Another Reason I Love Southwest Airlines

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Another Reason I Love Southwest Airlines

Capture
No thanks
TPOL is in Miami right now shirking his New Year’s resolution to stop traveling. I was supposed to go back to the City tomorrow but a quick check of the weather provided a strong disincentive to do so. Before I came to Florida, I booked multiple flights on Southwest using points which can be cancelled at any time with no penalty. Judging by the weather in NY, I’d say that speculatively booking the additional flights was the right move. Those of us with no airline status don’t have this luxury when booking on other airlines. This benefit is something that shouldn’t be overlooked, especially when the cold, dull days of winter in New York are upon us. Another added perk of flying Southwest is the ability to check in my golf clubs for free. Since the New Year is here and I have 3 more free rounds of Citi Prestige golf, I may never go back.
That's fake rain coming up
That’s fake rain coming up

Simply The Best: TPOL in 2015

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Simply The Best: TPOL in 2015

2015 is in the books and here are the top 10 most viewed posts from the year. It’s interesting which posts receive plenty of attention and which ones do not. 10. My Response to United CEO Munoz’s Letter to Me 

With the debacle of the CEO of United Airlines getting fired and enjoying his 4.9 million dollar parachute on the way down, United appointed Munoz to run what used to be my favorite domestic airline (in terms of points). Here’s his personal letter addressed to me:
With the debacle of the CEO of United Airlines getting fired and enjoying his 4.9 million dollar parachute on the way down, United appointed Munoz to run what used to be my favorite domestic airline (in terms of points).
Here’s his personal letter addressed to me:
9. 77,000 Trip Heard Round the World
It is my bold contention that this is the greatest award redemption of all time. I raise the challenge to any blogger, frequent flyer, or foe to prove otherwise.
It is my bold contention that this is the greatest award redemption of all time. I raise the challenge to any blogger, frequent flyer, or foe to prove otherwise.
8. Buyer’s Relief: Cancelled Etihad Apartments 
I had it all lined up and ready to go. The plan was to finish my epic Tahiti trip with a flight aboard Etihad Apartments. On paper, it looked like the world’s greatest redemption: Emirates Shower Class to Dubai and Shanghai , followed by Air New Zealand Dreamliner round trip to Tahiti for 60k United miles with free nights in the IHG Bora Bora and Hilton Moorea, then Shanghai to Abu Dhabi in Etihad business, culminating with the icing on the cake, Etihad Apartments from Abu Dhabi to JFK.
I had it all lined up and ready to go. The plan was to finish my epic Tahiti trip with a flight aboard Etihad Apartments. On paper, it looked like the world’s greatest redemption: Emirates Shower Class to Dubai and Shanghai , followed by Air New Zealand Dreamliner round trip to Tahiti for 60k United miles with free nights in the IHG Bora Bora and Hilton Moorea, then Shanghai to Abu Dhabi in Etihad business, culminating with the icing on the cake, Etihad Apartments from Abu Dhabi to JFK.
7. Where to Party: New Year’s Eve 2016
If you take a look at the New Year’s Roll Call Trip Report you’ll notice that the tradition of being out of the country for New Year’s Eve began in 2000 in Cancun, Mexico. From there it increasingly improved until last year’s destination which undoubtedly was the lamest place to ring in the New Year.
If you take a look at the New Year’s Roll Call Trip Report you’ll notice that the tradition of being out of the country for New Year’s Eve began in 2000 in Cancun, Mexico. From there it increasingly improved until last year’s destination which undoubtedly was the lamest place to ring in the New Year.
6. Dancin’ in Finnair Business: JFK-HEL
There aren’t too many bloggers out there who have flown Finnair Business class long-haul. For this reason, I’m going to spend a few more syllables detailing what was a great, professional trip flying from JFK to get to Helsinki. Actually, the trip across the Atlantic was more of a party thanks to the great selection of cocktails and DJ service provided by Nokia MixRadio.
There aren’t too many bloggers out there who have flown Finnair Business class long-haul. For this reason, I’m going to spend a few more syllables detailing what was a great, professional trip flying from JFK to get to Helsinki. Actually, the trip across the Atlantic was more of a party thanks to the great selection of cocktails and DJ service provided by Nokia MixRadio.
5. Why I Didn’t Cancel My Amex SPG
I was strongly leaning towards cancelling my SPG Amex because the $95 fee was due and I couldn’t justify paying it.
I was strongly leaning towards cancelling my SPG Amex because the $95 fee was due and I couldn’t justify paying it.
4. I’m Done with Manufactured Spending 
With the last Vanilla purchased today to hit the final min, I have decided to stop the manufactured spending madness. 44k here, 39k there, and thousands more from the glory days of REDbird have netted more points than I know what to do with. And that’s the problem.
With the last Vanilla purchased today to hit the final min, I have decided to stop the manufactured spending madness. 44k here, 39k there, and thousands more from the glory days of REDbird have netted more points than I know what to do with. And that’s the problem.
3. My Response to AA Ceo Parker’s Letter to Me 
Hi Doug, Many thanks for the email. Unlike the email from United’s CEO Munoz to whom I wish a speedy recovery, this one will remain positive though I do have a few recommendations as to how you can make American the best airline in the world.
Hi Doug,
Many thanks for the email. Unlike the email from United’s CEO Munoz to whom I wish a speedy recovery, this one will remain positive though I do have a few recommendations as to how you can make American the best airline in the world.
2. Chase Sapphire: No Retention Offer Again 
Another day, another annual fee (another year another Michigan loss to OSU) forced me to call Chase and plead for a retention offer. Call number one yielded nothing, not even the option to downgrade. Call number two resulted in the option to downgrade the card to the plastic no annual fee version.
Another day, another annual fee (another year another Michigan loss to OSU) forced me to call Chase and plead for a retention offer. Call number one yielded nothing, not even the option to downgrade. Call number two resulted in the option to downgrade the card to the plastic no annual fee version.
1. JAL Dreamliner Review: An American Marvel: SAN-NRT
It has been claimed that food tastes better on the Dreamliner because of the way the cabin is pressurized. Whether this is true, I have no idea but the Japanese entrée certainly did not disappoint.
It has been claimed that food tastes better on the Dreamliner because of the way the cabin is pressurized. Whether this is true, I have no idea but the Japanese entrée certainly did not disappoint.

