Plaza Premium Lounge London Heathrow Terminal 2 review
The last time I visited the Plaza Premium Lounge in Heathrow T2 the world was in the grip of COVID-19 and this was the only lounge still operating in the whole of the terminal.
Three years on from those dark days, I found myself flying out of Heathrow T2 on an Aer Lingus flight to Dublin, so this seemed like a good opportunity to see what the lounge is like when more than a handful of passengers are traveling and when pressure on the lounge is considerably higher.
Save $90 on Delta bookings with this Amex offer [targeted]
Amex has launched a new targeted offer for select cardholders in which it's offering a $90 rebate on spending made with Delta Air Lines by the end of October. Given the terms and conditions and given the length of time we're being given to trigger the rebate, this should be a relatively simple rebate to earn if you're a Delta flyer.
Hyatt Regency London Blackfriars review
The Hyatt Regency Blackfriars is one of three Hyatt Regency Properties in central London (The Churchill is reviewed here) and it opened its doors in June 2023. A little over a year after the hotel welcomed its first guests, I finally had the opportunity to see what the property has to offer courtesy of a two night award booking.
The one fundamental rule to follow when buying miles or points
Whether they're scrabbling around for money when their stock price falls or whether they just want to make some quick and easy cash, a lot of the corporations that operate the big loyalty programs like to run sales on the points and miles they issue.
Some of these sales can offer a very economical way to travel in comfort and are worth investigating, but regardless of how good a sale is, all of them should come with a health warning that everyone should heed.
Iberia short-haul Economy Class A320neo review (MAD-LHR)
A couple of days ago, I published a review of the Iberia A320 short-haul Business Class cabin, so as my very next flight was on the same aircraft type but in the Economy Class cabin, I thought it would be interesting to review that and to see how the two compare.
Comparing the four Chase Ink Business credit cards
Each of the four Chase Ink cards offers cardholders something different and each card has its own strengths, so to make it easy to see exactly how these cards compare, we've listed out their earnings rates, their key benefits, and their annual fees across two tables and added in a little commentary as well.
Get Radisson Rewards top-tier status INSTANTLY and for up to 2 years
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A wonderful sweet spot in the Iberia Plus award chart (Europe to/from the Caribbean)
The Caribbean is a hugely popular destination for travelers from both sides of the Atlantic, but not only can it be an expensive place to stay, it can also be an expensive place to fly to in any kind of comfort.
Fortunately for miles & points fans, there's at least one very economical Business Class award available for travel between Europe and the Caribbean, and it's an award that can open up travel to multiple destinations.
Iberia Premium Lounge Velazquez Madrid Terminal 4S review
After a recent Iberia Business Class flight between London and Madrid, I found myself with time to spare at Madrid's Barajas Airport, and that meant that I could take a look inside the Iberia Premium Lounge Velazquez at Madrid T4S which I knew had been given a small makeover since the last time I had visited.
Etihad keeps London A380 reductions deep into 2025
At the end of last month, the Etihad schedules were updated to show the A380 dropping from 14 to 12 weekly frequencies on the London route for part of winter 2024/25 and now, following a further schedule update, it looks like Etihad plans to keep that reduction in place for considerably longer.
How to pool Hilton Honors points (it’s free!)
Unlike most hotel loyalty programs, Hilton has allowed its members to pool points for several years. There's no fee to pool Hilton Honors points and up to 11 people can participate in the pooling, so this is definitely something all Hilton Honors members should be aware of.
How to access Amex Centurion Lounges (and where the lounges are)
The first American Express Centurion Lounge was opened in Las Vegas in 2013 and since then, Amex has rolled out its lounge concept to multiple locations around the US as well as to select international locations.
In this article we take a look at who can access these Centurion Lounges, what the rules are surrounding entry, who can bring in free guests, and how much standard guest access costs.
