Page 282 – The Points Of Life

An Opening on BBC’s Top Gear for Me?

Professor

thepointsoflife

-

March 10, 2015

What is your favorite travel show? Is it one with Bourdain refreshingly running around the world being his unfiltered self? Is it House Hunters International? Or is it something on the Travel channel that I’ve never seen?

For me it is Top Gear. Top Gear is a car show, travel show, and lifestyle show centered around three hosts, one of whom is a bigger jerk than Bourdain on his best day. His name is Jeremy Clarkson and he happens to be my favorite. He is probably too truthful, unapologetic, and direct.

Sometimes this gets him into trouble though he would have you believe that he is a victim of circumstance. (see the real drama when Top Gear visited Argentina.) Today Mr. Clarkson was suspended for fighting with his producer. Apparently, despite the show’s popularity, he’s on his last warning.

With that breaking news documented, I would like to explain why I should replace Jeremy if he is indeed let go.

The show features and I enjoy the following:

Exotic Cars: Hit the Road Jack…That Means Get Out!
Exotic Locations: Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia?
Exotic Accommodations: The St. Regis, My Mauritius
Exotic Adventures: All in business, all for $200 and 30,000 US Air Miles
Exotic Interactions: Vegas Knockout: My Fantastic Voyage at the Trump Hotel

If hired, I’ll make Clarkson proud by never apologizing and by never holding back my thoughts. I will try to keep the smugness in check.

top gear hosts — 30 seconds in Dubai make you realize that points are for peasants.

Airline Names: What Does Etihad Mean?

thepointsoflife

-

March 9, 2015

5

As a traveling guru, I think myself cool for knowing all the airlines, the alliances, and how to apply that knowledge towards a $77,000 Trip Heard Round the World itinerary.

While some of the names are self-explanatory: Air Berlin, American Airlines, British Airways, Finnair, Japan Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Qatar Airways, and SriLankan Airlines (newly added to One World), others are only recognizable by their livery and country of origin.

Beyond that, I have no idea why they are called what they are called. Similar to the International Brew Awards, I’m learning tidbits of knowledge that can carry a conversation if you’re ever bored at an airplane lounge. For example, I found out that Carlsberg is from Denmark in my ‘Go To Brew‘ post and the origin of the term ‘banquet beer‘ in the next nomination. Researching airlines, I also found some fun facts starting with Abu Dhabi’s own Etihad Airways.

As an intermediate’ Arabic speaker according to my Linked-In profile, I should know what ‘etihad’ means. Since I didn’t I had to ask my mom for a proper translation because Google’s translation of ‘united’ wouldn’t convey the message in English as well as an explanation in Arabic. Roughly speaking, etihad translates as ‘together’ or ‘join in one’ which goes with the name of the country United Arab Emirates. The UAE is divided into seven emirates with the more known emirates being Dubai, Sharjah, and the capital Abu Dhabi. Incidentally, each counts as a ‘country’ according to the TCC country count list.

Make no mistake, though Etihad may mean ‘united’ or ‘come together’ there is a strong rivalry that exists among the emirates. The rise of Etihad Airways to a global player not a regional carrier is a result of Dubai’s Sheikh Maktoum’s refusal to sell Emirates to Abu Dhabi after seeking a bailout during the financial downturn. Emirates Airlines is the pride and joy of Dubai and there was no way that Sheikh Maktoum would part with it. Dubai did change the name of one of the world’s tallest buildings from Burj Dubai to Burj Khalifa, the name of Sheikh Khalifa, the president of the UAE, to pay tribute.

I’ve yet to fly on Etihad but when I do I’ll at least know what it means.

This wasn’t the case for the football club Manchester City whose marketers didn’t do their due diligence when agreeing to call their field Etihad stadium, unknowingly incorporating the name of their bitter rival Manchester United.

what does etihad mean — Etihad means I’ll be flying in the first-class apartments soon.

Holiday Inn Express Miles City: The Worst Hotel Ever?

thepointsoflife

-

March 8, 2015

11

Holiday Inn Express Miles City: The Worst Hotel Ever?

You may be asking where in the world is Miles City? That answer is irrelevant because there’s no reason to go there especially considering the below average awful service received at the Holiday Inn Express Miles City.

Here’s the letter going to IHG on a forgettable experience:

Upon arriving at the Holiday Inn Express Miles City, Dixie checked us in. To put it mildly, Dixie was very rude. We had reserved a room with two queen beds at the brevity rate of $89.

