Works for me. I wasn't sure if the green and black hang tag would be "official" enough should the Canadians need proof of the rental.

Any suggestions for places to stop between SEA and YVR?

Get the Merrill+ Card, throw 20k on it and you have a free match.:cool: After 50k you get comped AA or DL club as well.

I may be incorrect, but IIRC, in Seattle they actually print you a contract on the Executive/Emerald Level of the parking garage. I had to go to the booth to get my keys, and the lady gave me a contract. I did rent a Premium car, though, so am not sure how the usual Emerald/Executive Aisle would work there.

Blaine, Washington (right on the border), is a nice spot to get out and stretch your legs during daylight hours. It has a nice view of the Sound, and supposedly decent whale watching (though I didn't see any whilst there).

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Some observations:

Tipping is a way of life in the hotel business. The standard line for us when asked "whatever the guest feels appropriate". That, in my time on the job, has ranged in size from $1 to $300 and at varying times has included Cuban cigars, autographed pictures, bottles of wine, and Rolling Stones tickets. If you as the guest feel that we are doing a good job, the correct level of thanks for said good job would be greatly appreciated. It's not quite the life of a waiter when it comes to financial distribution, but sometimes it's not far behind. If you are clearly monopolizing our time and a line is building behind you, that should be worth something because you are driving people away that don't want to wait. There are numerous stories of considerable strings being pulled for people that result in absolutely nothing. To those who say that their money should not make up for the low wages of the industry: my response to that is not printable.

Yes and no. Well-paid is all in the details. Base salaries run from $20K-50K, with the 50's being the pinnacle of the job...think Ritz, Waldorf, etc. Is it insulting to tip? It's absolutely contrary to think this. There are people out there who decline tips, but IMO if I reject a tip, I am rejecting your form of an attempt at gratitude beyond words. Why would I spurn your gratitude?

Tipping does become insulting if done in a manner that makes me feel like a servant. Fold a bill and shake my hand...never ever ever ever toss bills across my desk or reach forward and try to put a bill in my jacket pocket. I'm not a trained monkey, nor am I a hooker. The rest of the frontline staff will find out about that faster than the speed of thought.

"Skilled professional": No lower an authority than the American Hotel & Lodging Association considers the concierge desk an entry-level position. :rolleyes:

The tickets and the tables come from relationship building. My name and credibility open doors that are closed to the average hotel guest. Restaurants that have a credit card guarantee for you will waive it if it's me calling. Therefore, have some common courtesy and show up to the tables that we magically find for you. Front desk agents chafe when someone pulls out DYKWIA...our magic bullet is "Don't you have any pull?" My answer that I never say to that is: "Yeah, I have plenty. But I use it for those who don't insult me." Restaurants and shows do indeed sell out and there are times when we can't do anything about it. We are good, but we're not magicians. Again, tipping is entirely discretionary, but there are some floors that are generally established. I have found that making that table magically appear is a $10-20 thing. Hard to get tickets? 10% of what you paid. Setting up a proposal (I've done fifteen now): $50-300. Bachelor party: I've been stiffed and gotten $200.

I probably could write about five times what I have already, but the blog post was tipping-centric.

Sorry to drag last week's current events into The Box, but I missed last week, and can't be bothered to sift through all the hyperventilating that occurred in my absence (so I figured I would create my own).

Does anyone else think CO now has one of the least attractive domestic FFPs?

A Program Recap - Post Changes:

Limited EasyPass for Non-Elites
Plat Bonus 100%, Gold 100%, Silver 25%
No 500-mile Minimum
100% EQMs only for Fares Purchased on CO.com, otherwise only for select fares
No redemption (presently) for International F, except with QF.
Inflated Biz Award Redemption Rates When Compared With Other Programs (100K TATL comes to mind)
$15 First Checked Bag Fee, $25 Second Bag Fee for Non-Elites
Increased Standby and Award Fees
No SWUs or Comparable Instruments for Top-Tier

I'm sure I'm missing some stuff, but CO seems to have selected some of the worst attributes of other programs (Fee Frenzy, Reduced Bonus, No 500-mile Minimum), whilst eschewing the best attributes of those programs (International F Redemption, SWUs).

In my extensive experience renting from National at SEA, they do not automatically give you a contract at the exit booth for ES/EA. I am sure that they would give you one if you asked, however. Even when I've prereserved a particular car class, the people never gave me a copy of the contract without me asking for it.

Bingo.

Debatable, but you'd have a tough time convincing me of that. Plus, when you compare it to the quality of the carrier - it pushes it ahead of the US' of the world.

For what it's worth, I think this is idiotic. Why not dump Gold down to 75%...?

I have to ask - how much does this really save an airline? I bet it's not as much as the revenue they're going to lose to Amtrak in the NE Corridor. This is insulting on certain routes like EWR - DCA / EWR - BOS where they only sell full Y and many of the flights are op'ed by COEX.

Why anyone would follow US on anything is beyond me.

Plus it's darn difficult to redeem miles. :rolleyes:

I said "one of the worst," not "the worst." Besides, I'm sure Dante is busy carving out a special circle of Hell just for US Management. :D

There's a PHL - LHR joke there somewhere.

In honor of the box I had a cheesesteak of lunch. And I'm scheduling a coronary for dinner. ;)

In other news, I met Obama the other day.

If CO is now the worst for non-elites, which would be the best for a EWR (and possibly JFK) flyer? I've cleared out my NWA account and was going to start accruing in CO with my upcoming trip to Japan. I'd most like to spend miles on upgrades as it would take me too long to accumulate enough miles for outright reward purchases (and watch the value of those miles erode over time). This, I think, limits me to spending miles on CO. Given what I want, I believe that leaves me with CO for my FFP.

With the new TATL agreement with UA, does this mean there will be mileage upgrades available on UA flights (similar to the CO/NW agreement)?

The Tenth Circle of Hell:

Eternity spent on an ex-HP A320, in whY, with short intermissions at PHL's baggage-claim hall for good measure.

The 737's are worse. :rolleyes:

I will defer to your expertise in this area - expertise which I'm pleased I lack.