The derailment continues with AA Basic Economy fares, get more Discover Cash Back, TBB Gets attacked by a fierce mob, talk about SPG and Uber, Hyatt overpays, talk about Japanese toilets, Health Savings Accounts and more!
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This is going to be shorter than usual (I hope). For two reasons. One is it was a slow day yesterday. I mean, other then AA announcing Basic Economy fares and Starwood devaluing the Uber partnership…there was not much going on. Another reason I just don’t feel as good, either coming down with something or personal trainer totally kicked my ass yesterday. So, here we go:
DansDeals gives a pretty good account of all the crappy Basic Economy fares with AA joining in the charade. And he does a good short summary of the state of the legacy mileage programs, which I think it is right on:
Delta runs a very good airline with a subpar mileage program
United runs a mediocre, but improving, airline with a good mileage program.
American runs a subpar airline with a mileage program that could be called a ScAAm these days.
Well, just like that, you earn half of SPG points for your Uber rides! Which blogger killed this deal huh? #kidding There are a few other ways to squeeze more Amex MR points and United miles with Uber.
How to maximize Discover Cash Back Redemptions. Good advice if you have Discover cards.
Well I guess Hyatt is really serious about “wellness’ so they went out and bought Miraval Group for $375 million. Just three properties. Hey, maybe they can buy me for some consulting perhaps? I can get my daughter to design a better Globalist Disappearist logo!
Awesome news, yes, so exciting finally! Japanese Toilet Industry to Simplify Controls for Confusing HIgh-Tech Toilets.
A really good personal finance article: A health savings account could power your retirement.
Wow, talk about a slow day hey?
I was going to do a headline for Blog Buzz but I am not feeling it, so here are a few items:
Several updates in Mile Nerd‘s credit card page.
I remember years ago that it was really huge news if you saw an article in mainstream media about our hobby. Now, they are common. And that’s not good, it’s not healthy to continue our birth right to travel for free…Ok, you are laughing? Or crying? Ok, here is another one at Forbes. I lost count how many times churning&manufactured spending were stated! #yikes
There is an 85,000 Club Carlson Visa offer out there that does not get much play in the blogs and this blog post can help you decide if it is for you.
So, me and Mrs. TBB got 10,000 Alaska Airlines miles like many of you for being a member of Virgin America Elevate program. I transferred our Elevate points to Alaska and got a nice bonus, everything worked flawlessly. But not for my kids. Eventually…the 10,000 miles were credited but trying to transfer the Elevate points over has been a clusterphuck. I called yesterday and a super nice Alaska Air rep tried to help me, gave my kids the missing miles as a courtesy and will talk to the development team because something is wrong. Which means I may get to do it again 🙂 #winning
Looks like Pointchaser got a full time job, congrats! I will so miss the play by play Wal Mart runs #notreally 🙂
There were some news about AA elite upgrades or something. Like I care anymore. Doug Parker, like clockwork, is putting the hurt on us slowly and steadily. Like I predicted years ago when he got there…
I have no pics so I will leave you with my favorite one from the Auto Show. Here is what happened: I was strolling along on the floor and all of a sudden I hear screams
Them: “Omg, is this George, TBB George, omg!”
Me: “Hey, what’s up?”
Them: “I can’t believe is you, omg, can I touch you?” in unison.
Me: “Oh yes please do!” enthusiastically without a single trace of angry coming out me…
Them: Can we have a picture with you so we can finally take down the picture of Daraius (MMS) and have you up there?
Me: Yes oh yes!
I left wondering why would they ever had his picture up and not of The Points Guy? Am I becoming a Titan, what is happening? Is this a dream?
Okay, I am okay. Really…I want to thank everyone who got a credit card with my links this month, the response has been phenomenal! I felt Titanium like when the clicks posted on that last day of the 100k CSR! I was going to make a comment here about a certain troll but I am going to take the higher road..
Ok, time to hit the bed early…
Oh, wait! And I leave you with this…
Check out my updated blog lists: Blogs I Love, Blogs I Like, Blogs To Ignore
TBB
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I see the world, feel the chill
I felt something different surrounded by the four models 🙂
When is that trip report coming from your son? I’m doing Hong Kong again in May and am staying longer than 5 hours this time…
It will be before then, it is ready to go now actually. I am saving it for a day I am out and that will likely be during the conference I will be attending in San Diego in early February.
