TravelSkills

News and Tips For Your Trips

New twists coming for credit card transactions

Visa is developing “sensory branding” cues for digital transactions. (Image: Visa)

As technology continues to alter the credit card landscape (Apple Pay, anyone?), two leading card processors will be making some changes to the transaction process in the coming months.

American Express said it will no longer require its merchants to require a signature when its card is used for a purchase. And Visa is adding a characteristic sound that will be played to signify to customers that a transaction has been completed.

Starting next April, American Express said, merchants worldwide that accept the AmEx card for payment will no longer have to get the cardholder’s signature to complete a transaction.

“The need for signatures has declined around the world due to a number of advancements in the payments industry,” the company said. “These include the growth of contactless payment options, including card-based and mobile tap-and-pay methods, the global adoption of EMV chip technology, and the continued expansion of online commerce. American Express has also deployed advanced machine learning algorithms that allow for more precise detection of fraud while minimizing disruption of Card Members’ genuine spending.”

Coming soon: No signature needed for AmEx Card purchases. (Image: American Express)

AmEx noted that it had already dropped the signature requirement for lower-priced transactions (e.g., less than $50 in the U.S.), but it added that the new no-signature-required policy will apply no matter how large the amount. Merchants will still have the option of collecting a signature if they want to, or if local laws require it.

At Visa, meanwhile, the product team is expecting to roll out “sensory branding” for cardholders in 2018.

What’s that? It’s a distinctive two-tone sound — lasting less than a second — that the customer hears when his Visa transaction goes through, in recognition of the fact that so many purchases and payments are made these days via smart phone apps, tablets and similar personal tech devices. In addition to a sound cue, Visa is also looking into an “animation cue” that could pop up on the screen for the same purpose, and even a “haptic cue” — i.e., a distinctive vibration.

Here’s what Visa will soon sound like. 

“As new payment experiences continue to take shape in the world, this suite of sensory branding elements will give consumers the assurances we know they want every time they use Visa,” said Lynne Biggar, the credit card company’s chief marketing and communications officer.

The move to sensory branding is supported by extensive consumer research in eight countries, Visa said. The company found that more than seven out of 10 consumers consider a website to be secure when they could see the Visa logo. “In a digital world filled with connected wearable devices, Visa’s sensory branding elements are designed to evoke those same emotions, even in environments where the traditional Visa logo is not visible,” the company said.

ICYMI, see the 25 most recent TravelSkills posts right here

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7 factors in finding the best travel credit card

credit card reader

Not all chip cards are created equal. Know the difference? (Image: Pixabay)

Right now is one of the BEST times of year to consider getting a new credit card. Why? Because with the holiday season ahead of us, it’s easier than ever to meet minimum spend requirements in order to get those fat sign-up point bonuses that can quickly lead to a vacation in Hawaii or an upgrade to business class.

But remember, there’s no such thing as the single best credit card, but there is definitely the best credit card for you.

Eager to sign up affluent, free-spending business travelers, banks have been rolling out a steady stream of new cards, perks and promotions that you should be paying attention to.

While there aren’t as many of those rare 100,000 mile or point bonuses as we saw in recent years, you can still score 50,000 to 60,000 miles if you play your cards right and meet those initial spending requirements.

Tempted? Before you make the switch and sign on the dotted line, be sure you do your homework and consider the following factors.

^^Looking for a new card? Then be sure and click on our “Credit Card Deals” tab at the top of this page^^

Global Entry Kiosks

Some cards will pay for valuable benefits like Global Entry, which helps reduce wait time at immigration lines (Photo: CBP)

1- Annual fee
You get what you pay for — which is not much — when using cards with a low or no annual fee. So for frequent travelers, it’s usually worth paying a premium for benefits that can improve your travel experience. For example, fees for the American Express Platinum Card, Citi Prestige and other ultra-premium cards run a steep $450-$550 per year, but the cards are rich with traveler benefits such as airport lounge access and reimbursement for all-important Pre-Check or Global Entry fees, among others. If a $500 fee is more than you can pay, remember that the less expensive airline affiliated cards (at around $95 per year) offer some nice perks, too, such as waived baggage fees, early boarding and airline club passes- nice perks if you don’t fly enough to attain elite status.

2- Transaction fees
Frequent international travelers should consider the rapidly growing number of cards that have nixed those irritating 2% to 3% “foreign transaction fees”. While 3% may not sound like much, if you are spending $50,000 a year on overseas travel then you are paying $1,500 a year in transaction fees. Generally you’ll find these fees waived for cards aimed at frequent travelers, but you’ll pay a higher annual fee. Cheaper cash-back or no annual fee cards typically don’t waive foreign transaction fees.

3- Signing bonus
Many cards offer outstanding sign-up bonuses in the form of airline or hotel loyalty points. While these offers are tempting, read the fine print to determine what you must do to get the bonuses — most require spending a few thousand dollars within the first three months  to qualify. Also keep in mind that there is a difference between cards that offer miles or points in specific airline or hotel programs, and those that offer points in their own programs. Most credit card gurus suggest that the banks’ own points programs (such as American Express Membership Rewards, Citi Thank You Rewards or others) are more valuable because you can redeem points across a broad spectrum of airline or hotel partners, not just one.

4- Chip and PIN technology
Recently US banks have begun adding chips to credit cards to reduce fraud and make them easier to use overseas where chip and PIN technology is more prevalent. However, it’s important to keep in mind that there are two different types of chip cards these days– chip & PIN and chip & signature. True chip & PIN cards are more valuable to frequent travelers because they can be used at unmanned ticket kiosks (at train stations for example) while chip & signature cards require human being to be present to get your signature. Ask your bank specifically about this before you head overseas. Read more about the PIN vs Signature issue here. 

^^Looking for a new card? Then be sure and click on our “Credit Card Deals” tab at the top of this page^^

Some cards offer helpful travel or concierge services (Image: Pixabay)

Some cards offer helpful travel or concierge services (Image: Pixabay)

5- Benefits and affiliations
If you don’t have a corporate travel agency to rely on, choose a card that offers travel planning or concierge services or can help get you out of a jam — like when you get bumped from a flight or walked from a sold out hotel, or can’t get a reservation at a hot new restaurant. To maximize benefits like waived baggage fees, airport lounge access or early boarding privileges, the card you choose should be affiliated with the loyalty program of the airline or hotel chain you use most.

Don’t miss: 10 Most instragrammable airports, airlines

6- Charge card vs credit card:
If you are the type of traveller who submits expense reports on time… and works for a company that processes and pays them on time, then a charge card (such as American Express or Diners Club), which requires payment in full each month, should work for you. However, if you need a bit a wiggle room when it comes to paying off your bill each month, a credit card (typically Visa and MasterCard) is probably a better option- but expect to pay steep interest rates if you don’t pay bills in full.

7- Insurance
Frequent travelers should choose a card that, at a minimum, offers collision damage coverage when renting cars and baggage loss and/or damage protection. But if you rely on collision damage protection when travelling internationally, be sure you know about any country-specific exceptions before you get to the rental car counter. Remember that primary collision coverage is more valuble than secondary coverage, which only kicks in if your personal policy does not. Some cards also offer roadside assistance protection, trip cancellation insurance and more, so be sure to look into the specifics depending on your travel habits.

What type of credit or charge card is in your wallet and why? Have you considered changing it? Please leave your comments below. 

In the market for a new credit card?

Wallet credit cards

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ICYMI, see the 25 most recent TravelSkills posts right here

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How to get the most for your miles this summer

Booking award flights this summer? Read this first. (Image: Jim Glab)

Now that you’ve saved up thousands of miles/points for your summer vacation, do you ever stop to consider strategies for stretching them the farthest? Or do you just book the flights you want and pay whatever it costs?

A new study from personal finance website NerdWallet suggests that the value of your points/miles can vary considerably depending on whether you book economy vs. premium class, one-way or roundtrip flights, and how long your flight is.

For instance, the study found that frequent flyer points (NerdWallet refers to both points and miles as “points” for consistency) are worth significantly more for domestic travel when you book an economy seat as opposed to business or first class – unless your flight is a long one.

Source: NerdWallet

Points used to book domestic roundtrip flights in economy were worth 1.03 cents for travel during peak periods, or 1.08 cents for off-peak, NerdWallet found, while the corresponding values for premium seats were 0.83/0.86 cents.

“If you prefer to fly business, you might want to pay cash, or save your points for an international and/or one-way flight,” NerdWallet said.

However, the study also found a big discrepancy in point values for booking premium cabins based on flight distance. On flights of less than 1,000 miles, points had an average value of 0.72 cent, vs. 1.13 cents for flights longer than 1,000 miles – a difference 10 times larger than that for economy flights.

Another finding that might seem counter-intuitive is that you get more for your miles/points when you book one-way flights vs. roundtrips.

In 62 percent of the trips that NerdWallet studied, one-way flights had higher point values than round-trips. “In most cases, if you’re paying with points, the price of a one-way trip is half the cost of a round trip. When paying with cash, however, one-way generally costs more than half the price of a round-trip ticket. Therefore, per-point values are higher when flying one-way,” the company said.

See full Nerdwallet study here.

Source: NerdWallet

“The trip will likely cost the same number of points overall. But you’ll have flexibility, allowing you to go home earlier or later than you planned, or continue your adventure in another city or country,” said NerdWallet’s Sean McQuay.

For domestic trips, the average point value for one-way flights was 1.21 cents, vs. 0.99 cents for roundtrips (the average for all classes of service). The gap was even greater for international travel – a value of 1.15 cents for one-way travel vs. 0.89 for roundtrips.

To determine the value of your points for a specific trip, divide the cash price by the number of points required; you’ll generally get a result somewhat higher or lower than 1 cent per point. “As a simple rule of thumb, if the value of each point is less than 1 cent, use cash and keep your points for a higher-value opportunity,” McQuay said.

My biggest point splurge last year: 45K round trip SFO-Lihue on United Kauai! (Chris McGinnis)

But he adds that there are times when it’s a better strategy to pay with points/miles even if their value is relatively low. One time is when your points/miles are nearing expiration. Another is in the event you might have to change or cancel your flight – because change fees for tickets bought with cash are generally much higher than those for tickets paid with points.

Readers: What’s the best “deal” you’ve snagged on an award trip? Please leave your comments below.  

ICYMI, see the 25 most recent TravelSkills posts right here

In the market for a new credit card? See our “Credit Card Deals” tab to shop around! It helps us help you.

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Game over for American Express card gamers?

Amex Chase

Card gamers and churners under fire by American Express (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

As the credit card wars heat up between American Express Platinum and the Chase Sapphire Reserve card – an AmEx official said this week that his company will weed out new customers who might not be with it for the long haul.

Known in the industry as “gamers” or “churners,” these are individuals who sign up for a credit card only to get the big bonuses or short-term incentives that are often offered to new customers. After signing up and getting the bonus, these “hobbyists” quit and move on to the next card with the newer, better sign up bonus.

Chase has already implemented a new 5/24 rule forbidding people from getting more than five Chase cards in a 24-month period– even those with excellent credit ratings.

This week AmEx Global Consumer Services President Doug Buckminster said at a conference in New York that the company is developing ways to “suppress” gaming in favor of seeking out and keeping loyal cardholders, according to Bloomberg.

He said the company will “use our analytics and technology to surgically remove gaming and reinvest in higher-quality, more loyal new customers.”

$10 off your first Lyft ride!

Buckminster did not explain how the company would be able to distinguish between “gamers” and more steadfast customers who sign up for a new card. He did concede that the growing list of benefits offered by AmEx and Chase to new Platinum and Reserve cards currently constitutes a form of ”hand-to-hand combat” in the credit card industry – one that shows no signs of easing up.

Also at the conference, AmEx CEO Ken Chenault said: “What will be interesting to see not just with Chase but with other competitors is what happens when the short-term incentives are dried up …”

Hmmm. Does that mean that Amex is considering pulling back on generous sign up bonuses? Then how will it find new card members? Or get back those it’s lost to the Chase Sapphire Reserve card?

As we reported last week, American Express rolled out a 22% price increase along with a new round of rather tepid benefits for existing members of its Platinum card, so it will be interesting to watch what it does next.

Readers: What’s more important to you in a credit card: big sign up bonus, airline or hotel affiliation, or useful card benefits? Something else? Please leave your comments below. 

ICYMI, see the 25 most recent TravelSkills posts right here

In the market for a new credit card? See our “Credit Card Deals” tab to shop around! It helps us help you.

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Last chance for jaw-dropping 100,000 points bonus

Customs and Border Protection's Global Entry kiosks speed up the arrivals process. (Image: CBP)

My new Chase Reserve card will pay for my Global Entry renewal next year. Cha-ching! (Image: CBP)

Rumor has it that the uber-popular Chase Sapphire Reserve card will lose its tempting 100,000 point sign-up bonus after this Wednesday, January 12. So if you’ve been sitting on the fence about this one, now is the time to act. After January 12, the bonus drops to just 50,000 points.

