This is depressing. There will be no bracket this year. Instead of dwelling on that, let’s recap all the good times that March Madness brought.
4. The Best Bracket Bet: Loser Flies Coach Long-Long Haul (2017)
5. Do You Believe in Miracles? If Not It’s Air India
6. Miracle!!! No Air India For Me!
7. Final Four San Antonio 2018: Trip Recap
8. TPOL’s 2019 Winning NCAA Bracket!
To all the outraged blog commentators that slammed me for killing the economy by cancelling my Delta flight, I ask where’s the outrageous on what our President has just done? Banning travel from Europe for non-Americans is utterly stupid. I don’t know why I have to explain the obvious, but some ignoramus may think it’s a good idea and may actually read this. The chances of convincing said person that I’m right is less than zero, but maybe I can prompt that person to give me a reason why I’m wrong.
First, the virus is already here. Blaming Europe or China or space invaders by issuing a travel ban doesn’t solve the problem. Second, look at the Dow. Can you say calamity? Presidents are supposed to calm the markets, not set fire to them. Third, US citizens can still fly from Europe. Luckily, they won’t bring in coronavirus because they are American.
The world needs collaboration. It doesn’t need fragmentation. The world needs pragmatism. It doesn’t need politics. The world needs a leader. It doesn’t need Trump.
I book. I cancel. I rebook. I cancel. I hope to be done writing about those cancellations (see Share Your Favorite Corona Photo: Win a Flight to Puerto Rico!). I want to focus on actual travel. The problem with this approach is that there is always new news on the C word. What’s a travel blogger to do without travel? What’s TPOL to do if I can’t plot imaginary trips? I have no answers. I used to enjoy checking my points balances and letting my mind wander as to where I could go with all these points. Now, I don’t see the point of doing that. The one advantage of not going anywhere is catching up on Trip Reports, but looking at pictures of those good times makes me more distressed as to the current situation. It seems like it will be many months before travel goes back to normal. Here’s to hoping that I’m wrong.
Coronavirus has brought out the worst in blog commentators (see Thank You Delta: Coronavirus Waiver). It also has me canceling all my flights (see TPOL Cancels NY, Dow Doesn’t Plunge). Corona, the beer, on the other hand, brings out the best in people. Because I have no plans on leaving PR in the near feature and because I would love to have a a TPOL fan come out here to play a round of golf or an angry reader come out here and talk shit in-person, I am offering a one-way ticket to the person who has taken the best photo of Corona the cerveza.
Because I am a lawyer, I must include terms:
I’m assuming the trolls won’t answer because they, for all their talk, are probably in hiding themselves (and probably not because of coronavirus).
Here is my corona picture, email me yours to alexander at thepointsoflife dot com.
#findyourbeach #findyourmask #donttouchyourface
Hyatt Regency Reagan Airport Hotel Review is part of the TPOL Won’t Visit All 50 States And That’s OK Trip Report.
On my way to Williamsburg, Virginia I had to spend a night in DC (technically Arlington, Virginia). I chose the Hyatt Regency Reagan Airport because I arrived late and wanted to get right to my hotel.
Airport Shuttle
Unlike my Aloft Denver experience, the shuttle arrived promptly (see Complaint Of The Day: Airport to Hotel Shuttles).
Oh No, I’ve Been Upgraded
Usually when I hear the sweet words, “You’ve been upgraded,” I get excited. Since I was only going to be in the hotel for hours and since I was so tired, I did not care. On the contrary, I knew that a bigger room would mean less sleep because my blog responsibilities required that I document all photos of the room. This isn’t the first time I have felt this way (see Hyatt Centric Fisherman’s Wharf San Francisco: I Hate Suite Reviewing).
Bedroom
I have to commend Hyatt Regency for its airport hotels. This one was immaculate and the Hyatt Regency Chicago O’Hare is still the best.
TV
There was a giant TV in the living room, just in case you want to throw a Superbowl party.
Bathroom
Overall
Looking to stay close to the airport, the Hyatt Regency Reagan is a good choice, suite or no suite.
Hyatt Regency Reagan Airport Hotel Review is part of the TPOL Won’t Visit All 50 States And That’s OK Trip Report.
Yesterday, I wrote that fares were too cheap to pass on a business trip to NY. Today, I read de Blasio’s warning to avoid crowded subways. I made the decision to postpone my trip until the hysteria dies down. According to angry readers, my action will cripple the economy.
