The sale of the decade, everything must go, better than my first orgasm, were words used to describe Garuda’s 90% off sale. For those of you from Michigan, it was akin to Mr. Allen’s 29 or 2 for 50 promotions. Sure the numbers sound great, but can you really get those pumped up kicks?
I’ll tell you what I got. I got nothing. And the reason was not because I could not get through to an agent. I bypassed that problem and went straight to Garuda’s ticket office in Jakarta. I waited in the DMV queue for my number to be called. I approached the agent with my dream routing and the days I wanted to go.
At first I was looking for two long-haul first-class tickets from Jakarta to Europe and vice versa in May. I quickly expanded the search from any day in February through any day through end of May. Then I said let’s drop the number of tickets to one. Then I said let’s forget about long-haul. Then I said let’s try long-haul business. Then I said let’s try island hopper short of the short haul. Then I said, “Is there anything in economy?”
When it was all said and done, I had no great options. One business class ticket from Jakarta to Mumbai, two business class tickets from Hong Kong to Jakarta, and a few economy choices from “it’s just not worth it” to…
Since I was in Jakarta, I could buy the points directly from the ticket office and it would have only cost me a few hundred dollars to go from Hong Kong to Jakarta in business then Jakarta to Sydney in economy. That’s a good deal…if I lived in Asia. But I don’t and I can’t get excited about a 5 hour flight in business no matter how great the service is. Surprisingly, even I have better things to do than fly halfway around the world for some bubbles.
It was a fun coincidence to be in Jakarta when news of this sale broke. I do not mind that I spent my entire afternoon trying to capitalize on this deal. Even though there was some deals to be had, I came for the prime cuts and refused to settle for the bread crumbs.
Anyone you know get a first-class long haul flight on sale?
Live From Jakarta! Garuda’s 90% Off Sale, 100% Unavailable
Win Super Bowl Tickets Via Marriott…To See My Detroit Lions?
Do you hate calling the front desk to ask for toothpaste? Do you dislike speaking to people in general? Many hotels have solved this problem by providing a mobile app whereby guests can request extra toilet paper without having to bother the wake up guy. (reference Seinfeld)
In order to get more people to try out the service, Marriott is awarding one member who makes a request via its Marriott Mobile App between now and January 10th with Super Bowl tickets.
I am sure that my Detroit Lions are going so please be sure to invite me if you win.
You can find out all the details here.
TPOL’s Technical Troubles
My plan is to write my trip report in real time, allowing for a day lag so jeepers creepers don’t know exactly where I am. I had hoped that I could use my wireless keyboard and my Samsung S7 to do all of this.
For editing, I use Ginger Page, a great app that plays back my beautiful words to me and spots spelling and grammar issues. For photos, I’ve been messing with Image Shrink and Photo & Picture Resizer, apps which would make it much faster to upload the photos to the WordPress app.
Well things are not going according to plan. First, even with the resized photos, it takes forever to get them into WordPress. In my Andaz Wall Street post, I gave up trying and hit publish, having not uploaded all the photos. My backup plan was to write the posts on my phone, upload the photos to the media library, then use my laptop to insert them into the post. Something happened to my power cord and now my laptop is dead with no hope of revival unless I can find a Lenovo reseller in Indonesia.
Three days ago, I wrote about Amazon’s 22nd century technology. Today, I am wondering how it is possible that I can’t blog without tethering myself to a laptop and super duper high speed Internet.
Maybe a tablet is the solution. Maybe one of those stupid Microsoft Surface Pros. It can’t be Apple! I refuse.
Andaz Wall Street: A City Asleep
When you think Wall Street, you think Gordon Gecko. I always wanted to work on Wall Street but that 19/100 in Calculus 115 forced me to become an economics major at the University of Michigan instead of a Ross School of Business man. Out of spite and inadequacy, I did an MBA, hoping that all roads would lead to Wall Street. They did not.