Last fall, I signed up for the card right away, hit the $4,000 spend limit and how have 100,000 points in my Chase Ultimate Rewards account poised for redemption for my summer vacation… Hawaii? Italy? Peru? I can’t decide!

To get the bonus, scroll up to the top of this post and click on our Credit Card Deals tab, and look for the Chase Sapphire Reserve card. Get crackin’!

To refresh your memory about card benefits, here’s a re-do of our post from last fall when Chase first introduced the card…

You’ve been hiding under a rock if you’ve not heard all the hoo-hah about the new Chase Sapphire Reserve card by now. 

Chase introduced the new card last month and it now appears to be one of the most successful card launches ever. So successful in fact that the bank ran out of the plunky metal cards and is sending temporary plastic ones instead.

I’m not a credit card churner or gamer. When I get one, I typically hold on to it for years because I just don’t have the time to keep up with every new card bell or whistles that comes out. Right now, I have a total of five active credit cards (three in my wallet and two in my desk drawer).

Is it time for me to get another card? Yes. So, soon I will have six cards because I’ve just been approved for the new Chase Sapphire Reserve card. It’s that good.

Why did I get it? Here are five key reasons: 
Lounging around on a Korean Air A380 ICN-ATL (Chris McGinnis)

You can redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards points to lounge around on a Korean Air A380 (Chris McGinnis)

1> I can’t resist the 100,000 point sign up bonus. And those are 100,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points…one of the most valuable currencies out there because they can be redeemed or transferred with so many top shelf travel suppliers. (Such as United, Air France/KLM British Airways, Korean Air, Southwest, Hyatt, Intercontinental, and Marriott). With a 50% bonus for booking travel with Chase Ultimate Rewards, that 100,000 points translates into $1,500 in travel. Not bad!

2> Since I put all our household expenses on a single card, I’ll easily be able to reach the $4,000 dollar spend threshold within three months of getting the card– that’s just $1,333 per month.

Earn 3 points per dollar spent in dining out and travel (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Earn 3 points per dollar spent on dining out and travel (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

3> In our household, we spend a lot of money on travel and dining out— with the Reserve card, you get THREE points per dollar spent on those purchases. That’s significant. One downside is that you earn just one point per dollar spent on everything else.

4> I can afford the $450 annual fee (which is not waived in the first year). Chase makes it easy to swallow this bitter pill with an annual travel credit of $300. That brings the cost down to a still pricey, but easily digestible $150, especially when you consider what I’d pay for this card’s benefits. For example, my Global Entry card expires next year. With the Reserve card, Chase offers a $100 credit toward Global Entry or PreCheck. This card offers primary rental car protection and includes generous trip cancellation, delay and luggage insurance.

Bugles for snacks at the Star Alliance lounge at Barcelona El Prat airport (Chris McGinnis)

My new Reserve card provides access to 600 airport clubs, like the VIP Lounge at Barcelona El Prat Airport- which served bugles on my last visit! (Chris McGinnis)

5> It also provides access to hundreds of airline lounges in the US and abroad, saving me from having to pony up steep per-visit fees when I’m stuck at a faraway airport– and not flying business class.

So I’m convinced that this card works for me. What about you? 

ICYMI, see the 25 most recent TravelSkills posts right here

In the market for a new credit card? See our “Credit Card Deals” tab to shop around! It helps us help you!

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Marriott/Starwood’s big new bonus points promotion

The JW Marriott in Chicago's Loop. (Image: Marriott)

The JW Marriott in Chicago’s Loop. (Image: Marriott)

Members of the Marriott, Ritz-Carlton and Starwood loyalty programs can earn double points during an upcoming three-month period.

Following the recent announcement that members of Marriott Rewards, Ritz-Carlton Rewards and Starwood Preferred Guest can link their accounts to transfer points and get elite status matches, the merged hotel giant has come out with a new double points promotion that starts next month.

Holders of the SPG AmEx card can now earn points for spending at Marriott Hotels. (Image: American Express)

(Image: American Express)

The double points offer applies for the member’s first three stays in the Starwood program and in either Marriott Rewards or Ritz-Carlton Rewards at participating hotels from January 16 through April 15 of next year.  So it’s good for a maximum of six nights total across two loyalty programs.

Participants can register from now through March 15; you can find links to the bonus point registration for each of the three programs here.

Two months ago, Marriott announced a link between the co-branded credit cards of its hotel companies, with holders of Starwood Preferred Guest’s American Express cards earning two Starpoints per dollar spent at hotels in the Marriott Rewards program, and holders of the Marriott Rewards Chase and Ritz-Carlton Rewards JP Morgan credit cards earning five points per dollar spent at SPG member properties.

ICYMI, see the 25 most recent TravelSkills posts right here

In the market for a new credit card? See our “Credit Card Deals” tab to shop around! It helps us help you!

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Routes: Delta, United, Alaska, Southwest, Spirit

The interior of Delta's new Airbus A321. (Image; Delta)

The interior of Delta’s new Airbus A321. (Image; Delta)

In domestic route developments, Delta will put new aircraft types on routes to San Francisco, Portland and San Diego; Alaska adds a couple of transcontinental markets; Southwest grows at Austin and Denver; and Spirit jumps into four Ohio-Florida markets.

Delta this year started to take delivery of new Airbus A321s, and according to Routesonline.com, customers in San Francisco and Portland will start to see them in 2017. The site said Delta’s advance schedule shows the new plane being introduced on a few of its many San Francisco-Atlanta flights starting in early March, and replacing the 737-900ER on its Portland-Detroit service starting in June. Delta said the A321s will feature big, pivoting overhead bins; next-generation seats in all three seating categories; large entertainment screens; USB and power ports; and LED lighting that changes with the phase of flight. (The A321 is the plane that seems to be replacing the aging Boeing 757, which is no longer being made.)

Meanwhile, following the recent news that JetBlue plans to extend its front-cabin Mint service onto the New York-San Diego route next August, thepointsguy.com reports that Delta apparently will be putting a 757 with front-cabin lie-flat seats onto one daily flight in the same market effective in June 2017. (Update: Airlineroute.net tells us that Delta had this aircraft on a SAN-JFK flight this past summer as well.) It’s the same aircraft type Delta uses for the lucrative JFK-San Francisco/Los Angeles routes. JetBlue has embarked on a long-term expansion of Mint service onto more transcon routes. Similarly, United has deployed a couple widebody B777-200s on SFO-BOS (but with standard first, not lie-flat) to take on JetBlue’s Mint expansion.

screen-shot-2016-11-16-at-10-49-35-am

Alaska Airlines 737 New Livery

Alaska Airlines is adding more transcontinental flights. (Image: Alaska Air)

Speaking of San Diego and transcontinental routes, Alaska Airlines just announced a new one: The carrier said it will begin daily roundtrips between San Diego and Baltimore/Washington International starting March 15. The eastbound leg will be a red-eye. Alaska already flies to BWI from Los Angeles and Seattle, and its other San Diego transcons include Boston, Orlando, and new service to Newark starting next week. Last week, Alaska also kicked off a new daily roundtrip between Portland and Newark. Next spring, Alaska will start San Jose-Newark service as well. In other news, Alaska just began weekly seasonal service on Saturdays between Bellingham, Washington and Kona, Hawaii.

Southwest Airlines will begin new service on March 13 linking Kansas City with Austin, offering one daily roundtrip. Southwest also plans to expand its limited service between Denver and Albany, N.Y. The airline currently flies that route on weekends only, and just on a seasonal basis, but on April 25 it will make Denver-Albany a year-round route with daily flights.

Spirit Airlines has added Ohio’s Akron-Canton Airport as the newest dot on its route map. Last week, Spirit launched daily flights from Akron-Canton to Orlando, Tampa, Ft. Lauderdale and Ft. Myers. The Tampa and Ft. Myers routes will be seasonal only. Next spring, Spirit will add seasonal flights from Akron-Canton to Myrtle Beach and year-round service to Las Vegas.

ICYMI, see the 25 most recent TravelSkills posts right here

In the market for a new credit card? See our “Credit Card Deals” tab to shop around! It helps us help you!

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These two Virgins are splitting up

Virgin Atlantic is one of several carriers putting 787 Dreamliners onto Bay Area routes. (Image: Virgin)

Virgin Atlantic flies 787 Dreamliners on its San Francisco route. (Image: Virgin Atlantic)

Are you a member of Virgin America’s Elevate loyalty program hoping to book an award flight on partner Virgin Atlantic? Then you better act fast – really fast.

Virgin America said on its website that the two airlines “will be sunsetting their frequent flyer partnership on November 13, 2016.” The last date for Elevate members to claim award travel on Virgin Atlantic with Elevate points is November 12, following the usual booking procedure.

And Elevate members will no longer earn points for travel on Virgin Atlantic after November 12.

“Virgin America will continue to offer a range of other airline partners through the Elevate program, including Virgin Australia, Hawaiian Airlines, Singapore Airlines and Emirates,” the company said.

Why the split-up? Virgin America said Virgin Atlantic “is introducing some changes to its loyalty program, and due to technical limitations, the Elevate program will no longer be compatible with (Virgin Atlantic’s) Flying Club once Virgin Atlantic upgrades the back end of its program on November 13.”

Of course, other factors could be in play as well. Barring government intervention, Virgin America is about to be acquired by Alaska Airlines. Alaska Airlines is involved in a major market share battle at its Seattle hub with Delta Air Lines. Delta Air Lines is the owner of a 49 percent stake in Virgin Atlantic. Connect the dots.

ICYMI, see the 25 most recent TravelSkills posts right here

In the market for a new credit card? See our “Credit Card Deals” tab to shop around! It helps us help you! 

Don’t miss out! Join the 150,000+ people who read TravelSkills every month! Sign up here for one email-per-day updates!

 

 


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Most popular: Longest flight + California airlines + Best credit card + New lounge + Qantas

Chris McGinnis

Chris excited and looking fresh before this week’s 17-hour flight from SFO to Singapore- and back in just 4 days (Photo: Charles Schuler)

TravelSkills’ 10 most popular posts over the last week (descending order):

1 17 moments in 17 hours on Singapore Airlines Airbus A350Weekend Edition

2 Singapore Air opens up about longest nonstop

3 Routes: United at San Jose + Delta, JetBlue, American, Virgin America

4 Trip Report: The long flight home SIN-SFO

JetSuiteX

The JetSuiteX Terminal at Concord, CA, east of SF- a nice break from the craziness at OAK or SFO! (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

5 Big news at two small California airlines

6 First look: LAX’s fancy new Terminal 6 (photos)

7 9 key phrases every traveler should know

8 How to choose the best travel credit card

National pop up lounge

National is installing free popup lounges with wifi like this one at Washington Dulles (Photo: Jeff Pearce)

9 Airports: Screening upgrades, Oakland lounge, National Car pop-ups + more

10 A new look & feel for Qantas

What do flight attendants love most about SFO? A fun new promotional video from San Francisco International Airport, introduced by Tony Bennett, offers personal accounts from flight attendants representing a number of airlines about the interesting things to see and do at the airport. See video What do you love most about SFO? Leave your comments below.

Links to stories from other sources that we thought you’d like to read:

US State Department orders departure of family members at Istanbul consulate

DOT: Average U.S. air fares down almost 10 percent year over year

Got 2.5 million SkyMiles to burn? You can fly Delta Private Jets

(Image: Delta News Hub)

Use your SkyMiles for a ride on a private jet? Yep. (Image: Delta News Hub)

Southwest eyes new fees, but not for bags or ticket changes

JetBlue introduces fancy new amenity kits for Mint cabin passengers

Air India re-routes its SFO-DEL nonstop

Air India's first flight from New Delhi arrived at SFO before dawn. (Image: Peter Biaggi)

Air India’s flight path has changed (Image: Peter Biaggi)

Lowest airfares since 2009

Latest on Alaska-Virgin deal: Close, but still, no cigar

Delta app enhancement lets users follow their checked bags

Want to find your Uber rating? Here’s how

United introduces improved earbuds for economy passengers

AA/BA partner Iberia will get on board with premium economy seating next year

U.K. government backs plan to build a third runway at London Heathrow

Austrian Airlines promises instant replies to customer queries via Facebook Messenger

14 new Boeing 747-8 aircraft ordered, but you’ll never get to fly on one

(Photo: Brandon Farris)

Does that flagged winglet look familiar? (Photo: Brandon Farris)

Alaska Airlines reveals new military inspired special livery

This week Alaska Airlines revealed a new paint job, or livery, on a new 737-900ER. At first glance, that American flag wingtip may look like a move to integrate Virgin America design elements (see its flagged winglet here)  into the look of Alaska Airlines, but it’s part of a new initiative called “Alaska Airlines Salutes,” to support and honor those who serve. The design features an Alaska Airlines Salutes medallion and a fallen soldier badge, with the Battlefield Cross to honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. The plane also features five rings surrounding the engine, representative of the five branches of the United States military, and American flag winglets.