We went to our room which had one queen bed. We called to request the room we had reserved and were told, “You have two TV’s and a pull out couch.” We informed the front desk that we had reserved two beds, for two adults in the room. We were told that the $89 rate was unheard of and that we couldn’t change rooms. Dixie then proceeded to hang up the phone. When I called back, Dixie curtly remarked that the phones are “really busy” and that the hotel was full. She did say that I could check back later in the evening. It was 11PM.

The front desk then called and told me that my credit card had been declined (probably because I was in the middle of nowhere), and rudely told me to come down. She said, “I need a working card if you want to keep the room.”

At the front desk, I again requested a room change and was told I could go to another IHG hotel conveniently located 75.4 miles away.

Dixie then, impolitely remarked, “We have two funerals and a basketball tournament, you’re lucky you have a room.”

What an incredibly insensitive thing to say given that we were in town for a funeral.

Again, I would like to state that our reservation for 2 queens but we were given one. But lucky for us, we had two televisions.

IBA: Best Banquet Brew

Food & Drink

thepointsoflife

-

March 7, 2015

0

The International Brew Awards must go on but not before announcing the winner of “Best Go to Brew Abroad.” The nominees were Carlsberg, Heineken, Tiger, Budweiser, and Corona.

And the winner is….

Carlsberg!

This was a complete shock for me as I don’t particularly like Carlsberg. What was more surprising was that my choice, Corona, didn’t receive a single vote.

Our next category is Best Banquet Brew.

Forget the snooty Europeans and their uppity beers. This is America. We enjoy our banquet beer.

What is a banquet beer? According to legend (Google) Adolf Coors would throw banquets for miners coming to town as a brief respite from the grinds of mining life. According to me, a banquet beer is the everyday beer that gets the job done.

It goes well with a burger, particularly a butter burger, like so. (Side note: if you’re looking for the best burgers in America, look no further than to this pleasant man’s blog on the subject.)

Without wasting your time any further, here are the nominees for Best Banquet Brew.

(Coors Original from which this category gets its name is not included. It’s disgusting. Feel free to disagree.)

I’ll announce the winner next week but till then crack open a few dozen of each and see which one you enjoy the most.

Git ‘R Done America

Is This the Greatest Author Website Ever?

thepointsoflife

-

March 6, 2015

0

Is This the Greatest Author Website Ever?

Aa ha! It is I Alexander the Author hijacking ThePointsOfLife page because I have 11 lowly Twitter followers on @AuthorIskender and I wanted to share the website I built today to promote my other favorite pastime, writing books.

Since I gave up modesty for Lent, I have to answer ‘yes’ to the question in the title of the post. I’m sure some of those angries (check out the comments on that post) will dissent and make their feelings known below. But a little click-bait never hurt anyone especially because I’m proud of all the work I did to put the site together.

Check it out! www.alexandertheauthor.com

Interrupting

Sorry guys,

It is I ThePointsOfLife. This guy really doesn’t get that nobody cares about his books. I’m changing the password tonight and will teach everyone how to fly to the moon on points tomorrow.

Goodnight

Alexander The Author Leaves ThePointsOfLife

Professor

thepointsoflife

-

March 5, 2015

2

Alexander The Author Leaves ThePointsOfLife

I started my blog on March 19th, 2014 to promote my book. (click to see one of my very first posts, it’s worth a read.) Since then ThePointsOfLife has grown into a travel blog and a points strategy operation. Due to this evolution, I regret to inform the readers that there really is no more room for Alexander The Author. We thank him for his service and wish him all the best with his future endeavors.

What does this really mean? Simply that ThePointsOfLife will stop pushing book sales (click here to buy my book) and focus on what the analytics have shown to be of interest to the readers: points and travel.

Minus the occasional unexpected pop in by The Author for shameless self-promotion, all book related activities can now be found on at www.alexandertheauthor.com (site looks like crap currently), facebook.com/alexandertheauthor, and on Twitter @authorIskender (Alexander in Arabic).

While I enjoy writing books as much as I have grown to enjoy blogging about bullshit, I believe it is time to separate my personalities so that readers read what they want to read when and where they want to read it.

So if you’re interested please check out my alter ego, Alexander The Author. If you’re not then kindly bid him adieu.

If you're confused about who ThePointsOfLife and Alexander The Author is, then let me quote Snoop a loop: He is I, and I am him, slim with the tilted brim — If you’re confused about who ThePointsOfLife and Alexander The Author is, then let me quote Snoop a loop: He is I, and I am him, slim with the tilted brim

Can REDbird Increase an Average Credit Score?