Instead, I had to use my blog to announce my triumphant entrance to the capital of the finance world. I did so by booking one night at the Andaz Wall Street.
The Location
Centrally located at 75 Wall Street, the Andaz is just the spot to plot your next corporate takeover. Actually, if you are not in NY on business, I would not recommend staying in the Financial District. Come closing bell, there is nothing to do. That Petula Clark is full of shit man.
The Andaz Brand
I’ve stayed at a few Andaz hotels, most notably the Andaz Shanghai and the Andaz Napa. I have written before that the Andaz is what the W Hotel aspires to be. Its trendy without being Ikea. The Andaz Wall Street was more subdued. It felt more like a Park Hyatt without the refinement.
The Room
The room reminded me of a Curb Your Enthusiasm episode where Michael J Fox stomped all over the apartment annoying Mr. David. In this room, no matter where I stepped, it sounded like I was walking on plastic bags. There’s something up with the floor making a noise.
Besides the weird noise, the room was fine. The bed was nice and it was large compared to many NY hotel rooms. The TV needs to be upgraded.
The Bath
The front desk told me that I was upgraded to a room with a deluxe bathtub, something that I rarely use. Unless my St. Regis butler is making me a bubble bath, I will pass. There’s also a question of cleanliness if it is a hot tub.
The Shower
Like the Park Hyatt NYC, the Andaz has a great mirror in the shower, perfect for giving yourself a pep talk before heading to Chase to close that big corporate deal i.e., beg to be approved for the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
Breakfast
Sorry everyone, I woke up at 11AM, 30 minutes after breakfast cut off. I imagine the eggs would have been good.
Overall
I stayed at the Andaz Wall Street because it was the cheapest Hyatt available the night before my flight to Hong Kong. I needed Hyatt Stays to requalify for Diamond so I rationalized staying here. It’s a nice hotel but rather pointless unless you need to be in FiDi for work.
Amazon Locker: 22nd Century Technology
While we are not quite at the 3 seashell Demolition Man level, we are getting closer. A great stride for all of mankind is the invention of Amazon Locker, a service that takes Amazon Prime to a whole new level.
Due to weather delays, my vacation attire was not shipped on time. With one night in NYC before heading to Asia, I had two choices: Go to 5th Avenue and overpay for clothes. Try out Amazon Locker.
I went to Amazon.com and added its finest $9.99 T-shirts to my cart. I then picked a location near the Andaz Wall Street where my package would be delivered. The pick up spot was a 7-Eleven and the package would be there no later than the next day. I hit order and waited for delivery confirmation.
The next day I received an email and made my way to the 7-Eleven. As I walked to the store, I was trying to figure out how this service worked. Would I have to ask the clerk to get my stuff? How was it available at any time? What happens if I want to return the item?
I got to the store and everything made immediate sense. In the back left, next to the ATM, were a bunch of lockers and a monitor. I typed in my confirmation code and wouldn’t you know it, a locker popped open.
I grabbed the stuff, bought a Slurpee, and headed back to the Andaz. Moments later, I received an email confirming that my swag had been picked up.
What a great experience. Let’s hope the shirts fit as I have no choice but to keep them, at least until I return.
Stumptown Coffee NYC: What A Wait
Delta Sky Club MSP: A Bloody Mary Under Construction
The real time blogging begins with a review of the Delta Sky Club MSP. Per usual, I’m in the back of a Delta flight on my way back to New York City.
With only one hour to make my connection, I had just enough time for a quick stop at the Delta Sky Club MSP which is currently under construction. I understand that MSP is a Delta hub so there are a lot of Delta elites and Amex Platinum cardholders that need a lounge to rest and relax. Having just one functional lounge in the entire airport would make the other Delta lounge even more crowded. Having said that, I am ready for this lounge to be renovated. In its present state, it is a glorified bus station.
There’s self-serve coffee and water out like a construction site, a trough of snacks that are unappetizing, and a liquor selection that makes sobriety seem wortwhile.
