Tag: Frequent Flyer Miles

View All Tags

/ / / / / / /

Infographic Alert: The iPhone 5 as a Frequent Flyer

November 12, 2012 at 10:38 AM | by | Comments (0)

Think you travel a lot? The iPhone has you easily beat, considering it does a one-way circumnavigation of the globe before it's even ready to be powered on.

At 20,096 miles, from the US companies to the several countries that manufacture it until it comes back to the US to reach your hands, the Apple iPhone 5 is only one long-haul flight away from reaching Silver Medallion status on Delta or Silver MileagePlus on United.

Looking at the route—United States > United Kingdom > Germany > South Korea > Taiwan > China > United States—it's pretty inspirational for an actual around-the-world. A traveler could claim they're on the "iPhone route" around the globe, though of course that would sounds terrifically dorky.

Check out the full infographic from MobileMadhouse below:

more ›

/ / / / / /

American Airlines Says Sorry for the Delays, Offers Up Double Miles

November 6, 2012 at 9:05 AM | by | Comments (0)

Several weeks ago things weren’t exactly going well for American Airlines. Pilots weren’t happy with the airline, and flights were canceled all over the place. Customers—and even politicians—were less than thrilled about these flight delays and cancellations. To make matters even worse there was that whole ordeal surrounding some loose airplane seats on some American Airlines flights.

American Airlines clearly recognizes what they did wrong last month, and now they’re trying to make it up to everyone with a little bit of an apology and promotion. They’re sorry for both the delays and cancellations, but also for screwing up the plans of their passengers. We didn’t miss our grandma’s birthday, but we’re betting an in-flight snack that someone did.

more ›

/ / / / / / / / / / / / / /

Four Airlines (and Other Charities) Desperately Seeking Your Sandy Relief Donations

November 2, 2012 at 2:07 PM | by | Comments (0)


A facade collapse from high winds in the middle of Sandy

The airports have reopened most traveler's unexpected "Hurrications" have thankfully ended, but that hardly means it's time for "business as usual."

Hurricane Sandy relief is desperately in need in many areas of New York City followin a variety of factors that put entire communities out, from fires that leveled homes to floodwaters that ruined entire neighborhoods, to power outages that leave residents hungry...the metropolis known as the capital of the world is in dire need of your dollars. We write this from one part of the city, poised to go help any way possible the moment the business day closes.

Airlines with a significant NYC presence are naturally doing their part and offering bonus miles for anything you can give. Here's a round-up:

more ›

/ / / / / / / / / / / /

Seven Secrets Inside Lufthansa's Exclusive First Class Terminal

Where: Frankfurt International Airport, Frankfurt, Germany
October 23, 2012 at 3:21 PM | by | Comments (0)

SPOILER ALERT. If flying First Class is on your to-do list and you'd rather "open the gift" of the First Class Terminal when that day comes, stop reading now!

It's an almost mythical place, the First Class Terminal (FCT) at Frankfurt International Airport. In the darkness of the autumn evening, just before the last flights depart ahead of the 11pm curfew, a little building just off of Terminal 1 glows with the golden crane of the Lufthansa logo.

We've previously shown you all around the spaces and even detailed what whiskey to order, but looking a little closer there's far more to explore.

more ›

/ / / / / / / /

What You're Going to Gain from Qatar Airways Joining the Oneworld Alliance

Where: Doha, Qatar
October 8, 2012 at 5:37 PM | by | Comment (1)


L to R: Horton, Al Baker, Walsh, Ashby

Earlier today, in a small event room in the middle of Midtown Manhattan, four men sat down in front of four microphones. They—Tom Horton (CEO American Airlines), Akbar Al Baker (CEO Qatar Airways), Willie Walsh (CEO of IAG, parent company of British Airways and Iberia) and Bruce Ashby (CEO Oneworld Alliance)—represented their respective airlines but also sat there as heads of companies responsible for billions of dollars in the travel sector and millions of flyers in the air. And they'd come together to get even closer to one another, by inviting Qatar Airways to join the Oneworld Alliance.

Guess what? Qatar Airways accepted the invitation.

From here it'll take another 12-18 months until Qatar completes integration into Oneworld, but now's the time to start smirking at the potential benefits. Yeah, you're probably like, "why should I care?" Well, just think that next time you book a long-haul flight with American Airlines and it has a stopover in Doha, you could actually be walking onto a Qatar Airways plane (ooo maybe even a 787!) with Qatari crew and Qatar's 5-star service and then you'll be googling to see when all this happened while being very glad it did.

more ›

/ / / / / / / /

Airline Alliances: Who's Hookin' Up and Who's Breakin' Up

September 7, 2012 at 10:46 AM | by | Comments (0)

The ins and outs of the major airline alliances can read like a script of your favorite (or not-so favorite) soap opera. Regardless, whichever alliance to which you pledge allegiance, each has its own bit of news in 2012.

With some departures and new additions, the world just becomes a smaller place. Here's the 411 around the world for Star Alliance, Oneworld and SkyTeam:

more ›

/ / / / / / / / /

Everything You Need to Know to Grab Virgin America Elevate Gold

July 26, 2012 at 3:05 PM | by | Comments (0)

Well this is sure the week to announce loyalty programs changes, huh? First we had the announcement of JetBlue's TrueBlue Mosaic level, and now Virgin America is going to reward their more frequent flyers with two—count 'em—two levels above regular Elevate Red, and with accompanying complimentary perks.