TPOL Where You At? Travel Plans 2016

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TPOL Where You At? Travel Plans 2016

TPOL is on the road right now. After going to the Citrus Bowl and seeing the absolute beat down by the mighty Michigan Wolverines, TPOL headed down I-95 to Miami. Actually, he took the Sun Pass toll road. That explains my absence for the last couple of days. Now that I’m here, I’m strongly debating taking the Florida bar exam and as the famous proverb goes, taking my talents to South Beach. Here are my confirmed travel plans for 2016. Unfortunately, my newly minted Hyatt Diamond won’t get me a suite at the Park Hyatt in Marrakesh this year since the hotel delayed it’s opening till 2017.  

  1. Tahiti Triumph (May 2016): Dubai, Shanghai, Tahiti, Auckland, and Bangkok. How I will get home is a question for another day.
    Who can say no to Tahiti?
    Who can say no to Tahiti?
  2. Whose Land? Iceland (June 2016): Before the Club Carlson devaluation I booked 4 nights in Iceland which would be country #78 after Tahiti. The trip then rolls to the Park Hyatt Moscow which better not disappoint as I’ve delayed it enough.
    That's expensive.
    That’s expensive.
  3. That Champagne Lifestyle (August 2016): British had a sale. TPOL booked. And that’s how I’m going to Milan and South of France.
    I made a mistake and booked British Airways rt. I should've done AA one way and British the other.
    I made a mistake and booked British Airways rt. I should’ve done AA one way and British the other.
  4. New York (All of 2016): TPOL moved to New York in December. Here are his stories. (until he moves to Miami)
    How long will I stay?
    How long will I stay?
  5. BCS Playoffs: December 31st: I will be going to see Michigan in the BCS playoff game on New Years Eve.
    #goblue #Michigan #wolverines #citrusbowl
    Go Blue!

