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Brex Account Closure: Where to Transfer My Miles

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Brex Account Closure: Where to Transfer My Miles

Do you recall opening a Brex account (see Brex: The 110K Application, The Approval, But Only Conditionally, Brex 80k Posted! What About Payroll?, & Brex 110k Finally Complete)? I did it for the points and never used it. The company took notice and is giving me 30 days to move my 113,000 points to one of the following (below). Like selecting an arbitrator, I need to strike & rank these choices:

I’ll get rid of the following right away because admittedly I know nothing about the programs: AeroMexico, Asia Miles, Qantas.

Next to go is Emirates and SQ. I want to fly in the new first-class suites from the US, but who knows when that will happen. Since these miles expire and I don’t have concrete travel plans, these two programs are out.

That leaves me with Air France and Avianca. I once flew from Detroit to Naples for 18,750 points (see Flying Blue Promo! For 18k, I’ll Ride Coach to Napoli). I got what I paid for (Flying Blu, Literally Depressed: DTW-CDG Air France in Coach).

Turning to Avianca, despite the horror stories, I have found LifeMiles easy to redeem (see LifeMiles Great Customer Service: Seriously, True Story). For 87,000 miles I can fly from Germany to the US on Lufthansa First, something that I have yet to do. That sounds appealing.

Assuming I transfer 87k to LifeMiles, I will have 26k remaining. To diversify, I will transfer those to Air France to increase my balance from 16k to 42k, putting me in striking distance of a business class ticket to Europe.

Typically, I try to save my miles for flights to Asia or the Middle East and look for cheap options to get to Europe (see Iberia Business Booked for 25k Avios! Best Deal Ever?). Since I’m being forced to transfer the miles, I don’t feel guilty about allocating miles for a trip to Europe. Unless you have something better in mind, I believe this is the best course of action.

a man holding a bottle of champagne
Am I making the right choice? (photo from Air France Coach)

 

 

Scam Covid Test #1: Entering the UK

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Scam Covid Test #1: Entering the UK

Scam Covid Test #1 is part of the Punxsutawney TPOL Trip Report. Even if Covid tests are going away for travel, this was written before then and is published to document a time when the public was swindled.

In order to go to the UK, I needed a magical code that said I was registered for a Covid test to be taken my second day upon arrival. The price was $100 which is a rip-off for many reasons. First, the test only cost $35 in Colombia (see Room Service: I’m Here with Your Covid Test). Second, why do vaccinated people need to be tested? The testing inconvenience should be there to compel the anti-vaxxers to get with the program or stay home (see Like the Vaccine, Why Not Get TSA PreCheck?). Those vaccinated who test positive should be able to fly. The idea that they are going to spread covid more than it has already spread and the idea of having a zero covid policy is unreasonable. Covid is not going away, so stopping people who happen to test positive from traveling is pointless. Third, the time required to register for the test, wait for a confirmation email, and fill out the locator form is a buzzkill. We spent the better half of an afternoon in Copenhagen trying to get the right test ordered and the confirmation code. Of course, when we arrived in Scotland, the testing company said that the test would not be delivered before our trip to Belfast two days later.

This brings me to my third Covid test experience since this pandemic began, the first being in PR (see Thanks Donald! My COVID Test in Puerto Rico). The testing site is conveniently located at the airport. It is also inexplicably cheaper than the test in Scotland. Unlike the nose massage my first two times which were not unpleasant, this experience was no bueno. The woman in the hazmat suit stuck the swab down my throat until I gagged. Then she stuck it up both of my nostrils, not exactly a fetish that tickles my fancy.
The result was guaranteed to arrive before midnight. Given the football game in Madison (see Guns & Butter: Madison, Wisconsin Travel Guide), the food orgy in Copenhagen (see Punk Royale: Michelin Restaurant on Acid), and the partying in Edinburgh (see Guns & Butter: Edinburgh Travel Guide), I wasn’t supremely confident that I would not have a breakthrough infection. Like a final exam at the University of Michigan, I was held captive my first day in Belfast, obsessively checking my email for my result which arrived 20 minutes before midnight.  Unlike Calculus and Econ 401, I am happy to say that I passed the first time. Otherwise, I would have been stuck in dreary Belfast (see Guns & Butter: Belfast Travel Guide) for over a week, having to spend even more money on bullshit testing.
What a scam.
a green package with a white label
Scam packaging.