It is not a big deal actually, not as sharp as his other posts, he has been slacking lately!
This trip is to burn my AS miles before their chart goes the way of AA. I have one first and one business (hoping another first will open up) with my stopover in HKG on the way to Dubai. On the way back I have DXB-SIN-ICN-LAX waitlisted for 2 in Singapore first with a 19 hour layover in SIN. Fingers crossed…
Doubt AS will go the AA route given they just released their JAL award chart and it’s slightly devalued as compared to CX. Makes on think these rates will stay around for a while longer. Then again who knows in this world
I think it’s definitely fling to happen, just a matter of when, especially with the influx of virgin points and an extra 10k/person.
The most powerful force in this hobby is devaluation.
My guess is 6 months to 1 year after the merger has been completed.
I was thinking…9 months 😉
So the girls from your daughters class recognised you at the auto show and posed for a photo? Congrats! :p
Hey there!
I literally busted out laughing! Nice Oliver 2002
Hey u famous…tomorrow #hint
I used your Sapphire Reserve link a week or so ago, glad I could help support your blog! : )
Thank you!
George has sacrificed a lot of his privacy in order to educate, entertain, and enlighten us. His close call with the groupies really brought that point home today. It’s not easy being a world-famous blogger.
What I’m trying to say here is, please click on George’s Amazon link.
I live in fear of this ever happening again…You are so right, I have sacrificed so much for my readers 🙂
2,3,1,4. In the order that I would sell credit cards to.
We all have different tastes 🙂
3,3,3,3
Speaking of publicity, here is more…
https://www.yahoo.com/news/m/d29965fb-f447-3b7e-a9b3-9f7e50ead7bf/ss_jpmorgan%26%2339%3Bs-jamie-dimon%3A-i.html
Saw this a few minutes after I published my post today…Thought about updating it but I am fighiting some viral thing and I was too…tired! But this will show up today for sure via PointsCentric.
“Looks like Pointchaser got a full time job, congrats! I will so miss the play by play Wal Mart runs #notreally ” <—- LMAO!
One of the (MANY) things that would incur the wrath of Ariana was spelling out Wal-mart. I tried telling her and the MSers on flyertalk that Wal-mart is not run by idiots, and having an entire weblog using "WM" instead was not fooling anybody.
You know who will really, really not miss the Walmart runs? All the people in the Bay Area who got stuck in line behind the Pointchaser when she was performing one of her Saturday Walmart runs. 😀
And her BS posts about doing 50,000 in MS per month. Come on!!!
Hey, be nice now 🙂
Please seek out more opportunities for photos of groupies!!!
I think Dan’s summary of the big 3 is pretty accurate, sadly. AAdvantage used to be so good, which balanced out the crappier aspects of AA.
Yeah, shedding light and publicity on this world will only hasten its demise. Sunshine kills!
Look at a TPG newbie coming to FT for help:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/27776999-post6.html
wcamspacher posted about his confusion trying to book a particular trip and this eventually came out:
“I’ve been researching the Points Guy’s blog to try and figure this out. I started by looking at open jaws on United, but can’t even figure out how to search for those. I think I just have to book them each as one ways? Can’t see how else. Needless to say, that frustrated me, and now I’m questioning if United’s even the right airline..”
To which Mwenenzi replies:
“The text [about researching on TPG] is your first problem. You are making a simple process hard…”
LMFAO
oh man that FT link, woohoo, thanks!
Oh yea, sunshine kills all right!
To Raj: Ran into a reader at Blaze Pizza today. Hi Raj. Sorry man I was high on some painkillers and was starving. I live across the street so if you are ever around for lunch DM me!
Even though the Miraval purchase by Hyatt is meh, they will have a property in Austin which I love to go visit. Hopefully it doesn’t cost a ridiculous amount of points.
ps…Miss ya TBB!
That was a crazy amount to pay…for 2 properties…for “wellness”!
I liked your post abt them Hyatts, coming up here tomorrow!
Missed you too, nice photos 😉
Ya, they could have just built 2 new properties with that amount of money
I was wondering why my page views spiked…thanks for the link! Yes you like my photos I stole lol. At least one of them was mine!
Hello, yes which is the most lovely of the 4?
Thanks Buzz.
Hey there! I’ve been reading your weblog for
a long time now and finally got the bravery to go ahead and give you a shout out from Porter Texas!
Just wanted to tell you keep up the good work!