Simply The Best: December 2015

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Simply The Best: December 2015

And somehow it’s 2015. And like Mike & Mike TPOL is back and better than ever. Here’s the best posts from December 2015:

  1. Emirates Shower Class Booked en Route to Tahiti
    What’s better than flying Emirates Shower Class? Flying Emirates Shower class for a second time.
    What’s better than flying Emirates Shower Class? Flying Emirates Shower class for a second time.
  2.  EgyptAir: Warning Economy Class Review
    And with that, I thought I’d change it up and provide a review of EgyptAir’s economy flight from Athens to Cairo. I also flew EgyptAir from Cairo to Luxor and Cairo to Sharm. The details of this review are applicable to those flights as well.
    And with that, I thought I’d change it up and provide a review of EgyptAir’s economy flight from Athens to Cairo. I also flew EgyptAir from Cairo to Luxor and Cairo to Sharm. The details of this review are applicable to those flights as well.
  3.  Why I Didn’t Cancel My Amex SPG
    I was strongly leaning towards cancelling my SPG Amex because the $95 fee was due and I couldn’t justify paying it.
    I was strongly leaning towards cancelling my SPG Amex because the $95 fee was due and I couldn’t justify paying it.
  4.  Hyatt Sharm el-Sheikh Wants My Stool Sample
    After a terrible time in Sharm which included the worst food poisoning of my life and the taxi driver that fought with me over $2 at the airport nearly costing me my flight, I wrote an email to the GM of the resort.
    After a terrible time in Sharm which included the worst food poisoning of my life and the taxi driver that fought with me over $2 at the airport nearly costing me my flight, I wrote an email to the GM of the resort.
  5. Park Hyatt New York: Consistently Inconsistent
    In reviewing the Park Hyatt NY, I’m going to be brutally honest even if this upsets the blog community which, for the most part, holds this hotel in the highest regard.
    In reviewing the Park Hyatt NY, I’m going to be brutally honest even if this upsets the blog community which, for the most part, holds this hotel in the highest regard.
  6. Be Our Guest: Etihad First Class 777 Abu Dhabi to Los Angeles
    The captain came on the intercom to inform us that our flight time would be 16.5 hours long. Then he invited us to relax, lie-flat, as Etihad proudly presented – my first class dream service. I half expected Lumière to serenade me when I boarded the Etihad first class flight from Abu Dhabi to Los Angeles.
    The captain came on the intercom to inform us that our flight time would be 16.5 hours long. Then he invited us to relax, lie-flat, as Etihad proudly presented – my first class dream service. I half expected Lumière to serenade me when I boarded the Etihad first class flight from Abu Dhabi to Los Angeles.
  7. Le Meridien Pyramids: View of a Lifetime
    Waking up at Le Meridien Pyramids is like waking up Christmas morning. The excitement of drawing the curtains open to see one of the Wonders of the Ancient World in my backyard is incomparable. The view is surreal.
    Waking up at Le Meridien Pyramids is like waking up Christmas morning. The excitement of drawing the curtains open to see one of the Wonders of the Ancient World in my backyard is incomparable. The view is surreal.
       

Dear LaGuardia: We Deserve a Better Airport

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Dear LaGuardia: We Deserve a Better Airport