Priority Pass Edinburgh: Perfect Boothing

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Priority Pass Edinburgh: Perfect Boothing

Priority Pass Edinburgh Lounge Review is part of the Punxsutawney TPOL Trip Report.

Welcome to another Priority Pass Lounge Review. I am pleased to announce the Aspire Lounge in Edinburgh does not suck (see Priority Pass Jakarta Lounge Review: Yuck). In fact, it was very nice. Here’s why:

Self Service

I don’t like talking in the morning. In this lounge, the food is self-service. And it was very good.a tray of croissants on a table mushrooms cooking in a pan sausage sausages cooking in a pan a pan full of bacon a plate of food with beans and potatoes

Drinks

The bar is not self-service but that was fine. I was in no mood to drink following my Edinburgh escapades (see Guns & Butter: Edinburgh Travel Guide).a bar with shelves and lights

Soft drinks and juices are self-service. The latter comes from a neat dispensary.a soda dispenser in a bar a screen with fruit on it

Seating

I stopped taking pictures of every seat at every lounge. I don’t see the point of doing so. I do take pictures of comfortable seats that serve a purpose. Here, there was a booth, perfect for eating and perfect for resting. It was directly next to the boarding gate monitor, allowing me to enjoy the lounge in peace (see Boarding Announcement Paranoia).a room with a couch and a table a room with purple couches and a white table a room with purple chairs and a white table a table with a lamp in a bootha table with a sign on it

Overall

Thank you Priority Pass for a brief but restful stay.a glass door of a building

Guns & Butter: Edinburgh Travel Guide

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Guns & Butter: Edinburgh Travel Guide

Edinburgh Travel Guide is part of the Punxsutawney TPOL Trip Report.

TPOL’s Guns & Butter Travel Guide is the best way to see as much as you can in as little time as possible. Here’s how it works – A trip is composed of two factors: Labor And Lazy. The opportunity cost (what is given up) for relaxing and being Lazy is gained by being adventurous in the form of Labor and vice versa. The guide includes inefficient activities i.e., tourist traps that should be avoided and aspirational activities that are worth doing but may be impossible to see given the constraints of time and resources.

What to do in Scotland? That’s what I said when I landed in Edinburgh.

Party?

With Covid, most pubs closed by 11. Since I arrived at midnight, that option was out. Luckily, I have a friend whose nephew lives there. An hour after landing, I found myself at 4042. There’s a bar in the front and a dance floor in the back which played all the classic hip-hop hits.a building with a sign and purple lights

TPOL’s TIP: The address is 40-42 Grindlay St, Edinburgh EH3 9AP

Sleep

I don’t recommend staying at the Moxy hotel which is located at ‘everyone’s favorite neighborhood’ (see Moxy Edinburgh: Not My Favorite Hotel). a neon sign on a building

See

If you have been to the campus of the University of Toronto, you’ve been to Edinburgh. The Moxy is actually in the heart of the University of Edinburgh’s campus, so my Toronto comparison was especially true. a building with a sign on the side

Edinburgh Castle

I just stayed at a castle in Spain (see Guns & Butter: Ribera Del Duero, Madrid Travel Guide (Vino Edition)), but this one was a bit more impressive. Seeing Edinburgh Castle is a mandatory stop, though going inside is not. a road with a building on top of a hilla fence with a sign on it a group of people walking in front of a castle a city with many buildings and trees

