Emily and I had planned to go to Hawaii in late October for a few days at The Andaz Maui. We booked flights in early January and our upgrades (using United miles) on the outbound leg cleared at the time of booking. While we were excited about the trip, we were actually looking to "get out of it" at couple of points across the past few months. We could cancel the trip straight away and receive credit on United minus a $400 penalty - pretty step.
As luck would have it, a United schedule change moved our outbound aircraft from a wide body to a narrow body 737 (slower and domestic first class) and our inbound (direct from OGG to DEN) flight up a little over an hour. Typically United won't notify you of these changes - you have to be diligent about gardening your reservations.
Our hotel reservations (booked with Hyatt points) were refundable so I figured this was our opportunity. I called United and spoke with a great agent and explained that the changes were somewhat annoying (okay maybe a stretch) and she put my on hold to see what she could do. She offered to waive the change fee penalty making the cancellation essentially fee free. We now have roughly $1800 in credit on United - something we'll definitely use over the next year - so no big deal.
The best part is that flight costs have actually come down - so we could rebook similar flights to Maui for a few hundred dollars less. So we may end up taking the trip after all.
August 15, 2015
August 9, 2015
Update on Amex Offers
American Express offers "Amex Offers" to their cardmembers as a perk and a is a marketers dream. I'm not sure who funds the offers (probably a combination of the retailer and Amex) but I've done a nice job taking advantage of them over the years - thanks Amex!
If you haven't heard of the program and have an Amex card in your wallet, sign in to your account online and scroll down to the bottom of the page to the "Amex Offers and Benefits" section. Click on "Available" and you can scroll through the offers. If you see something you like, you can click "Add to Card" to load the offer onto you card. Go meet the minimum spend requirements and you'll have a statement credit within a handful of days.
As you can see, I've saved nearly $600 on this card alone over the past couple of years.
You can also add Amex Offers via Twitter, Facebook, and Foursquare although I've found it easy enough to add them online/via the mobile app when I'm logged in checking transactions.
Amex has really been stepping things up lately. In the last 30 days, I've taken advantage of offers from Wal-Mart, Office Depot, Petco, Jonathan Adler, West Elm, and Home Depot to buy things I was going to anyway. You can even double dip on these offers by going through an online shopping portal. Next time you're online or checking on your card via the mobile app, check out Amex's Offers!
If you haven't heard of the program and have an Amex card in your wallet, sign in to your account online and scroll down to the bottom of the page to the "Amex Offers and Benefits" section. Click on "Available" and you can scroll through the offers. If you see something you like, you can click "Add to Card" to load the offer onto you card. Go meet the minimum spend requirements and you'll have a statement credit within a handful of days.
As you can see, I've saved nearly $600 on this card alone over the past couple of years.
You can also add Amex Offers via Twitter, Facebook, and Foursquare although I've found it easy enough to add them online/via the mobile app when I'm logged in checking transactions.
Amex has really been stepping things up lately. In the last 30 days, I've taken advantage of offers from Wal-Mart, Office Depot, Petco, Jonathan Adler, West Elm, and Home Depot to buy things I was going to anyway. You can even double dip on these offers by going through an online shopping portal. Next time you're online or checking on your card via the mobile app, check out Amex's Offers!
Review: The New York EDITION
I was in New York last week for work and stayed at The New York Edition. The hotel's located right off Madison Square Park which is a great area and close to our office. The property has only been open for three months and is quickly becoming one of the hottest hotels in the city. There are only four EDITION properties (Istanbul, Miami, New York, and London) around the world but at least 8 in the pipeline. We stayed at The London Edition in late 2013 and I was excited to check out the New York outpost.
I arrived at the hotel on Tuesday at 2:30 PM and was checked in and on my way to my room in less than five minutes. I had booked a standard room but been upgraded (not sure of the category) to a higher floor corner room. The hotel has been selling for $700+ per night (They have Krug in the mini bar!!) but August (slow time in Manhattan) brought the rate WAY down and offered the third night free. Doubt it will work again for business or leisure travel but it was great to check out at least once.
I made my way up to the 34th floor and the room/view were both stunning. In signature Ian Schrager style (even though this is a collaboration with Marriott) everything was clean and in neutral tones. I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.
I arrived at the hotel on Tuesday at 2:30 PM and was checked in and on my way to my room in less than five minutes. I had booked a standard room but been upgraded (not sure of the category) to a higher floor corner room. The hotel has been selling for $700+ per night (They have Krug in the mini bar!!) but August (slow time in Manhattan) brought the rate WAY down and offered the third night free. Doubt it will work again for business or leisure travel but it was great to check out at least once.