I arrived at LaGuardia airport en rout‎e to Orlando for the Citrus Bowl. I didn’t see the homeless people who, till recently, had made LaGuardia their home. One report said that there were people showering in the bathrooms and another said they brought their cats. The Mayor of New York said it was the Port Authority’s problem. The Port Authority didn’t seem eager to address the problem until recently when the problem received media exposure. The in-fighting among government agencies over a humanitarian problem shows the dysfunctionality of ‎bureaucracy. Even Joe Biden compared LaGuardia a third world country.‎ As a traveler, I was surprised that there isn’t TSA PreCheck in Terminal B for Southwest flights. How is it possible that Flint, MI has TSA PreCheck but an airport in New York doesn’t?  There is no justification for this so don’t bother providing one. ‎There is an Amex Centurion lounge but it located before security which is why I skipped it. Without the safety net of expedited screening, how comfortable can anyone be in an airport lounge? The airport terminal is ugly and dated. I can’t imagine what international travelers who transit through LGA think when they come here. “This is the airport for the capital of the world? If I had to judge a city by the airport, I’d rather live in Newark.” Road warriors deserve a better airport. Tourists deserve a better airport. ‎New York deserves a better airport.

Buyer’s Relief: Cancelled Etihad Apartments

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Buyer’s Relief: Cancelled Etihad Apartments

I had it all lined up and ready to go. The plan was to finish my epic Tahiti trip with a flight aboard Etihad Apartments. On paper, it looked like the world’s greatest redemption: Emirates Shower Class to Dubai and Shanghai , followed by Air New Zealand Dreamliner round trip to Tahiti for 60k United miles with free nights in the IHG Bora Bora and Hilton Moorea, then Shanghai to Abu Dhabi in Etihad business, culminating with the icing on the cake, Etihad Apartments from Abu Dhabi to JFK. The cost of the two Etihad flights was $30 + 120,000 AAdvantage miles. I rationalized that receiving a 10,000 mile rebate from having the Citi AA card would make the 110k redemption worthwhile. During the booking process, the agent in the AA Singapore office (since the AA American office still can’t find availability) asked me if I thought it was worth spending 120k to fly from Asia to the US in first when a first class flight would only be 67,500 on Cathay Pacific. Consumed by apartments and not by sound logic, I said of course. All night I tossed and turned as the agent’s words replayed in my head. Was it really worth spending double miles simply for apartments? Then the back and forth ensued: Back: AA is devaluing, if you want to fly Cathay after March you’ll end up paying 120k. This way you get business class and apartments for the same price. Don’t forget you’ll receive a 9k rebate! Forth: Idiot, you know you’ll find a way to book apartments before then. Don’t waste your points. Back & Forth: Why don’t you just book the apartments from AUH-JFK. That will cost you 90k points and then you can find a way to get to Abu Dhabi without burning 30k points. Back: You might as well pay the 30k then because it’s a 10 hour flight from Shanghai to Abu Dhabi in Etihad business. Back Or Forth: Why is it so hard to find Singapore Suite class availability? TPOL: I’m cancelling the hold and going to sleep. What would you do next? original_Etihad_A380-The_Residence_Lounge

Ticket Scalping NYC: Know Before You Go

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Ticket Scalping NYC: Know Before You Go

Tonight, I went to see my beloved Detroit Basketball! Pistons at Madison Square Garden. Fresh from a bargaining victory at Yankee Stadium where I procured 4 tickets for $60 when their face value was $95, I was eager to test out the ticket resale market in NYC. As I was approaching MSG, a man asked me if I wanted tickets. I asked how much. He said $150 a piece. I told him how about 3 for $100. He immediately accepted. In Asia and the Middle East, I’ve learned the art of the deal so well that I believe I can go toe to toe with a certain presidential candidate. The unwritten ethical rule of street hustling calls for a party to go through with the transaction after an offer is extended and is consequently accepted. One can’t renegotiate a new price simply because the selling party was so eager to go through with the transaction. Today, I exercised the exception to this rule: the purchaser can withdraw from the transaction entirely when he reasonably expects that the other party is purporting to commit fraud. Here, I reasonably believed that the tickets were fake. The game was sold out, tickets were going for $300 on Stubhub, and it’s the holiday tourists [trap] season in New York. I kindly told him no and walked away. As I turned the corner, there were a few police officers surrounding a woman who was crying because she was sold a fake ticket. Around her were other victims who were standing in line waiting to report their misfortune to the police. Around the next corner were too sad young men who were sitting arguing with each other about how they as locals of the City could be taken by an unsavory scalper. (see pic of their fake ticket below) At the same time, I observed some resale transactions where both parties came away happy. The tickets were genuine and the patron was fine paying the premium to enter the Mecca of basketball. I then came across a family and some strangers who were talking about New York’s scalping laws. “It’s legal to scalp tickets so long as it’s below face value,” one person said. “The best way to make sure it’s real is to have the scalper walk you to the entrance and then give him the money after you get in,” another opined. At this point it was halftime and I knew I wasn’t getting inside. I approached a few of the ticket speculators (the legal designation for scalpers) who had sold real tickets and asked them if what I had seen tonight was normal. Initially, they wouldn’t comment. It was only after I told them I was from Detroit and that I had genuinely wanted to see the Pistons play that they began to answer my questions. Here’s what they told me: There were indeed more fraudulent tickets than normal sold today because it is the holidays and tourists are all trying to go to MSG. The trick for making sure the tickets are real is to do as the person said above. If you’re in a party of 2 or more, have one person go in and call the other person before paying. That way you can ensure that at least one ticket is real. I thanked them for their time, shouted a solid Detroit Basketball! and took the subway home. But that’s not where the story ends. As a NY licensed attorney, I wanted to see what the actual law for ticket scalping in NY is. I did some research and came up with this summary:

