Most of you have seen the IcelandAir / AlaskaAir deal on one of many blogs (like OTR) this week, including this one.  In reading other blogs this morning I came across this article: When Planning Goes Awry.  She makes the point that one of the unintended consequences of this deal is a significant uptake of award space on Alaska Airlines flights to Hawaii – the very award space she was banking miles toward booking.  One of the things Alaska will have to evaluate going forward now is how much more (if any) award space to allocate on these flights for “real” Alaska Airlines MVP’s.

I should note at this point that because of the way my name is formatted on my IcelandAir award booking on Alaska, I can’t attach my MVP number (but attached my AAdvantage number just fine) – I’d like to have my MVP number on there, though, to properly represent myself as an Alaska flyer.  See my prior posts on Alaska’s MVP program if you’re interested in why they’re my “second” program after AAdvantage.

The key here is that award availability is not static – it’s constantly changing based on expected demand for sold seats.  You’re much better off pulling the trigger on what you see available (if it’s close to what you need) rather than waiting and watching someone else snap it up.  Example: You want three first-class tickets but only two are available + 1 in coach.  Would you rather have three tickets or zero?  Another example: You want four tickets to Hawaii but only two are available.  If you’re willing to buy the other two if you have two, pull the trigger on the two award seats so you know you have them, then keep watching for the others.  At some point, even if there’s a cancellation fee, it’s likely worth it to hold what you need and then cancel vs. not being able to get anything.

Don’t wait… and if you do?  Enjoy your steak knives.

Have you missed an award redemption opportunity?  Or just squeaked one by?  Tell your tale in the comments!

On the 16th, Online Travel Review posted a story about IcelandAir Saga Club miles for sale, the US/ISK exchange rate, and the partnership between IcelandAir and Alaska Airlines.  Several BoardingArea bloggers picked up the story as well, and threads developed on boards like Milepoint.  The gist was that you could buy the equivalent of a round trip award ticket on Alaska Airlines for under $400.

Okay, back to the topic at hand.  I looked up award availability on Alaska this week and found what I wanted – a week in Hawaii for my wife’s birthday in July next year.  I pulled the trigger.  Here’s how the deal went down and what I ended up with:

• I used ExpertFlyer to identify the Alaska Airlines routes and flights I wanted to travel on, and to verify award availability.
• Update (due to questions in comments below): My flights include an overnight stopover/connection on one of the directions, which *is* allowed.  On the return I have a slightly-longer-than-four-hour layover, but it doesn’t exceed 4 hours and x minutes, so it appears to be allowed.
• Once confirmed, I bought 50,000 + 10,000 IcelandAir Saga Club points for ISK 77,000 w/fees (handled via points.com, as with most major airlines).  The charge came to $634.74.
• I called IS (IcelandAir) today and booked a trip for two from Austin to Maui and back (AUS-SEA-OGG) in the A fare class (First Class Saver Award) on AS (Alaska Airlines).  Taxes and fees from IS came to $258.04.
• The total for airfare is $892.78, or $446.39 per person – all in (taxes, fees, etc.).
• Alaska prices the same itinerary out at $3,556 for two travelers as of today ($1,778 each), for a total savings of $1,331.61 per person.

Getting there is half the battle… but what about a place to stay?

• I used 30,000 HHonors points for one night in SEA because AUS-SEA gets in at 8PM, but SEA-OGG leaves at 8AM the next day. The published rate is $169 + taxes.
• I used 80,000 Starpoints for 6 nights at the Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa.  That’s 64,000 for “Fifth Night Free” + 16,000 for the sixth night, for an average rate of 13,333 per night.  This compares to a published rate of $379, or $2,274 + tax.  Note: There will be a resort charge of approximately $26/night that’s not included, waived, etc.  I consider $26/night a good deal (especially when everyone has to pay it on top of their rate anyway), even for a “free” room.
• I used 6 Suite Night Awards requesting an ocean-view Junior or Family Suite (which appear to be the same/similar to each other).  These don’t confirm until 5 days before arrival, though, so we’ll see what happens.  Perhaps I have a reason to cross 100 nights with SPG this year after all – put the Ambassador to work.

So, all-in I’m getting $3,556 of airfare and $2,443 of hotel (not including taxes), a vacation value of $5,999 (I didn’t make that up, I swear!), all for just about $1,048.78 (the Saga points, fees and the SPG resort fee for six nights). So $6,000 of vacation for $1,050. Not a bad deal – but definitely some convoluted work, and the coming together of availabilities.

Have you jumped in on the IcelandAir/Alaska Airlines deal? Will you?

[Update: Despite earlier reports to the contrary, OTR now posts that the deal is dead as of today at 8PM EST, per IcelandAir.]

Irrops.  Irregular Operations.  AKA “weather delays.”

