While doing some research for an article for The Gate, I stumbled across a short article I wrote back on July 9, 2008 called An Open Letter to All Airline Customers. The letter — which basically asked for your assistance to restore and enforce regulations and limits to “control excessive, largely unchecked market speculation and manipulation” pertaining to oil contracts which supposedly fueled a rise in oil prices per barrel — was signed by the chief executive officers of 12 domestic airlines based in the United States at that time. You were to have...

Stay a total of 30 nights or greater at a HYATT house hotel property and you will earn status as a Very Important Resident. House Hosts at each property will go above and beyond to make sure Very Important Residents enjoy an easy transition from home to hotel with the following services and amenities...

In response to the upcoming changes pertaining to the Flying Blue frequent flier loyalty program of Air France and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines — which were announced recently and were supposedly set to be effective as of “early” June 2013 — Alaska Airlines recently announced that the redemption of Mileage Plan frequent flier loyalty program miles will increase by up to 25 percent for an award seat in the business class cabin on routes between...

Due to mechanical issues with the Boeing 737 aircraft operated by British Airways bound for Gatwick Airport near London, the cabin crew having worked the maximum amount of hours, and supposedly no available hotel rooms nearby, approximately 140 passenger were stranded at Marco Polo Airport near Venice with no food or beverages for 14 hours — although...

Effective as of June 1, 2013, earn your choice of double Priority Club frequent guest loyalty program points or double frequent flier loyalty program miles with one of 39 airline partners on every qualifying stay at greater than 4,600 InterContinental Hotels Group properties worldwide through July 31, 2013, starting with your second qualifying stay — or with your first qualifying stay, if you...

FlyerTalk members rejoiced in jubilation when an official announcement heralded the return of free continental breakfast seven days per week at hotel properties in the United States and Canada for Gold, Platinum and Platinum Premier elite members of the Marriott Rewards frequent guest loyalty program — but was the arrival gift policy for Platinum and Platinum Premier elite members of the Marriott Rewards frequent guest loyalty program simultaneously downgraded? Before we discuss that issue...

If you enjoy being in Las Vegas and you are a Hilton HHonors frequent guest loyalty program member, you are in luck. Tropicana Las Vegas — a DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel — is offering a promotion where you can earn quadruple the amount of Hilton HHonors frequent guest loyalty program points for stays through August 31, 2013. This means that...

Route 66 was an iconic road in the history of American highways — and although it no longer officially exists, Best Western wants you to celebrate and explore the history, adventure and kitsch of America’s “Mother Road” by offering a promotion valid through June 30, 2013 where you can earn 6,600 bonus Best Western Rewards frequent guest loyalty program points simply for staying two qualified nights in any of...

Changes pertaining to the Flying Blue frequent flier loyalty program of Air France and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines were announced recently and are set to be effective as of “early” June 2013, purporting to offer more award availability, reduced international surcharges imposed by carriers for award seats in the economy and premium economy class cabins, and more upgrade possibilities with Flying Blue frequent flier loyalty program miles. The claims of the Flying Blue frequent flier loyalty program pertaining to the changes of the award redemption for long-haul flights are as follows...