Royal Mile

If you ever go to Shanghai, skip going to E. Nanjing Road. It’s a tourist trap. The same can be said of the Royal Mile which starts from the castle. The mile is full of the following: tourists, cashmere boutiques, whiskey stores, and sweet shops. It’s too busy for my taste. a sign on a wall a street sign on a building a sign on the sidewalk a store front with a sign on the front a building with flowers from the front

Cross the Bridge

Trying to get away from the crowds, we crossed the bridge to see Edinburgh from the other side.a train tracks and a building train tracks with trees and buildings in the background a tall stone building with a tall tower and a park with people and a bus with Scott Monument in the background a stone railing with a city in the background a stone walkway with a stone wall and a stone walkway with a stone wall and a stone wall with a stone wall and a stone wall with a stone wall and a stone wall with a stone wall

Pho

Looking to satisfy your pho fetish? There are plenty of places that claim to make pho. Finding one that did proved challenging (see Pho Edinburgh: Disappointing Adventure).a bowl of soup with meat and vegetables

Football Match at a Pub

To get excited for the castle, we stopped at Footlights which is at the foot of the mountain. After the walking tour, we returned to the same pub to watch Scotland take on Israel in a World Cup Qualifying game. They were down for most of the game, and the country was tense.

a blue building with orange trim

Here’s the reaction after a poorly placed PK.

Here’s the reaction when they won:

Bloggers often write about the cliche ‘authentic, local’ experience. This was it. And it was genuine.

TPOL’s Tip: The address is 7 Spittal St, Edinburgh EH3 9DY

Local Food

Have you ever tried haggis? While not as wild as my goat brain in Marrakech (see Medina, Marrakech: The Definitive Guide To Lamb Brain, Tongue, Eyeballs & More Food), it isn’t the most conventional of foods. Wiki describes it as “A savory pudding containing sheep’s pluck, minced with onion, oatmeal, suet, spices, and salt, mixed with stock, and cooked while traditionally encased in the animal’s stomach.” Most pubs serve it. We went to Last Drop to give it a try. It was nothing special in comparison to the locally made grapefruit-infused gin.

a street with shops and buildings on either side of it
A row of bar serving Haggis.

a sign on a wall a plate of food with gravy and a gravy boat

a row of beer taps
Wash down that Haggis with Scotland’s Tennent’s Lager.

Shawarma

Salt N Vinegar may go on the list for best shawarma in the world (see The Best Kebab in the World). It’s quality meat in a substantial size wrap. It’s a great way to cap off a day of exploring Edinburgh.a sign on a building a hand holding a wrap

TPOL’s Tip: The address is 75 Lothian Rd, Edinburgh EH3 9AW

A Note on Weather 

Some might ask for sunnier skies but gray and overcast is what I envisioned Scotland to be.

Overall

I saw what I needed to see in Edinburgh.

Pho Edinburgh: Disappointing Adventure

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Pho Edinburgh: Disappointing Adventure

Pho Edinburgh is part of the Punxsutawney TPOL Trip Report.

So many of the Punxsutawney TPOL posts includes the quote, “I have not done this in 17 months.” High on the list of things needed to be done was grab a bowl of pho. Edinburgh had many Vietnamese restaurants, so satisfying this craving should have been easy enough. It was not.

After touring the touristy Royal Mile and surrounding areas (see Guns & Butter: Edinburgh Travel Guide), we set off for some Vietnamese cuisine. The first place was only a few minutes away. Upon arrival, we learned it only served banh mi. The second place was 0.8 miles away. Upon arrival, we learned that this was not a pho place between a Vietnamese fusion restaurant. Fusion=inauthentic trash. The third place was around the corner. It served pho for the absurd price of 15 pounds. It also was fancy from the inside. That breaks the pho commandment of only eating at run-down places. Good pho=bad decor (see Pho Sho, Fu Uh Sho: The Top Ten Places to Get Pho!). Tired from walking, we decided to ignore golden rule and go inside. Fortunately, reservations were required at this overpriced placed and we were turned away.

TPOL’s Tip: Don’t eat pho at fancy places (see I Know When That Hot Bowl Blings…A Review of Pho in Brooklyn).