Iberia short-haul Business Class A320neo review (LHR-MAD)
Most of my intra-Europe flying is done in Economy Class cabins because I (mostly) don't see the value in paying for short-haul European Business Class cabins, but this flight was part of a larger transatlantic Business Class itinerary and so I found myself sitting 'up front' on an Iberia A320neo flying between London and Madrid.
ITA Airways cuts winter service to San Francisco
Unfortunately, recent schedule updates have seen ITA trimming some of its routes, and one bit of trimming that may affect West coasters is the complete elimination of the airline's Rome - San Francisco route for winter 2024/25.
Chase has extended and improved its DoorDash partnership for select cardholders
Recently, Chase announced that it was extending its partnership with DoorDash for a further three years, and alongside that announcement came the news that holders of select Chase cards would be getting a few extra benefits on top of the DashPass benefit that they already get.
American Airlines 777-200ER Business Class review (transatlantic)
American Airlines offers two different Business Class cabins on its Boeing 777-200ER aircraft. If you're fortunate, you'll find yourself in the newer cabin fitted with the Collins Aerospace Super Diamond seats. If you're less fortunate, you'll find yourself in the older Safran Concept D seats.
This flight delay from American Airlines was extra annoying
In the past few days, I’ve been reviewing a series of flights that I recently took and some of the lounges that I visited, and in a couple of reviews I touched upon the fact that my flight from Dallas/Ft. Worth to Palm Springs was delayed.
What I haven’t mentioned so far is that one aspect of the delay was especially annoying.
Escape Lounge Phoenix (PHX) Terminal 4 review
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A look at the newest British Airways short-haul cabin
Recently and unexpectedly, I found myself traveling on a new British Airways A320neo aircraft which had been fitted with the airline's new short-haul cabins, so I took the opportunity to take a few pictures and a few notes.
American Eagle CRJ-700ER First Class review (PSP-PHX)
The last time I flew in a regional jet was, I think, on a flight between Las Vegas and Palm Springs, and it was so long ago that the iPhone hadn't been invented, social media hadn't ruined the world, and you could still switch on the TV without being assaulted by the gormless faces of talentless nobodies participating in 'reality TV'.
Aer Lingus is adding new routes to Europe and North Africa
This week, we've had some good news from Aer Lingus as we're told that three new routes will launch this coming winter. All three routes are short-haul routes, all three will start in Dublin, and all three are to destinations that should be popular with people connecting from transatlantic flights.
[Targeted] Fast track to American Airlines status for World of Hyatt elites
Yesterday, we published an article about the opportunities being given to AAdvantage members seeking World of Hyatt, so this article will focus on the more targeted and more limited opportunities being offered to select World of Hyatt elites seeking American Airlines AAdvantage elite status.
How to earn Marriott Bonvoy points with Uber in the US
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Marriott Desert Springs Villas I review (a Marriott Vacation Club property)
A few weeks ago, on a trip to the Coachella valley, I stayed in a 1-bedroom unit/villa (complete with a kitchen, living area and dining area) at the Marriott Desert Springs Villas I resort in Palm Desert. This is what that unit and the resort are like.
Fast track to World of Hyatt status for American Airlines elites
American Airlines and the World of Hyatt have brought back a fast track status promotion that we've seen, in one guise or another, published each year since the Hyatt/American Airlines partnership was launched.
This promotion gives select American Airlines elites the opportunity to enjoy immediate World of Hyatt elite status for 90 days and the opportunity to extend that elite status by completing qualifying activity within those 90 days.
Earn 24,000 bonus points/stay and get 10% off select bookings with Marriott Homes & Villas
If the last Marriott Homes & Villas promotion didn't tempt you into a booking or didn't cover the geographic area in which you're planning a stay, perhaps this latest offer of 24,000 bonus points per stay + 10% off at select properties worldwide will suit you better.
Delta has changed some of its plans for its European routes in summer 2025
Delta is in the spotlight today as it has pushed through several changes to its European route plans for the summer 2025 season. Some changes appear positive, while others may disappoint, so if you're planning to cross the pond with Delta next year, now would be the time to check your bookings.