This pandemic reminds me of my obsession with tracking Hurricane Dorian last year while I was living in Shanghai. Ultimately, nothing happened and I swore never to check another radar again. If a hurricane is coming and I’m not here, it’ll either hit my place or it won’t.
Perhaps the same will come of coronavirus, and the doomsday scenario will not come to fruition. However, it can’t be ignored that many people have already died and we still have no idea what will happen next. Unlike weather or terrorism, which is more isolated and more random, this seems to be everywhere. For those that say the risk is being exaggerated, I respond by saying Italy is shutdown! That’s a country, not a ballpark or concert.
Last time, I was blasted for recommending that people do not travel. As people should do what they like, I’ll scale back that recommendation by saying don’t travel here. We have enough drama in Puerto Rico. I can already see the dramatic headline: Puerto Rico unprepared as coronavirus ravages island thanks to TPOL telling people not to travel here who then do so anyway just for spite.
I wrote about how AA let me cancel my flights with no fee and how Delta did the same. In the Delta post, I wrote that I don’t recommend people travel during this time of uncertainty. Crack open a corona and read those comments if you want to see the beauty of humanity.
I should have put an asterisk next to that recommendation. It now reads, don’t travel unless the price is right. Before TPOL became a travel blogger, he was a formally trained economist. I have to go to New York for work anyway and was amazed that it was only 3,700 Jetblue points each way. When a deal is this good, I’ll take my corona chances.
Would I travel abroad right now? I’ll let you know when Emirates drops its points requirements for first-class suites. 
Drukair Flight Review is part of the ANA, Take Me ‘Round the World Trip Report.
“On the Wings of the Dragon” is DrukAir’s slogan. When I learned Druk meant dragon in Bhutanese, I felt safe. It also didn’t hurt that I was flying on an Airbus A319. Look at these beautiful photos of the plane. I love the livery.
Business Class
I asked my tour guide who books business class. He chuckled and said that business class sells out only because there are limited flights to Bhutan and people will pay out of necessity.
Peasant Class
I was fine with my seat and meal. 
The flight time is less than one hour and most of it was spent staring out the window hoping to spot Mount Everest. Despite it being foggy, I was able to get one decent photo.
The rest of the flight was spent eagerly anticipating my journey to find happiness (see Happiness: TPOL’s Search for the Point of Life in Bhutan).
Arrival
After taking another photo of the plane and the airport, I was ready for the adventure to begin.
TPOL’s TIP: To see Everest, sit on the left if you’re flying from KTM to Paro. Sit on the right on the way back.
TPOL’s TIP: You can’t book flights to Bhutan with points. Indeed, you can’t book trips to Bhutan without hiring a local travel agent (see How to Book a Trip to Bhutan). The cost roundtrip for the flight was $403.
Drukair Flight Review is part of the ANA, Take Me ‘Round the World Trip Report.
Yesterday, I thanked American Airlines for allowing me to cancel my basic economy flight. My next call was the Delta. Like American, Delta let me cancel simply by saying I don’t want to fly because of coronavirus concerns. Like American, the trip didn’t qualify for cancellation. I booked it way back in January, but Delta made the exception with no fuss. Delta even refunded the $44 upgrade to premium economy (something I tried to book to trigger the Amex credit).
I have only one essential work trip to New York coming up. Besides that, I am following my own advice and staying home (see Travel Or Stay Inside? TPOL’s Thoughts on Coronavirus). I recommend you do the same.
Look above the title of this post. You’ll see that it falls under ‘Points-Complaining‘. I don’t have a section for Thank You’s because 1) I’m a salty bastard. 2) Companies don’t do the right thing (see Happy Festivus! Airing of Points Grievances 2019). Notwithstanding point one, I have to say thank you to American Airlines which issued a full voucher for a basic economy round-trip due to coronavirus. While the ticket was not purchased after March 1st and my departure was within fourteen days (the current guidelines for free waivers), AA made an exception. For that I am grateful.
However, since this is technically a complaining post, I will say that basic economy is unconscionable (United Basic Economy Review: It Sucks). I will also say that change fees for other classes of service are also unconscionable (see Careful! No 24 Hour Free JetBlue Cancellation w/in 7 Days of Departure). Southwest doesn’t implement such draconian measures and it is still profitable. Why should other airlines be so cold-hearted?
And back to my thank you. Thank you AA. You avoided the Festivus 2020 list, for now.