Not one to pass on a drink, I made myself a fancy Bloody Mary, utilizing the ingredients at my disposal. This included Stoli vodka, quite possibly the worst pre-mix, and an ample amount of green olives. As I poured my mix from one glass to another and back again, a few people gathered around to watch what I was doing. If you thought taking photos of a lounge was awkward, imagine receiving drink requests when you’re not on the clock.
Despite my best efforts, the Bloody Mary was not very good. I took a few sips and tossed it.
Now I’m off to New York.
The 28,674 Mile Trip In [Mostly] Premium Is Underway!
![The 28,674 Mile Trip In [Mostly] Premium Is Underway!](https://thepointsoflife.boardingarea.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/1-1-768x410.jpg "The 28,674 Mile Trip In [Mostly] Premium Is Underway!")
- New York, New York
- Bangkok, Thailand
- Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Jakarta, Indonesia
- Kota Kinabalu, Indonesia
- Guangzhou, China
- Hong Kong
- Shenzhen, China
- Sanya, China
TPOL 2.5 has officially launched. The website looks the same but my approach is different. I will be writing this trip report in real-time instead of pretending I will write one when I return. Some may say, go on vacation, enjoy yourself, forget the blog. I disagree. I think I will be able to savor more of my vacation if I take timeout to write posts on the go. And ‘on the go’ is where I am going. Checkout the Great Circle Mapper which has me crisscrossing Asia for no particular reason for a total distance flown of 28,674 miles.
I will try to pay attention to grammar and keep the posts substantive but sometimes I observe something and I want to share a quick recap. Inevitably, that gets a ‘this post was such a waste of my time’ response. This begs the question, “Isn’t it easier to just click onto the next post than to waste your time writing a comment?”
I hope you enjoy my new way of doing things. Let’s see how it goes.
Alaska Airlines Approved! We’re Back
Before the Festivus offenders of 2015 & 2016, it used to be so easy to sit at home and churn. It was even easier to hit the mins using the RedBird. After that gravy train was crushed by atherrosclerosis many of us retired from MS and tried to get our lives together. To MSers who continue to spend their weekends at Walmart instead of in front of a warm fire, I applaud your efforts to gather millions of points doing what you do. It’s not that the rest of us are against free trips and cash back, it’s that we weigh the opportunity cost of jumping through hoops versus making do with what we have.
And what I have this weekend is nothing short of a Christmas miracle: 4 Applications: 2 instant approvals (Aviator & LifeMiles) and now another approval for the Alaska personal. Even if I am not approved for the Alaska business, I am sitting pretty for 2017 and 2018 for points travel. Sure I don’t have an 8 figure balance, but I also don’t have to worry about the points police coming to take me away. If they come knocking on your door, be sure to call Bachuwa Law, your bank shutdown legal specialist.
LifeMiles Avianca Vuela Visa: Churning Into The Night
Deep in the night I’m looking for some fun Deep in the night I’m looking for some love Deep in the night I’m looking for some fun Deep in the night I’m looking for some…
Cards to churn.
I don’t know how you chose to spend your Friday night but I spent mine hitting the churn pipe. It started off with a Barclays AA Aviator app and approval which was followed by an Alaska personal and business pending result. On tilt, I went to OMAAT’s Best Credit Card Offers (TPOL is too poor to have credit card affiliate links, support him in other ways) and scanned the list. At the very bottom there was an offer for the LifeMiles card which apparently gives 60k LifeMiles using the promo code AVSPWE at the time of application. I had this card with US Bank and used the points to fly business class on SQ from Shanghai to Bali. I know that US Bank is tough as nails when it comes to credit card approvals which is why I was happy to discover that it’s actually a foreign bank that provides the card. After many security questions, I was approved and should receive my card and the $149 annual fee in the coming weeks.
Without MS, my balances were getting a little shaky. With these two cards, I think I can pull off a few more trips before getting anxious again.