American Airlines A321 domestic First Class review (DFW-PSP)
American Airlines operates several variants of the Airbus A321 and as far as I can tell, it offers these aircraft in at least four different cabin layouts. The A321 that I flew on between Dallas/Ft. Worth and Palm Springs was a 23 year old aircraft that once flew in US Airlines livery.
Which credit cards offer Global Entry & TSA PreCheck credits?
Global Entry is the US CBP program that gives members expedited entry into the United States via kiosks stationed at major points of entry and removes the need for passengers to stand in seemingly endless immigration lines as they wait to enter the country. The program currently costs $100 for a 5-year membership, but if you hold that right credit card, that fee can be rebated.
Earn 1,000 bonus Avios with Uber in the UK
Right now, Uber and British Airways are shining a light on their partnership by launching a new short-term promotion in which eligible bookings made through the Uber app will earn Executive Club members up to 1,000 Avios.
Breaking down the cost of a trip and the miles & points I earned from it
To give you an insight into how much one of my trips can cost, what my earnings from the flights, hotels, and the credit cards I use can look like, and how I work out the net cost of my travels, this article breaks down a trip I took earlier in the year which saw me traveling between Europe and Bangkok.
This is why an Iberia Plus account can be useful
Iberia Plus is, unsurprisingly, the loyalty program of Iberia - a sister airline to British Airways. Just like the British Airways Executive Club, Iberia Plus uses Avios as its currency of choice but there are a few significant differences between the two that should make Iberia Plus very useful to Avios collectors.
Hyatt has picked up a new property in Belize (this could be good)
Hyatt has confirmed that the Placencia Resort in Belize has joined its portfolio as an affiliated hotel and said that following what sounds like a major makeover, the property will become part of the Destination by Hyatt brand and join the World of Hyatt next year.
How to transfer Amex points to partner loyalty programs
This is our simple step-by-step guide showing how to transfer American Express Membership Rewards Points to Amex's numerous transfer partners like Singapore Airlines, Emirates, and Delta (amongst others).
The European Union will reintroduce the 100ml carry-on liquid restriction (I don’t understand this)
Following the introduction of ultra-modern scanners at various airports across the EU and the UK, the past 12 months saw the archaic liquid restrictions on the volume of liquid passengers could analyse liquids in vessels of up to 2 litres and that the were so sophisticated, most regular sized liquid-containing vessels could remain inside a passenger's carry-on bags.
Things were looking good ... until they weren't.
Texas has got a new upscale hotel – the InterContinental San Antonio Riverwalk
With the opening of the InterContinental San Antonio Riverwalk on 1 August 2024, Texas finds itself with a new high-end property at which miles & points enthusiasts can put their elite status to good use (especially if they hold Ambassador status) and where they can use their hard-earned points.
American Airlines Flagship Lounge at Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) review
The Flagship Lounges are the best lounges American Airlines operates and are found in just four US airports. One lounge location is in Dallas/Fort Worth and on a recent trip, a long stop over offered me the chance to take a look at what the DFW Flagship Lounge has to offer.
Two Hyatt promotions that you can still register for (double elite nights + bonus points)
There has been quite a lot of email activity from Hyatt in the past few weeks as the hotelier promotes discounts for stays in various parts of the world (check your spam/junk folders if you haven't been getting these), so I'm using this article to highlight a couple of good Hyatt promotions that may have got missed in all the noise.
Where to credit JetBlue transatlantic flights if you don’t use TrueBlue
Historically, most people outside of the US didn't really have much use for JetBlue. It was an airline focused mainly on the northeast of the United States and aside from a few routes to Mexico and the Caribbean from the East Coast, it didn't have an international presence.
Today, the airline's routes are still mostly centered around the northeast of the US, but because it now also operates flights across the Atlantic, it has found a broader audience.