Don’t miss out on these popular TravelSkills posts:

Kicking support animals off planes | Shocked passenger refuses to pay $3 for water | Marriott-Starwood: Higher prices, better rewards | The 10,000 points question! | Eye-catching maps explain state of the world | Test your planespotting skills!

In the market for a new credit card?

Wallet credit cards

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Most popular: NYC/SF warning | Cool maps | Doomed jumbos | Credit card question | New SkyClub

DONT MISS! The 100,000 points question!

New Triplex Suites atop the New York Palace hotel have huge outdoor decks w Jacuzzis (Chris McGinnis)

Triplex Suites atop the New York Palace hotel have huge outdoor decks w Jacuzzis. Sweet! But I’m not sure if this is where the President stays. (Chris McGinnis)

Obama

President Obama (Photo: Wikimedia)

Fair warning for New York or San Francisco bound travelers this week: Beware of traffic, sold out restaurants and hotels, long waits for taxis and Uber/Lyft surge pricing. Why? In New York, blame the meeting of the UN General Assembly (which will include a Sunday-Wednesday visit and address by President Obama, which makes traffic even worse). As we’ve reported here on TravelSkills, the President now stays at the Lotte New York Palace hotel (Madison and 50th) which means near constant gridlock in that part of town. When we checked, the few rooms left at the Marriott Marquis on Times Square were running $754 per night. Layer on the additional security in the city due to this past weekend’s bombings, and you have a recipe for for some big travel headaches.

In San Francisco, blame the huge Oracle Open World Conference this week, which fills the city and airports to the gills with techies- and everything is overpriced. Both Sting and Gwen Stefani will have private concerts for attendees. Airports (and airfares) will be most crazy on Sunday (start) and Thursday (end). Hotels are mostly full, but what’s left over is overpriced– like the handful of rooms left at the Hilton Financial District going for $600 per night. Also, since so many attendees extend their visits, both weekends will be pretty crazy. And a reservation at a top SF restaurant? Feggedaboudit! And it’s not over yet! The even larger Dreamforce 2016 conference packs the city similarly– It runs Tuesday Oct 4 – Friday Oct 7, and includes a concert by U2!

Headed to SF? Here are 8 Mistakes Every Traveler Must Avoid in San Francisco!

TravelSkills’ 10 most popular posts over the last week (descending order):

1 Gotta see this: Eye-catching maps explain the state of the world

2 A new way to London: Trip Report: British Airways 787 Dreamliner San Jose-LondonWeekend Edition

3 Bummer! Are double-decker jumbo jets doomed?

4 Comments say “yes!” Would you fly a 737 transatlantic for $69?

5 Routes: AA, Air India, Cathay, WOW, Air Canada, Royal Air Maroc + more

6 Airport news: LaGuardia, Atlanta, Heathrow, Chicago Midway, Nashville

7 And the answer is… The 100,000 points question

Gorgeous light thru new stained glass inside the Sagrada Familia Cathedral in Barcelona (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Gorgeous light in Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia Cathedral. A must-see on any trip to Barcelona, even if you’ve seen it before- because it’s always changing (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

8 New nonstop to Spain Bay Area to Barcelona, nonstop, $199 + more low fares to Europe

9 More than a facelift in La-La Land: An amazing upgrade for LAX- in pictures

10 Most drink more on trips than at home Are you a boozy traveler? 

Last year CNN dropped by for some advice about traveling to the Bay Area– see this video to find out what Chris had to say.

Links to stories from other sources that we thought you’d like to read:

Details on Delta’s new SkyClub at ATL Concourse B

Another VERY easy 500 points from Virgin America

Apple headphone changes: a problem for airline inflight entertainment

American Airlines Assisted ‘Sully,’ But Won’t Show the Movie on Its Planes

Cathay Pacific pilot attempts round-the-world flight in home-made plane

The spa at Virgin Atlantic's London Heathrow Clubhouse (Photo: Josh Friedman)

The spa at Virgin Atlantic’s London Heathrow Clubhouse (Photo: Josh Friedman)

There’s a downside to Delta’s consolidation at London Heathrow T3

New Delta CEO has a vision for Salt Lake City hub

UberX Lyft make progress at ATL, but legal rides still months off 

American starts renovating cabins of its international 757-200s

Southwest Airlines

Southwest Airlines specialty aircraft, named Missouri One—a Boeing 737-700, in Kansas City, Mo. (Photo: Ashlee Duncan, Southwest Airlines)

Southwest Rewards elites can now fly standby for same-day flights

Uber tests self-driving  cars in Pittsburgh

Hyatt rebrands three of its U.S. properties as Hyatt Centrics

Chris McGinnis water Lake Tahoe

Do you follow Chris on Instagram? Come on! CLICK THE PIC. It’s fun! (Photo at Lake Tahoe)

DONT MISS! The 100,000 points question!

Don’t miss out on these popular TravelSkills posts! Shocked passenger refuses to pay $3 for water | More Delta SkyMiles for Asian trips | Tips from a Hawaiian Vacation | JetBlue-Delta slugfest means lower fares | Test your planespotting skills! )

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The 100,000 points question

 

Customs and Border Protection's Global Entry kiosks speed up the arrivals process. (Image: CBP)

My new Chase Reserve card will pay for my Global Entry renewal next year. Cha-ching! (Image: CBP)

You’ve been hiding under a rock if you’ve not heard all the hoo-hah about the new Chase Sapphire Reserve card by now. (Or maybe you’ve just taken a sabbatical 😉 ) 

Chase introduced the new card last month and it now appears to be one of the most successful card launches ever. So successful in fact that the bank ran out of the plunky metal cards and is sending temporary plastic ones instead.

I’m not a credit card churner or gamer. When I get one, I typically hold on to it for years because I just don’t have the time to keep up with every new card bell or whistles that comes out. Right now, I have a total of five active credit cards (three in my wallet and two in my desk drawer).

Is it time for me to get another card? Yes. So, soon I will have six cards because I’ve just been approved for the new Chase Sapphire Reserve card. It’s that good.

Why did I get it? Here are five key reasons: 
Lounging around on a Korean Air A380 ICN-ATL (Chris McGinnis)

You can redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards points to lounge around on a Korean Air A380 (Chris McGinnis)

1> I can’t resist the 100,000 point sign up bonus. And those are 100,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points…one of the most valuable currencies out there because they can be redeemed or transferred with so many top shelf travel suppliers. (Such as United, Air France/KLM British Airways, Korean Air, Southwest, Hyatt, Intercontinental, and Marriott). With a 50% bonus for booking travel with Chase Ultimate Rewards, that 100,000 points translates into $1,500 in travel. Not bad!

2> Since I put all our household expenses on a single card, I’ll easily be able to reach the $4,000 dollar spend threshold within three months of getting the card– that’s just $1,333 per month.

Earn 3 points per dollar spent in dining out and travel (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Earn 3 points per dollar spent on dining out and travel (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

3> In our household, we spend a lot of money on travel and dining out— with the Reserve card, you get THREE points per dollar spent on those purchases. That’s significant. One downside is that you earn just one point per dollar spent on everything else.

4> I can afford the $450 annual fee (which is not waived in the first year). Chase makes it easy to swallow this bitter pill with an annual travel credit of $300. That brings the cost down to a still pricey, but easily digestible $150, especially when you consider what I’d pay for this card’s benefits. For example, my Global Entry card expires next year. With the Reserve card, Chase offers a $100 credit toward Global Entry or PreCheck. This card offers primary rental car protection and includes generous trip cancellation, delay and luggage insurance.

Bugles for snacks at the Star Alliance lounge at Barcelona El Prat airport (Chris McGinnis)

My new Reserve card provides access to 600 airport clubs, like the VIP Lounge at Barcelona El Prat Airport- which served bugles on my last visit! (Chris McGinnis)

5> It also provides access to hundreds of airline lounges in the US and abroad, saving me from having to pony up steep per-visit fees when I’m stuck at a faraway airport– and not flying business class.

So I’m convinced that this card works for me. What about you? 

Don’t miss out on these popular TravelSkills posts! Shocked passenger refuses to pay $3 for water | More Delta SkyMiles for Asian trips | Tips from a Hawaiian Vacation | JetBlue-Delta slugfest means lower fares | Test your planespotting skills! )

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6 things about JetBlue + New credit card

All of JetBlue's A320s (pictured) and some A321s will get new seats and improved technology. (Image: JetBlue)

JetBlue’s big on the east coast, but less well known out west, or in Atlanta (Image: JetBlue)

A few things you may not know about NYC-based JetBlue, which just last month turned 16 years old and is now the fifth largest carrier in the U.S. Plus, it just added a new credit card (scroll down for details).

The biggest U.S. city that JetBlue does NOT serve is Atlanta. It jumped in the ATL-JFK market briefly, from May to December of 2003, but quickly retreated after a crippling fare war with Delta and AirTran. It’s never tried going back.

Even though it’s based in NYC, JetBlue is the largest carrier on TWO Caribbean islands: Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. It was the largest carrier in the Caribbean until American and US Airways merged last year.

JetBlue now flies to THREE countries in South America: It just launched new flights between Ft Lauderdale and Quito, Ecuador, in addition to existing flights to Peru and Colombia.

See JetBlue’s extensive route map here.

JetBlue will add more Mint flights on transcon routes this fall. (Image: JetBlue)

JetBlue will add more lie-flat business class Mint flights on transcon routes from SFO. (Image: JetBlue)

Starting March 24 JetBlue will offer its outstanding lie-flat Mint business class product on those looong 6-hour SFO-Boston flights, which until now has only been available on flights to its JFK hub. See TravelSkills Mint class Trip Report here. Fares for Mint started as low as $986 round trip— below the $1,o00 threshold which is a screaming deal for front-of-the-plane transcon flying. Introduction of MINT will be staggered between now and October, so be sure to choose the Mint flight (among JetBlue’s three flights per day to BOS).

JetBlue is bigger in the Bay Area than you might think. From SFO, it flies nonstop to Long Beach, Las Vegas, Ft Lauderdale, New York and Boston. From San Jose, it offers nonstops to Boston and New York. And from Oakland, it flies nonstop to New York, Boston (summer only) and Long Beach. (And it even flies to nearby Sacramento and Reno.)

This month, JetBlue launched new credit cards – switching from American Express to Barclaycard. For consumers, there’s the basic JetBlue Card, and the more lucrative JetBlue Plus Card. I’d go for the Plus Card, which is currently offering 30,000 points if you spend $1,000 in the first 90 days with a fee of $99 per year. Its basic card is not bad, either, offering 10,000 bonus points if you spend $1,000 in the first 30 days, plus no annual fee. Also good: no foreign transaction fees and Barclaycards offer true chip & PIN instead of the less useful chip & signature technology offered by other cards.

Have you ever flown JetBlue? Would you? What did you think? Please leave your comments below.

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about:  Should I tip my Uber driver? + Boeing 747 nearing its end? + Bargain hunters travel guide for 2016 + World’s best airline lounge? + Fares to Europe tumble 

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Paying more pays off during holiday peak

Busiest holiday travel season since 2007 coming soon! (Chris McGinnis)

Busiest holiday travel season since 2007 is here! Are you ready? (Chris McGinnis)

During the peak holiday travel season, everyone’s looking for a deal or a steal. But the truth of the matter is that bargains are nearly impossible to find during the busy Thanksgiving and Christmas season.

And if you snag what you think is a great deal, you might end up “getting what you pay for.”

As a matter of fact, paying a little more at this time of year usually translates into more peace of mind, more quality time with friends or family, and the increased likelihood of a low-hassle trip home for the holidays…. which is what we all want.

Here are six examples to illustrate what I mean:

1> Take a nonstop flight. While you might be tempted by the price of a one-stop flight, by choosing one, you are increasing your chances of a delay or cancellation by 100%! Why take that chance, especially if you are headed home for just a few days, and a delayed or canceled flight could spoil the entire trip?

Cost: $50 to $200 depending on flight length

Example: Flying during peak Christmas week between San Francisco and Atlanta, you’ll currently pay $781 roundtrip for a six-hour one-stop journey on American connecting in Dallas or Chicago. On the other hand, fly four hours nonstop on Delta or United and the fare is $820- just $39 more. Worth it to fly nonstop? I think so. (Fares checked Nov 23 for flights departing Dec 23, returning Dec 27 and are subject to change.)

Delta's roomier Economy Comfort seat now on SFO-JFK2>Book roomier airline seats. While you can always pay a lot more to sit in first class, you can now pay a little bit more, and get a more comfortable coach seat. During the busy, crowded holidays, that’s money well spent. While getting a few extra inches of room always helps, the real benefit of paying for a better economy seat is that you usually get to board early—with elite level flyers—which means you get first dibs on scarce overhead bin space.

Cost: Varies based on carrier and flight duration– $10-$100 per segment

Example: I frequently take advantage of last minute upgrades to Virgin America’s Main Cabin Select seats, which offer a few extra inches of legroom at exit rows and bulkheads, free in-flight food and booze, dedicated bin space and early boarding privileges. While reserving a Main Cabin Select seat in advance can be expensive, cheaper last-minute upgrades (24 hours prior to flight) can make a good flight a great one. While your elite status can help land free upgrade, it’s not always a sure thing, so consider buying them ahead of time at this time of year– see American’s Main Cabin Extra, Delta’s Comfort+, United’s Economy Plus.

