Week 3: Athens Marathon Update

Three weeks of training is done for the Athens marathon and in order to keep myself honest and motivated, here’s my weekly diary of all things marathon. Here’s what happened this week:

  • I bought new shoes again. I didn’t like the others, they were horrible.
  • I crushed it on 10 miles.
  • I bought a new Garmin Vivoactive that is awesome. Review for running and golf to follow.
13 more weeks to go. Hopefully that Virgin Atlantic flight to LHR is available now that I’ve completed my MS on the Delta Amex after my ThankYous go through. Capture 11781830_10105319457691041_6099740220882042650_n

Denied Delta Bonus: Plan B ThankYou Points

Your results may vary. How many times have we heard that? Chase is cracking down on churners. How many times have we heard that? American Express’s website clearly states for certain cards the sign up bonus is not allowed again if you have ever had the card. Yet I have personal and anecdotal evidence to the contrary. This time the egg is on my face because after the whole ordeal of trying to get approved for the useless Delta Platinum I was told that I would not be receiving the bonus. Mind you, I spoke to the rep and he said that I had the card way back in 2009 and the new rules went into effect in 2014 so I thought there was the possibility that the rule would only be applied proactively. That was the case when I received the Hilton Surpass for the second time past the deadline. Amex is escalating the claim but I think I’ll be shot down. This still doesn’t solve the question of how I will get from here to Athens to run the marathon. I was supposed to book BIL-MSP-DTW-LHR today for 62,000 miles + $5.60 in business. Without the pesos the chance to fly Virgin Upper Class is now gone. Or is it? Here are a few options with other transfer partners. Note it takes 40,000 Virgins to fly from DTW-LHR and that I have 1,254 Virgins from my BOA churning days.

  • Transfer 57K MR to Delta to top off my pesos account. Pay $5.60.
  • Transfer 39k MR to Virgin, transfer 7000 MR to Delta to fly coach to DTW. Pay $424.60
  • Transfer 39k UR to Virgin, transfer 7000 MR to Delta to fly coach to DTW. Pay $424.60
  • Transfer 31kTY to Virgin, transfer 7000 MR to Delta to fly coach to DTW. Pay $424.60
    • Citi ThankYou has a 25% transfer bonus to Virgin Atlantic.
Here are the issues:
  • Virgin doesn’t allow you to use miles for the Delta segments I have above. I called in and they said they would treat the Delta component as a separate award. Hence the need to transfer the MRs to Delta.
  • Second, transferring the ThankYou points can take 7-14 days! I’m not a fan of writing with exclamation points but how do they expect me to trust that there will be availability after that long?
  • Finally, the fuel surcharges are $419. What’s worse than hitching a ride with someone then they ask you to throw down on gas?
In the end, I rolled the dice and went with the ThankYou points option. I checked Virgin and Delta and both show tons of business class availability for the date I’m traveling. I value URs the most followed by MRs so I’m hesitant to burn those. The ThankYous will transfer to SQ so why not save as many as I can? As for the $419 fuel crap, I’m using the $400 off of my well fought for Wells Fargo card to cover that. What do you think? Should I have transferred my MRs to Delta and flown first class the whole way and save the $400 in fuel? Or is it wiser to spend 38k mixture and live to fly SQ suite another day? Maybe I should’ve stuck to the peasant class option and flown US Air for 18k American. Capture