Saturday the 18th I had the misfortune of flying to/through Dallas.  Luckily, my flight from Orlando was delayed on the ground.  That delay got me home on Saturday night instead of camping at DFW airport.

It started in MCO – everything was fine.  We boarded and pushed back… and held.  Minutes went by, and the announcement – a weather hold in Dallas.  We’d sit on the tarmac for 30 minutes or so to see if it cleared.  Oh, and we could use our cell phones since we weren’t taxiing.  A quick swipe to turn off airplane mode… and a text message from TripIt informing me that my DFW-AUS flight was canceled.  Knowing the drill I immediately dialed the Executive Platinum Desk (because the ReAccom team gets busy with everyone, but the EXP desk handles a smaller group of fliers) and grabbed the last seat on the 11:20 PM flight.  Luck was on my side.

We finally take off, fly across the southeast and get to DFW.  It’s absolute chaos.  Cots are already being set up for stranded passengers, all the local hotels are full, and the rental car lots are out of cars.  People are frustrated, DFW Airport Police are standing by at the gates for canceled flight notifications.  No violence, no shouting… just lots of frustrated passengers.  Whatever storms came through Dallas were fierce… and I’m glad I missed them.  It turns out that the traffic delays were bad enough that the two MCO-DFW flights after ours got canceled instead of delayed.

After a short respite in the club I headed to the gate for my DFW-AUS trek home.  Boarding with First/EXP… almost.  We got to the door of the plane to find the flight attendant holding us up… and the pilot(s) revving the engines up and down.  Never a good sign.  When the pilot exited the cockpit waving his hand across his throat and shaking his head my heart sank.  Mechanical.

To AA’s credit, flights were being canceled not for lack of planes but lack of crews.  That meant lots of extra, ready planes.  A walk to a new gate, a wait for a new plane to be towed over… and a new challenge.  We had just under 30 minutes to board and take off before the crew went illegal for time.  From weather to mechanical to crew… really?  Suffice it to say it was one of the fastest boardings I’ve seen at DFW… and one of the worst standby lists.  Due to the cancellations there were 125 people on the standby list for this flight.

Had it not been for my tarmac delay in MCO, I’d likely have not been reaccom’ed in time for all the prior cancellations to get done before I was assigned a new flight.  I’d have spent the night in Dallas (more comfortably than the airport floor, however, thanks to the travel insurance on my Amex).  As-is, that delay got me home.  Sure, I had to call… proactively… but that’s what road warriors do, right?  Know the system, get ahead of the game, get the flight.

In retrospect, AA did an excellent job on a horrible weather night.  Gate staff and flight crews dealt with each problem quickly and efficiently – and politely.  I can’t thank them enough – and thoroughly enjoyed sleeping in my own bed that night.

What IRROPS near-misses have you had?

I had reason to go to LA last week for a conference.  In the times I’ve been here before I’ve stayed at several Starwood properties, but never the Sheraton Gateway on Century Blvd. near the airport.  I’ve stayed at the nearby Four Points by Sheraton, but never the Sheraton Gateway.  Now I know why…

Starting with driving up to the hotel – I asked the valet where self-park was and was pointed to an offsite airport parking lot behind the hotel as there was no lot or garage at the hotel itself save the valet lot.  Strike one.

After parking in the offsite airport parking I lugged my bags and conference box up the sidewalk to the hotel, finding every outside door locked all the way around to the front door (even a large set of four double doors on the side leading directly to the front desk).  Strike two.

I have Platinum status with Starwood, and on check-in the desk clerk seemed confused as to what was where, how to use a computer, etc.  Strike three.

I don’t know why, but the Four Points provides guest parking (even though it’s also across the street from the airport), has a well-lit, well-staffed check in desk, and is easily accessible.  I wish I’d stayed at Four Points… and next time I know better.

Have you found any “mainstream” properties that offer less in terms of guest experience than the so-called “discount” properties?  Noticed a difference between “downlevel” hotels in different chains (Hyatt, Hilton, Starwood, etc.)?

Earlier this week I had it in my mind that my flight left at 3:55 PM.  I knew I was running late to the airport but I figured I’d make it by 3:25 and it was a smaller airport, easier to get through (and TSA is replaced by a local group who’s more polite and efficient – go figure!).  I got to the rental car return later than I thought and got on the bus for the five-minute ride at 3:30.  3:35?  Okay.  I’ve got until 3:45 before they officially give away my seat, but a check of ExpertFlyer revealed open seats.

Then I noticed my flight time.  3:40.  Whoops!  I got to the check-in desk and asked about later flights… and then realized that although I’m Executive Platinum and get free same-day standby, I’d assigned this ticket to my Alaska Airlines number to get the segment credit towards MVP Gold.  The only way to get on a later flight, officially, without a fee was to change my ticket to my EXP number… and lose the credit to AS.  I did what I had to and these short segments credited to AA, getting me on to my next destination (via DFW instead of ORD, but no real differences otherwise).