3> Stay at a hotel. Why burden the in-laws with the stress of houseguests during the already stressful holidays? Instead of bunking on that lumpy sofa bed or stuffy guest room, book a nearby hotel. Tip: Due to lack of demand from business travelers, most hotels are dirt-cheap during the holidays, especially those located in suburban office parks. Plus, hotel chains use their loyalty programs to keep heads in beds during these slower periods. For example, Best Western is offering 10% off its lowest rates plus 500 bonus Rewards points for stays now through Feb 7. Hilton is now offering 2,500 HHonors points for stays during December.

Cost: $50 to $100 per night, depending on location.

Example: A nice, newish Hilton Garden Inn in the northern Atlanta suburbs (Perimeter Mall) costs only $66 per night during Christmas week—but book it two months later  in March when business travelers are back on the road and you’ll pay nearly three times that much– $180.

4> Review your charge card benefits & consider a new card.  Most banks have added a slew of new benefits to charge cards in recent years to woo free-spending, credit-worthy frequent travelers, so you might be packing more power in your pocket than you know. While annual fees are higher for such cards, many now offer benefits that come in handy for holiday travel such as waived baggage fees, access to airport lounges, better insurance, early boarding privileges, early check in/late check out or upgrades at hotels, concierge services and more. And with sign up bonuses, your holiday spending could translate into big savings on next year’s trips.

Cost: varies, but $89 to $450 per year

Examples: While the American Express Platinum card sounds expensive at $450/year, the benefits can pay off big time. For example, the card gets you out of the airport holiday mayhem and into 600 airport lounges (gratis) around the world, covers up to $200 airline fees from checked bags to in-flight food or cocktails. For a $95 fee, the United MileagePlus Explorer card offers early boarding, one free checked bag, and two United Club passes. Many high-end cards also offer concierge services that can help get you out of travel jams—worth a call if you get stuck!

(Photo: Uber)

Don’t ask friends or family to pick you up at the airport (Photo: Uber)

5> Use Uber/Lyft to/from the airport or consider public transportation.  There are lots of reasons why you should use a car service for a ride to or from the airport during the holidays. First, don’t burden friends or family with the chore of driving to the airport during rush hour traffic to pick you up or drop you off. Second, when arriving, you walk straight to your waiting car instead of waiting in those long, cold taxi queues at airports that form during peak holiday season. Flying into an airport that has rapid rail connections in house? Jump on the train and meet your family at a station instead of at the crowded airport.

Cost: UberX and Lyft offer fares that meet or beat cabs, but beware of surge pricing at peak times. Here’s some advice on beating surge pricing.

Deal: Get $20 off your first Uber or Lyft rides 

6> Book holiday trips via a real, live travel agents. Most budget-conscious travelers shy away from travel agents who charge fees. But as the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) likes to say, “Without a travel agent, you’re on your own.” Most travel agents can use their experience, connections and clout to help get you out of sticky situations, plus most of them have knowledge and experience to offer you the best alternatives when or if you get stuck. This is especially true if you have complex itineraries or are traveling with a large family or group.

Cost: $20-$50 or negotiable

Example: ASTA’s motto surely rang true recently when winter storm Cato blew up the East Coast on Thanksgiving last year. Most of those who booked trips via travel agents were able to get through to them by phone and adjust travel plans faster than those who only had airline 800-numbers. (Note: Be sure the travel agent you choose has an after hours emergency number.) Another tip: Be sure to download your airline’s app to your smartphone, most can now help with rebooking and avoid standing in a long airport line lines during delay or cancellation situations.

Chris doled out some holiday travel tips to Fox Business News this week- watch this video 

Where are YOU headed for the holidays? Please leave your comments below.

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: 5 ways to save using Uber/Lyft  + New overseas plan from Verizon + Trans-Pac fare war?

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New ATL-Bay Area flight + SIA trip report + Global Entry + Airfares fall

New Southwest Airlines nonstop flights between Atlanta and Oakland start today (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

New Southwest Airlines nonstop service between Atlanta and Oakland starts today (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Today Southwest Airlines begins new nonstop service between Oakland and Atlanta. The Boeing 737-700 flight departs OAK at 12:25 pm arriving in Atlanta four and a half hours later at 7:55 pm. The flight to Oakland departs Atlanta at 8:35 am and arrives at 11:10 am. Southwest no longer flies nonstop between SFO and ATL leaving the route to Delta and United. Will Virgin America move in? See below…

TravelSkills’ 10 most popular posts over the last week (descending order):

1 Gotta see this: Trip Report: Singapore Airlines’ NEW business class [PHOTOS]

2 Airline updates: Alaska Air’s new partner + United trims Mideast + Lufthansa Denver + London

3 Shorter lines, please! Global Entry gets more global

4 We see the future: Stunning new airport designs: FRA, SLC, PDX (images)Weekend Edition

5 Airport expansion: How to unclog Chicago O’Hare

6 New routes: New Southwest routes + Virgin expands at Dallas + Alaska, AA add more

7 A war of words: Delta dumps Dubai, blasts Mideast carriers

8 Great reader comments here: Want more business trips?

9 Nothing official yet, but Will Hyatt buy Starwood?

10 Most readers want New Orleans Where will Virgin America fly next?

Did you choose a custom background yet?

Did you choose a custom background yet?

Did you know that you can choose the background on the new United. com website? I chose “random for each visit.” Which one did you pick? And what do you think about the new site? Leave your comments below!

A few newsy nuggets from other sources that we missed on TravelSkills this week:

Here’s an inside look at how United prepares in-flight meals.

New carry-on bag design has link to phone, Wi-Fi, battery pack, USB port and more

JetBlue will introduce a new co-branded credit card in 2016.

United expands code-sharing with Brazil’s Azul.

Airfares coming down slightly. Here’s why

FlyteNow, the Uber of private aviation, fighting court order

The real reason Delta dumped Dubai

Why federal air marshals should be grounded

Parking at ATL will be a hassle for next 8-10 years!

Delta to exit big airline trade group

United losing momentum due to C-suite drama?

Delta vs United in New York City

Lyft beats Uber to the airport in Las Vegas 

Get your flu shot at the airport- multiple locations 

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: Global Entry gets more global + New York’s lowest ranked hotels +Best/worst hotel programs for awards + More flat seats

twitter-floowmeDo you follow us on Twitter? It’s a great way to keep up with the latest news!

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The 3 most spectacular Hong Kong hotels (SLIDESHOW)

Chris in a window seat at the Ritz-Carlton overlooking typhoon swept Hong Kong (Photo: B Dean)

Chris in a 113th floor window seat at the Ritz-Carlton overlooking typhoon-swept Hong Kong (Photo: B Dean)

Hong Kong is a city awash in gorgeous hotels that are woven deeply into the local culture and the business travel experience.

But only a handful of Hong Kong hotels are truly spectacular.

On a recent trip across the Pacific, I set out to determine which ones were the most spectacular, and settled on these three for a variety of reasons.

Check them out! (In alphabetical order…)

InterContinental Hong Kong

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The InterContinental Hong Kong is not one of the newest hotels in town, but this jewel remains one of the most spectacular for several reasons. First, of course, is the view you get when entering the lobby or your hotel room. The InterCon has one of the most unusual locations in the city– two-thirds of it rests on pylons and seemingly floats on the waves of Hong Kong’s glamorous and bustling Victoria Harbour. Those over-water views are what sets the InterCon apart from other hotels– at this hotel, you can look out your window and see the captain steering a megaship through the busy harbour, passengers’ faces on the nearby Star Ferry, or the red sails of the Chinese junks offering tours. And since it is on the Kowloon side, you look out to the full sweep of the shimmering Hong Kong skyline, which is especially exciting each evening at 8 pm when nearly all the buildings engage in a mind-blowing, 13-minute light show.

Aside from the views, the InterCon is spectacular in the way that it has kept up with the times. It opened in 1980 as the Regent, and owners have continually updated it so it always feels nearly new. (Over the years, I’ve stayed here at least 3-4 times, and I’ve noticed!) Most recently, the dramatic lobby was revamped and modernized to capitalize on that gorgeous view. Plus, over the years, the hotel has attracted some of the best restaurants in town for entertaining clients. When I was there, we dined at Yan Toh Heen, the city’s most exquisite Cantonese restaurant so fine that it’s garnered TWO Michelin stars. (Get the Beijing duck!) There’s also the clubby Michelin-starred Steak House which sports the only charcoal grill in the city. There’s an outpost of Nobu for the sushi set. Alain Ducasse has his famous Spoon restaurant- with yet another Michelin star. And its Harbourside restaurant offers one of the most elaborate international buffets in the city– I’ve never seen anything like it. Talk about spectacular! (See photo above.)

Rates at the 503-room, 17-story InterCon start at about US$400 per night. Business travelers should consider getting a package that includes access to its gigantic Club InterContinental business lounge, with daily buffets, a full bar, wi-fi, meeting rooms and just a quiet place to sit and gaze out at the harbour.

And the InterContinental Hong Kong is now poised to get even better– earlier this year, the hotel sold for a record US$929 million dollars, and new owners have grand plans to make even further renovations starting in 2017– so keep an eye on this spectacular Hong Kong hotel.

 

The Ritz-Carlton

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A stay at the 312-room Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong is like like floating through the city’s subtropical clouds on a luxury cruise ship. You are removed from the hustle, bustle and grit of the city, and have nearly everything at your fingertips– several restaurants (including some of the city’s most popular- see photos above), an unworldly blue pool and gym with views, access to outdoor terraces (at almost 1,600 feet!), a popular bar/club, and easy indoor access to public transport and the express train to the airport.

Nearly everything about this hotel (opened in 2011) is spectacular, but it’s probably best known for being “the world’s highest hotel.” While that may sound like the someone’s been hitting the wacky weed 🙂 , it gets the title due to the fact that it occupies only the top floors (102-118) of Hong Kong’s towering ICC building. The title of the world’s tallest hotel is held by the JW Marriott Marquis in Dubai, since the hotel occupies the entire building.

When we arrived at the Ritz, the edge of Typhoon Mujigae was whipping the city with rain and wind, which meant the hotel had to slow down the elevators, so an ascent that should have taken quick 53 seconds took 2-3 minutes. When I got off in the lobby on Floor 103, rain pelted the huge floor-to-ceiling windows like rain on a car windshield. Well trained and solicitous staff apologized for the weather and directed me to the Club level lounge where check in was completed and I got the keys to a deluxe king room on the 113th floor. (See photo) Rooms are super luxe and well appointed with Nespresso machines, free wi-fi, big marble bathrooms, and of course, there’s not a bad view in the house!

When a typhoon is in town, there’s not a better place to be than the Ritz– it’s a self contained cocoon in the sky with plenty to see and do indoors. In my case, I enjoyed some wine and the six daily spreads laid out in the Club level lounge. As in most Ritz Carlton club levels, these buffets are nearly full meals– perfect for solo travelers who don’t feel like sitting alone in the hotels’ busy restaurants, or those nearby in Kowloon. I took a self guided tour of the unbelievably blue pool area– regrettably, the hotel had restricted access to the outdoor hot tub due to the high winds, so I never made it outside. I enjoyed an excellent scalp & neck massage ($100) from a friendly Nepalese therapist at the hotel spa, which helped pass the time and ease my jet lag.  I also took a stroll through the adjacent Elements Mall and took a peek at the neighboring W Hong Kong. Alas, I never made it up to Ozone, the super hot bar and lounge on the top floor of the tower.

After five days in Hong Kong, I was growing weary of dim sum and won ton soup, so I opted for lunch with a colleague at Tosca, the hotel’s Michelin-starred Italian restaurant. Instead of ordering off the menu, we asked chef Pino Lavarra to impress us with a few light bites, which were outstanding, including his signature roasted langoustine with crab cookie (see photo).

That night during a break in the downpours, I decided get outside, so descended and picked up a house car (one of two shiny Teslas, natch!) for a 10-minute ride over to central Kowloon for dinner at the neighborhoody Spring Deer– a Beijing-style restaurant known for its Peking Duck- but I liked its signature shredded spicy dried beef better!

On my last day in Hong Kong, I capitalized on one the the Ritz-Carlton’s key features: the location atop the sprawling Kowloon MTR station. In the morning I jumped on a subway and rode under the harbour to Central Hong Kong, where I was able to walk through the city’s web of covered walkways, tunnels and shopping malls to stay dry and get to my appointments. After that it was back to the hotel to pick up my bags, and head back down to the same station for the quick and easy one-stop ride on the MTR Airport Express ($13) to Hong Kong International Airport for the flight home.

Rates at the Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong start at about US$550 per night.

