TravelBloggerBuzz

An eclectic journey through the Travel Miles/Points blogosphere

Muslim Ban, Marriott 100 Million Members, HSAs Rock, Amex Financial Review

By

We bring you more on the Muslim electronic ban, Marriott has 100 million members, how HSAs rock, a successful stare down of the Amex Financial Review, Alaska Airlines partners with the German Condor Airlines, another hard to get Amex bonus and more.

TBB Blog Mission: To Entertain. Educate. Inspire. In That Order!

You can support TBB by applying for CREDIT CARDS, shopping with our AMAZON AFFILIATE LINK & clicking our REFERRAL LINKS. Thank you!

 

After dealing with another allergy attack that came out of nowhere…this post will really be short. This time I am going to do it! #developing

I am no aviation expert. So my initial thoughts after seeing so many posts of totally unqualified bloggers bitching about it…was that there must be a specific security threat out there. Anyways, this was a good one: Destroying the global economy one, one Electronic Ban at a time. I am afraid he is right. There goes any hope of me flying to Greece later this year by going via Istanbul #verysad.

Alaska Airlines is partnering with Condor Airlines, the low cost wing of Lufthansa. Excellent addition, it will help open up more award space to Europe in general…we all hope.

6 Takeways from the Marriott Investor Day. Very interesting information here. They now have more than 100 million unique members in all three loyalty programs they will integrate into one (Marriott, SPG and Ritz-Carlton). And this:

Only 11 percent of Marriott Rewards and SPG members belonged to both programs before the deal closed, and than 3 percent of those members were elite in both programs. Of all the programs, there are a combined 2 million members with elite status…

Thanks to the long time reader who dropped this link for your entertainment. Or horror if you prefer: My new vagina almost ruined my partner’s penis.  Fight for justice. Lol!

Your personal finance fix: Why HSA accounts can be a blessing and a curse. I have not used a single dime in our family HSA yet, always pay out of pocket with one of my travel rewards credit cards.

Boxer Arrested for Snatching Fake Bling from Bangkok Monk’s Pig. Guilty!

BLOG BUZZ

This section is for advanced level hobbyists and veteran blog readers & personal rants & stuff

I Survived an Amex Financial Review. Good stuff to know.

This 10,000 bonus for enrolling in the Amex Pay Over Time comes and goes all the time. Oh, and never ever use it of course!

How to upgrade on American Airlines with miles, systemwides , and more.

I had another major allergy attack. This one came out of nowhere. At the gym of all places. I rushed back and knocked down two Benadryls…Stabilized and saved me shooting myself with that ridiculously expensive Epipen. Not gone completely away. As I am typing. Scary stuff, never leave home without Benadryls and Epipens anymore. I am speechless this one just…happened. First time without eating shrimp…WTF is going on!

Son got a nice offer for an internship from Veritas Software  in Moutain View, CA. He has a friend who is also going there. Any leads on housing are appreciated. Or in general. May 23 – August 11. Looks like we will be visiting so he can take us out for a change 🙂

I am not sure this reader is coming back…

And I leave you with this…Well done good dog…and lazy human!

https://twistedsifter.files.wordpress.com/2017/03/keefer-lake-shirking-2.gif

Check out my updated blog lists: Blogs I Love, Blogs I Like, Blogs To Ignore

TBB
travelbloggerbuzz@gmail.com

Follow TBB on Twitter @FlyerTalkerinA2

You can subscribe to TBB below, winners only!

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.

Filed Under: TBB

Comments

  1. ScottCastle says

    The Scott Castle Bot has some latency issues… might need to colocate with TBB servers!

  3. Nick @ Personal Finance Digest says

    btw George what did you have an allergic reaction to? My peanut-allergic son decided to eat a peanut butter cracker yesterday and spent the evening barfing. We had the epipen ready but fortunately didn’t need it. We’ve never actually had to use it before.

    • TravelBloggerBuzz says

      What is completely baffling is…this time did not happen because I ate shrimp by accident. I had corned beef and cheddar three hours earlier! I just went to the gym and I was working out in one of the elliptical machines I started feeling my face to itch and get hotter…First, I thought it was just my mind…but it kept getting worse. A short visit to the bathroom mirror and seeing my face broken out in hives was another “Oh shit” moment. I raced back home and knocked down two benadrlyls…and started drinking water like crazy. It started subsiding very slowly. But still seeing the effects hours later. I knocked down another Benadryl at 4 am. My face is still puffed up in a few places…

      I don’t know what to think at this point…I have used the Epipen a few times. The needle going in Hurts a lot but both times I think it saved my life.

      Good luck with your son…The thing is I did not have ANY of this stuff until age 47 or something!

  4. Charlie says

    George, no problem flying from the US through Istanbul so you are good to go with that! It is the other way that is the problem. Kills the flight I was just about to book for next month, though. 🙁
    Get better, George!