Points

thepointsoflife

-

March 4, 2015

2

Can REDbird Increase an Average Credit Score?

Greetings everyone,

Yesterday was a damning day for the points churner known as ThePointsOfLife. Barclays recon rejected me for my 4th US Airways Card. Not since being put on hold by the US Bank fraud department while fueling THEbird, have I felt such embarrassment.

Friends on Twitter, blog colleagues, and total strangers have sympathized with my plight sending me well wishes and similar horror stories of their own rejections.

The reasons for not being approved are as bogus as multiple criminal charges for the same offense:

public intoxication (too many inquiries)
disturbing the peace (maximum credit extended)
open container (cards not open long enough)
disorderly conduct (too many revolving accounts)

The explanation for all those things (I was intoxicated, I’m addicted to points) used to be so easy to overcome. Somehow I came before a judge determined to teach me a lesson; hard time in the clink with no possibility of points parole.

One day removed as a points outcast, I began to wonder if my accomplice REDbird had anything to do with my sad state of affairs. Could it be that my revolving accounts which had recently taken a 15k shopping spree at Target had anything to do with my rejection?

While I have concluded that it most likely had not, I did began to think that flying with THEbird every month could create a pattern of healthy spending that could hypothetically increase an average credit score to a great one or make a great one greater.

It will take time to find out the effects of using the prettyBIRD for this purpose and the final results still may be ambiguous even if my score increases as all the other charges against me may be dropped due to good behavior.

Either way, at least I can take solace in knowing THEbird is on my side until he’s locked up in a cage for abuse as well.

increase an average credit score — Don’t send me back to the Bluebird, I can’t go back.

Barclays Departure Card: The Recon Rejection

thepointsoflife

-

March 3, 2015

2

Barclays Departure Card: The Recon Rejection

I had my script and my upbeat positive attitude all ready to go. Another Barclays US Airways offer for 50k American miles was on the line. This would be my fourth. Fellow bloggers have gone for and been approved for their fifth!

The call went like they all do: confirm this, double check that etc. Then after my time on hold the agent came back and delivered the bad news:

I’m sorry we can’t approve you at this time.

Shocked and saddened, I hung up the phone in disbelief.

“At this time”, what did she mean at this time? Doesn’t she know that US Airways is going away for good?

Too distraught I didn’t even bother calling again nor do I think I will.

Barclays Arrival Card? More like Barclays Departure.

Sad day ya’ll.

barclays us airways offer — My world just got smaller. Jerks.

Onto the Recon

thepointsoflife

-

March 2, 2015

0

This year I’ve written about what I’m keeping in my wallet in 2015, my hypothesis that churning is getting easier from a software perspective, and how I felt like Vivian at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel while trying to feed THEbird.

Today I did my baby churn consisting of two cards: the 50k United from Chase and the 50k US Airways from Barclays. These are great offers of which I wish I had an affiliate link. Alas, I’m not one of the chosen ones.

As far as those banks are concerned, the days of instant approval are gone. The quick call to the recon department was delayed till tomorrow because both offices were closed.

All of this had me wondering and wishing for two things as an entitled, lazy points churner:

Why can’t I reload THEbird from home? The theatrics of going to Target could be avoided.
Why don’t the banks have a policy like the cell phone companies that allow me to upgrade my card every few months? The calls to recon are like reading for a Hollywood casting call.

These reasonable requests are just like my prayers for a money tree in my backyard that has yet to blossom.

Fraud Protection Alert: REDbird 1st of the Month

thepointsoflife

-

March 1, 2015

7

Fraud Protection Alert: REDbird 1st of the Month

Wake up, wake up, wake up it’s the 1st of the month
To get up, get up, get up so cash your checks and get up.

Bone Thugs foreshadowed our daily first of the month routine. What they didn’t forecast was the hassle of reloading the bird. I don’t know what is worse: the stares from the Target employees who think I’m doing something illegal or the absurd hold times by the fraud department wondering why I’m making purchases at Target. It’s Target! CVS wasn’t more suspicious?

“$1000 please,” leads to “Sorry, your card is declined,’ leads to hold time leads to please try again and more uncomfortable looks. Brief satisfaction of feeding the bird subsides when I realize that I have to come back to Target again and do it all over again.

All in a day’s work I guess.

Oh God how I love when the 1st come around
Now I’m feelin’ black and mild, headed cross town