This has been an exciting week for me, though I’ll have more details on that tomorrow (though perhaps the featured image above is a clue). This coming week is Ford’s birthday, so we’re going to Ecuador to celebrate. It’ll be a new country for me, and also my first flight on American’s beloved 737 MAX, so I’m quite looking forward to that. Doug Parker has assured us that it’s an excellent plane, and that the reduced seat pitch is actually much more comfortable. 😉
On the points and travel front, this week we saw the introduction of the new Amex Gold Card, Primera Air went out of business, Exhale Spa joined the World of Hyatt program, Etihad announced that they were going to hand over control of their London lounge to No1 Lounges, and more.
With that out of the way, here’s a recap of this week on the blog:
Featured Stories
The Incredible Amex Gold Card — Dining U.S. Supermarkets!
The American Express® Gold Card is a rebranded version of the former Premier Rewards Gold Card. This new card is easily one of the most rewarding new cards on the market, and I think a lot of us (myself included) are going to be interested in this — though there are some weaknesses to the card as well.
So let’s look at the details of the card:
How To Redeem The Marriott Amex Anniversary Free Night Award
With the loyalty programs of Marriott and Starwood having recently been merged, we’ve also seen some changes made to Starwood’s co-branded American Express cards, the Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card and Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card.
While the points earning structures of these cards have been worsened, there’s one great new benefit. Both of these cards now offer a free night award on your account anniversary every year, valid at a property retailing for up to 35,000 points.
Update On My First Post-5/24 Application
This was an exciting week for me, as I finally fell under Chase’s 5/24 limit (meaning there were fewer than five new card accounts showing on my report as having been opened in the past 24 months).
Technically I fell under the limit in mid-September, but generally it makes sense to wait until the first day of the following month to apply, to be sure all three credit bureaus correctly reflect this info.
The reason I’ve been waiting to get under the 5/24 limit is so that I can get the following two Chase small business cards, which would greatly complement my existing portfolio of cards:
TIPS: Earning Miles & Promos
Don’t Forget: Last Day For 5x Chase Freedom Points At Gas Stations, Lyft, And Walgreens
Barclaycard Arrival Plus: An Easy Way To Cover Travel Expenses
United Offering Up To 1,500 Bonus Miles For Online Shopping
Earn 5x Points Starting Today With Department Stores, Wholesale Clubs, And Chase Pay
This Is The Ideal Time To Request An Alaska Status Match
Should You Consider American’s Latest Bonus On Purchased Miles?
World of Hyatt Offering Double Points At M Life Properties
Update On My First Post-5/24 Application
Review: British Airways Visa Signature Card
Last Chance: Alaska Offering Up To 50% Bonus On Purchased Miles
Days Remaining: 5 Reasons To Get The Citi AAdvantage Business Card
Targeted Amex Platinum CardMatch Offer Still Available
5 Reasons I Got The Ink Business Preferred Card
The Incredible New Amex Gold Card — 4x Points On Dining And More!
The New Amex Gold Card: How Are The Bonus Categories Defined?
Earn Double Avios With The British Airways Shopping Portal This Weekend
Barclays Arrival Premier Will No Longer Be Open To New Cardmembers
New 40K Welcome Bonus On Alaska Visa Card
6 Weaknesses Of The New Amex Gold Card
What Are The Best Credit Cards For Dining?
TRICKS: Redeeming Miles
Great Deal: New Flying Blue Business Class Promo Awards
Using Points To Pay For An Airline Ticket: Is Amex Or Chase Better?
Ouch: Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Now Adding Fuel Surcharges To Most Delta Awards
How To Redeem The SPG Amex Anniversary Free Night Award
Five Redeeming Qualities Of Delta SkyMiles
Update: Virgin Atlantic Backtracks On Delta Award Surcharges (For Now)
TRAVEL With Ben (Lucky)
Impressions Of The Spectacular Azores Islands
What Makes Flying Delta Different
How Often Do I Fly Economy?
Tips For Visiting Oktoberfest In Munich
I’m Going To Saudi Arabia… I Think?
REVIEWS & Trip Reports
Review: AirBaltic Economy 737 Tallinn To Riga
Review: Grand Palace Hotel Riga
Review: Riga Airport Lounge
Review: Villa Kennedy Hotel Frankfurt
NEWS & Updates
Happy 50th Birthday To The Queen Of The Skies!
Virgin Atlantic To Partner With Aviation Gin
United Schedules First 787-10 Routes (With New Polaris & Premium Economy Seats)
American Airlines Employees Have Selected Their New Uniform Design
Delta Shifts Lisbon Flight From Atlanta To Boston
WOW: Primera Air Allegedly Filing For Bankruptcy
Video: Dubai Airport Water Salute Goes VERY Wrong
Oasis Is Leaving Hyatt’s Unbound Collection
Emirates Downgrading Several Flights To Australia
Shocking (But Not): Etihad Will No Longer Have Their Own Lounge In London
Air France Inflight Wifi: Availability & Pricing
EgyptAir Magazine Has BIZARRE Interview With Drew Barrymore
Lufthansa Group Reveals Plans For Their Four Hubs
Austrian Airlines Adding Flights To Montreal And Ending Flights To Toronto
More On Etihad’s New Lounge Concept, “The House”
Video: Khartoum Airport Closed After Two Planes Land On Runway At Same Time
Priority Pass Adds Tucson Airport Restaurant
Cathay Pacific Cancelling Copenhagen Route
Singapore Trialling Electronic Landing Cards
Exhale Spa Joins The World of Hyatt Program
Did A United 787 Really Almost Run Out Of Fuel?
Berlin’s Low Cost Schönefeld Airport Has One Amazing Passenger Feature
Air India Cancels Newark To London Flight
Thomas Cook’s Special Livery: Open The Door For A Surprise
Lufthansa Ending Flights To San Jose, California
This Week’s Plane Collision In Sudan Just Got Even Stranger…
Just Two Weeks Left Until The Chicago Seminars!
I hope everyone has a great rest of the weekend!
Enjoy Ecuador. Quito is actually one of the first city to be designated as an UNESCO world heritage site. There is a lot to see. Be sure to take the cable car up the mountain. View is spectacular not to mention you are literally 2 miles high up. Obviously don’t go there on the first day unless you can be acclimatized in few hours after you land.
Galapagos is spectacular in its own way....
Enjoy Ecuador. Quito is actually one of the first city to be designated as an UNESCO world heritage site. There is a lot to see. Be sure to take the cable car up the mountain. View is spectacular not to mention you are literally 2 miles high up. Obviously don’t go there on the first day unless you can be acclimatized in few hours after you land.
Galapagos is spectacular in its own way. Be sure to visit the one and only fish market at Puerto Ayora. I would equate Galapagos like sea/ land safari. If you really enjoy Galapagos, you will find some similarity at the Brando except much more comfortable/ luxurious. For my money, I would return to the Brando over and over again.... Galapagos.... not so much. Checked and happy/ glad I got to do it. No need to go back. Although I’m sure many people will feel differently.
You got married in the Fogo island hotel!!!!! +1 on the pics!
Hope you enjoy Ecuador, and tell us how it is. I'm headed there and the Gapalagos in April. Are you by any chance flying on the direct flight on TAME from JFK? They operate an ex emirates a330 on that route.
Can’t wait for the marriage pictures :-) <3