TPOL’s Tip: Google Maps is not to be trusted. Pho Near Me needs better SEO results.

The next place on the list was called Vietnamese House. It was over a mile from our current location. Lazy but still hungry, it was Uber time. While we were driving, I recognized many of the buildings. As it turned out, the restaurant was located next to my terrible hotel, the Moxy (see Moxy Edinburgh: Not My Favorite Hotel). Now I know why the hotel boasts about being in ‘everyone’s favorite location’. It’s the pho.a sign on a building

Spring Rolls

Back in rhythm, we ordered the shrimp spring rolls. They were quite good. As is always the case, the quality of spring rolls is not a preview of the pho.a plate of food on a table

Pho

The pho came in a disappointing small bowl. It also had beef that was overcooked and noodles that were too thick for my liking. Perhaps the broth would save the day. It did not. Though serviceable, it was not what I was hoping for after being away for so long. In fact, the Costco pho (see Instant Pho? En Casa Costco Pho Review) had more flavor. Adding sriracha and lime did not solve the trick.

a bowl of soup with meat and vegetables a bowl of soup with meat and sprouts

a bowl of soup with chopsticks a bowl of pink soup

Overall

Seeing as how I did not finish the whole bowl, I cannot recommend this place. The search for post-Covid pho continues.

Moxy Edinburgh: Not My Favorite Hotel

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Moxy Edinburgh: Not My Favorite Hotel

Moxy Edinburgh Hotel Review is part of the Punxsutawney TPOL Trip Report.

Getting There: I landed at midnight and missed the train to the city centre. I took Uber instead. When exiting the airport go right to locate the ‘meetup point’. It’s in the parking garage.

a sign in a parking garage

I was between two choices when it came to using my e-certs in Edinburgh. One was Courtyard and the other was Moxy. Courtyards aren’t remarkably nice, so I decided to check out Moxy. Based on the website, it looked like a combination of aloft and W. The website also described two noteworthy features:

  1. Check-in is at the bar. Guests are given a welcome drink.
  2. The hotel is located ‘in everyone’s favorite neighborhood’.a neon sign on a building

Checking In

The bar is located behind Covid proof glass, making the check-in less feel like a bank transaction in a grocery store. Thank you, Covid, again.a counter with a bar behind it

 

Welcome Drink

The drink had to be consumed in my room. a glass of liquid and a card on a table

$20 Credit

I was supposed to receive $20 per night I was there. Since I arrived after midnight, I asked if I could use the credit all on the second day. One person said no, but the next day another said yes. Since I have outstanding charges, I believe person one was correct. Time to contact Marriott (see Have You Ever Not Complained?).a restaurant with a bar and a sign

Room

This may be the worst room in the Marriott portfolio since the Element in NY. It was tiny and had a terribly uncomfortable bed.a bed in a room a tv on a wall in a room

Bathroom

I prefer the aloft soaps to Moxy’s Pepto.a couple of pink bottles of shampoo a shower head and faucet with pink bottles of shampoo a bathroom with a round mirror and a shower

Location

The location was a bit far from the touristy Royal Mile (see Guns & Butter: Edinburgh Travel Guide). It was, however, located in the heart of Edinburgh University Campus. This meant one thing: vomit. It was all over the sidewalk making me think that the aforementioned ‘everyone’ referred to the young drunkards who were not in short supply.a view of a city from a roof

Bar

I was excited to see Guinness, for the first time in ages, on tap. Unfortunately, the Co2 was out at the bar. I settled for the can. Though good, the pour was not spectacular.

a glass of beer on a table

Overall

This may be everyone’s favorite neighborhood, but it was not my favorite hotel.

Guns & Butter: Copenhagen Travel Guide

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Guns & Butter: Copenhagen Travel Guide

Copenhagen Travel Guide is part of the Punxsutawney TPOL Trip Report.