  • Ticket resellers must be licensed and bonded by the state. Otherwise, they are ticket speculators which is a misdemeanor that carries fines and possible jail time.
  • Regardless of licensure, one can’t resell tickets within 1500 feet of the venue.
  • Regardless of licensure, one must issue a refund if the purchaser can’t go to the event through no fault of his own.
What does this mean to you?
  • Purchasing your ticket through a licensed reseller or through the box office is the only way to ensure they are real.
  • A ticket speculator would have to be pretty nice to walk you to the entrance since he risks receiving a citation.
  • Selling a ticket below face value is still a crime for the seller if done so within 1500 feet of the venue.
In conclusion, buyer beware and may luck be on your side should you choose to go this route. And if you were wondering, the Pistons lost 96-108 but TPOL won again by not falling for the ticket scalping tricksters.
Ticket Scalping NYC
Real
Ticketing Scalping NYC
Fake
For my law nerds, here is my summary of the applicable statutes.
  • 25.01: Legislative Findings: New York enacted the licensing of ticket reseller laws to safeguard the public against fraud, extortion, and similar abuses.
  • 25.07: Ticket Prices: Anyone regardless of whether or not licensed . . . , that resells tickets or facilitates the resale or resale auction of tickets between independent parties by any means, must guarantee to each purchaser of such resold tickets that the person, firm or corporation will provide a full refund of the amount paid by the purchaser . . . the ticket received by the purchaser does not grant the purchaser admission to the event described on the ticket, for reasons that may include, without limitation, that the ticket is counterfeit. This means that the illegal reseller must give you a refund if you can’t get in. (if you can find him)
  • 25.09: Ticket Speculators: 1. Any person who in violation of section 25.13 of this article unlawfully resells or offers to resell or solicits the purchase of any ticket to any place of entertainment shall be guilty of ticket speculation. 2. Any person, firm or corporation which in violation of section 25.13 of this article unlawfully resells, offers to resell, or purchases with the intent to resell five or more tickets to any place of entertainment shall be guilty of aggravated ticket speculation. The name of the crime is ticket speculation. Selling 5+ tickets results in a bigger penalty.
  • 25.11: Resell of Tickets in Buffer Zone:  No one whether licensed or unlicensed shall resell, offer to resell or solicit the resale of any ticket to any place of entertainment having a permanent seating capacity in excess of five thousand persons within one thousand five hundred feet from the physical structure of such place of entertainment. If you’re a licensed reseller or if you are ticket speculator, it is illegal to sell tickets in the vicinity of the arena.
  • 25.13: Licensing of Ticket Resellers: No one shall resell or engage in the business of reselling any tickets to a place of entertainment . . . without having first procured a license. A license is required to resell tickets. This debunks the common held belief that so long as the price is less than face value, the seller is not guilty of ticket speculation.
  • 25.15: Bond: The secretary of state shall require the applicant for a license to file with the application therefore a bond in due form to the people of New York in the penal sum of twenty-five thousand dollars. If you’re wondering if your ticket reseller is legitimate, ask him how much he paid for this bond license? That’ll get a nice reaction. 
  • 25.29: Unlawful Charges in Connection with Tickets: 1. No operator of any place of entertainment, or his or her agent, representative, employee or licensee shall, if a price be charged for admission thereto, exact, demand, accept or receive, directly or indirectly, any premium or price in excess of the established price. Reasonable service charges are allowed.
  • 25.35: Criminal Penalties: Fines and/or  jail.