I cleared security without a problem (no nude-o-scopes, so no need for gate-rape to slow me down) and got to the gate in time to watch the door close.  The next flight left just fine, me on it, in an exit row (first was full and I was standby).  Life went on with this minor escapade chalked up to simply being late.

What have your missed flight experiences been?  Any good stories as to why you missed a flight?  I wish I had a better reason than “work”…

So last month I announced a contest related to Kiva and Start Something That Matters.  The results are in!

I used RANDOM.ORG to select a random comment and #4 came up the lucky winner – IDGFlyGirl!  If you’ll contact me, I’ll get your copy of Start Something That Matters in the mail to you.

Who did she support?  Ubaldina from Peru, who needed $750 for vegetables (and is fully funded!).

As promised, I contributed my earnings from the blog for the month plus a personal contribution – just more than $75.

I’d have hoped for more involvement, but anything is a Start (thanks Blake!) and in the end, several people got more towards the help they need.  Thanks to everyone that contributed!

So I’m enjoying the Admiral’s Club in Terminal A… but I should be somewhere over the Gulf of Mexico right now.  I’m on American Airlines Flight 1316 tonight, or at least I will be if it leaves the gate again.  Our decision time is 6:45 PM 7:15 PM 7:25 PM.

All started well – we boarded, taxi’ed out, made a circle on the taxiways and pointed back towards a gate.  Once there, the dreaded maintenance announcement.  Don’t get me wrong, I’d much rather be safely on the ground than dangerously in the air.  I’d also rather be on my plane than delayed in the club, though, too.

Our decision time is approaching – by the time you see this post I’ll either be in the air or being re-accomodated on another flight.  The funny part?  The gentleman across from me is on his sixth delay on his flight to Virginia in as many flights, and the woman beside me is also delayed on my flight but unable to get her checked bag off, so she’s stuck with us, too.

The axiom is true – the more you fly the more you’ll encounter delays.  What have your experiences been with delays?

With the Hyatt Airline Summer Promotion and the ability to earn up to 5x the airline miles for every stay (capped at 24,500 miles), I’ve shifted my hotel stays for the rest of this month to Hyatt.  Not being a normal Hyatt stayer, I just completed my first stay at a Hyatt Place.  I’ve got four nights this week and I’m “hotel-hopping” every night – three different Hyatt properties in the same general area (one twice on non-consecutive nights). The properties are Hyatt Place and Hyatt House brand properties.

I have Platinum status with Hyatt, but that’s not as glamorous as it sounds.  Platinum either requires having the Hyatt Visa credit card (I don’t) or staying 5 times or 15 nights in a year.  The benefits are meager but worthwhile (especially since our annual company meeting is at a Hyatt) – the important bullet to me is free Internet access (working for a startup, anything I can do to keep expenses low is a bonus).

Hyatt Place is a lot like a Sheraton Four Points or Hilton Garden Inn.  Breakfast is included and it’s better than the Hilton-branded Hampton Inn’s or Homewood Suites (the same breakfast between them).  It’s actually a branded breakfast, “a.m. Kitchen Skillet.”  Since I’m eating low-carb, the inclusion of a low-carb option is nice (although I can generally get “no-carb” for breakfast with eggs and a small serving of breakfast meat)… and there are vegetarian options as well.

Overall?  At the end of the night it’s just a hotel.  Bed, shower, coffee maker, desk, lamp.  The open lobby space is nice if meeting people or staying with a group, and the breakfast is certainly good for saving time by going out somewhere else – but it’s still a pre-cooked breakfast vs. a made-to-order breakfast (like Embassy Suites and full-brand properties).  At this particular Hyatt Place, the exercise room was nice (but I was too late to try the pool which closed at 10PM – my preferred workout is swimming)… but that’s almost the norm at mid-tier properties these days.

I’m looking forward to comparing it to Hyatt House later in the week.

What’s your Hyatt Place experience been?  Or, what’s your take on hotel breakfasts?

LodgeNet, one of the major providers for interactive media services for hotels, announced today that they’re going to charge $.99 for access to a Program Guide in their mobile app, LodgeNet Mobile.