TPOL’s Guns & Butter Travel Guide is the best way to see as much as you can in as little time as possible. Here’s how it works – A trip is composed of two factors: Labor And Lazy. The opportunity cost (what is given up) for relaxing and being Lazy is gained by being adventurous in the form of Labor and vice versa. The guide includes inefficient activities i.e., tourist traps that should be avoided and aspirational activities that are worth doing but may be impossible to see given the constraints of time and resources.

I have been all over northern Europe including Iceland, Sweden, and Finland. While I have not been to Norway, I can predict that it will not be as great as Denmark. Here’s why:

People

Like Madison, Wisconsin, Copenhagen has such nice people (see Guns & Butter: Madison, Wisconsin Travel Guide). Everyone is genuinely friendly and helpful. I found myself jealous of the happy citizens of the Kingdom of Denmark. Their life looked satisfying.

Sights

The city is beautiful and walking around is the best way to see it.

  • Nyhavna water way with boats and buildings on the side a yellow building with people walking aroundboats on the water next to a dock with buildings in the background a boat on the water a dock with boats on it
  • Little Mermaid 

Tourist attraction it may be, but the walk to Little Mermaid is worth the effort. Should there be a pigeon on her, feel free to hurl a few rocks. Climbing on the monument is not allowed, bird.
a sign on a metal railing a statue of a mermaid on a rock with The Little Mermaid in the backgrounda statue of a mermaid on a rock with The Little Mermaid in the background a statue of a mermaid on a rock by a body of water with The Little Mermaid in the background

  • Amalienborg Palace 

This is the winter home of the monarchy. a brick courtyard with a statue of a horse on topa stone street with buildings and a dome with Amalienborg in the background a stone street with Amalienborg and people walking around

a statue of a man's head on a stone pedestal
FDR

Food

Is Copenhagen the food capital of the world? It is as impressive as Melbourne, Australia (see Guns & Butter: Melbourne Travel Guide). Here’s why:

  • Street Hot Dogs: I loved them in Reykjavik and I love them here. a tray of sausages on a pan a hot dog with pickles and a bun
  • Mussels: I paid the tourist premium for a meager portion of mussels in Nyhavn. But even if they weren’t endless like in Luxembourg (see Top to Bottom: Visiting Luxembourg City), they were delicious. And they came with a view.a table with a plate of food and glasses of beer on it
  • Thai: Like Melbourne, Copenhagen has cuisine from all over the world. I went to Khun Juk for some chicken coconut soup. The good news is that it was very good. The better news is that I finally was able to be rid of the Protos Gran Reserva (see Travel Lesson: Last Stop for Wine). And with a modest cork fee of 100 kronas ($15) when others were charged 5x?a plate of food and a wine bottle on a tablea bowl of soup with a lidTPOL’s Tip: The address is Store Kongensgade 9, 1264.
  • Punk Royale: The culinary experience of my life was Punk Royale (see Michelin Restaurant on Acid). Where else can everything and anything happen at dinner?a man sitting at a table with a lit candle a person lighting a cigarette a plate with food and syringes on it a hand with a bunch of black objects on it a woman sitting at a table with food and drinks

TPOL’s Tip: The address is Dronningens Tværgade 10, 1302.

Drink

I was never a big fan of Carlsberg but it grew on me. I have always been a fan of Tuborg and enjoyed many of those as well. By far the best beer was Grimbergen, also enjoyed at a premium because of the view.a glass of beer on a tablea bottle of beer on a tablea glass of beer on a table

Party

With only one night here, I needed to see what the party scene was like. Since the government declared Covid was over effective September 1st, 2021, the bars were full of friendly Danes looking to have a good time. a building with a neon sign

TPOL’s TIP: Don’t overlook the alcohol consumed at the 16 course Punk Royale. I learned this the day after.

