Rapid Travel Chai

Another week on the road in Asia with bad internet (China) and sweating out my suits (Vietnam). I have been bookmarking lots to follow up when back to the US this Thu:

Credit Cards:

• Who’s ready for a Red Roof Inn credit card? (Personal Finance Digest). I love the obscure rivulets of the hobby.
• FNBO Will Issue The New Best Western Credit Card (Doctor of Credit). Barclaycard never approved my one shot when they used to approve successive same-day apps.
• Targeted IHG Survey For 2,500 Points + Interesting Questions Regarding Future IHG Credit Card Options (Doctor Of Credit). I have not churned this card because would have to have it change and not get the same features. Although only Citi seems to regularly grandfather in old card features.
• Upgrading Credit Cards: Rules & Tips For Each Card Issuer (Doctor Of Credit). Good research.

Airlines:

• SkyTeam Airlines Will Simplify Online Award Bookings (One Mile at a Time). It is not quite clear what the upcoming tool will be, improvement is welcomed.
• Aeroflot Awards Now Bookable On Delta.com (One Mile at a Time), with great comments on Vladivostok by reader Jesse Thomas starting here. And their massive surcharges even on domestic flights. Vietnam Airlines also added (View from the Wing) and I am flying them this morning. And then Middle Eastern and Saudia, too (View from the Wing).
• Delta Adds Award Blackout Dates to Its Terms and Conditions (View from the Wing). What’s the deal with China Southern having nearly all the year blacked out? I avoided China Southern awards in the post-NWA era because of huge surcharges, though often not quite as big as China Eastern. And the public list is not complete, excluding the also huge blackout dates for Korean.
• No More Fuel Surcharges on Virgin Australia Awards with Virgin America (and How to Get Their Points) (View from the Wing). I have been speculating in Virgin Atlantic points via the BofA credit card in punt on UK regulators or other political pressure getting them to drop their even more massive surcharges.
• Most Aspirational Miles Award Ever – Necker Island (Travel is Free). Just for the heck of it I have been quietly saving up for this even though far out of character for me. Mixed reviews in the comments and very restricted time of year.
• Now that American-US Airways Has Consolidated into a Single Frequent Flyer Program It’s Time for AAdvantage to Update Its Award Rules (View from the Wing). I am trying to learn more about AA and OneWorld. Also, Here’s When You’re Protected Traveling on Two Separate Tickets (View from the Wing).

Hotels:

• Wyndham: 15,000 points per night… Anywhere! (The Frequent Miler). Odd to see mostly positive news from them. Earlier this month my account expired for inactivity.
• Club Carlson Visa dumping Bonus Award Nights (The Frequent Miler). Sad to see my favorite credit card benefit go, though I will still keep both personal and business cards. I just had a stay in March in Paris that various promos stacked and got over 80,000 points for 3 nights, and that wasn’t all room service (which I have never ordered).
• Unbelievably Cheap Hotel Award Redemptions (Travel Is Free).

Comment of the week from Will, seen on View from the Wing:

Yes DCS, it’s called humor. It’s the general alternative to being painfully literal and boring. I also wasn’t aware that it was now necessary for people to state the obvious, i.e. that our politicians should not take kickbacks and engage in corrupt practices.