I made my way up to the 34th floor and the room/view were both stunning. In signature Ian Schrager style (even though this is a collaboration with Marriott) everything was clean and in neutral tones. I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.
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| Backlight King size bed |
August 2, 2015
My Favorite Trip Reports
One of my favorite parts of ATRP is writing trip reports. I'm by no means the best or most thorough trip reporter but I try to review most of our travels both for myself and for all of you. I've written nearly 50 reports to date with another 10 or so to complete this year.
Since many of you are new to the blog, I figured I'd recap some of my favorites. You can see all trip reports by year on the trip report page.
Flights:
In 2013, my first international first class experience was a 18.5 hour, two segment journey from Singapore to Seoul to San Francisco. Chelsea Clinton flew with us which was a pretty cool experience.
In 2014, our first "suite experience" took us from New York to Seoul on Asiana's 777. On the way back, we flew Singapore Suites for the first time - both pretty epic flights.
Earlier in 2015, we flew Cathay Pacific First Class for the first time and it was spectacular.
Hotels:
Two of my favorite trip reports were from hotel stays in Bali. At the St. Regis and Four Seasons.
Most recently, the Fairmont Pacific Rim in Vancouver made for a pretty epic report.
Lounges:
In 2013, we visited the Lufthansa First Class Terminal. In 2014, The Singapore Airlines Private Room in Singapore and 2015, Cathay Pacific's The Wing lounge at HKG.
Since many of you are new to the blog, I figured I'd recap some of my favorites. You can see all trip reports by year on the trip report page.
 |
| Singapore Airlines 777 First Class |
In 2013, my first international first class experience was a 18.5 hour, two segment journey from Singapore to Seoul to San Francisco. Chelsea Clinton flew with us which was a pretty cool experience.
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| Asiana 777 First Class |
In 2014, our first "suite experience" took us from New York to Seoul on Asiana's 777. On the way back, we flew Singapore Suites for the first time - both pretty epic flights.
Earlier in 2015, we flew Cathay Pacific First Class for the first time and it was spectacular.
Hotels:
Two of my favorite trip reports were from hotel stays in Bali. At the St. Regis and Four Seasons.
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| Four Seasons Bali at Sayan |
Lounges:
In 2013, we visited the Lufthansa First Class Terminal. In 2014, The Singapore Airlines Private Room in Singapore and 2015, Cathay Pacific's The Wing lounge at HKG.
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| Singapore Airlines Private Room "Golden Tickets" |
July 26, 2015
5 Steps to a (Nearly) Free Trip: Craft a Strategy
Each time I return from a trip, I get a dozen questions from friends, colleagues, neighbors, etc... about how I was able to put the trip together with points and miles. While I always write about the planning process for each individual trip, (recent trips to Europe & Asia) I've yet to write a more comprehensive series about how to easily "pay" for a trip with points and miles. So here it goes.
Step One: Have a Goal
Step Two: Craft a Strategy
Step Three: Point Accumulation
Step Four: Search for Award Availability
Step Five: Book Flights & Hotels
First, let's recap the goal we covered in step one.
"You want to fly to Europe next summer in business class. You're flexible on the timing and the destination. You want to stay in decent hotels for a week. You currently have a great credit score, payoff your balance each month, and spend about $3,000 per month as a couple. And you want to minimize your cash outlay for the trip."
The easiest/fastest way to accumulate points and miles for a dream trip is through credit card sign-up bonuses. You can also pad your balances without getting on a plane by shopping online and dining out. I also recommend you sign-up for an AwardWallet account to keep track of your hard earned points and miles. But signing up for a handful of credit cards will be the fastest way to get your trip booked.
Step One: Have a Goal
Step Two: Craft a Strategy
Step Three: Point Accumulation
Step Four: Search for Award Availability
Step Five: Book Flights & Hotels
First, let's recap the goal we covered in step one.
"You want to fly to Europe next summer in business class. You're flexible on the timing and the destination. You want to stay in decent hotels for a week. You currently have a great credit score, payoff your balance each month, and spend about $3,000 per month as a couple. And you want to minimize your cash outlay for the trip."
The easiest/fastest way to accumulate points and miles for a dream trip is through credit card sign-up bonuses. You can also pad your balances without getting on a plane by shopping online and dining out. I also recommend you sign-up for an AwardWallet account to keep track of your hard earned points and miles. But signing up for a handful of credit cards will be the fastest way to get your trip booked.