 

The Upper House

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Hugh Jackman checked out of The Upper House on the day before I checked in, and the hotel was still filled with star-struck employees who only grudgingly revealed that he’d actually stayed there on a recent trip to Hong Kong. It’s that type of discretion that has kept movie stars and moguls coming back to this quiet, 117-room boutique style hotel perched on the upper floors of a nondescript Hong Kong skyscraper since it opened in 2009. (Location: A few blocks east of Central Hong Kong, adjacent to the sprawling Pacific Place complex)

The Upper House is most spectacular for what it’s not. In a city of big flashy hotels begging for attention, this elegant hideaway hotel remains classy, low-key, and off-the-radar of most travelers…and that’s a good thing. TripAdvisor currently ranks the Upper House as Hong Kong’s #1 hotel.

When I booked my stay at the Upper House, the hotel offered to send one of its two Lexus hybrid house cars to fetch me at the airport, which is about 40 minutes away. The first sign that this hotel knows what business travelers want? As soon as I sat down, the driver offered a bottle of water and informed me that the car had wi-fi and provided the password– just what I needed after a 14 hour flight from San Francisco– an opportunity to clear out my bulging email box without getting dinged for data by Verizon.

Unlike Hong Kong’s grand hotels, there is no lobby at the Upper House. Cars arrive under the hotel’s “stone curtain” entrance to a “floating light box” (see photos above) on the ground floor. There, attendants greet arriving guests and usher them to their rooms, processing check-in details on an iPad on the way up. (Rates start in the US$650 range)

The Upper House occupies the top (38-49) floors of this building (a JW Marriott is below). Hallways face a sunlit interior atrium sheathed in the same blonde oak, bamboo and limestone that you’ll find in the rooms. The serenity the minimalist design of the rooms is in stark contrast to the riveting views out floor-to-ceiling windows of nearby skyscrapers, verdant mountains and the humming harbour.

Another thing that separates this hotel from others is space– standard rooms start out at a generous 730 square feet (the largest in the city). Suites measure 1,230 and the its two penthouses offer a roomy 1,960 square feet. In addition to all that space, guests enjoy free wi-fi, a free mini bar (snacks, juices, beer), and an espresso machine.

After a long flight, the first thing you’ll likely want to do (and exactly what I did) is to take a luxurious soak in each room’s glamorous tub (see photos), and gaze out at soaring birds, or peer into neighboring skyscrapers. But be careful, those in neighboring skyscrapers can peer in on you, too, per the cheeky warnings posted on bathroom window sills. (Push a button on the handheld remote to lower blinds.)

Since there’s no ground-floor lobby at the Upper House, the hotel’s social center is on the top (49th) floor where you’ll rub elbows with hotel guests and well-heeled locals at the posh and popular Cafe Gray Deluxe restaurant and bar, or across the skybridge at the hotel’s more subdued Sky Lounge. If you are the type of traveler who thrives on a busy lobby scene, don’t fret–  check out what’s happening in the lively lobbies at the adjacent JW Marriott, or across the street at the enormous Island Shangri-La or Conrad hotels.

Dining at Cafe Gray Deluxe is a must– in the morning, it’s a hot spot for power breakfasts among the bespoke-suited-set. (Don’t miss: Dim Sum or smoked salmon from Tasmania. See photo) At night, its European-inspired menu attracts a big crowd (reservations are a must), but try to get there early to interact with a festive, friendly crowd of locals and expats gathered at the bar to peer out at the view and enjoy a deep menu of special cocktails.

The Upper House is owned by Hong Kong conglomerate Swire, and is part of its House Collective, which includes the Opposite House in Beijing and the brand new Temple House in Chengdu, China. Swire also owns Cathay Pacific Airways.

Have you been to Hong Kong lately? What’s your favorite hotel there? Which one is most spectacular to you? 

–Chris McGinnis

Disclosures: I was a guest of a hotel executive for dinner at the InterCon’s Yan Toh Heen. I paid travel industry rates at the Ritz (total bill was US$586 for 2 nights) and Upper House (US$448 for 2 nights).

 

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: New Two brand new United Clubs + Jennifer Aniston needs a shower + Best Megahub? + Big Hilton/SkyMiles bonus 

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Marriott enhances popular Rewards program

Marriott is adding new benefits to its loyalty program. (Image: Marriott)

Marriott is adding new benefits to its loyalty program. (Image: Marriott)

Marriott Rewards is planning to make a big announcement on Monday about new benefits and options for members — but today it offered a “sneak peek” at the news, which it is calling the Fab Four.

So here are the four parts of the plan:

1 Members can book a reward stay at Marriott and Ritz-Carlton properties even before they have accumulated sufficient points to cover the cost.

2 Starting October 12, both Marriott Rewards and Ritz-Carlton rewards members will be allowed to transfer up to 50,000 points per year from their account to the accounts of family members or friends.

Don’t miss! How to get a free drink when stuck in economy

4 Starting early next year, the program will implement a cash-plus-points option that will let members use a combination of both to cover the cost of redemption stays.

4 And get this one: Effective November 1, Marriott or Ritz-Carlton Rewards members who pay for reward stays with points will earn elite night credits for those stays.

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: New Two brand new United Clubs + Jennifer Aniston needs a shower + Best Megahub? + Big Hilton/SkyMiles bonus 

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2 brand new United Clubs next month

New United Clubs at SFO and ATL will sport a new look similar to the new club in Boston (pictured).

New United Clubs at SFO and ATL will sport a new look similar to the new club in Boston (pictured here).

United Airlines is set to open two brand new United Club lounges in the two airports: San Francisco International and Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International.

United recently revealed to TravelSkills that the two clubs will open in mid-November– with no specific opening date for either yet.

The San Francisco United Club will offer 6,000 square feet of space with 130 seats and panoramic tarmac and runway views from a location adjacent to the new Terminal 3, Boarding Area E space. This will be United’s fourth Club at SFO. Stay tuned for more details as well as a sneak peek at the new space in coming weeks.

Don’t miss: Delta’s opens big bright brand new Sky Club at SFO

In Atlanta, United recently moved all its operations to the convenient Concourse T, which means passengers no longer have to ride the airport train way out to Concourse D where the old club was located.

The new Atlanta United Club will be about 5,000 square feet with seating for just over 100, and big views of the tarmac. You’ll access the Club via an elevator next to gate T12.

Clusters of egg chairs lend a mod feel to the temporary mezzanine club at SFO (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Clusters of egg chairs lend a mod feel to the temporary mezzanine club at SFO (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

United says that the new clubs at ATL and SFO will reflect the look and upgraded amenities found at its most recently renovated ones at Chicago O’Hare, London Heathrow,  San Francisco, San Diego, Boston and Seattle. 

How to use Copa’s status match to gain access to domestic United Clubs

At SFO’s Terminal 3, United currently operates two United Clubs — a nice, new but temporary and windowless one on the mezzanine level of main part of the terminal, and an older facility out by the gates. There’s another United Club in the international Terminal at SFO.

Related: Feast your eyes on United’s new London lounges

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: New hotel openings + Cathay Pacific’s new lounge + Joining PreCheck gets easier + Air India’s San Francisco plans + New perks from United, Virgin America

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Every day in every way hotels getting better & better

Fabulous bathrooms like this one at the Upper House in Hong Kong are a big item in hotels' growing list of improvements. (Image: Starwood)

Fabulous bathrooms like this one at the Upper House in Hong Kong are a big item in hotels’ growing list of improvements. (Image: Chris McGinnis)

Major U.S. hotels may have delayed a number of necessary capital improvement projects during and after the Great Recession, but they’re making up for it now with record spending on renovations, upgrades and other guest-related improvements.

That’s according to the latest report from hotel expert Bjorn Hanson at New York University’s Tisch Center for Hospitality and Tourism, who tracks trends in the lodging industry.

Hanson said the U.S. hotel industry’s capital expenditures in 2015 are expected to reach $6.4 billion, a new record and an increase of 7 percent over 2014. Budgets for revamps are growing these days as U.S. hotels are seeing record or near-record room occupancies and steadily improving revenues. Hanson noted that capital expenditures have been rising every year since 2010.

Some of the more significant new trends in hotel improvements, his report said, include lots of work on guest bathrooms, “especially replacing tub/shower units with walk-in showers;” new or improved fitness rooms; and redesigned lobby areas, “primarily to appeal to Millennials, but also to compete with the many new competitor lobby models.”

Hanson said hotels are also spending more money on boosting Internet capacity and bandwidth not just in guest rooms but also in public areas like lobbies, meeting rooms and restaurants; coming up with new restaurant and food concepts, again with Millennials in mind; putting new, larger and smarter flat-screen TVs into guest rooms; and adding in-room amenities like new coffee makers, iPads, radio/alarm clocks and so on.

Part of the reason for the increased spending is that many properties belong to big national chains that set specific standards their managed and franchised members must adhere to. But a new factor is also at work, Hanson said: “In addition to brand standards influencing capital expenditures, social media postings are resulting in additional capital expenditures as owners become more aware of and respond to criticisms and unfavorable comments. This effect became significant starting around 2012 and continues to increase.”

Have you seen any big changes in your favorite hotels? Tell us about it… 

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: New hotel openings + Cathay Pacific’s new lounge + Joining PreCheck gets easier + Air India’s San Francisco plans + New perks from United, Virgin America

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Easier PreCheck + Free wi-fi, secret upgrades + World’s most expensive suite + Airport hotels

Cutting up with the crew on Singapore Airlines flight to Hong Kong this week - stay tuned for a trip report!

Cutting up with the crew on Singapore Airlines flight to Hong Kong this week – stay tuned for a trip report!

TravelSkills’ 10 most popular posts over the last week (descending order):

1 What? You haven’t joined yet? Joining TSA PreCheck gets easier

2 Clear as mud? TSA explains confusion over PreCheck policies

3 SFO-New Delhi: Air India’s San Francisco plans confirmedWeekend Edition

4 Free wi-fi and secret upgrades: Surprised, delighted by Virgin America, United

5 Everything you need to know: Is Copa Airlines right for you?

6 Airport slumber party: Big inside-the-airport hotels coming soon at DEN, JFK, SFO

7 New routes: Delta to Paris + Lufthansa to Florida + Beijing-Newark + BA First class

8 A sneak peek: Cathay Pacific’s bigger, better lounge

9 United Airlines’ CEO wants to hear from you [VIDEO]

10 Hilton offers big SkyMiles bonus

It's not just the US that's threatened by tropical storms!

It’s not just the US that’s threatened by tropical storms! China is, too

Thanks to TravelSkills reader R.S. who responded to my request for good restaurants in Hong Kong on our Facebook page! She suggested Yardbird (In SoHo, near Central), where we went last night and had a delicious, fun meal (chicken yakitori) and mixed with some interesting locals. We are also taking her up on her tip to visit Ozone on the 118th floor of the Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong where we are currently holed up watching Typhoon Mujigae roll in from our room on floor 113. Wow!

Our fave comment on TravelSkills this week comes from B.L. about signing up for PreCheck- we always like it when readers take our advice! “I just signed up for TSA pre, and it took only five business days to get the trusted passenger number. I was one that was randomly selected for TSA pre before.”

A few newsy nuggets from other sources that we missed on TravelSkills this week:

A look inside the world’s most expensive hotel suite (in NYC)

Silvercar adds another Manhattan location

Next stop for CLEAR: Austin

OpenTable surge pricing? Would you pay it?

Amtrak introduces baggage fees 

JetBlue is ready to start scheduled service to Cuba as soon as the government OKs it.

New independent passenger lounge opens at Orlando Airport next month.

Taxi-hailing app debuts in South Florida.

New trend for execs: Really long commutes by air instead of relocating.

Check out this excellent two-minute time lapse video of a British Airways Boeing 787 Dreamliner being assembled!

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: New hotel openings + Cathay Pacific’s new lounge + Joining PreCheck gets easier + Air India’s San Francisco plans + New perks from United, Virgin America

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United Airlines’ CEO wants to hear from you [VIDEO]

United's new website asks customers to submit questions and ideas for improvement. (Image: United)

United’s new website asks customers to submit questions and ideas for service improvements. (Image: United)

When Oscar Munoz took over as United Airlines CEO a few weeks ago, he apologized for the company’s poor customer service reputation since its merger with Continental five years earlier, and he pledged to repair that tattered relationship. And now United has taken a step in that direction with the opening up of a special website designed to foster direct communication between the airline’s management and its customers and employees.

Suggestion boxThe site is United Airtime (https://unitedairtime.com), and customers and employees can use it to ask a question and/or to submit their own ideas to management as to how to improve the airline. It’s sort of like a modern day suggestion box. Remember those? It also has a section that reports on the things United has been doing to improve the lives of travelers.

The first questions posted included one about whether United might reconsider its plan to move out of New York JFK altogether in favor of its Newark hub. In its answer, management said that even with its Star Alliance partnerships, its JFK operations “weren’t profitable, and there wasn’t a clear path to return to profitability at JFK.” It also noted that the move of its transcon Premium Service flights from JFK to Newark “will provide nearly hourly transcontinental service to both Los Angeles and San Francisco, so customers will have a better selection of flights.”

