Checked Bags In January

Here's a brilliant promotion on the part of Alaska Airlines. Alaska is offering Mileage Plan members traveling during the month of January one free checked bag. That's a savings of $25 compared to the normal cost of a checked bag.

Let me start by saying that Alaska Airlines is the one airline I consistently check bags on. As much as I give Alaska a hard time in some ways, they do an amazing job with checked bags. They have a baggage service guarantee, whereby if your bag doesn't arrive at the baggage carousel within 20 minutes of when the aircraft door opens, you receive either a $25 discount for a future flight or 2,500 Mileage Plan miles.

Alaska literally puts every other US airline to shame in that regard, and it shows a real respect for their customers. It's absolutely infuriating when you pay to check a bag on another airline, only to have it take 45 minutes for the bag to arrive at baggage claim.

The post Alaska Offering Mileage Plan Members Free Checked Bags In January appeared first on One Mile at a Time.

from One Mile at a Time http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/2014/12/30/alaska-offering-mileage-plan-members-free-checked-bags-january/

David vs. Goliath, United and Orbitz Try Cracking Down on Cheap Airfare Practices

Regular readers may be familiar with the indispensable guide to saving money on airfare using hidden city and throwaway tickets. In the guide I explain how to find extra flights for your ticket that allow you to save money, I outline the risks and how to make best use of the techniques. A year ago […]

The post David vs. Goliath, United and Orbitz Try Cracking Down on Cheap Airfare Practices appeared first on View from the Wing.

from View from the Wing http://viewfromthewing.boardingarea.com/2014/12/30/david-vs-goliath-united-orbitz-try-cracking-cheap-airfare-practices/

2014: Looking Back On a Rewarding Year

As a frugality expert and savings enthusiast, I’ve always had an interest in getting free or almost-free stuff. But if I’m being honest, I have to admit that most of my money-saving hobbies from years past were rather boring – things like couponing, thrift store and garage sale shopping, and playing the bank sign-up bonus […]



from Frugal Travel Guy http://www.frugaltravelguy.com/2014/12/2014-looking-back-on-a-rewarding-year.html

In Transit Blog: In Telluride, Fire as Art

A new festival in Telluride, Colo., features fire barrels and sculptures.

















from NYT > Travel http://rss.nytimes.com/c/34625/f/642561/s/41e34375/sc/10/l/0Lintransit0Bblogs0Bnytimes0N0C20A140C120C30A0Cin0Etelluride0Efire0Eas0Eart0C0Dpartner0Frss0Gemc0Frss/story01.htm

Video Footage Of Virgin Atlantic Emergency Landing

As most of you probably have heard by now, a Virgin Atlantic flight between London Gatwick and Las Vegas made an emergency landing yesterday. The plane had issues with the gear after takeoff, and after circling for nearly four hours it made an emergency landing back at London Gatwick. Fortunately the plane landed safely with no serious injuries.

What's really cool is the footage of the plane making an emergency landing (as you can see, the right-most gear isn't out):

The post Video Footage Of Virgin Atlantic Emergency Landing appeared first on One Mile at a Time.

from One Mile at a Time http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/2014/12/30/video-footage-virgin-atlantic-emergency-landing/

Hyatt Diamond Status Challenge Returns Thursday!

Hyatt has been exceptionally generous in being willing to give elite members of other hotel chains temporary top tier status in the Gold Passport program, while offering an expedited way to keep that status. And they even gave these temporary Diamond full confirmed suite upgrades as though they had earned the status for a year. […]

The post Hyatt Diamond Status Challenge Returns Thursday! appeared first on View from the Wing.

from View from the Wing http://viewfromthewing.boardingarea.com/2014/12/30/hyatt-diamond-status-challenge-returns-thursday/

Check In: Hotel Review: Hotel am Steinplatz in Berlin

A luxurious and comfortable experience that has both Old World aristocratic touches as well as a stylish modern feel.

















from NYT > Travel http://rss.nytimes.com/c/34625/f/642561/s/41e29b01/sc/10/l/0L0Snytimes0N0C20A150C0A10C0A40Ctravel0Chotel0Ereview0Ehotel0Eam0Esteinplatz0Ein0Eberlin0Bhtml0Dpartner0Frss0Gemc0Frss/story01.htm

Restaurant Report: Marcus in London

Marcus Wareing at the Berkeley has returned as just plain Marcus, with an airier look, a more flexible menu and a mission to be more casual.

















from NYT > Travel http://rss.nytimes.com/c/34625/f/642561/s/41e29b00/sc/1/l/0L0Snytimes0N0C20A150C0A10C0A40Ctravel0Crestaurant0Ereport0Emarcus0Ein0Elondon0Bhtml0Dpartner0Frss0Gemc0Frss/story01.htm

Heads Up: Beijing’s Art Scene Raises Its Profile

Fairs and galleries seek to attract buyers with the work of emerging artists.

















from NYT > Travel http://rss.nytimes.com/c/34625/f/642561/s/41e29afe/sc/38/l/0L0Snytimes0N0C20A150C0A10C0A40Ctravel0Cbeijings0Eart0Escene0Eraises0Eits0Eprofile0Bhtml0Dpartner0Frss0Gemc0Frss/story01.htm

Fifteen Travel Changes Coming in 2015

The LA Times recently published an article about fifteen things travelers should know when planning a trip in 2015. Some of these are widely known, some are not known at all, while others are…interesting. Here is the list: 1. Don’t expect a decrease in domestic airfares. Even though airlines are raking in profits and fuel […]



from Frugal Travel Guy http://www.frugaltravelguy.com/2014/12/travel-changes-coming-in-2015.html

How to get a company to honor its best rate guarantee

from Elliott http://elliott.org/advice-you-can-take/get-company-honor-best-rate-guarantee/

Air France FlyingBlue March/April Promo Awards — Up To 50% Off

One of the best uses of Air France/KLM FlyingBlue miles is booking their Promo Awards. FlyingBlue publishes these every month, and they offer 25-50% off select award tickets on Air France and KLM metal. Back in the day Promo Awards would consistently be for 50% off and would have a good number of options in business class, though unfortunately they’ve devalued the program somewhat since then, and the discounts now vary.

However, there are still some great values to be had. FlyingBlue just published their latest Promo Awards. These are valid for bookings made between January 1 and January 31, 2015, and for travel between March 1 and April 30, 2015. Not surprisingly, this set of Promo Awards isn't as impressive as the ones for travel in January/February, given that March/April is a busy spring travel period.

The post Air France FlyingBlue March/April Promo Awards — Up To 50% Off appeared first on One Mile at a Time.

from One Mile at a Time http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/2014/12/30/air-france-flyingblue-marchapril-promo-awards-50-off/

What bartenders think of your beer

AMERICAN PALE ALE: Intrinsically likable, average but dependable, you are the Tom Hanks of beer drinkers



from Matador Network » Matador Network http://matadornetwork.com/nights/bartenders-actually-think-beer-selection/

10 questions about the AirAsia Flight QZ8501 tragedy

The discovery of debris from AirAsia Flight QZ8501 means investigators have taken a big step toward answering the questions haunting the families of those aboard the doomed plane. What are the key questions, and what might come next?

from CNN.com - Travel http://www.cnn.com/2014/12/30/world/asia/air-asia-whats-next/index.html

10 signs your mom is Chinese

"You’ve eaten animals -- and animal parts -- that your friends have never even heard of, possibly to extinction. Seahorse? Bird’s nest? Fish bladder? Check, check, and check."



from Matador Network » Matador Network http://matadornetwork.com/life/10-signs-raised-chinese-mother/