How to earn Hilton Honors points when you book rides with Lyft (limited-time 1,500 point bonus)
Lyft currently partners with four loyalty programs and its partnership with Hilton dates back to 2019. For most people, this is probably Lyft's most rewarding partnership and it allows Hilton Honors members to earn points on rides booked in the United States and Canada.
Here's everything you need to know about the Hilton/Lyft partnership.
Comparing the three IHG Rewards credit cards (2024)
There are currently three credit cards linked to the IHG One Rewards program and in this article you'll find a comparison of the annual fees, the earning rates, and the key benefits that these cards offer in what is (hopefully) an easily digestible format to make it easier to see which card would work best for you.
The World of Hyatt now has a property in a ‘country’ where no other chain has a presence
Generally speaking, the big name brands of the hospitality industry shun locations that can be seen as controversial or where international law has very little influence, so you may be surprised to find that the World of Hyatt now has a property in a country that isn't really a country.
American Airlines 777-300ER Business Class review (transatlantic)
A few months ago, I realised that I hadn't flown long-haul with American Airlines since early 2021, and considering I once used American up to ten times a year for my transatlantic travel, that's a long break from the airline's longer flights.
The lengthy break wasn't accidental or a coincidence. It was a deliberately taken break. But, as I found myself with a few transatlantic trips that I needed to book and as I was interested to see what things were like at the airline now, I took the plunge and booked some flights.
This is a review of the first of those flights.
An illogical free night certificate rule Marriott Bonvoy needs to change
I recently booked a stay at the London Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square and leaving aside the fact that I wasn't particularly impressed with the property (reviewed here), there was something else about the booking that stood out for me - Marriott as has an illogical (some may say ridiculous) rule when it comes to booking rooms with a Free Night Certificate.
Hotel loyalty programs can still make me do ‘irrational’ things
I've been playing around with loyalty programs for a long, long time, so it would be nice to think that after all these years I've grown impervious to the ways in which some programs can make one do things that, to an outsider looking in, look completely irrational and a little mad. Sadly, that imperviousness still eludes me.
Hilton London Canary Wharf review
Continuing our recent run of London hotel reviews, today's review takes a look at the Hilton London Canary Wharf which sits in a eastern area of the city and in one of London's two financial centers.
A look inside the Marriott Bonvoy suite at London’s O2 arena
Marriott Bonvoy Moments is the successor to SPG Moments and is a program that allows Marriott Bonvoy members to spend their points on sports, concerts, and experiences at various arenas around the world and, in some circumstances, these can offer Bonvoy members a good alternative use for their points.
Remember to be patient when redeeming these two Hyatt Milestone Awards
At the beginning of the year, we a saw Hyatt push through a few changes to the World of Hyatt program and most of these centered around its Milestone Rewards. Mostly, the news was positive (even if not all the changes went far enough) and two of the changes that were introduced means that it can now pay to be patient when it comes to redeeming a couple of Hyatt's Milestone awards.
Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill (Regency Suite) review
The Churchill is one of two Hyatt Regency Properties in London and for some considerable time it stood out as the best Hyatt option in the city.
The addition of the Great Scotland Yard hotel to Hyatt's portfolio in 2019 made the title of 'best Hyatt in London' a lot harder to decide, but with the Churchill still highly regarded and with my last visit to the property a distant memory, I decided to burn a free night certificate to see what the hotel is like right now.
London Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square review
As I was considering how best to use an expiring Marriott Free Night Certificate without incurring any unnecessary costs (i.e. I was looking to book somewhere I could reach with relative ease from Los Angeles or London), I realised that the London Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square was one of the few London Marriotts at which I had never stayed.
Great Scotland Yard Hotel London review (Hyatt Unbound Collection)
Recently, I read a review of the Great Scotland Yard Hotel in which the writer called it the best Hyatt in London so, as I've always considered the Churchill to be London's best Hyatt and as my only experience of the Great Scotland Yard Hotel was 'enjoyed' during the Covid pandemic, I decided it was time to pay this property another visit.