    • TravelBloggerBuzz says

      Yep, was very interested on that same flight as well. Not happening now…

      The more I thought about it…this was another moronic by Trump and his stooges to protect US airlines and American jobs. Economic nationalism…which is completely hideous and buffoonish…Can you imagine business people checking their laptops Neither can I!

  6. Jed says

    If you pay for medical expenses “out-of-pocket”, you should still be able to get reimbursed with money out of your HSA.

  8. Anonymous says

    I have two problems with the electronics ban panic:

    1) WTF is more important to you people? The ban slightly inconveniencing you or the CURRENT FBI/NSA INVESTIGATION INTO WHETHER THE POTUS AND/OR HIS STAFF COLLUDED WITH RUSSIA TO INFLUENCE THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION???!!!

    2) See #1

    • Andy says

      “The ban slightly inconveniencing you…” What a total BS. “Slightly”? It kills travel for me.
      Completely. If I can’t take my camera with me – and yes, I won’t as there is no F-in way
      I will check in my Leica lenses I have collected over the years – I will not go. That simple.
      Last year we traveled to Seychelles and Maldives and we only went there thanks
      to Etihad connections through Abu Dhabi. There is no other way to go to Seychelles for us.
      So this ban basically stops us from traveling to many beautiful destinations.
      BTW it makes AA miles even more worthless (if it’s possible LOL) as it kills Etihad and Qatar
      options. There is nothing else left there I guess…

      • ABC says

        Nobody NEEDS to go to the Seychelles and Maldives on the same trip. You can easily avoid going via ME and still end up in SC or MV.

      • Scott Thomason says

        maybe it is a good idea, terror in Britain today/ perhaps it is what is seems to be on the surface, a very good security procedure…………….can’t you check your photo equipment or send it Fedex?

        • RAJ says

          Andy stop your whining, you come off as selfish and childish. Let’s ask the relatives of PAM AM 103 (Lockerbie) what they think. Air India has some very, very good options for you.

          • Andy says

            Air India doesn’t even fly to Seychelles you a@@hole.
            The only decent airlines flying there are Emirates, Etihad, Qatar and Turkish.
            All 4 included in the ban….

        • Andy says

          Fedex is the only option really, but logistically its a nightmare.
          I have to trust someone in a hotel to receive before I arrive and they might as well
          place my package somewhere everybody can access without realizing
          there is $30K in lenses inside…

          • Chris says

            You realize this ban does not affect you GOING there, right? You don’t have to ship anything to a hotel since you can keep it with you. While still a logistics nightmare, you could/would need to ship it home but at least it is going to your house or a friend’s.

          • SB says

            Andy, camera lenses or not, I feel you on the ridiculousness of the ban. And people coming at you for being pissed off probably never travel much. Comes from a place of envy rather than rational reasoning.
            The ban is absurd. And it’s a veiled way to F up the ME3. Such a pitiful way the battle ended up. And who gets hit the hardest? We do of course

            • Scott Thomason says

              WOW 30k for a lense, where can I see some of your work?
              My car cost less than that.

            • Andy says

              Thanks!
              I’m done being nice to all those f@cks who have no idea what that means
              to travel with expensive camera equipment.
              I already have to go around in circles pretending my carry on bag
              is not heavy (usually it’s much heavier than “allowed”), now
              I’m completely f@cked. Even though most of my lenses are fully
              manual with no battery and no electronics, there is no way
              I’m gonna be able to explain it to a moronic airline/security person.
              And Etihad and Qatar became my go to airlines recently.
              I’m pissed off? Sure I am. It’s the biggest f@ck@p in the history for me.

              • RAJ says

                Andy do you believe in KARMA, you should. You are an evil hateful man. A very bad man. Very Bad. I am so glad this happened to you. I hope you are reincarnated back as a toad.

              • Anonymous says

                So, Andy…

                First you overreacted when you jumped to the conclusion that the ban went both coming and going.

                Then you overreacted because you don’t know enough about traveling to understand there’s no reason you have to fly back from the affected airports. Google “positioning flights” and read BEFORE you overreact again

                Now you’re overreacting because of your lenses which aren’t banned at all. And everyone involved in security will understand that you’re carrying lenses while your electronic gear is packed into checked luggage.

                And someone makes a nice box that will protect your electronics from baggage handlers.

                What are you going to overreact to now?

  9. FullMoon says

    Your experience mirrors another I heard about. Apparently there is a possibility you might have acquired the exposure to the allergen at the gym. Google this…food allergies at the gym or similar. Glad you were able to Benadryl it in time.

  13. DeepThroat says

    CSP pays the highest sales commission

    View From The Wing has never stopped selling it like it is the BEST travel rewards credit card.

    Now you know why.

    Good luck TBB to hit the minimum to keep your creditcards.com banner…looks like you’ll need it.

    Over and out.

    Deep Throat

Subscribe to TBB!

Subscribe to TBB!

You get all the blog posts & the occasional hot subscriber-only deal in your email inbox.

You have Successfully Subscribed!