I hope everyone is having a great weekend so far!
On the points & travel front, this week we learned that the US may roll back travel restrictions in mid-May, Marriott rolled out its 2021 Choice Benefits, Iceland opened to vaccinated Americans, a new Norwegian long haul airline was revealed, Delta & WestJet introduced reciprocal elite benefits, the US threatened to ban Cathay Pacific, and more.
With that out of the way, here’s a recap of this week on the blog:
Featured Stories
FAA Extends Zero-Tolerance Policy For Disruptive Passengers
In January the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) introduced a new zero-tolerance policy for air travelers, threatening jail time and/or a fine of up to $35,000 for bad behavior on planes.
There’s an update on this — not only is this policy being extended, but the FAA has done a phenomenal job with enforcement.
My Hotel Status Strategy For 2021
Suffice to say that the past year has been a strange one when it comes to travel loyalty. The travel industry has faced an unprecedented crisis, and has tried to engage members and encourage them to travel, without actually forcing them to travel.
In this post I wanted to talk a bit about my hotel status strategy for this year, given the unique situation that I’m in. What are my priorities, and what status am I trying to qualify for?
Big Marriott Bonvoy Amex Limited Time Bonuses
Marriott’s co-brand portfolio includes cards issued by both American Express and Chase. If you’ve been considering one of these cards, we’re seeing some excellent new limited time bonuses on the co-branded Amex cards.
TIPS: Earning Miles & Promos
Best Western Selling Gift Cards With 20% Bonus
Qatar Airways Selling Miles With 50% Bonus
Chase Freedom Flex 5x Points Categories Q2 2021
Hilton Honors Selling Points With 100% Bonus (0.5 Cents Per Point)
Today Only: Earn 4x Airline Miles On Apple Purchases
World Of Hyatt’s New Hotel Bonus Offer
United MileagePlus Selling Miles With 100% Bonus
Buy Alaska Mileage Plan Miles With 50% Bonus
Choice Privileges Selling Points With 40% Bonus
Recap: 11 Opportunities To Buy Points
Wyndham Rewards Promo: Up To 7,500 Bonus Points Per Stay
Donate $5+, Earn 2,000 Hilton Honors Points
Big Marriott Bonvoy Amex Limited Time Bonuses
TRICKS: Redeeming Miles
Transfer Amex Points To Hilton With 40% Bonus
40% Bonus On Amex Transfers To Marriott Bonvoy
Select Your 2021 Marriott Choice Benefits
LifeMiles Offering 120% Mileage Transfer Bonus
Ouch: British Airways Devalues Short Haul Awards With No Notice
TRAVEL With Ben (Lucky)
Life Update: Why I’m Living In Hotels Full Time
My Hotel Status Strategy For 2021
Thompson Hotels: What An Awesome Brand!
Impressions Of Hyatt Centric Hotels
REVIEWS & Trip Reports
Review: Apple AirPods Pro (Surprisingly Delightful)
5 Reasons To Get A Delta Amex Business Card
My Experience With The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card
GUIDES & Programs
Marriott Bonvoy Business Amex Card Review (2021)
Applying For Amex Business Cards: What You Need To Know
Amex Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card Review (2021)
NEWS & Updates
Wow: American Goes All-777 Between MIA & LAX
Mystery: American Airlines Flying 787 On 235-Mile Flight To Cuba
Gorgeous: Air Canada Airbus A220 In Retro Livery
Norse Atlantic Airways: This Startup Sounds Familiar
Qatar Airways Introduces $62 Soap In Business Class
Ouch: UK Bans Qatar Airways Flights Indefinitely
FAA Extends Zero-Tolerance Policy For Disruptive Passengers
Could JetBlue Fly To London Heathrow After All?
United States Threatens To Ban Cathay Pacific Flights
Virgin Atlantic 787 Diverts After Pilot Injured By Laser
Iceland Welcoming Vaccinated American Visitors, With A Catch
Scary: American Airlines Crew Robbed At Gunpoint In Cost Rica
“Serial Stowaway” Marilyn Hartman Arrested Again
Reykjavik EDITION Hotel Opening Summer 2021
2,500+ Room Hyatt Opening In Las Vegas
Report: Biden To Lift Travel Restrictions In Mid-May
US & Canada Border Closure Extended (Again)
Delta & WestJet Introduce Reciprocal Elite Benefits
United Airlines Passenger Tries To Bite Off Seatmate’s Ear
About John Kerry’s American Airlines Mask Incident…
Four Seasons Mallorca Opening 2023
I hope everyone has a great rest of the weekend!
Another big news is that Japan will not be allowing foreign tourists for the Olympic Games. Paris is going for another month-long lock down. You have to decide for yourself what all this means for international travel.