Get up to 20% off with Hyatt in Europe, the Middle East & Africa
Hyatt has published a new offer in which as the headline says, guests can save up to 20% off stays made in Europe, the Middle East & Africa. The offer is valid on stays at 153 Hyatt locations a long as bookings are made by 6 June 2024.
Deal: Rakuten is offering 15% – 20% cash back at a wide variety of retailers (15 – 20 Amex points/dollar)
Today sees the return of "Big Give Week" on Rakuten, which sees the cashback site offering up to 20% back (or 20 Membership Rewards Points per dollar) at hundreds of participating stores and retailers. Better still, this promotion sees the return of some great cash back travel offers with the likes of Radisson and Viator.
Hilton’s second global promotion for 2024 is now live
Hilton's first major promotion of 2024 ended yesterday and in true Hilton fashion, its second global promotion of the year went live earlier today. This latest promotion runs to 2 September 2024 and, thankfully, is noticeably better than the one it is replacing.
IHG One Rewards is targeting select members for a 2x elite night promotion (check your spam filters!)
Ok, I'm very late with this news but blame email spam filters and not me - IHG One Rewards is emailing select members with an offer of double elite nights on their next two stays. The maximum bonus nights that you can earn is 14, but if you're chasing IHG status or IHG milestones and have been targeted, that's still a very nice boost to be given.
Mr & Mrs Smith properties are now being added to the World of Hyatt, but the benefits are underwhelming
As we were promised a few months ago (following Hyatt's purchase of the Mr & Mrs Smith booking platform), Hyatt is now adding Mr & Mrs Smith properties to the World of Hyatt, and we finally know what these properties will offer members when they stay. Frankly, I'm underwhelmed.
Delta will return to flying ex-LATAM A350s on its Los Angeles – Auckland route (good news & bad news)
Since the launch of its LA - Auckland route, Delta has been using the A350-900s that it acquired from LATAM to fly between Los Angeles and Auckland but up until recently, the schedules showed Delta's original A350s taking over the route from 20 May and continuing to operate the route through the summer and through the next winter season. This is no longer the case.
Deal: Save up to 20% on Hyatt stays in the Asia Pacific region
As well as releasing at least 18 targeted offers (which we discussed earlier), Hyatt has also launched a new sale for stays in the 'Asia Pacific' region which covers properties in 224 locations across 20 countries.
Have you been targeted for one of Hyatt’s new promotions? (check these links)
Hyatt has brought back a series of targeted deals that we last saw published at the beginning of 2023. There seem to be slightly fewer targeted deals in this iteration of the promotion (18 deals in 2024 v 23 deals in 2023) and it looks like the target audience may be narrower in 2024 than it was in 2023, but some of the offers still look good so it will be worth checking to see if Hyatt lists you among the chosen few.
A strange British Airways advert on Instagram
Following a recent flight, I had some spare time on my hands thanks to the fact that someone at Heathrow doesn't appear to understand that scheduled flights require someone to meet them and to operate their assigned jetbridge, so I pulled out my phone and started scrolling through Instagram.
British Airways free inflight messaging is rolling out at a (seemingly) good pace
At the beginning of March, British Airways confirmed that as part of its £7bn transformation plan, it would begin to roll out free inflight messaging for its Executive Club members (of all tiers) from 3 April and that all its wifi enabled aircraft would offer this service within 2 weeks of the rollout starting.
Heathrow T5 First Wing security has reopened (liquid restrictions lifted)
In the first week of January, the First Wing security lanes at Heathrow T5 were closed to allow the airport to upgrade the scanners in line with the UK government's requirements and, at the time, it was believed that the upgrades would take 3 to 4 months. Amazingly, however, a little over 10 weeks after the security lanes were closed they're now up and running again complete with all the shiny new equipment that should make life a lot easier for passengers fortunate enough to have access to the First Wing.