Jet Lagged: The Athens Marathon Trip Report Debrief

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Jet Lagged: The Athens Marathon Trip Report Debrief

This is the debrief of the Trip Report The Athens Marathon: The Original Course which covered the following cities:

Thirty-two posts later and this Trip Report is officially done. We laughed aboard Virgin, we cried in Athens, and we got robbed in Egypt. From Toronto to Detroit, Abu Dhabi to LAX, it was quite the adventure. If you want to relive it all, here are the links to all the posts. Thanks for watching.

Alaska Board Room Seattle Lounge Review: Water On Tap

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Alaska Board Room Seattle Lounge Review: Water On Tap

Before I commence with the Alaska Board Room Seattle Lounge Review, I have to point out that this is the end of the Trip Report Athens Marathon: The Original Course. What a journey! Here are the cities that were covered:

Click here for the picture preview.
There was no bottled water in Los Angeles and there’s no bottled water in Seattle either. I guess that’s Alaska Airlines’ policy for its Board Room. Instead of focusing on that again, I would like to focus on what a great job Alaska did with these two lounges compared to the some of the United Lounges I’ve visited like the one in IAD airport. This lounge in particular was well lit, bright, and crisp. Huge TVs hang from the walls, everything is always kept clean, and the bar is a great focal point. I’m not sure why other domestic carriers don’t take notice of Alaska Board Rooms and try to improve. Here are the pictures:
2015-11-18 06.54.12
Alaska Board Room Seattle
2015-11-18 06.36.30
Modern lounge
2015-11-18 06.36.20
Plenty of seating
2015-11-18 06.36.04
Great beer on tap
2015-11-18 06.35.47
Huge bar
2015-11-18 06.35.29
Over-the-top coffee offering
2015-11-18 06.34.59
Clean and organized
2015-11-18 06.34.50
Tap water must be ordered at the bar
2015-11-18 06.34.45
Tony Romo did not save the Cowboys season lol

<==Back to Alaska Board Room LAX 

 

Alaska Board Room LAX Lounge Review: Water Is $2

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Alaska Board Room LAX Lounge Review: Water Is $2

The Alaska Board Room LAX Lounge Review is part of the Trip Report Athens Marathon: The Original Course which includes the following cities:

Click here for the picture preview.
Do you want soft drinks? Treat yourself to as many as you want. You want house wine or craft beer? The sign says limit 3 but this rule isn’t enforced. You want a bottle of water? That will be $2. That’s pretty much the extent of my Alaska Board Room review at LAX. Everything you would expect in a domestic lounge is free except for access to potable water, a basic human right. I’m sure they had water on tap and I’m not against drinking that but I am surprised they charged for basic bottled water. I’m not talking VOSS or Evian here people. Too thirsty to type, I leave you with these pictures:
2015-11-18 01.59.40
Disneyland!
2015-11-18 01.59.48
Alaska Board Room lounges are always big and bright. Take note United.
2015-11-18 01.58.33
Salad + Cheese
2015-11-18 01.59.54
The bar
Alaska Board Room LAX Lounge Review
Not so enforced rule on that day
Alaska Board Room LAX Lounge Review
There’s the water on the left

<==Back to Etihad First Class 777 – Onto Alaska Board Room Seattle==>

   
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