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| Park Hyatt Vendome |
Review: Le Meridien Bangkok
Introduction
Planning & Booking
Qantas First Class Lounge LAX
Cathay Pacific 777-300 ER First Class Los Angeles to Hong Kong
The Pier Cathay Pacific First Class Lounge
Le Meridien Bangkok
Thai Airways First Class Lounge & Spa
Thai Airways 747-400 First Class Bangkok to Hong Kong
Conrad Hong Kong
Singapore Airlines SilverKris Lounge Hong Kong
Air India 787-8 Business Class Hong Kong to Seoul
Asiana First Class Lounge Seoul
Asiana A380 First Class Seoul to Los Angeles
After a few amazing hours in Cathay Pacific's new First Class Lounge (The Pier) we made our way down to the gate for our quick hop to Bangkok. A bus gate meant an awesome ride across the tarmac to our waiting A330 - so many planes to check out! We boarded and waited for a large tour group to arrive. And waited. And then it started to pour. We ended up sitting on the tarmac for about an hour before we finally got going. Not a huge deal - it just made a long travel day even longer.
We arrived in Bangkok around 10:30 PM local time. We cleared immigration in about 5 minutes thanks to fast track passes and our bags were waiting on the carousel when we arrived. I hit the ATM and were quickly in a cab heading towards Bangkok. Our nearly 40 minute (thanks to Bangkok traffic) ride cost less than $13 USD. Pretty amazing.
Planning & Booking
Qantas First Class Lounge LAX
Cathay Pacific 777-300 ER First Class Los Angeles to Hong Kong
The Pier Cathay Pacific First Class Lounge
Le Meridien Bangkok
Thai Airways First Class Lounge & Spa
Thai Airways 747-400 First Class Bangkok to Hong Kong
Conrad Hong Kong
Singapore Airlines SilverKris Lounge Hong Kong
Air India 787-8 Business Class Hong Kong to Seoul
Asiana First Class Lounge Seoul
Asiana A380 First Class Seoul to Los Angeles
After a few amazing hours in Cathay Pacific's new First Class Lounge (The Pier) we made our way down to the gate for our quick hop to Bangkok. A bus gate meant an awesome ride across the tarmac to our waiting A330 - so many planes to check out! We boarded and waited for a large tour group to arrive. And waited. And then it started to pour. We ended up sitting on the tarmac for about an hour before we finally got going. Not a huge deal - it just made a long travel day even longer.
 |
| Le Meridien Bangkok lobby |
We arrived in Bangkok around 10:30 PM local time. We cleared immigration in about 5 minutes thanks to fast track passes and our bags were waiting on the carousel when we arrived. I hit the ATM and were quickly in a cab heading towards Bangkok. Our nearly 40 minute (thanks to Bangkok traffic) ride cost less than $13 USD. Pretty amazing.
July 25, 2015
Review: The Pier Cathay Pacific First Class Lounge
Introduction
Planning & Booking
Qantas First Class Lounge LAX
Cathay Pacific 777-300 ER First Class Los Angeles to Hong Kong
The Pier Cathay Pacific First Class Lounge
Le Meridien Bangkok
Thai Airways First Class Lounge & Spa
Thai Airways 747-400 First Class Bangkok to Hong Kong
Conrad Hong Kong
Singapore Airlines SilverKris Lounge Hong Kong
Air India 787-8 Business Class Hong Kong to Seoul
Asiana First Class Lounge Seoul
Asiana A380 First Class Seoul to Los Angeles
After clearing transit security, we made our way to The Wing for a quick shower. While The Wing is totally awesome, I was excited to check out The Pier which had just opened a few days earlier. The shower felt great and I caught up on email while rehydrating and downing yet another cappuccino. We still had a few hours to go until our flight to Bangkok so we made our way down to The Pier.
Our boarding passes were scanned and we were shown into the lounge. WOW. My new favorite lounge at HKG.
Planning & Booking
Qantas First Class Lounge LAX
Cathay Pacific 777-300 ER First Class Los Angeles to Hong Kong
The Pier Cathay Pacific First Class Lounge
Le Meridien Bangkok
Thai Airways First Class Lounge & Spa
Thai Airways 747-400 First Class Bangkok to Hong Kong
Conrad Hong Kong
Singapore Airlines SilverKris Lounge Hong Kong
Air India 787-8 Business Class Hong Kong to Seoul
Asiana First Class Lounge Seoul
Asiana A380 First Class Seoul to Los Angeles
After clearing transit security, we made our way to The Wing for a quick shower. While The Wing is totally awesome, I was excited to check out The Pier which had just opened a few days earlier. The shower felt great and I caught up on email while rehydrating and downing yet another cappuccino. We still had a few hours to go until our flight to Bangkok so we made our way down to The Pier.
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| The Hallway at The Pier |
Our boarding passes were scanned and we were shown into the lounge. WOW. My new favorite lounge at HKG.
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