Delta adds more flights to Shanghai from Detroit
A little over a weeks ago we had United Airlines announcing that it would be re-launching its route between Los Angeles and Shanghai and increasing capacity to Hong Kong and now, in a recent schedule update, Delta has added more flights to Shanghai out of Detroit.
The ideal 4 card American Express Membership Rewards team [Updated]
In this article, I've narrowed down Amex's card portfolio to the 4 cards which I think make up the best "team" for anyone looking to maximize their Membership Rewards points earnings, and while I'm not one to suggest that someone should choose just one card ecosystem on which to concentrate, if I absolutely had to choose one ecosystem to recommend it would be Amex Membership Rewards.
Air France news: More US flights & more US routes to get new Business Class
Air France has issued a reminder of its network plans and things are looking good for transatlantic flyers. We have a new route, a restarted route and more flights on the way (all previously announced), and the airline is promising to roll out its newest Business Class product on more North American routes this summer.
How American Airlines & Alaska Airlines reciprocal upgrades work (includes details of a new change)
Reciprocal upgrades have been available to American Airlines AAdvantage and Alaska Mileage Plan elites since 2021, and as a very recent change to the upgrade rules has improved the upgrade benefit for Alaska's flyers, this seems like a good time to recap how these upgrades work.
Comparing the five Marriott Bonvoy consumer credit cards (2024)
Since Amex and Chase both launched new mid-tier Marriott Bonvoy credit cards back in 2022, the number of Bonvoy consumer cards open to new applicants has stood at five. This article compares the annual fees, the earning rates, and the key benefits that these five cards offer in what is an easily digestible format to make it easier to see which Bonvoy card will work best for you.
6 of the best credit cards for dining, takeout & delivery services
A wide variety of cards offer bonuses or cash back for spending on dining, takeouts, and food delivery services, so I've pulled together a selection of five cards that I think offer some of the best returns available on dining expenditure. With no-annual-fee cards sharing this list with ultra-Premium cards, there should be a card that fits most people's wallets in this selection.
Delta confirms that it will restart its New York – Tel Aviv route (albeit later than planned)
All three of the major US carriers suspended their routes Tel Aviv following the horrendous incidents we saw in Israel in October last year, but now these routes are starting to come back.
IHG will soon offer EV charging at all its properties in the US & Canada
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8 best credit cards for supermarket & grocery spending
This article takes a look at 8 of the best mainstream credit cards you can hold if you're looking to maximize your return every time you go to your local supermarket or neighborhood grocery store.
Air New Zealand ‘pauses’ its Chicago flights from the end of March
Throughout the winter 2023/24 season, Air New Zealand has been flying between Auckland and Chicago three times per week, and the same thrice weekly service was expected to be offered though the Northern Hemisphere summer. That plan has just gone out of the window.
Big Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan award chart changes now in progress
Last week, we covered the changes that Alaska Airlines has made (and is still to make) to how Mileage Plan elite status is earned and the benefits that elite status offers, but the really big changes that the airline is making to its frequent flyer program come in the form of the changes to its partner award charts.
United brings back Los Angeles – Shanghai & boosts Los Angeles – Hong Kong
The main route news out of United Airlines yesterday was the announcement that the airline would launch new services to Marrakesh, Cebu, and Medellin, but there was other promising route news too as the airline confirmed its plans to bring back its route between LA and Shanghai and told us that it would boost capacity on its route between LA and Hong Kong.
Emirates has opened its refreshed Hong Kong lounge
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Marriott will get a new hotel in Hong Kong next year (and Accor will lose one)
Marriott has today announced that it has entered into an agreement with Victoria Park Hotels to bring the Autograph Collection brand to Hong Kong in 2025 and if I'm reading things right, this move will see an Accor hotel rebranded as a Marriott Autograph Collection property at some point next year.
United Airlines launches new routes to Africa, South America & Asia Pacific
Yesterday, United Airlines used its various social media accounts to tease its audiences about three new routes that the airline is launching in 2023 and in the past hour, we've finally had confirmation of what those new routes will be.