According to the app description on the iTunes App Store, version 2.0 now includes:

…a complete Interactive Programming Guide (IPG) for in-room television programming. As a fully-functioning electronic program guide (EPG), you can now not only see what’s playing on your favorite channel, but tune in easily. For just $0.99, you can get the IPG add-on subscription for one full year, which comes with unlimited use…

So let me get the straight – I can use the app to use my iPhone/iPad as a remote, giving me the convenience of not having to find a channel list the hotel provides – and LodgeNet can obtain all kinds of data about me: where I stay, when I stay, when I watch TV, what channel I watch, how often I change channel.  They can then use that data to determine stay/demographic correlations – e.g. “people who stay at Four Points watch Food Network, but people that stay in Waldorf Astoria properties watch CNBC.”  They can sell that data to programming providers, retailers, networks, etc… all in exchange for me installing their app for convenience (the plain old remote still works and doesn’t provide them the same information, though they can probably get that from the hotel under a licensing agreement).  But to get the same program guide that’s accessible on the TV for free on my iOS device, I have to pay them?  Wrong.

I’m actually okay with the data collection and profiling – I used the LodgeNet app since it first came out.  It’s convenient, simple and effective.  What I object to, though, is a company that makes money off my stay and viewing patterns then wanting to turn around and charge me for additional features (rather than simply adding in the feature, making the app more valuable and making me more likely to use the app on a regular basis).

This shows that LodgeNet’s true objective is charging the end user, plain and simple.  With all the data they have and the power of correlation it should have, this is despicable.

Tonight?  I’m in a hotel with LodgeNet.  And I’m using the germy hotel remote…

Have you used the LodgeNet app?  Will you continue to (or start to) knowing the company is out to nickel-and-dime you rather than increase the utility (and attach rate) of their app?

Start Something That Matters.  Not just a blog post title – a book by Blake Mycoskie, the founder and Chief Shoe Giver at TOMS Shoes.  And now, a contest (see below)!

Much like the model of TOMS – buy a pair, we give a pair – Blake put out an offer to bloggers: “I’ll send you two copies of my book – one for you, and one for you to give away on your blog in a contest.  Just read it, review it, host a contest… and start something that matters!”

My Review

I devoured the book on a flight across the Atlantic (of course!  what else would a travel blogger do?), tearing into it not only for GettingStatus, but for my background in Management & Leadership.  It’s a quick read, designed to be a book to take action on, not just “another business tome” made to gather dust on a bookshelf.  In three words my summary would be find your passion.  When you are working because you want to, you’re more dedicated to what you’re doing – and dedication leads to accomplishment.  That probably seems hokey for the summary of an entire book, but all the other tidbits of business creativity serve to enable you to get out of the business of doing business and into the endeavor of spreading your passion to others who will share it.

The Contest

One of the online communities I’m involved in is Milepoint, a group of folks who share a passion around travel (including the one and only Randy Petersen).  Kiva is a non-profit organization with a mission to connect people through lending to alleviate poverty. Leveraging the internet and a worldwide network of microfinance institutions, Kiva lets individuals lend as little as $25 to help create opportunity around the world.  Milepoint has a Kiva team that, to date, has donated more than three million dollars to fifty-seven thousand different individuals and projects:

So, here’s the deal:  As part of the Milepoint Kiva team I’m going to donate the proceeds from my blog for the month of July to a Kiva project (or projects, depending on how much we raise!).   One lucky reader/commenter will receive a copy of Start Something That Matters, and at least one (if not more) lucky Kiva borrowers will have funding contributed to their projects.

How to Enter

1. Join Kiva using this referral link.  The link will give you a $25 credit that you can immediately use to lend to a borrower on Kiva (the $25 is a limited time offer sponsored by an anonymous donor on Kiva – I get $0 in either cash or credit on Kiva for the referral).  In order to get the $25 credit you MUST use the referral link, which also allows me to track the impact of the referrals this contest generates (but does not share ANY of your personal information or financial information with me).
2. Browse the list of borrowers.  Contribute your referral credit of $25 to one or more borrowers and comment on this blog post with which borrowers/projects you contributed to so we can share our stories of success.  Each borrower has a unique link, something like <http://www.kiva.org/lend/431802>.
3. Comment on this blog post with the link along with your Kiva username and which borrower(s) you contributed to (your username is located on your personal lender profile page) so that I can verify that you are in fact a Kiva user. Note: I cannot see your personal information, loan information, etc.  Example: “My Kiva username: http://www.kiva.org/lender/mike5752, Borrower: http://www.kiva.org/lend/434833″

How I’ll Select a Winner

On August 1st I’ll use an online random-number generator to pick a comment by comment number.  The first random number from the list that matches a valid entry (Kiva user / Borrower as described above) will be the winner and will receive a hardcopy edition of Start Something That Matters by Blake Mycoskie.

What Matters

Since blog revenues are tied to page clicks, impressions, etc., the more people that hear about this contest then the more the blog earns – and that’s more to Kiva and the borrowers there.   Remember, the proceeds from the entire month of July will be contributed to Kiva borrowers – so spread the word and help start something that matters for someone who really needs it!

The Followup

I’ll post the winner of the book on August 1st.

The day I get the check for July I’ll post a copy of it and list the borrowers contributed to as part of the Milepoint team!