In its reply to another question about a lengthy wait for baggage delivery, the company said  it is “working to develop a customer-facing baggage-tracking application that is scheduled to be finished next year.”

Other questions and answers covered improvements to United’s fleet, to its food and beverage service, and to the relationship between the two workforces from Continental and the original United.

While some of the answers might not be exactly what the questioners were hoping to hear, at least United should get credit for opening up a channel where its customers can vent their frustrations, hear the company’s explanations, and even propose their own ideas for ways to improve things.

What’s the first question or suggestion you’d make to Oscar Munoz? Please leave your comments below. 

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: New hotel openings + Cathay Pacific’s new lounge + Joining PreCheck gets easier + Air India’s San Francisco plans + New perks from United, Virgin America

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Cathay Pacific’s bigger, better lounge

Cathay's noodle bar chef Ivy Tran serves up steaming bowl of Dan Dan noodles (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Cathay’s noodle bar chef Ivy Tran serves up steaming bowl of homey goodness (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

On October 14, Cathay Pacific opens a major addition to its business and first class lounge at San Francisco International Airport. Cathay’s is one of SFO’s most beautiful lounges…. and also one of its busiest.

The Hong Kong-based carrier invited TravelSkills out to the airport this week for a sneak peek at the new space and lunch at its famous noodle bar.

(Here’s our review of the lounge when it opened in 2012)

Here’s what we learned:

The main entrance with its striking carrera marble desk and crystal curtain will remain unchanged (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

The main entrance with its striking marble desk and crystal curtain will remain unchanged (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Cathay is moving into adjacent space in the International Terminal (A side) once occupied by Air France/KLM. This means the lounge will nearly double in size from the current 5,500 square feet to a spacious 9,675 square feet, enough room for up to 175 guests.

Here's a look at the unfinished main addition to the Cathay lounge (Chris McGinnis)

Here’s a look at the unfinished main addition to the Cathay lounge (Chris McGinnis)

A wall of windows brightens the big space with views over the tarmac and up to the hills across Highway 101.

Cathay is adding three new shower suites for a total of 6 (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Cathay is adding three new shower suites for a total of six (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

The number of Carrera marble and river-pebble sheathed shower suites will double from three to six, which should help with the evening rush when around 15 flyers opt to clean up before their flight.

A new deli counter along with an Italian espresso machine in the new space (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

A new deli counter along with an Italian espresso machine in the new space (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Along with the expanded space comes an expanded menu and a new deli counter and espresso bar (manned by a barista).

Many guests opt to eat a full hot meal in the lounge, then sleep on the plane (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Many guests opt to eat a full hot meal in the lounge, then sleep on the plane (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

To handle the extra load, a new free wi-fi system is in place.

There will be 14 of Cathay's mod-yet-cozy Solus chairs in the new space- up from the current 3 (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

There will be 14 of Cathay’s mod-yet-cozy Solus chairs in the new space- up from the current 3 (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

The extra space is definitely needed as airlines play musical lounges over the next few years– and share space with Cathay.

Currently, business and first class flyers on Etihad’s daily nonstop to Abu Dhabi use the Cathay lounge in the early morning hours. Around midday, the lounge is primarily populated by those on Cathay’s 1 pm departure to Hong Kong, as well as a few passengers from Alaska Airlines, which lost its lounge to construction in Terminal 1.

Later in the day the Cathay lounge takes in the overflow Oneworld partner British Airways, its lounge now straining for space due its new A380 flight with 111 biz and first class seats. (Also, BA’s lounge is due for closure and renovation later this winter).  And from about 9 pm until 1 am, the lounge hosts Cathay passengers traveling on its 1 am departure to Hong Kong– as well as overflow from the JAL lounge. 

Won Ton soup from the noodle bar. The perfect pre-flight meal! (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Won Ton soup from the noodle bar. The perfect pre-flight meal! (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

And although no decision has been made, we’ve heard that QANTAS is sniffing around for lounge space at SFO when its new Boeing 747 SFO-Sydney nonstops arrive in late December. I’m betting that QANTAS will squeeze in the barely used Emirates lounge due to their partnership. But stay tuned…

Have you had a chance to visit Cathay’s lounge at SFO or elsewhere? Did you try the noodles? What did you think? Please leave your comments below. 

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: SFO could get world’s longest flight + PreCheck: Fewer free rides + Plight of the tall traveler + Photos: New United first class seat + 6 secrets for snagging low fares

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Air India’s San Francisco plans confirmed

Air India's San Francisco flight will go over Alaska and Russia. (Image: Google Flights)

Air India’s San Francisco flight will go over Alaska and Russia. (Image: Google Flights)

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced during his recent visit to Silicon Valley that national carrier Air India will begin non-stop service to San Francisco — but from New Delhi, not from India’s tech center of Bengaluru (Bangalore) as initially reported.

The carrier will use a 777-200LR for the 16-hour, 7,670-mile journey. It will begin December 2, and will operate three days a week (Wednesday, Friday and Sunday). The aircraft will have eight first class seats, 35 in business class and 195 in economy.

Roundtrip fares will be about $1,600 in economy and $4,300 in business class — or if you want to go in luxury, $12,000 in first class. The flight from San Francisco will operate westbound, following a polar route over Alaska.

Business class on Air India Boeing 777-200 (Photo: Nisarg Vyas - Wikimedia Commons)

Business class on Air India Boeing 777-200 (Photo: Nisarg Vyas – Wikimedia Commons)

Air India said the San Francisco-New Delhi flight will provide easy connections to nine other cities, including Bengaluru, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Kochi, Ahmedabad, Pune and Bhubaneswar.

Because the routing takes the flight to New Delhi in northern India instead of Bengaluru in the south, it won’t be the world’s longest non-stop. That title will go to Emirates’ planned new 8,580-mile route from Dubai to Panama City, which is due to begin in February.

According to Wikipedia, the longest current non-stops from San Francisco are Etihad’s 8,158-mile flight to Abu Dhabi and Emirates’ 8,103-mile routing to Dubai– both clocking in just under 16 hours.

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: SFO could get world’s longest flight + PreCheck: Fewer free rides + Plight of the tall traveler + Photos: New United first class seat + 6 secrets for snagging low fares

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Surprised, delighted by Virgin America, United

Free internet on Virgin America's new A320s compliments of Netflix (Photo: Virgin America)

Free internet on Virgin America’s new A320s compliments of Netflix (Photo: Virgin America)

Airlines are out to surprise and delight frequent travelers these days, and this week we have two more examples of how.

Free wi-fi: Starting today, those lucky enough to be flying on Virgin America’s newest Airbus A320 jets will get free wi-fi compliments of Netflix.

Now through mid-2016 Virgin has teamed up with Netflix to offer free wi-fi (and free streaming of content like House of Cards and Orange is the New Black) onboard its brand new jets outfitted with the new ViaSat system.

Currently, there are only two of these shiny new A320s darting across the country, but Virgin will be deploying a new one every month through next June, for a total of 10.

The free wi-fi deal is only available on the new A320s with ViaSat– if you are on a Gogo equipped plane, you’ll still have to pay. (But here’s How to save $$ on pricey inflight wi-fi.) Regrettably, there is currently no way to know if the plane you are on has ViaSat or Gogo until you board.

Related: How to watch Netflix on your Marriott TV

To kickoff the announcement, Virgin is unveiling a House of Cards and Netflix-branded aircraft (pictured above). Also, beginning next month, it will be offering House of Cards seasons 1-3 on all flights via its recently-upgraded Red entertainment system.

Never one to miss out on a show-biz angle, Virgin America is calling in the stars for the launch of this new partnership today. Here’s a what they’ve got going on today:

To help kickoff the surprise unveiling of a House of Cards and Netflix-branded aircraft will be Michael Kelly, the Emmy-nominated star of the Netflix original series House of Cards. Kelly’s character Doug Stamper, who serves as President Frank Underwood’s loyal consultant and Machiavellian fixer, will drop in on Virgin America Flight 1 from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Washington Reagan National Airport (DCA). Guests onboard the flight will be able to binge-watch Netflix content in Virgin America’s mood-lit cabin and will be treated to a signature Whiskey Whistleblower cocktail, while Kelly – as Doug Stamper – dispenses some tongue-in-cheek, morally-ambiguous political advice over the aircraft’s intercom before take-off.

 

Screen Shot 2015-09-28 at 6.10.36 PM

Secret Upgrades. Last week a new plan to surprise and delight United’s best customers with “secret” upgrades was revealed in an employee memo.

While United confirmed the existence of the program to TravelSkills, details such as criteria for selection remain sketchy.

According the BrianSumers.com blog, United intends to upgrade certain “high value customers” to first class from coach on domestic flights, or to international first class from business class on a segment-by-segment basis.

While most high value customers tend to score upgrades based on their status a few days before a flight, the new surprise and delight plan apparently notifies passengers a few weeks ahead of time.

Have you been the recipient of a mysterious “secret” upgrade yet? Were you surprised or delighted? Let us know!

And finally, one more thing that will surprise and delight you: FREE COFFEE! Today only. Check out my tweet!


NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: SFO could get world’s longest flight + PreCheck: Fewer free rides + Plight of the tall traveler + Photos: New United first class seat + 6 secrets for snagging low fares

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Is Copa Airlines right for you?

Copa Airlines flies to 12 U.S. destinations, now including SFO (Photo: Peter Biaggi/SFO)

Copa Airlines flies to 12 U.S. destinations, now including SFO (Photo: Peter Biaggi/SFO)

Last week, Panama’s Copa Airlines touched down in San Francisco, the carrier’s 12th U.S. destination.

TravelSkills was at the airport to welcome the airline to town, and grabbed a quick interview with Fernando Fondevila Leyton, Copa’s commercial regional manager for North America who was as eager to answer our questions as we were to ask them.

Here are some interesting points we picked up in that conversation.

First a little history. Does that livery look familiar? It’s because at one time, Continental owned 49% of Copa Airlines, and at that time the carrier adopted Continental’s look and its OnePass program as its own. Continental eventually divested itself of its interest in Copa, but the carrier kept the look (which now looks almost like United) and has no plans to change it.

Copa is a member of the Star Alliance and has full reciprocity with the United Mileage Plus program. Also, United Club members get access to all five Copa Clubs.

Until earlier this year, Copa used United’s MileagePlus program as its own, but launched its own program, ConnectMiles last summer. The big deal here is that ConnectMiles will match the your elite status with other airlines– all you have to do is join ConnectMiles and then send them a screenshot of your current elite statement and a copy of your card, and you are in.

And get this, once you get your status matched, Fondevila explained that it’s good all the way through February, 2017. What’s best for members of United’s MileagePlus program is that gold status on a foreign Star Alliance partner carrier means you get access to United Clubs when flying domestically– something you don’t get as a U.S. member.

To get the status match, you must first join Connect Miles, then email the screenshots of your other-airline elite card or statement to accounts@connectmiles.com. If you don’t get an answer, call them at 1-844-287-0304 to inquire about your status.

Copa Airlines big business class recliners onboard 737-800s (Photo: Copa)

Copa Airlines big business class recliners onboard 737-800s (Photo: Copa)

Now, let’s talk about Copa’s planes. The first thing you need to know is that Copa does not offer lie flat business class seats on its flights. Instead, you get big roomy recliners with leg rests. That’s fine for the relatively short duration of most flights from the US to Central America. But it’s tougher on the 6-7 hour overnight flights from SFO or LAX to Panama City (PTY). The same goes for connecting flights deep into South America to cities such as Buenos Aires, Montevideo or Rio de Janeiro, many of which are overnight flights where competitors like United, American, Delta and LAN offer lie flat seats.

Plus, there is no premium economy class product and seat pitch is the standard 31 inches. However, there’s some good news for those flying in economy class– Copa does not charge economy class passenger for the first two checked bags. It also offers complimentary hot meals, full bar and individual in-seat in-flight entertainment on all flights. Here’s what SeatGuru says about Copa’s 737-800.

Copa Airlines economy class on a 737-800 (Image: Copa)

Copa Airlines economy class on a 737-800 (Image: Copa)

Copa has one Latin America’s youngest fleets– most of its 737-800s are less than four years old and have the popular “Sky” interiors with oversized luggage bins and mood lighting. There are 16 business class seats and 138 economy seats on each plane.

Fondevila says that Copa has one of the best on-time performance records in the industry, most recently at about 91% ontime.

Some other tidbits about Copa that we picked up in our chat with Fondevila:

>Copa is short for Compania Panamena de Aviacion.

>Copa is a Star Alliance partner, but it does not yet have a code share agreement with United on the SFO-Panama City (PTY) route. Fondevila said that they two airlines are working on that, though.

>Copa flies to 55 cities in Latin America, including eight in Brazil and nine in Colombia using Boeing 737 and Embraer 190 aircraft.