TPOL’s Tip: Always get a burger if you do happen to consume like it’s the first time you’ve gone out in 17 months.burgers on a grill with a sign in the background

Avoid

Taking too many taxis. They are expensive. I also had an issue communicating with one driver. $20 later I ended up on the other side of the river. Luckily, there was a ferry to take me back across. I had another issue communicating with a taxi driver and ended up at the wrong Radisson, though alcohol might have been to blame for that one.a boat on the water a woman on a bicycle next to a yellow train

TPOL’s Tip: Euros are accepted on the ferry. Otherwise, you have to swim.

Stay

Copenhagen is expensive. The Radisson Blu Scandinavia was good enough because it was free on (45,000) points.Church Office Building with a sign in front of it

Next Time

As a consequence of my Travel Philosophy and in keeping with the Guns philosophy, I wasn’t able to see do, drink, eat everything in Copenhagen. But that’s the point.

a sign on a wood floor
You are now leaving a mask-free zone.

Another Amex Business Platinum: Worth It?

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Another Amex Business Platinum: Worth It?

Who knows what’s going on with Amex? Despite the scandal of someone approving many targeted offers with high sign-up bonuses which were eventually shut down, the Amex points keep rolling in. Last year, I took on more than I should have by applying for his and hers Biz platinum, his and hers Biz gold, and one United Business card (see Oops!… I Did It Again: Min Spending Hell). This year, those same offers are still available, but this time I am approaching it more cautiously by staggering my applications. With a $695 annual fee, I question whether having a 15k minimum spend to reach 150k points is worth it?

The answer for this points grubber is yes. First, the points alone justify the cost because one day I will take another trip around the world courtesy of ANA (see Booked! ANA RTW: 22,000 Miles in Glorious Business). Indeed, I will take several of these trips because I am flush with MRs. Second, the benefits of the card offset the annual fee. I will use my $400 Dell credits and my $120 in Adobe credits. The $200 airline credit is not as lucrative as it once was, but maybe it will come in handy for a golf trip (see Finally Using the Amex Airline Credit As Intended). Worst case, Amex shuts me down and Bachuwa Law has to hire more counsel to stop these unjust crackdowns (see Amex Shutdown? Remedy & Going Forward). In anticipation of that, I have $90 a quarter to spend at Indeed.

How many targeted offers have you received in the mail this week?

a map of the world

Keep vs. Cancel: Amex Business Bonvoy

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Keep vs. Cancel: Amex Business Bonvoy

One of the only good things from Covid was the generosity of the banks. That is over. I called to see if there was a retention offer for my Amex Business Bonvoy. Since the world is back to normal and since I barely use the card, I was not surprised that the answer was no. Last year, I received a $150 offer and a $15 credit for paying my wireless bill (see Keep vs. Cancel: Marriott Bonvoy Business). Like I have done for the last ten years, I am keeping the card because a free night at a devalued Marriott is better than paying for that Marriott.

a building with a purple sign
Maybe I can stay at another terrible Moxy.

Simply The Best: February 2022

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Simply The Best: February 2022

I can’t walk. I can dance. I can also blog. Here’s the best posts from February:

  1. Iberia Business ORD-MAD: Mask Jokes Literally Don’t Fly

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    “Tengo que beber más porque no quiero llevar la mascarilla” (I don’t want to drink more, but I do not want to wear a mask).
  2. Punk Royale Copenhagen: Michelin Restaurant on Acid

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    Warning: Do not read this if you are going to Copenhagen.
  3. TPOL’s Achilles Rehab Secret: Hydro Revolution

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    TPOL is no longer down. He is ever buoyant. You too can be thanks to Hydro Revolution.
  4. Guns & Butter: Ribera Del Duero, Madrid Travel Guide (Vino Edition)

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    Though it is only two hours away from Madrid, Ribera del Duero deserves its own post and enough time to see and drink it all.
  5. Inventing Anna v. TPOL: Do You Know Who I Am?

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    Don’t be a basic bitch
  6. Movin on Up! . . . to the MetLife Building

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    My Abagnale aspirations, minus prison, is one step closer.
  7. How to Earn TPOL Black & Blue Status

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    Today’s ire is directed at fellow BA blogger OMAAT and his new website enhancement.
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