Why does my iPhone lie to me? (a genuine question)
How were the pyramids built so accurately? Did the city of Atlantis really ever exist? Are we alone in the universe? Who killed JFK? Why do intelligent people watch 'reality' TV? These are just some of the great mysteries that have puzzled scholars, scientists, and academics for years, but they all pale into insignificance compared to the biggest mystery that faces me.
British Airways will return to Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok
British Airways has still not quite restored all of the routes it operated before the pandemic (primarily because it still hasn't replaced all of the 747s that it retired), but a recent update from the airline has told us that two of its Asia routes will be returning before the end of the year.
Something I just learned: New aircraft don’t always come fully equipped with what an airline wants
I've never really paid any attention to what an aircraft has or doesn't have when it's first delivered to an airline as, frankly, I don't really care. As long as it has whatever cabins we've been promised and is airworthy (sadly, not something that's always guaranteed if it has been made by Boeing), that has been good enough for me, and that's probably why the aircraft on one of my more recent flights caught me by surprise.
United Airlines adds two minor (but useful) benefits for Silver Elite members
Today, United has announced a couple of very minor extra status benefits for those of us who sit towards the bottom of the MileagePlus food chain, and if you have Silver status and fly with a few of United's Star Alliance partners, these may turn out to be benefits that have genuine value.
Delta has scheduled its new Los Angeles – Brisbane route
United Airlines serves Brisbane from San Francisco, American Airlines has announced a new route to Brisbane that will launch in October, and now we know that Delta will start giving Brisbane a little more attention by launching a new seasonal route between the West Coast and the capital of Queensland.
The Rio Hotel & Casino Las Vegas joins the World of Hyatt
Hyatt has now confirmed that effective 1 March 2024, the Rio Hotel & Casino Las Vegas has joined the World of Hyatt while it's still in the middle of its renovations, and it has been added to the program as a Category 3 property costing 9,000/12,000/15,000 points per night on off-peak/standard/peak dates.
Why I think Hyatt is publishing weak promotions (and why I think it can get away with it)
The latest World of Hyatt promotion goes live tomorrow and as promotions go, this one is weak. Very weak. And this appears to be the continuation of a recent Hyatt trend. Prior to last year, Hyatt had been known for offering promotions that offered real value (yes, even before the pandemic forced hotel chains to be nicer to everyone), but in the past twelve months, things seem to have gone noticeably downhill.
Delta is bringing back its 3rd daily flight between Atlanta and London
As things stand, Delta offers a double daily service between Atlanta and London using its Boeing 767-400 aircraft, but once the summer season rolls along, not only will one of these flights be upgraded to a larger aircraft, the route will get back its 3rd daily flight that hasn't operated in seven years.
British Airways says it’s bringing Texas BBQ to its Austin route (for a month)
Come Sunday (3 March), British Airways will have operated its Heathrow to Austin route for 10 years (with the occasional break for a pandemic) and to celebrate the occasion, the airline has adapted the menu on the Austin route for the month of March and has partnered with a famous Texas barbecue institution to produce limited edition bottles of their BBQ sauce.
The IHG European spring sale is now live (up to 20% off)
The IHG spring sale (for bookings at the chain's participating European properties) is now live and runs through to 5 March for stays into 2025. The sale is in two parts. For most IHG properties the sale is offering IHG One Rewards members up to 20% off a property's best flexible rate, while the Iberostar Beachfront Resorts have their own deal with savings of up to 15%.
The World of Hyatt 2024 devaluation (key category movers & a few statistics)
As is usual this time of year (pandemics aside), the World Hyatt has now announced its hotel category changes for 2024 and once again, it's not great reading if you're a Hyatt fan. Yes, the announcement that came yesterday could have been a lot worse, but even so, there isn't much to be happy about with the changes that are on the way.
