With Delta and United set to retire the last of their 747s by the end of the year, the only Jumbo Jets serving the US will be with overseas airlines. Sadly, we are about to lose one of these surviving 747s.Currently, Qantas runs a 747 route from Brisbane (BNE) to Los Angeles (LAX), with the same aircraft continuing onward from LAX to New York (JFK), before returning on the same route to LAX and BNE....
Here’s a recap of the interesting points and miles news from this week:This week’s Thursday Giveaway is for a Tumi Carry-on.Enter To Win This Week’s Tumi Vapor Carry On Thursday Giveaway: This week’s Thursday Giveaway is for a Tumi Vapor International Carry-On, my favorite carry on roller bag, which retails for $495. The suitcase dimensions are 21.5″ x 14″ x 9″– perfect for rolling up the aisle and stowing in an overhead bin....
One of the things I love most about being The Points Guy is getting to hear stories from readers about how award travel has affected their lives — the exotic vacations they’ve planned, the trips they’ve made to be with family and friends, the premium seats and suites they’ve experienced and so much more, all made possible by points and miles. I love to travel and explore, and it’s an honor to be able to help so many of you get where you want to go....
Adrenaline junkies take note: In one week’s time London will become the home of the world’s fastest urban zip line.Opening in Archbishop’s Park on July 7, the new zip line will up some serious stats: it spans 738 feet and can reach speeds up to 50 miles per hour, according to London’s Evening Standard. While on the 30-second decent, riders can expect to see stunning views of the city’s central landmarks, including iconic Big Ben — if they’re brave enough to look around, that is....
The Department of Transportation (DOT) responded to a series of TPG Contributor Mitch Berman’s specific questions regarding a new policy that allows airlines to cancel mistake fares. Here’s how the DOT responded.The DOT established a new interim policy on May 8, 2015 (PDF link) which allows airlines to cancel “mistaken fares” under certain circumstances, provided they offer specific protections to the consumer. Under this new policy, airlines may now cancel mistake fares if they reimburse travelers not only for the canceled ticket itself, but also for any out-of-pocket travel expenses made in connection with the canceled ticket....
Following a successful launch on the Boston (BOS) to San Francisco (SFO) route last year, United’s just confirmed plans to extend lie-flat service to all of its BOS to Los Angeles (LAX) flights as well.Beginning October 29, the airline will add 757-200s to all BOS-LAX flights, replacing the 737s that operate on that route today. Premium-cabin service is still being marketed as first class, though that’s expected to change as United gets closer to launch....
Sign up for our daily newsletterEmail addressSign upI would like to subscribe to The Points Guy newsletters and special email promotions. The Points Guy will not share or sell your email. See privacy policy.Missed out on a chance to travel the world and get paid for it? Well, you might have a second chance because Virgin Atlantic is recruiting flight attendants to join its cabin crew based out of Gatwick (LGW) and Heathrow Airport (LHR)....
Here are some of this week’s fun travel contests and sweepstakes from around the Web – and here’s hoping you win a trip somewhere you’ve always wanted to go!Win a trip to Baja, California. Shutterstock.Win a Trip to Baja California From Discover BajaFollow these steps:Follow @Discoverbaja on TwitterSend a tweet to share how you Do Baja, including the hash tag #DoBaja (e.g., “@Discoverbaja When I #DoBaja, I snorkel in the Sea of Cortez....
Sign up for our daily newsletterEmail addressSign upI would like to subscribe to The Points Guy newsletters and special email promotions. The Points Guy will not share or sell your email. See privacy policy.It was reported on Flyertalk that some Costco locations have begun selling American Airlines gift certificates at a 10% discount ($269.99 for a $300 certificate). So far, people have only confirmed seeing them in a handful of stores, but my gut tells me if some stores have them, others may start carrying them soon (or people just haven’t found them yet in other stores)....
Sign up for our daily newsletterEmail addressSign upI would like to subscribe to The Points Guy newsletters and special email promotions. The Points Guy will not share or sell your email. See privacy policy.Now that Airbus is in the final stages of owning a majority stake of the Bombardier C Series program, it’s planning to cap off the purchase with a rebranding. People familiar with the plan told Bloomberg News that Airbus is considering renaming the program, in which it’s invested more than $6 billion, “A200....
