Rapid Travel Chai

I have 5 hours in my apartment in October, as my wife says wistfully, “See you for Thanksgiving,” though she is doing her share of travel.

I had a mixed business and pleasure Southern Africa trip: Angola, Mozambique, Malawi, South Africa and Namibia (see Travel is Free trip report). It was then that daytime layover in NY and onward for the Chicago Seminars, where I presented International Travel Bootcamp to kick off the event, 101 Tips, Tricks and Hacks to be an Expert Traveler, and moderated the closing panel.

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I am in Dubai this week for business and about to set off for Africa. I cluster my annual vacation around late winter/spring and fall to enjoy the offseason in most places.

Hardly enough time to notice the passing of REDBird this month, this is the kind of month where I reap the rewards of miles and points and worry about the earning side of the ledger when back.

Lots of travel developments from new routes to oddball credit cards.

New Airline Routes:

• United Announces Non-Stop Service from San Francisco to Auckland and Tel Aviv (Live and Let’s Fly). The more options, the better.
• American Airlines About to Announce Service to New Zealand (View from the Wing). Ditto.
• The last, dear to my heart, is that Johannesburg – St Helena is planned to start February 2016, reports Wandering Aramean.
• For people in this hobby, the announcement of lie-flat seats on Hawaiian almost counts as new routes (ATW).

Airlines:

• Should Business Owners be Encouraging Airline Status? (badice). My airline status has saved my employer tons in changes, rebookings, food and would even more if I were a lush.
• JetBlue has launched a small business program, Blue Inc.
• What are United Global Services status benefits? and How to read United expert mode fare codes (illustrated) (both MileCards). Good United info.
• Delta SkyMiles cheat sheet for using your miles (MileCards.com). And good Delta info.
• Beware Delta bearing voluntary denied boarding compensation (The Free-quent Flyer). So many restrictions.
• Does Delta Treat Members of Partner Programs Better Than Their Own? (Frugal Travel Guy). Never limit yourself to the US programs.
• AA vs Delta Part 2: good upgrades, bad food, and in-flight ads (FrequentMiler). I hate the ads.
• How to Book Awards to Fiji and Beyond With Fiji Airways (Frugal Travel Guy). I have been focusing on Alaska and overlooked American.
• This Is Why the New ANA Devaluation Is a Big Deal! (The Lazy Traveler’s Handbook). Every time I say I am going to learn ANA, they change the program again.
• Never Use a Seat Map to Estimate How Full Your Flight Is (Travel Codex). I was burned by that mistake in my early travel days.

Hotels:

• Incredible Hospitality At The Sheraton Dubrovnik! (One Mile at a Time). I wouldn’t judge any hotel by its opening weekend, though the point that chain hotel treatment is so much better in Eastern Europe than Western is correct.
• One-time opportunity to buy 450,000 Choice Privileges points for $1,600 (The Free-quent Flyer). I almost always refuse to buy points, this is worth a mental run-through.
• Is the American Express Rocketmiles deal a dud? (The Free-quent Flyer). I have not yet found value in RocketMiles for my travel.
• Marriott Rewards Confirms Four Program Changes (View from the Wing). Redemption stay credit is nice.
• Hyatt Mlife Status Match Resets Oct 1: Details & How to Match (Miles to Memories). For those Vegas-bound or Vegas-trapped.
• Extend The Life Of Your Starpoints With 150 Free Starpoints (Dan’s Deals). Do by 10/31.

Credit Cards:

• Citi ThankYou Flight Search Tips & How to Find a Decent Price Despite the System’s Severe Limitations (Miles to Memories). Phone agents can also book airlines not listed on the website.
• New Container Store credit card will let you buy stuff to organize stuff you bought with other credit cards (PFDigest). I can’t add a punchline to that.
• Stash Hotel Rewards rolls out new credit card (PFDigest) and Stash Hotel Rewards Credit Card For Independent Hotels Review (Doctor Of Credit). I’ll pass.
• Wawa launches credit card, causing everybody outside the mid-Atlantic states to ask, “What the heck is Wawa?” (PFDigest). My German roommate freshman year in Philly introduced me to Wawa and the self-appointed doorman.
• Is the 100k British Airways Avios offer the worst major signup bonus? (The Free-quent Flyer). Hard to have the discipline to stop halfway.
• Four things I do differently with credit card management (Saverocity Travel) and A new world for longtime credit card churners (Tagging Miles). Adapt to survive.
• The new Priority Pass app, in the few moments between launch and crash, has a digital card that Miles to Memories reports via ‘Dem Flyers that it works at airport lounges. Still carry the actual card.
• The Citi ThankYou Business card is available in-branch (Chasing the Points).
• American Express Platinum Card: Full benefits guide (MileCards.com). Easy to overlook many of those opt-in benefits.

MS:

• You might as well register: 30% more miles from United’s partners (FrequentMiler). Airlines excluded, and I just had my first South African Airways flights, grrr.
• So, How Exactly Does Travel Hacking Work? (frugalhack.me). Succinct.
• Target’s Redcard holders getting new credit cards and PINs (StarTribune). Is what happened to REDBird not newsworthy? 🙂
• Check Out the New Version of Award Wallet – Beta! (View from the Wing). Great service.

Blogging:

• Why I’m Concerned About Travel Blogging (Wandering Earl). The non-miles and point kind of travel blogging.
• Point Princess has moved to Caroline Lupini. Read her.
• Travel bloggers on ditching the 9-to-5 for location independence (Road Warrior Voices). All new bloggers to me.