We bring you news on the AA Alaska partnership, more on the electronics ban, Wyndham new brands, nukes and bikinis, hang with Warren Buffett, learn how to shake hands, check out awesome pictures, quiz you about a party, ask about Audience Rewards and more!
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I am sure you have heard about how amazing all of a sudden the IHG Rewards Visa card is now that it offers 80,000 points. I just want to drop here that this card is available now with my links. And it is not subject to the Chase Bank 5/24 restriction. Choose your clicks wisely! Reward and encourage good blogging practices!
Having said all that, the IHG Rewards Visa IS a great card. And if you get it (or got it recently), you can send a secured message to Chase to ask to be matched to the floating 100k bonus targeted offer out there. The targeted offer requires $2k minimum spend, so make sure you do that. Every year we pay $49 the annual fee and burn it in nice hotels, this year we do it at the Intercontinental The Clement Monterey and Intercontinental San Francisco.
In the never ending news of the hobby getting whacked, American Airlines is pretty much severely devaluing its partnership with Alaska. No worries, some addict out there will still go out of their way to do mileage runs to achieve Elite status. LOL from a free agent since 2012.
The new hotel brand madness continues. Talk about THE bubble! Wyndham Rewards adds three new brands: Trademark Collection, Dazzler and Esplendor.
A review of the Kimpton De Witt hotel in Amsterdam.
Here is the latest on the ridiculous laptop ban: Electronics Ban Lifted For These 4 Airlines. Which is of course great news…
Of course you should relax right? Nooooooo! I think we are in for a rude awakening if what the Cranky Flier says comes true. US Eschews Sensible Risk-Based Security in Favor of Broad-Based Insanity. Hey, elections have consequences, sad!
…there are three options:
- The large electronics ban goes into effect on a slew of international flights from airports that aren’t able to comply.
- Flights from locations that don’t comply must be canceled.
- DHS blinks and admits that what it has required is impossible, giving more time for compliance or, in a perfect world, scaling back to only airports where the threat is real.
The third is mostly likely (at least the part about giving more time) since it sounds like the feds have already said they’ll be open to discussions with airlines. But the fact that DHS would roll out such an ill-conceived and impossible to implement program in the first place really makes me wonder who is making decisions over there. Yes, let’s celebrate the end of the large electronics ban, at least on some airlines where it existed. But this is hardly the right way to replace it on a global scale. Now we just have to wait and see if there will be a significant disruption when many of these airports/airlines fail to comply across the board by the July 19 deadline.
How to shake hands around the world. Now you know. You are welcome.
WTF were they thinking? Czech power plant apologizes for using bikini photos to choose interns. Click for the shocking video 🙂
Not much new but still wonderful to listen to Warren Buffett’s interview at PBS.
I know, they keep coming. But it is so hard to resist! Winners of the BigPicture Natural World Photography Competition.
BLOG BUZZ
This section is for advanced level hobbyists and veteran blog readers & personal rants & stuff
Anyone really still using Audience Rewards? I still have four accounts I think back when there was a real deal going on (I forgot what it was, seems ages ago!). Anything good out of that site please let me know, thanks.
So this is a test to see who really reads my blog. So, if you attended the party at my house the night before the Ann Arbor Art Fair DO, contact me asap and tell me if you plan to come if we do it again. I am sensing many people will want to and I do not want to turn anyone away so…I may just skip it. #developing
There was a lot of back and forth in the comments yesterday about Million Mile Secrets. Anyways, that blog had a new design. More mobile friendly. I read the “Our Story” section and I threw up all over myself! It helps my diet, thanks! It is amazing that they keep the brand going, I thought that Daraius was ready to move on. I guess not, the money must be good still.
We have another hobbyist telling friends and family how to travel for free you guys. Based on the Friday interview at Million Mile Secrets we get some mind blowing insight:
Not sure how long this will stay up before the moderator (TBB reader) kills it. Until then, enjoy shaking your heads 🙂
Thanks for the support you guys.
And I leave you with this…Is this my finger?
Check out my updated blog lists: Blogs I Love, Blogs I Like, Blogs To Ignore
TBB
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Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
Golden?
Indeed!
Milevalue trying hard to kill one more loophole: “You Can Still Book on Old American Airlines Chart with Alaska or Etihad Miles”
I saw that and an expression came out of my mouth in rage…started with mother______
Me? I kill nothing, peaceloving person that I am… BTW, the hand shaking thing is old and previously featured on TBB. The IHG card pumping is new. So are we suppose to violently shake our heads now? 😉
Peace loving? I think you were spotted in the G20 protests!
Re: IHG card pumping. It’s a great card man.
I love those commie and socialist protestors.