>Why fly to Panama City on business? Well, for one thing, the expansion of the Panama Canal is due to open in spring 2016. Also Panama City is home to the largest container port in Latin America, so shipping is big business

Panama City's Tocumen International Airport (Photo: Joao Carlos Medau / Flickr)

Panama City’s Tocumen International Airport (Photo: Joao Carlos Medau / Flickr)

>Copa’s Panama City hub at Tocumen International Airport, which it calls the “Hub of the Americas,” is a key connection point– Fondevila said that 60%-70% of its traffic is connecting, and only 30%-40% is local traffic. Transit passengers do not pass through immigration and customs at PTY, which makes connecting at the small airport fast and easy.

>PTY has a new airport terminal under construction which should open in 2018.

>The 10,000 square foot Copa Club at PTY (and elsewhere in the region) is open to United Club members as well as nonmembers with Premier Gold status.

>Copa’s San Francisco-Panama City flight is a red-eye, departing SFO at 11:19 pm and arriving in Panama City (PTY) the next day at 8:32 am- good timing for business trips. The early arrival also connects to a big bank of Copa flights headed elsewhere in the region.  Returning from Panama City the flight departs in the morning at 9:41 am arriving SFO at 2:54 pm.

>Right now, fares are great, considering the distance of this flight. You can fly round trip SFO-PTY for as low as $400 in economy class or about $1,200 in business class, depending on the season.

>Copa has been flying LAX-PTY since 2000 and now offers 3-4 daily roundtrips.

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: SFO could get world’s longest flight + PreCheck: Fewer free rides + Plight of the tall traveler + Photos: New United first class seat + 6 secrets for snagging low fares

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Big inside-the-airport hotels coming soon at DEN, JFK, SFO

The new Westin at Denver International opens this fall. (Image: Westin)

The new Westin at Denver International opens this fall. (Image: Westin)

If an “airport hotel” is a few miles away from the terminals, is it really an airport hotel?  Maybe so, but it can’t compare with a location right on the airport grounds, especially at large airports — like the Hilton at Chicago O’Hare, or the two Hyatts at Dallas/Ft. Worth.

Not many of these have been built in recent years, but three of them are in the works at some of the nation’s busiest airports — Denver, New York JFK and San Francisco.

The first to open will be the new Westin at Denver International Airport, due to start accepting guests on November 19.  If you’ve passed through the airport recently, you must have noticed the big, curvey, greenish-blue building at the south end of the main terminal. The Westin has 519 rooms including 35 suites, all thoroughly soundproofed. The same structure accommodates the airport’s new Transit Center, which will be the terminus for the light rail line that starts carrying passengers next spring. The trains will run every 15 minutes on a 35-minute ride linking the airport with Union Station in downtown Denver. The hotel has a fitness studio, indoor pool and multiple dining venues. Rates start around $229.

The classic TWA terminal at New York JFK will serve as public areas for a new hotel. (Image: DmItry Avdeev/Wikiimedia Commons)

The classic TWA terminal at New York JFK will provide the public areas for a new hotel. (Image: Dmitry Avdeev/Wikiimedia Commons)

In New York, the Port Authority and Governor Andrew Cuomo have just given approval to a lease deal on the old TWA Flight Center at JFK Airport that will permit the construction of a 505-room hotel on the site with 40,000 square feet of meeting space and at least half a dozen restaurants. It will be built by a partnership of JetBlue Airways and MCR Development, and the original Eero Saarinen-designed TWA terminal building — with sweeping curves and huge windows — will serve as the lobby. To be called the TWA Flight Center Hotel and due to open in 2018, it will be the only hotel on the grounds of JFK. It’s connected to JetBlue’s Terminal 5, and it will boast a 10,000 square foot observation deck for planespotters.

Artist't renderign of the new hotel coming to San Francisco International. (Image: San Francisco Airport)

Artist’s rendering of the new hotel coming to San Francisco International. (Image: San Francisco Airport)

Officials in San Francisco are about to close the bidding for construction of a four-star hotel on the grounds of San Francisco International that will be owned by the airport but operated by a private company yet to be selected. Also aiming at a 2018 completion date, the hotel will have 350 rooms, a restaurant, wine and sushi bar, casual cafe, rooftop cocktail lounge, health club, pool and spa. Located near the entrance to the airport, it will be linked to an AirTrain station for easy access to the terminals. The building site — at South McDonnell Road, Interstate 101 and the off-ramp from the interstate to the airport — was previously occupied by a Hilton that was demolished 20 years ago prior to construction of SFO’s new international terminal.

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: SFO could get world’s longest flight + PreCheck: Fewer free rides + Plight of the tall traveler + Photos: New United first class seat + 6 secrets for snagging low fares

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San Francisco could get world’s longest non-stop

Air India 777-200LR. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)

Air India 777-200LR. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)

There’s no official confirmation yet, but news reports from India say that national carrier Air India might have its eye on a new route to San Francisco that would be the world’s longest non-stop.

Giving credence to the reports is Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s trip to the U.S. this week, which includes a visit to Silicon Valley companies like Google HQ in Mountain View and Tesla Motors in Fremont, California.

The Times of India says that Air India wants to link San Francisco with India’s tech center at Bengaluru (Bangalore), using a long-range 777-200. That’s a trip of just over 8,700 miles.

The newspaper noted that would beat out Qantas’ 8,531 mile non-stop between Dallas/Ft. Worth and Sydney, the current record-holder. The Bengaluru-SFO flight would take 17 to 18 hours. It would also top Emirates’ planned new route from Dubai to Panama City next year, which will be 8,550 miles.

The newspaper said if Air India doesn’t go for the Bengaluru-San Francisco route, it might opt for Delhi-SFO instead.

We’ve heard Air India talk about nonstops to San Francisco before, but it’s never amounted to more than talk. When we asked our contacts at SFO about the possibility, they played it down saying that they had no confirmation, but were “encouraged by these statements.”

Related: Etihad vs “Jetihad”

Air India is a member of the Star Alliance.

Air India’s only current U.S. routes are to Chicago and New York.

In April of this year, the FAA said it had determined that India is now in compliance with the International Civil Aviation Organization’s safety standards for air travel, and thus it reinstated a Category 1 safety rating for the country.

That change means India‘s airlines are once again permitted to add new flights to the U.S., something they hadn’t been able to do after the country was downgraded to Category 2. That happened following a 2012 FAA audit that found some deficiencies in India’s aviation system.

Have you ever flown Air India? How was it? Would you fly Air India for 17-18 hours? 

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: TSA PreCheck: No more free rides + Plight of the tall traveler + Photos: New United first class seat + Save money on calls from other countries + 6 secrets for snagging low fares

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Uber outrage in Chicago

Chicago could soon allow ride-sharing pick-ups at airports. (Image: Jim Glab)

Chicago could soon allow ride-sharing pick-ups at airports. (Image: Jim Glab)

Just a few months ago, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel was adamant about not allowing ride-sharing apps using “citizen drivers” like UberX and Lyft to be used for passenger pick-ups at O’Hare and Midway airports as well as the city’s huge McCormick Place convention center. (UberBLACK pickups/drops are currently allowed at Chicago airports.) But now he has changed his mind.

The new 2016 budget proposal issued by Emanuel this week would reverse the city’s existing policy, allowing ride-sharing pick-ups at those restricted venues. What changed his mind? Chicago is facing a budget gap of hundreds of millions of dollars, and this is one way to erase some of the red ink.   

The plan still must be approved by the Chicago City Council, so there is no immediate estimate of when the newly proposed policy might take effect.

But the news did elicit outrage from the city’s licensed cab drivers, who staged massive protests by refusing to pick up waiting passengers at the O’Hare and Midway airport terminals for a period of two hours on Wednesday.

The cabbies’ outrage was not soothed by the fact that the budget plan would allow for a 15 percent increase in taxi fares. Drivers said that wouldn’t be enough to make up for the business they would lose to the unlicensed Uber and Lyft drivers.

According to the new budget proposal, ride-sharing drivers would have to pay the city a fee of $5 each time they pick up or drop off a passenger at the airports or the convention center — more than double the fee charged to taxi drivers. In addition, there would also be a new 50 cent surcharge on all taxi and ride-sharing trips.

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: TSA PreCheck: No more free rides + Plight of the tall traveler + Photos: New United first class seat + Save money on calls from other countries + 6 secrets for snagging low fares

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New Alaska Air partner + Big American/BA bonus + Air Canada stopover

Alaska Airlines is adding an international mileage and code-share partner. (Image: Jim Glab)

Alaska Airlines is adding an international mileage and code-share partner. (Image: Jim Glab)

Alaska Airlines is adding a mileage/codeshare partner; American and British Airways offer bonus points/miles; and Air Canada wants you to stop over in Toronto on them.

  • Starting November 1 (subject to government approval), Alaska and Icelandair will kick off a new wide-ranging partnership . The benefits to passengers: “seamless reservations and ticketing, one-stop check-in, baggage checked to its final destination, coordinated flight schedules, the ability to earn miles and/or points on the reciprocal airline and consistent passenger service standards,” Alaska said. Elite members in each carrier’s loyalty program will also get reciprocal airport lounge benefits. Alaska Mileage Plan members can earn elite-qualifying miles on Icelandair flights starting October 1 — and they’ll get double miles through December 15. Icelandair flies from 16 cities in North America (including Alaska’s Seattle hub) to 20 destinations in Europe via connections at its Reykjavik hub. Have you flown Icelandair? How was it? 
  • To mark its fifth anniversary, the transatlantic joint venture partnership of American Airlines and British Airways/Iberia/Finnair is offering customers big mileage bonuses from now through January 31. Persons who register for the offer with promotion code NAF15 can earn 25,000 bonus miles per transatlantic roundtrip when they buy first or business class tickets (up to a maximum of 125,000 bonus miles); 7,000 bonus miles for roundtrips in premium economy or some full economy fares (up to a maximum of 35,000); or 2,000 bonus miles for travel on other economy fares (maximum: 10,000 bonus miles).  Here’s where you’ll find all the details and a link to online registration.
Spectacular view from the lovely Colette Restaurant at the Thompson Toronto hotel (Chris McGinnis)

Spectacular view from the lovely Colette Restaurant at the Thompson Toronto hotel (Chris McGinnis)

  • To induce Americans to try out its international service, Air Canada is waiving the stopover fee for those who fly from the U.S. to Europe or Asia all on Air Canada via a connection at its Toronto Pearson hub. Customers can take advantage of the free Toronto stopover on their outbound or return trips, and can stay in the city for up to one week, paying nothing more than the usual roundtrip fare. It’s valid for flights on Air Canada, Air Canada Express or Air Canada Rouge. For details, go to www.aircanada.com/travelsmarter.

Related: Trip Report- Air Canada 767 Business class SFO-Toronto

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: TSA PreCheck: No more free rides + Plight of the tall traveler + Photos: New United first class seat + Save money on calls from other countries + 6 secrets for snagging low fares

100,000

bonusBEST for Big Sign-up Bonus. British Airways Visa Signature® Card 0ffers a nice 50,000 Avios sign up bonus after you spend $2,000 in the first three months. But get this: You’ll earn an additional 25,000 bonus Avios when you spend $10,000 on purchases for a total of 75,000 bonus Avios. Even better: You earn another 25,000 bonus Avios when you spend a total of $20,000 on purchases within your first year for a total of 100,000 bonus Avios. In addition to the sign up bonus, you earn three Avios for every dollar spent on BA, and a free companion ticket (any class) when you spend at least $30,000 in a year. Plus there are no foreign transaction fees, and the card has a chip making it easier to use in Europe and beyond. Annual fee is $95.  More.

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Delta and Donald make another TV commercial

Delta's newest TV ad features a voice-over from a famous Donald (Image: Delta)

Delta’s newest TV ad features a voice-over from a famous Donald (Image: Delta)

Donald Sutherland is at it again– with a smooth voice over for Delta’s latest, and perhaps darkest, TV ad titled “Take Off: Why We Go.”

Dark, yes, but certainly engaging. It’s hard not to watch it until the very end. (See below for the one-minute video)

Can you guess where it’s filmed?

Delta has used Sutherland’s voice in several recent campaigns, including “Up” which aired during Superbowl 2014.

In a break from previous Sutherland ads, this one is in color… but barely!

Interesting fact about Sutherland? He’s Canadian and has a degree in engineering.

What do you think of the video? Please leave your comments below.

What do you think of the video? Please leave your comments below.

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: TSA PreCheck: No more free rides + Plight of the tall traveler + Photos: New United first class seat + Save money on calls from other countries + 6 secrets for snagging low fares

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InterContinental (IHG) close to big hotel merger

A room at The Savoy in London. (Image: Savoy Hotel)

Use you IHG Rewards for this room at The Savoy in London? Maybe! (Image: Savoy Hotel)

Last year, and again earlier this year, rumors were flying that U.K.-based InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) might be interested in a merger with global lodging giant Starwood Hotels. Nothing came of those rumors, but now there are new reports that IHG is on the verge of buying a luxury competitor for 1.9 billion pounds (about $2.9 billion).