Aug 1, 2014: The Mistake of Mongolia

Success is where risk and execution meet resulting in a windfall of great fortune. Naively, I believed my success would come from an obscure emerging market in a place called Mongolia. It’s been a year since I moved to Mongolia to take a job at an international law firm. It’s been a year. Had things gone the way they were supposed to I would still be living there. Things went exactly the opposite of how I thought they would go and exactly the way that on outside observer would guess they would when you say you’re moving to Mongolia to practice law. So what happened exactly? I didn’t tell too many people of the truth of this ill-fated adventure out of shame. After all, I sold everything I owned including my BBQ and Cadillac to move to the ‘fastest growing economy’ with the largest copper and coal reserves in the world not to mention a budding legal system that needed motivated attorneys to guide it through its infancy. Where the risk averse would see red flags, I saw opportunity. I believed and still do believe that it is too hard to strike it rich in developed economies like the United States and the EU. And even if you do, where’s the fun in that? What’s more fun than bargaining for groceries, frozen streets, intense smog, and deceptive business partners? Before I get there I will say that initially things were going smoothly and I had some fun. (see food + see awesome MI football random story). Then things went badly quickly. First, I didn’t get paid what I was promised. Then I was reprimanded for trusting that I would get paid that amount. This continued for three months between me, the director of HR (stationed in HK) and my superior, an American licensed attorney (stationed in the US), neither of whom I have one good thing to say. Fast forward to October and a necessary visa run was required. (see the Trip Report the Visa Run Keeps Running to China, Hong Kong, and Japan here.) Before leaving, the office manager needed my passport to get me a new exit/entry work visa, emphasis on the word ‘work.’ As a foreign worker departing Mongolia, I had to show my work identification card to validate that I had permission to leave legally. Upon returning to Mongolia, I would come in using my work visa, not as a tourist, so I could work legally. Days into the trip, everything was fantastic though a visa mishap in Beijing, lead me to Shanghai for one night then onto Hong Kong then back to Shanghai. While staying at the St. Regis Osaka, I received an email from the American attorney who said that my employment was going to be terminated because I left the country without asking for permission. Dumbfounded, I said that I was given a new exit/entry work visa and that the approval for paying for such a visa could only come directly from him. Outraged, I made my way back to Mongolia uncertain of what was to come next. It got worse. I went through immigration using my work visa then immediately returned to the office. The office manager was surprised I had bothered to return to Mongolia (even though all my stuff was still in my apartment) and that the decision could not be contested. Worse, she said that my work visa had been cancelled by the American lawyer and that I was technically in the country illegally. Mind you, had I came in as a tourist instead of using the work visa, I could’ve stayed for 90 days legally. Facing deportation, I booked a one way flight to Korea (yes, the same one that hasn’t returned my money) then hired a lawyer to handle my wrongful termination case. The lawyer suggested that he and I start our own practice together which would be a fitting, ethical way to combat the injustice that was done to me. As a result, I foolishly decided to stay in Mongolia, and changed my flight to a round trip. From Korea, I returned to Mongolia as a tourist and started the preliminary research on what it would take to open a business or a representative office in Mongolia. No sooner had I setup my website, nomadresolutions.com (a work in progress) did I hear that the American attorney was taking steps to have my Mongolian legal licensed revoked for the illegal practice of law. Again feeling uneasy, I decided to go to Bangkok and wait for my representative office papers to be approved (see Trip Report: So Long Mongolia, Hello SE Asia). Like my previous visa run, the trip was full of fun as I bounced around Thailand to Myanmar to Hong Kong. In Hong Kong, I found out that my potential business partner couldn’t get the papers filed for the office and that I would need to come back to Mongolia as a tourist in order to push the process along. After being bludgeoned and beaten over the past few months, I had had enough and said no more. I made the executive decision to return to the US (on Cathay First Class of course). A year later, I am comfortable admitting that I like much of the world was defeated by the once mighty Mongolian empire. The repercussions of moving there carry on to this day. Given all that I have written in my autobiography, I cannot say that moving there was the dumbest thing I’ve done. I will say that dealing with unscrupulous, shady characters had more to do with my demise in Mongolia than the crumbling economy, both realities that I could not have discovered without being on the ground. Google ‘jobs Mongolia’ and you too will be sold a bag of goods about the potential of this economy and the limitless opportunities for bold entrepreneurs. Unfortunately, the overwhelming majority of this nonsense is being written not by the Mongolian people but by predatory outsiders who have no interest in seeing Mongolia grow as a country. Their only interest is lining their own pockets at the unconscionable expense of others. Many have found themselves deservedly locked up abroad on charges of fraud as a result. Capitalism is cutthroat. The strong survive. The weak deserve to die. I am competitive by nature and will press on to find that pot of coal that can be churned into gold. But despite my desire for success, I will not compromise my ethics to get where I want to go. A year later, that is what I take away from this mess. DSC_0045

