Rapid Travel Chai

Is SPG Too Hot To handle? (Blocked In Some Countries) from Loyalty Lobby spoke to me as I am spending most of May on trips to China, fortunately with the leadership transition past, the blocking has loosened up slightly, and SPG has never been too bawdy for China. Loyalty Lobby came in handy with some new Priority Club promo codes as I had to try a different hotel after a 20-night stay at Starwood’s The Hongta Hotel. I am at another corporate approved hotel, the Intercontinental Shanghai Pudong, just another chain hotel, most interesting thing is the wide selection on the pillow menu, including Wheat Cereal Pillow and Medical Jade Pillow.

I avoid hotel restaurants other than when breakfast is included, and who better than View from the Wing to wax lyrical on hotel breakfast benefits? Gary wrote about Preparing for the Dreaded American Express Financial Review. Once was more than enough for me, horrible experience.

Last weekend was Frequent Traveler University, a gathering where a fair number of attendees don’t seem to like travel, especially the frequent kind, see Hack My Trip’s summary and the comments. Points Summary plays anthropologist, identifying 10 cliques at the event, the couch-bound One Mile at a Time groupies are my favorite at these events. There must have been gasps and sighs of delight at his stylish new spectacles, and I am blown away by his knowledge, here is a post from the archives introducing airline alliance liaisons to solve tricky multi-carrier issues. Points Summary is planning a summer ‘DO’ to UAE and Oman where they will do a heck of a lot, I highly recommend the trip.

I learned the most at Wandering Aramean’s presentation on United, see the extensive Q&A in the comments. Million Mile Secrets has a thoughtful commentary on potential changes to comparatively generous US frequent flyer programs. I made the non-credit cards, non-miles and points contribution to the weekend, and a few people actually showed up!

The only miles and points news actionable for me lately is the American Express Membership Rewards 35% transfer bonus to British Airways. I can’t get enough Avios, I love them for short, otherwise expensive flights.

The good people at GoGo will no doubt be surprised that people have actually found ways to browse the internet on their BlackBerry phones, thanks to Hack My Trip’s workaround on Delta’s free wifi promo through June 30. I confess that I still have not gotten used to virtual keyboards and am tempted to try the new BlackBerry for my next phone.