Please welcome Virgin America's Elevate Silver and Elevate Gold to the frequent flyer status dance party. The program officially kicks off August 8, so don't go logging in to check your status quite yet.

Becoming Virgin America Elevate Silver

· First off, you've got to be a member of the Elevate program in general. Join here for free and you'll begin at level Red.
· Fly somewhere, and do it a lot. To go from Red to Silver, you must earn 20,000 status points in a calendar year. Elevate points are based on how much money you spend on flights, not on miles flown, and it's 5 points per $1 spent.
· You'll need to spend $4,000 in one year flying Virgin America. Assume you spend $500 on each roundtrip, coast-to-coast flight, that's doable in 8 roundtrips.

more ›

/ / / / / / / / / /

14 of the Awesomest Airline Lounge Amenities Around the World

July 24, 2012 at 2:31 PM | by | Comments (0)


Virgin Atlantic's hot tub

So you're holding an airline ticket for Business or First Class and psyched to see what sort of luxuries await beyond the sliding doors of the exclusive airport lounges? Well, we have good and bad news. Bad news first: not all airlines think beyond offering the basics of seating and snacks. The good news: most do! Kids areas, workstations and even shower facilities are de rigueur in a lounge these days, and the more creative carriers have moved onto hidden hot tubs or perfect French pastries for an extra "oomph."

This is how you may end up breathing at the oxygen bar of the SkyTeam lounge at London-Heathrow or picking up a cue for a game of pool at New York-JFK. Now let's look at a whole bunch more of the interesting offerings, all of which we've personally visited.

14 of the Awesomest Airline Lounge Amenities Around the World:

more ›

/ / / / / / / / /

JetBlue Mosaic: The Newest Elite Frequent Flyer Level to Drool Over

July 23, 2012 at 11:07 AM | by | Comments (0)


Very clever, JetBlue graphic designers--putting "friends" and "benefits" next to each other. Teehee.

Today we mark a new milestone in the tempestuous timeline of airline loyalty history as JetBlue announces an elite tier to their TrueBlue program: Mosaic.

JetBlue employees should be practicing their kowtowing now as JetBlue Mosaic officially kicks off this fall, rewarding the airline's most frequent flyers with six advantages above and beyond the regular-level TrueBlue, plus likely a shiny new card. But first, you've got to hit Mosaic. Let's break it down:

more ›

/ / / /

The Little Family That Could (Travel 7.5 Million Miles)

July 16, 2012 at 11:22 AM | by | Comments (0)


A pile of boarding passes

This weekend we met a girl who had just returned from Swaziland. She was young—still studying Spanish in college—and planning to study abroad in Spain. What brought her to Swaziland then? Her parents. It was their family vacation, and in past years they've also hit Nicaragua, St. Lucia, rural China and South Africa. Kudos to them, but whatever happened to road trips to the Smoky Mountains?

The answer is that it—the not-too-far-from-home vacation—is still alive and well and unsupplanted by exotic long-hauls, because both types of trips have existed in harmony for decades. Case in point: the Disberger Family, just profiled by CNN.

more ›

/ / / / / /

Video Interlude: Flying from Hong Kong and Landing in New York

Where: Hong Kong
May 9, 2012 at 10:54 AM | by | Comments (0)

This is Part 2 of our flight videos. Check out the JFK-HKG leg here.

We got pretty lucky. When we originally left New York for Hong Kong weeks ago, we landed at HKG during sunset, and it was a lovely welcome to a stunning landscape. Now, on the return to New York-JFK, we found ourselves again facing into a reddening horizon, which painted the skyscrapers of the distant downtown as milky blue silhouettes.

Cathay Pacific's flight CX 840 leaves Hong Kong just past 4pm, arriving to JFK some 16 hours later around 8:30pm the same day. We had two afternoons to enjoy, and enjoy it we did, using the time to watch the entire second season of Downton Abbey and finally getting around to watching the movie I Am Love.

more ›

/ / / / / / / / / / /

Inside 'The Wing': Cathay Pacific's Totally Redesigned Flagship Lounge at HKG

Where: Hong Kong International Airport, Lantau, Hong Kong
May 7, 2012 at 12:53 PM | by | Comments (0)

We're typing this while sitting at a bar, a bar overlooking half of the apron and one of the busy runways at Hong Kong International Airport. The view is unparalleled, a frequent flyer sweet secret, and it's only found on the upper level at Cathay Pacific's Business Class lounge The Wing.

The Wing itself is nothing new, but the layout and amenities of the place have recently been totally revamped, updated and kitted out with designer furniture, power outlets where you want them, and classic Asian touches like towering bamboo stalks. Even before the renovation, The Wing ranked as one of our favorite airline lounges in the world. Now, with the addition of a cozier lower level, a "Coffee Loft," and sexy wire Eames chairs, our heart starts racing at the thought of spending a few hours within its walls.

more ›

Previous
Use of this Site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (effective 3/21/12) and Privacy Policy (effective 3/21/12). © Condé Nast. Your California Privacy Rights. All rights reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Condé Nast.
Ad Choices