Credible? Rather Than Wait on Hold, We Can Call You Back…

0

Oh Delta, I forgot what a pain in the ass it is to deal with you. Somehow I ended up with two Delta SkyMiles accounts so now I’m short on pesos for booking that trip to Athen. Now I’m on hold on the phone and I’m on hold on Twitter. It has been 28 minutes since I asked the question if I can merge accounts. I’m on hold with Delta on the phone for 32-57 minutes after being transferred to ‘traveling with an infant’. Apparently that’s what the computer thinks I meant when I said ‘SkyMiles’. My psychological question is whether it is better to remain on hold or wait for an automated call back. I know they do call you back within the allotted time but something in me believes that grinding it out on hold pushes you up in the queue and reduces the wait time. Sometimes I also feel that I’ve been transferred to a black hole as the wait time breaks the two-hour threshold. The hold times and that hopeless feeling go hand in hand when calling about British Avios. To add to this psychological thriller, there is only 1 seat available on the flight to LHR. I believe that Delta senses that I am close which is why they put all these hurdles up before I can make the booking. It is not a coincidence when the accounts are combined, the flights selected, the credit card info inputted that I will receive an error ‘we’re sorry that flight is no longer available, please call an agent to make a reservation.’ Hi, thank you for calling Delta. All of our representatives are busy helping out other customers. Rather than wait on hold let us call you back when your pesos are absolutely worthless. Capture

SPG: Seize Your Golf Moment Promotion

Hmm, SPG must know that TPOL is a new convert to the game of golf. I launched my Golf Course Reviews section which combines points + travel + golf and now I receive this.

SPG needs to sponsor this blog!
SPG needs to sponsor this blog!
I’m interest in going to Shanghai but I don’t think I’m ready for the SPG Golf Challenge yet. (see my time in the water hazard.) Here is the link for SPG Moments-Golf if you’re interested.  

Simply the Best: July 2015

Things are heating up in TPOL land. Tomorrow marks the one year anniversary of the ill-fated decision to move to Mongolia. I’ll finally reveal how it all went down now that I’ve had a year to repress all my anger. But for today, let’s be happy and celebrate the best posts from July. 1. Man Vs. Food: The 2 POUND Burger Eating Contest

Let’s set the scene: The contest was if I could eat a 2 pound burger, 1 pound of fries, and a 32 OZ milkshake in 20 minutes.
Let’s set the scene: The contest was if I could eat a 2 pound burger, 1 pound of fries, and a 32 OZ milkshake in 20 minutes.
2. We Need Another Recession
A bad economy means good rates at Hilton Seychelles
A bad economy means good rates at Hilton Seychelles.
3. Fairmont Hot Springs Resort, A Case of Trademark Infringement
fairmont hot springs resort
Entering the lobby, guests are whisked away back to 1985. The carpet dates back to when Anaconda was a famous, thriving mining town.
4. Pho @Victoria Peak, Hong Kong
After fighting your way through the crowd and snapping a few of your own gems, head to the food court for gourmet cuisine including Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.
After fighting your way through the crowd and snapping a few of your own gems, head to the food court for gourmet cuisine including Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.
5. Canadiens Have It Bad
My cousin called me today in need of one of those ‘wanna get away’ trips. Unfortunately his departing country is Canada, a country that isn’t serviced by Southwest.
My cousin called me today in need of one of those ‘wanna get away’ trips. Unfortunately his departing country is Canada, a country that isn’t serviced by Southwest.
6. RedBird Trouble: Target’s New Computers
I gave the bird to the cashier and she tried to swipe it on her computer, tried to swipe it on the credit card machine and nothing happened.
I gave the bird to the cashier and she tried to swipe it on her computer, tried to swipe it on the credit card machine and nothing happened.
7. PayDay Loans: Germany’s Shady Solution for Greece
Let me tell you a story of an unconscionable business in the United States known as PayDay Loans.
Let me tell you a story of an unconscionable business in the United States known as PayDay Loans.

Korean Air Won’t Refund My $

0

This may be a case for the sleuth Elliott.org because all my time and energy has been wasted trying to get a refund from Korean Air. Here’s the story: I boarded the plane and asked for macadamia nuts. Hold up, timb stop. I said this anotha memorial For makaveli and big pop. Last year as part of the Mongolia debacle I had to leave for a visa run to Seoul, Korea to stay at the Aloft Gangnam, op, op, op, op. I booked a one way ticket departing on November 14, 2014. I then called, cancelled, and booked a round trip departing on the same date. I never received a refund for the initial one way ticket despite cancelling, calling Korean Air over and over, and disputing the charge with Barclays. Korean Air keeps saying they have no proof of me ever cancelling. Trying to be the voice of reason, I inquire as to why I would book two tickets departing on the same day from the same origin to the same destination. It simply makes no sense. I’m not a portly man so I don’t require an extra seat. Clearly, one was meant to be cancelled. I tried calling Korean Air three days ago and got into a shouting match with the representative who finally passed me onto the manager who said within 48 hours it would be resolved. Mind you, the same promise was made in February regarding this matter. I followed up with an email today and am awaiting a response. What choice do I have but to write this post and hope that the social media gods smile warmly upon me and grant me this reasonable request. It’s not like I’m asking anyone to kneel down before me and ask for forgiveness.