The Etihad Guest program devaluation in summary
Etihad has announced a number of significant changes to its Etihad Guest loyalty program and on the whole, the news is bad. Most of the changes that have been announced will kick in later this year and these include things like adjustments to mileage expiry rules, increased award booking cancellation fees, and a devaluation in the lounge access benefit for elite members.
Hyatt’s new Bonus Journeys promotion is now open for registration
As was first rumored two weeks ago, Hyatt has today formally announced its latest Bonus Journeys promotion and not only is registration for the promotion now open, but it looks like all the details that were accidentally leaked towards the beginning of the month were correct, so don't expect fireworks!
New York gets a new route to the heart of Tokyo with American Airlines [Updated for schedule information]
Back in November, both United and American applied to the Department of Transport for the right to use the slot at Tokyo's Haneda Airport that had become vacant after Delta decided that its proposed Portland - Haneda route wasn't viable after all, and after a couple of months of lobbying, American Airlines has won the day.
Is the Ritz-Carlton™ credit card going to make a surprising return
The Ritz-Carlton™ credit card has been unavailable to new applicants for almost six years and a general rule says that no major credit card that has been removed from circulation reappears in a similar guise a few years down the line. But could the Ritz-Carlton™ credit card become the exception to that rule?
United Airlines to resume Tel Aviv service next month
Following the horrific incidents in October of last year, the three major US carriers as well as most European carriers took the decision to suspend their services to Israel. Since then, we've started to see some European carriers resume their Tel Aviv operations, but up until now, we haven't had any solid indication as to when the US carriers will follow suit.
Hyatt has opened a new all-inclusive resort in the Caribbean [Updated with new WoH Information]
Hyatt has announced the opening of Secrets Playa Blanca Costa Mujeres making it the latest resort to join the World of Hyatt's 'Inclusive Collection'. The adults only all-inclusive property sits on the northeast corner of Mexico's Yucatan peninsula and is being opened across three phases.
Qatar Airways 777-300ER Qsuites Business Class review (BKK-DOH)
Having experienced the newest Qatar Airways Business Class product followed by the oldest Qatar Airways Business Class product just a few days before, I was interested to use this flight between Bangkok and Doha to reacquaint myself with the most famous Qatar Airways Business Class cabin - the Qsuite cabin.
How I may use the upcoming Hyatt promotion to help me retain top-tier Globalist status
Officially, Hyatt isn't currently running a global promotion and no global Hyatt promotion has been announced, but thanks to what appears to have been an unintentional leak, we think we know what will be announced in the coming days, and I may be able to use this promotion to my advantage.
The Global Entry app can make international arrivals feel like a domestic arrival (almost!)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) unveiled a new app in September of last year that, we were told, is designed to 'enhance security while further improving the travel experience for CBP’s trusted travelers'. Recently, I finally remembered to give the app a try and discovered that it made my arrival into LAX on an international flight feel as close to a domestic arrival as I think it will ever get.
Review: Miracle First & Business Class Lounge concourse G Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Airport
Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Airport is home to a number of lounges branded with the 'Miracle' name, and as well as being lounges that you can pay pay to access just by walking in, they are also lounges that can be accessed by members of various lounge programs (e.g. Priority Pass), and they are lounges that some airlines send their passengers to if they don't have their own branded lounge at the airport.
The latest Qantas schedules confirm reduction in US flights from Australia
Back in December Qantas gave an indication that it would be reducing the amount of flying that it planned to do to/from the US for the Northern hemisphere winter, so we already had a heads up that there would be cuts on the routes between Australia and the US. The latest schedules, however, show that the cuts to capacity are going to be slightly deeper than we first thought.
Delta delays the resumption of its Los Angeles – Shanghai route (again!)
Before the coronavirus pandemic, Delta operated over 300 flights across multiple routes to two cities in China - Beijing and Shanghai - but since the world began getting back to normal, Delta has been taking its time getting its old routes to China back up and running.
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