Sign up for our daily newsletterEmail addressSign upI would like to subscribe to The Points Guy newsletters and special email promotions. The Points Guy will not share or sell your email. See privacy policy.American Airlines, the world’s largest carrier, has just suspended all operations at New York’s three largest airports due to the latest nor’easter pummeling the city.The airline has already suspended its operations at New York’s LaGuardia (LGA) and New Jersey’s Newark (EWR), and American said it will suspend its JFK operations after 1:00pm....
Rumors are flying that Apple is preparing to release an upgraded version of AirPods, its wireless earbud product.According to a new Bloomberg report that cites sources inside the tech company, Apple will release a new, higher-end version of AirPods, along with “studio-quality” over-the-ear headphones sometime in 2019.An instant travel tech essential when they launched at the end of 2016, AirPods will reportedly see upgrades like a noise-cancelling feature and water resistance to help defend against rain and perspiration....
Sign up for our daily newsletterEmail addressSign upI would like to subscribe to The Points Guy newsletters and special email promotions. The Points Guy will not share or sell your email. See privacy policy.On a recent Cebu Pacific Air flight between Dubai (DXB) to Manila (MNL), a pregnant woman went into labor more than five weeks early and delivered a child with the help of two nurses onboard and the flight crew....
TPG reader Joey Tweeted me this question about hotel stays:@thepointsguy: Can you book a cash reservation with Hyatt and then switch to points later?The answer is technically no. As long as there is a standard room available, you can redeem your points. However, hotels often oversell rooms and even if you want to cancel your standard room reservation, there is no guarantee that it will go back into inventory, and then become available for a points redemption....
Though American Airlines rolled out brand new premium cabin amenity kits just last year, it seems the carrier is at it again, continuing its collaboration with American designer Cole Haan and doing away with its dark-colored kits in favor of something slightly more chic. Like the previous iteration, these amenity kits will be available to passengers flying in international business and first class, as well in business and first class of AA’s A321T transcon flights....
Hotel rewards program Club Carlson has just announced a “Blockbuster Bonus” promotion offering double and triple Gold Points for stays at Carlson Rezidor properties in the Asia Pacific region between now and August 31, 2014.Instead of the usual 20 Gold Points per dollar you earn on Club Carlson stays, this promo will earn you double points on one-night stays (40 Gold Points per dollar) and triple points on stays of two or more nights (60 Gold Points per dollar)....
Sign up for our daily newsletterEmail addressSign upI would like to subscribe to The Points Guy newsletters and special email promotions. The Points Guy will not share or sell your email. See privacy policy.Delta has had an iPhone app for a while now, though they just added upgrade list functionality and so far so good. I am actually writing this post from the LAX SkyClub as I wait for my JFK flight and I’ve used the new feature and am impressed so far (though I’m not happy at my current spot on the upgrade list)....
Sign up for our daily newsletterEmail addressSign upI would like to subscribe to The Points Guy newsletters and special email promotions. The Points Guy will not share or sell your email. See privacy policy.A first-time flyer almost made the mistake of a lifetime on a GoAir flight earlier this week.The man, in his late twenties, attempted to open the Airbus A320 emergency exit mid-flight because he claimed he thought it was the door to the lavatory....
A 12-year-old girl visiting from China was abducted from Reagan National Airport (DCA) Thursday morning, and police are searching for her and her kidnappers.The public is urged to help find Jinjing Ma, 12, who was visiting from China. Photo courtesy of Virginia State Police.Jinjing Ma had been touring the US with a sightseeing group in the US since July 26. Before the group checked in and right after she was handed her passport, she said she needed to use the bathroom, left the group and met with a Asian woman in her 40s or 50s in a black dress....
After a brief pause, Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano resumed its fiery eruption. On Tuesday, two new volcanic fissures cracked opened on the Big Island, releasing more lava and volcanic ash, and forcing another round of evacuations.“…Immediate danger. Evacuate NOW,” read an emergency alert sent to residents.According to The Weather Channel, there are now more than a dozen lava-spewing fissures in the Leilani Estates neighborhood.Yet an official statement released by the Hawaiian Tourism Authority on Tuesday insisted that travelers should not be concerned about the eruption....