DSC02013
Korean Air: Excellence in Flight, Lousy in Customer Service 
     

Canadiens Have It Bad

2

My cousin called me today in need of one of those ‘wanna get away’ trips. Unfortunately his departing country is Canada, a country that isn’t serviced by Southwest. Thinking me a magician, he asked if there was a cheap ticket from Toronto to Los Angeles departing on August 4th. I know next to nothing about the points business in Canada but know enough to say that it isn’t as generous as the US. As such, I didn’t even bother asking him if he had any points for a free flight. Instead I headed over to the handy-dandy Matrix – ITA page and started putting together prospective itineraries. Here’s what I came up with: A flight leaving Kitchner to LAX connecting in Chicago on US Air then a flight from LAX to Toronto via Calgary.

unnamed
Operated by American Eagle
unnamed (1)
WestJet
That’s $558 for an inconvenient flight to Los Angeles. Appalled by the price I sent it to my cousin who to my bewilderment was happy with the fare. An Expedia search yielded flights in the $800 range making this one a ‘bargain,’ he said. With the weakened Canadien dollar, traveling to the US will be even more expensive which is why I think it’s time for him to stop paying for tickets and to start reading my colleague’s blog, Canadian Kilometers. Not bad eh?  

Pho @Victoria Peak, Hong Kong

TPOL’s Best Places to Get Pho in the world already includes Hong Kong. That doesn’t mean TPOL’s above reviewing another pho spot in the same locale. Today’s review takes us up  for pho at Victoria Peak, Hong Kong, an experience punctuated by a warm bowl on a cold night. The ride to the top via the old trolley is worth the cost of admission. The views of one of the most electric cities in the world is second to none even with an overabundance of tourists haphazardly using selfie sticks to take iPhotos that indubitably will turn out poor.

The Peak
The Peak
After fighting your way through the crowd and snapping a few of your own gems, head to the food court for gourmet cuisine including Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. I’m sure you will be shocked at how this landmark has been overrun by commercial enterprises. If you aren’t overcome by the smells emanating from the home of the Whopper, then might I suggest having diner at pho yummee. Of course before you are seated, double back to the 7-11 as you can’t violate the rules of the greatest drinking game of all time. The Pho Review  After jousting for position atop the peak, the only way to unwind is with a delicious bowl of pho. Served in a plus size bowl with plenty of beef, the delightful dish is so perfect even Mama McNabb would approve. Take your time with the broth because the peppers may be a bit caliente, Cantonese for spicy. While normal protocol as a matter of efficiency calls for chopsticks in the right with a spoon in the left, you may choose to go slowly, savoring one morsel at a time. After all, the line to get back down the peak is not getting any shorter. All done, nice and relaxed, perhaps a bit groggy, it is time to down a cafe su dah and mentally prepare yourself for the journey to the bottom.
pho at victoria peak
yummeeeee
pho at victoria peak
The drinking game
The bowl
The bowl
The reward
The reward
How yummy, pho yummee.      

His Golf Game Is Poop, Literally

TPOL continues to hone in his golf skills by reading and watching all things golf. This week I screened the following:

  • The Legend of Bagger Vance
  • 7 Days in Utopia: the worst movie of all time, golf or otherwise
  • Tin Cup: Wow, Kevin Costner and I share a similar life mindset.
Anyhow, golf and TPOL go golf and glove because it is a game that can be played all over the world. Today’s golfing news has us in Norway where an interesting character has been disrespecting the game in a foul way. It’s not from swearing, creating divots, or riding his cart onto the green. It’s from pooping in the hole. He’s been doing it since 2005 and he remains at large. I could write my own piece on this but Bleacher Report does such a fine job that I’ll just share the link for the full story here. So to all you aspiring golfers out there please remember, just because you play like shit, doesn’t mean you have to do it all over the golf course.
Cuidado: You don't know what treasure is buried should you birdie this hole.
Cuidado: You don’t know what treasure is buried should you birdie this hole.