November 29, 2018: It sounds good — you get a chance to help family and friends with free or reduced travel by sharing some of your frequent flyer miles — but beware of the pitfalls and extra fees (flat rate up to $30 and a per mile surcharge) and pay attention to really fine print. One recent United transaction — transfer of 25,000 miles cost the “giver” over $400. Might be less expensive to just offer to the buy the ticket!
November 28, 2018: In an effort to compete with hotel loyalty programs, online travel sites, like Expedia, are enhancing their booking sites with their own rewards programs. Some offer add on deals — incremental revenue opportunities for them — with some only available for 15 minutes after you make a firm travel booking. Some booking sites even offer as much as 10% cash back on your booking. Be sure and read the fine print on all these “so called deals.”
November 27, 2018: WOW — and they’re considering a rider loyalty program — hopefully not adding more confusion to their ride booking process? Lyft already has a program and tie in with Delta and JetBlue for even more confusion and so called loyalty rewards.
November 26, 2018: Could be — several carriers are reviewing proposals to monitor passenger “health data” with high tech devices placed in their inflight bathrooms — and selling the data to medical research groups… hopefully the FAA will keep this idea from flying?
November 23, 2018: Yup — at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport— pets get VIP treatment with their own individual private lounge to take care of business!
November 22, 2018: Yup — latest report from the French Health Authority says over 4 MILLION rats enjoy fine living in Paris — that comes out to 2 rates for each resident! Seems like even the critters enjoy the good life — and food — in Paris?
November 21, 2018: Well— maybe not yet — for STS?
November 20, 2018: US Airport food service operators say — yes, well, maybe? Some travelers are demanding lighter healthier meal options — both to eat at the airport or take on planes. And they want more than just a juice bar — including foods that are vegan, low carb, low calorie and low sodium. One of the most popular healthy meal options at Dallas/Ft Worth airport is a spring lettuce mix on a whole wheat bun — hopefully selling for less than $10?
November 19, 2018: Disney is using Mickey’s 90th birthday this fall to headline a massive marketing “worldwide” advertising promotion and merchandising campaign to let the world know — and of course sell Mickey and Disney merchandise including car size Mickey Birthday cupcakes and a Mickey collectors item book that’s so big and heavy it comes with a carrying case! The Disney worldwide park collection attracted 150 MILLION visitors last year and the famous Mouse has more than 14.3 million followers on Facebook. Gotta be the “world’s biggest Mouse party!”
November 16, 2018: Maybe — check out the new Costco holiday shopping catalogue and you’ll find a small ad for something called, “Costco Wheels Up Private Aviation” membership — price is $15,999.99! Very confusing — involves a Costco cash card and flight credit — not sure what it is they’re selling? Hopefully includes grooming standards for flights as well as adequate parking.
