We bring you all the Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan changes, the top Delta Skymiles redemptions, countries with the fastest internet, debunk some retirement myths, laugh at the numerous Marriott brands, look at the best photos from 2016, and laugh at another awesome gif for you. Because, if you don’t laugh with my blog, I failed!
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Well, the news of the day came from Seattle, headquarters of Alaska Airlines. It was two-fold, the end of their partnership with Delta and changes to their frequent flyer Mileage Plan program.
First, the news of the end of the Delta partnership was first seen here, and then every other blogger followed when it became official. It is over April 30, 2017. For those of us who have been around a while, it is amazing mind blowing that this ends in 2017 as we all expected it to end years ago with their endless squabbling and petty to nasty grievances and shenanigans against each other.
This post lists all of the Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan changes. They go all the way distance-based and, at first glance, it appears that award prices went down. That remains to be seen if you actually will see any of them as they undoubtedly have also learned something from the way Delta does it abuses members. More expensive tickets earn more miles, nothing new there. Reciprocity begins with Virgin America of course and more. Here is a better analysis of the changes announced.
My travel thought leader (lol) analysis on what came out of Seattle? They are feisty over there! After way overpaying for Virgin America, they seem to want to stay the course and do it their own way, even by differentiating their frequent flyer program going distance based which is something we here in the US are not accustomed to for domestic airlines. I am shaking my head how in the world the Delta partnership lasted so long. I feel sorry for fellow hobbyists who were advised by “experts” to credit their Delta flights to Alaska Airlines, you have been screwed! For Detroit-based flyers, a round trip to Seattle is now 20,000 miles, fyi. Hope you find these lower award flights without a magnifying glass, good luck! In addition, I ignore all the advice about transferring out SPG points, I always use them for hotel stays!
Top 5 Delta Sky Miles Redemptions. Some good stuff here…
Your United flight got canceled? Get ahead of the game by using the United app and website to rebook yourself as others jam the lines to get an agent on the phone or at the airport!
I still can not believe Marriott has all these brands, 30 at last count. And, among them, Marriott Now Has 8 Luxury Hotel Brands It Needs to Somehow Define Individually. Yeah, good luck with that!
8 Retirement Myths Debunked. Don’t wait to start saving is probably the best advice. It is up to you to make retirement great again. Whatever that means to you… #mysterious
The 41 most powerful photos of 2016. I had a really hard time choosing the one to feature here…
The countries with the fastest internet. No surprise about South Korea. Trump will make internet great again in the US lol.
Learning how to drive in 1943 somewhere in Africa. Wow! HT: reddit
Check out my updated blog lists: Blogs I Love, Blogs I Like, Blogs To Ignore
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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.
Fine! Third
Should we start referring to you as “ScottCastle The Legend”?
109th.
F me (slowly).
#TBBon
Lol…good one again!
Nicawawa (HT: Jimmy Carter) doesn’t even appear in the report!
Complaints of “slow internet” in trip reports that show 10+mb only draw guffaws from here. Ok, maybe a tinge of jealousy. So I flip over to the AccuWeather and see -20F wind chills while I sit in the sun, in shorts, in 80F, in December. Pffffffffffffffffffffff!!!!!!
I guess I’ll claim first then…
On your tweet, that means with the 40k bonus he earned 80,000 membership rewards! Someone is flying delta coach to Europe!
Wondering if that same person was crediting Delta flights to Alaska too…
Hey Buzz-
Ever see an airline melt?
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/front-range/denver/frontier-passengers-spend-5-hours-on-tarmac-others-wait-overnight-for-luggage
http://www.9news.com/news/local/holiday/travel/frontier-airlines-apologizes-for-weekend-travel-woes/373048933
http://kdvr.com/2016/12/18/frontier-airlines-experiencing-major-delays-at-dia/
Some passengers said they would never fly Frontier again and I saw one woman who said she wouldn’t buy a Frontier ticket, even for ten cents. Now to me, that’s a little extreme as I imagine the folks over on Reddit might bet a dime just to see what they could squeeze out of the complaints, arbitration and lawsuits.
I didn’t see any security around those Frontier luggage bags. Maybe security was off camera.
Meanwhile, the Denver airport was on the news again today about some cool lights they want to install:
http://kdvr.com/2016/12/19/denver-city-council-approves-12-5m-dia-welcome-sign/
Maybe if the new lights bring in ads, they can add some security over at the Frontier bag claim carousel.
*******************************************************************************
Thankfully, Santa didn’t book on Frontier:
On the third day of Christmas, Amazon brought to me:
Rick Steves Spain 2017!!!
A Barlays Arrivals+ card
An ELO DVD
Using links on TBB
ScottCastle may be First in theory but you are the MVP around here, thanks again.
I have never flown Frontier. After losing my Spirit virginity maybe I should give them a chance to prove to me how they suck 🙂
I’d bet he’s at least an MVP Gold…
George, reading about the Master Metaphysicians in that Napoleon Hill article got me thinking: there’s money to be made in cults and there’s money to be made in selling credit cards. Is it possible to somehow combine the two and make a lot of money?
Thought that TPG and OCaaT had this angle covered?
I had another thought….If every holiday wish/email/card/etc was a CSR approval I would buy all blogs out. Except PFD, which does not appear to me he is the sell out type lol.
I have my price, it’s just not a realistic one.
Same 🙂
retirement link is wrong
Fixed now,thanks!
If I had an intern or staff this would not happen 🙂
I have been lucky (no pun intended) using Delta sky pesos for domestic trips at the lowest rate. Gasp!
I have credited Delta and AA flights to Alaska. I think they have a good program.
If you’re feeling nostalgia – Last. 😉
Dan
Hey, way too early to be last!
Where would you credit them now?
Miles will credit to Alaska. I like the stopover feature on a 1 way award redemption. And if I ever get to Alaska, the reduced 5000 mile award ticket, down from 7500 is great.
dh
So… who likes trainwrecks?
https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/5j6151/were_3_professional_travel_hackers_here_for_4/
I did see that early in the morning in my morning run. Feedly run that is and some other sites, reddit included. WTF are these reddit guys thinking doing these? I thought about linking here but did not want to give these “professional hackers” (mega LOLs) any clicks.
Just got two tickets to Hamilton through amex platinum for $120 each, comparable tickets going for $500 on stubhub… Good day to check reddit for the first time in a few months.
Best post “You can bypass the long waits by mashing 0#0#0#0# when you call AmEx at 800.525.3355. Then ask the AmEx rep to forward you to the concierge for tickets. “
Musicals is just not my thing. I saw the piece on it at 60 Minutes and just did not feel the love, I just don’t get it. And I saw this right away when it came out and I did not bother. Especially when I saw that they are impossible to resell/scalp 🙂
But I did finally get two tickets from the Amex Platinum events thingie and looking forward to some special events during the Detroit Auto Show, including meal prepared by that Wolfgang Puke dude. Ooops, sorry Puck I mean lol.