Several Greek anarchists are there. I hope this bunch of dirty scum balls stay there 🙂
Sad news:
http://www.ekathimerini.com/219880/article/ekathimerini/news/american-tourist-dies-in-zakynthos-brawl
At this point, I think Doctor of Credit is promoting View From The Wing leaks just to get to me…
Before you knock DoC you need to let your readers know that Tagging Miles remains the #1 fanboy of View From The Wing. He even beats Live and Let’s Fly!
Maybe I should do a Top 10 Ass Kissing Blogs post?
DOC is the worst. Especially because who he kisses the ass of. He claims to be against that but keeps kissing their ass. Tagging Miles is bad too but who cares.
Followed up with another incident and Tagging Miles of course has to reply back on Twitter…
Like you said….
There is blog in BA titled Points of Life. For the life of me, I never figured out what is his point!
I thought for a minute you were that yellow toothed Brit Saverocity. Haha. I love when broke people go into the financial advice business. Oooh, tell me more.
Just want to go on record that I do NOT like the new look of DansDEALS. Now it looks like the rest of the “DEALS” web sites that are out there. The old site, crammed with all the ads was retro and tacky looking (very 60’s) and I will miss it.
100% agree. I loved the old quirky look.
I loved when the deals were available longer than 5 minutes…
volume > supply is an ugly realization and it sucks bigly
Have u all noticed how the ‘bigly’ blogs are starting to look the same?
Approved for the 2 night Hyatt bonus! Vendome here I come!
Get matched to 100k 🙂
Breaking News from VFTW – A flight attendant got arrested after a flight…
phucking douche bag
This is for Ramsey:
https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/flights/todayinthesky/2015/12/01/american-completes-heritage-plane-rollout-twa-aircal-paint-jobs/76604236/
Some bozo will take it and do a blog post out of it filled with affiliate credit card links and credit some mysterious dude. Looking at you Alan H.
Enjoy your Saturday you guys!
Sunday post has been scheduled.
I need to start thinking and doing some posts for upcoming vacation to keep this streak going.
Daughter is done with the project. Wow. Lots to digest. I think I am the only one who has not done an interview at MMS. Shocking results will be published 🙂
Did a 5 day fasting based diet. So so hard but I made it. Good to not stuff my stomach during this time. And now going to all black coffee. Very interesting process I must admit.
Good to take a break here. Stress goes down not having to schedule the next post once a week.
TBBon!
JFC: For the love of Zeus, the Thought Leader (sic) found a way to revive the Dr Dao story.**
** at least he didn’t pimp which cards have the best travel hospitalization policies as The Bearded One would
Happy Buzz-free Saturday y’all
View From The Wing and One Mile at a Time are competing who is going to be National Enquirer. Or the Kardashian of Miles.
Pathetically, fan boy Live and Lets Fly is keeping up with them. TPG and PM&Shits are not far behind with this click bait “horrific” incidents…
I see all this shit every day man….
For my readers…
And then I get attacked if I whine a little bit when depression takes over 🙂
It’s okay…
I am done with post for July 28. I am aiming to do posts so I don’t buzz during my vacation. I could have spent the time promoting/SEOing/AssKissingTitans/pumpingmylinks but…I don’t.
Gorgeous day in Michigan. I am sure it is nice where you are.
I booked a hotel for the first time without points or certs. OMNI. I enrolled in the loyalty program before I pulled the trigger. Darn conference organizers, why did they book this one? It’s in the Orlando area. At ChampionsGate, looks nice. I think I will get a roommate to pay me cash for half the cost. Sure makes it easier to find the door late at night from the bar 🙂
Other than that, very quiet day today…
Going to Cabo next week with a friend, just for 2 nights. They only have suites available at 32k/night. Initially I saw a rate of $347/night and though, eh I might as well burn my arrival mile bonus. Then I see a club room and call to change it, only to find that the initial booking was made for one adult, so the cost will be $413/night now. Maybe if I use all my arrival miles and cancel the card I’ll get the aviator in October when I apply for it again (I’m 0 for 2 on that card this year)
Anyway, I don’t like paying, but it’ll end up about $90/night/person. It’ll be her 5th brand, and help her get to 30 nights, so ultimately it could be the difference between 2 cat 1-4 nights + the points, so it’s now awful. :-/
Somewhat related, I may use my free nights for the Miraval resort. It could be a pretty solid redemption, so I’m interested to see how that goes as people start doing it. With points rates so high, I expect there to be pretty decent availability.
Anyone have any other ideas for Cabo on all inclusive? Did I miss something?
First world problems 🙂
We totally loved the Hilton there!
No idea abt them Hyatts and all inclusives. I hear all inclusives and I automatically gain 5 lbs!
These are some pretty high rates man.
Is Miraval the US Vendome version?
I’ve done the Hyatt Ziva and Zilara at Cancun, and both were great.
The Miraval is 65k points per night double occupancy! All inclusive (except for alcohol) and each person gets a $175 resort credit each day.