The target this time is said to be Fairmont Raffles Holdings International, which controls the Fairmont and the Raffles brands, as well as Swissotel and some independent properties. Owned by a Qatar-based investment group, Fairmont Raffles Holdings International includes some of the world’s leading properties like the Savoy in London, the Plaza in New York, Raffles Hotel in Singapore and the Peace Hotel in Shanghai.

Related: IHG + Kimpton = Interesting! 

A hookup between the two would be especially interesting in San Francisco, where the Fairmont and IHG’s Mark Hopkins rule the roost atop Nob Hill.

IHG has been accumulating a cash horde in recent months from the sale of some of its key hotels like those in Hong Kong and Paris, although it maintains management contracts for them.

Altogether, Fairmont Raffles Holdings International has about 100 properties worldwide.

Will the rumors prove true this time? Stay tuned. If so, it will likely mean a lot more luxury hotels where members of IHG’s Rewards Club can earn and burn loyalty points. 

Here’s how to sign up for an IHG® Rewards Club Select Credit Card and earn 60,000 bonus points! 

100,000

bonusBEST for Big Sign-up Bonus. British Airways Visa Signature® Card 0ffers a nice 50,000 Avios sign up bonus after you spend $2,000 in the first three months. But get this: You’ll earn an additional 25,000 bonus Avios when you spend $10,000 on purchases for a total of 75,000 bonus Avios. Even better: You earn another 25,000 bonus Avios when you spend a total of $20,000 on purchases within your first year for a total of 100,000 bonus Avios. In addition to the sign up bonus, you earn three Avios for every dollar spent on BA, and a free companion ticket (any class) when you spend at least $30,000 in a year. Plus there are no foreign transaction fees, and the card has a chip making it easier to use in Europe and beyond. Annual fee is $95.  More.

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Shiny new hotels for you: Chicago, NYC, Dallas, Houston…

Outdoor Terrace at Starwood Luxury Collection's The Gwen in Chicago. (Image: Starwood)

Outdoor Terrace at Starwood Luxury Collection’s The Gwen in Chicago. (Image: Starwood)

In hotel news, leading properties in Chicago and Manhattan change their identities; mid-priced hotels open in the heart of Dallas and Houston; and more independents join up as affiliates of national chains.

Starwood Hotels’ Luxury Collection has added its first property in Chicago. The company has finished the previously announced conversion of the former Conrad Hotel (part of the Hilton family) into a Starwood property called The Gwen, a Luxury Collection Hotel. It’s at 521 North Rush Street in the River North/Magnificent Mile area, directly linked to The Shops at North Bridge. It’s in the old McGraw-Hill Building, an art deco structure, and it’s named after Gwen Lux, a sculptor from the 1920s whose work influenced the design of the period. The Gwen has 300 rooms, three restaurants, and terraces overlooking the Chicago skyline. Rates start at around $360.

Another leading hotel in Manhattan has been acquired by an Asian company and changed its identity. This time it’s the New York Palace Hotel at 50th Street and Madison Avenue, right behind St. Patrick’s Cathedral. The elegant hotel which underwent a $140 million overhaul two years ago, has been acquired by South Korea’s Lotte Hotels & Resorts, a subsidiary of the Lotte Group, one of Korea’s biggest conglomerates. The hotel is now called the Lotte New York Palace. Earlier, the Waldorf Astoria was purchased by a Chinese company.

The new Hilton Garden Inn in downtown Dallas. (Image: Hilton)

The new Hilton Garden Inn in downtown Dallas. (Image: Hilton)

Hilton Worldwide has cut the ribbon on the Hilton Garden Inn Downtown Dallas at 1600 Pacific Avenue, next to Thanksgiving Square and the Thanksgiving Tower. It’s part of a mixed-use project in the city’s LTV building, not far from Dealey Plaza and the AT&T Performing Arts Center. The 171-room Garden Inn has free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel, a 24-hour business center, outdoor pool, fitness center, restaurant with Southern cuisine, and a 24-hour Pavilion Pantry. Rates start at $135.

Marriott's new SpringHill Suites in downtown Houston. (Image: Marriott)

Marriott’s new SpringHill Suites in downtown Houston. (Image: Marriott)

The newest lodging option in downtown Houston is Marriott’s 167-suite SpringHill Suites Houston Downtown/Convention Center, located at 914 Dallas Street, between Main and Travis streets, three blocks from The Shops at Houston mall. The building, a former apartment complex, was originally the Humble Oil Building, dating to 1921. Guests get a free hot breakfast every day, and guest accommodations provide separate living, working and sleeping spaces. There’s an outdoor pool, a fitness center and a 24-hour market. Rates start at $229.

Meanwhile, leading hotel companies continue to expand their roster of independent affiliate properties, which participate in their reservations systems and their loyalty programs.  In the latest developments, Marriott has added the Grand Bohemian Hotel in Charleston, S.C., to its Autograph Collection;  and Hilton’s Curio Collection has taken on The Admiral Hotel in Mobile, Ala. and The Partridge Inn Augusta in downtown Augusta, Ga.

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: TSA PreCheck: No more free rides + Photos: New United first class seat + Save money on calls from other countries + 6 secrets for snagging low fares

100,000

bonusBEST for Big Sign-up Bonus. British Airways Visa Signature® Card 0ffers a nice 50,000 Avios sign up bonus after you spend $2,000 in the first three months. But get this: You’ll earn an additional 25,000 bonus Avios when you spend $10,000 on purchases for a total of 75,000 bonus Avios. Even better: You earn another 25,000 bonus Avios when you spend a total of $20,000 on purchases within your first year for a total of 100,000 bonus Avios. In addition to the sign up bonus, you earn three Avios for every dollar spent on BA, and a free companion ticket (any class) when you spend at least $30,000 in a year. Plus there are no foreign transaction fees, and the card has a chip making it easier to use in Europe and beyond. Annual fee is $95.  More.

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SF gone wild + Do not disturb + Pope + Airport knives + Best runway views

SF is hot these days- in more ways than one (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

SF is hot these days- in more ways than one (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

TravelSkills’ 10 most popular posts over the last week (descending order):

1 City tips: How to survive insane San Francisco this fall

2 From a hotel manager: What “Do Not Disturb” really means at hotels

3 Quid pro quo: What was in it for Smisek and United?

4 Check his schedule: Pope’s visit could be hell for travelers in NYC, DC, Philly

5 Shop smart: 6 secrets for snagging low airfaresWeekend Edition

6  Top 20 most livable cities: Good places to travel?

7 Change places: United switches up schedules

8 Will you join them? Getting easier to fly private (ish)

9 Chris back on CNN: Don’t make these mistakes in San Francisco (VIDEO)

10 Show off: My airport’s busier than yours

It’s BAAAACK! British Airways’ 100,000 Avios offer- a sweet deal for big spenders! 

Runway views amidst mountains at Vancouver Airport (Image: Fairmont)

Runway views amidst mountains at Vancouver Airport (Image: Fairmont)

Best TravelSkills comment this week: “The simple way I think of the Do Not Disturb sign: It’s  a preference or a guide. It is not a command.” see post

A few newsy nuggets from other sources that we missed on TravelSkills this week:

Did you know: Kitchen knives used at airport restaurants must be tied down? 

UberX, Lyft & Sidecar at LAX? Whenever!

12 Telltale Signs of a Great Restaurant 

T-Mobile expands free roaming even more  (too bad it does not work in my house!)

15 airport hotels that give guests runway views 

Delta gives a big pay boost to flight attendants, other workers.

Warning: Travel apps might not be secure from hackers.

Taxi-hailing app expands from New York to Philadelphia.

American Airlines reaffirms commitment to Charlotte hub.

Luggage manufacturer unveils Bluetooth GPS portable bag locating device.

Passengers on American can now keep track of their checked bags.

Trend we like: Rent your hotel room for 24 hours

86-room hotel in Palo Alto sells for a whopping $1 million per room

What arrived at #SFO today from Panama? @CopaAirlines Bienvenidos! pic.twitter.com/hXdwZ3DpB4

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: Surviving San Francisco + Photos: New United first class seat + Save money on calls from other countries + 6 secrets for snagging low fares

bonusBEST for Big Sign-up Bonus. British Airways Visa Signature® Card 0ffers a nice 50,000 Avios sign up bonus after you spend $2,000 in the first three months. But get this: You’ll earn an additional 25,000 bonus Avios when you spend $10,000 on purchases for a total of 75,000 bonus Avios. Even better: You earn another 25,000 bonus Avios when you spend a total of $20,000 on purchases within your first year for a total of 100,000 bonus Avios. In addition to the sign up bonus, you earn three Avios for every dollar spent on BA, and a free companion ticket (any class) when you spend at least $30,000 in a year. Plus there are no foreign transaction fees, and the card has a chip making it easier to use in Europe and beyond. Annual fee is $95.  More.

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What “Do Not Disturb” really means at hotels

Unusual room number display at Sofitel So, Bangkok (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Housekeeper caught you with your pants down? It happens! But who is to blame when embarrassment ensues?

There seems to be a lot of confusion about what a Do Not Disturb sign really means at a hotel. So we hit up a friend of TravelSkills who is a hotel general manager for the skinny. Here’s what he said:

First and foremost, it is one of the cardinal rules of hospitality that employees are not supposed to knock on a door with a DND sign on it.  However, there is no legal issue.  The hotel has a legal right to ignore the DND sign any time and for any reason.  After all it’s their property.  The way it’s supposed to work is that a hotel will only violate the DND sign if they have reason to believe that health, safety or property may be an issue.  Examples:

  1. The phone system shows that 911 was dialed from the room.
  2. The hotel staff heard loud noises coming from the room (potential property damage).
  3. The hotel staff heard loud voices, arguing or screaming form the room (potential domestic abuse).
  4. The DND sign has been on the door for 24-48+ hours straight (every hotel has their own standard, but health and well-being of the guest could be an issue here).
  5. A large number of suspicious people have been seen entering or exiting the room (potential illegal activity).
  6. Water is leaking into the room from the ceiling (someone left the tub running in the room above?  Potential health issue as well as potential property damage).

In practice, there are two main reasons why hotel staff sometimes violate the DND sign:

  1. The housekeeping staff simply wants to clean their assigned rooms, especially rooms due to check-out that day.  They don’t get paid for rooms they are assigned but do not clean, and they’re eager to see if the guest left them a tip.
  1. Guests will frequently leave the DND sign on their door when they go out for the day.  Then when they return they think that somehow, magically, their room was supposed to have been cleaned without someone violating the DND sign.  Then they’ll call down to the front desk and complain that their room was not cleaned and flat out lie about having left their DND sign on the door.  This happens so often it’s crazy.

So the above two reasons are certainly not valid excuses for hotel staff violating the DND sign, but they go a long way towards explaining why it sometimes happens in hotels without excellent housekeeping management.

What we’ll do at my hotel is that if a staff member encounters a room they need to enter that has a DND sign on it, the staff will ask the front desk to call the room to ask if it’s okay to knock and/or enter.  This happens very often with room service.  If there’s no answer to the call and there’s no emergency, we will simply not enter, and we’ll hang a sign on the door saying that we respected their request for privacy.  And yes, this means that sometimes we’ll leave a room service tray at the door (a fair number of drunk guests order room service, pass out, then wake up to discover their cold meal outside their door in the morning!)

There does seem to be a school of thought out there that thinks the DND sign means that hotel staff should not call the room either, but I don’t subscribe to that.  Of course if you request no calls to your room we will abide.  In that case, if we still need to communicate with you and there is no emergency, we’ll slip a note under the door.

Likely more than you want to know about hotel DND signs but I had fun writing this all down for the first time 🙂

What are your thoughts on this issue? Is it okay to ignore the Do Not Disturb sign? Do you have any funny stories to share along these lines? Please do so in the comments!

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: Surviving San Francisco + Photos: New United first class seat + Save money on calls from other countries + 6 secrets for snagging low fares

 

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United switches up schedules

United mainline aircraft at Chicago O'Hare. (Image: United)

United mainline aircraft at Chicago O’Hare. (Image: United)

Plagued by ongoing problems of late flights, United Airline plans to turn to a new domestic scheduling strategy this fall in an effort to increase its on-time performance.

According to Bloomberg News, United outlined the strategy in a memo to employees. Essentially, it will mean scheduling more out-and-back trips for its mainline aircraft, instead of routing them from one city to another and another over the course of the day.

Thus the same aircraft could make multiple roundtrips to the same destination over the course of a day instead of moving around United’s domestic network.

This approach is designed to limit the number of delays and cancellations during bad winter weather, which can hit United hard at places like its Chicago O’Hare hub. It would mean that a storm at one city would only impact the aircraft at that airport, instead of cascading through the system as they do now, causing multiple downline scheduling problems.

The new approach is expected to begin in November.

United has consistently ranked near the bottom among U.S. carriers in its on-time performance. New CEO Oscar Munoz has pledged that he would take immediate steps to improve the customer experience on the airline, and on-time operations is a good place to start.

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: Surviving San Francisco + Photos: New United first class seat + Save money on calls from other countries + 6 secrets for snagging low fares

 


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