My Week in Points November 11-17: the depths of Gol and George

I’m going to American Samoa! I hope. Online Travel Review proposes a way to make it accessible with Virgin America and its credit card.

Speaking of cool uses of miles, New Girl in the Air suggests ways to use British Airways Avios that actually include leaving the airport, mileage runners take note! Avios are my most valuable points because I find I use them for short-distance, high-cost flights that I would otherwise have to part with hard cash.

My annual charity season is starting and FrequentMiler’s post The best cash back card has me interested in the U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Signature card to select charity as one of my cash back categories. I have never had a U.S. Bank card.

Speaking of credit cards, MilesQuest shows a super-bling card.

I am no fan of Choice Privileges’ confusing promotions, and Loyalty Traveler reports that an excellent redemption option, with Barcelo Resorts in Mexico and the Caribbean is ending 12/31, so start booking and staying, because stays must also be completed by 12/31.

Delta’s partnerships can be quite dysfunctional, try booking an award on Gol, but my Delta elite status helped me cut the line on a Gol flight from Salvador, Brazil to Sao Paulo. Hint for non-elites, at least at Salvador, no one patrols any of the lines so play dumb and take the priority line. You will need to be aggressive to get to a counter ahead of the main line, but at least you have a chance of getting through in less than an hour. Don’t check luggage if you have a connection because you need to re-check-in at the connection and if you have luggage you need to  head to baggage claim…seems like I need to do a post on the Gol experience.

TravelBloggerBuzz is the new incendiary kid on the miles and points beat. George is amusing and thought-provoking. My core interest is actual travel, not miles and points, areas that are becoming further and further distant. So I have not paid that much attention to the increasingly vociferous debates about blogs killing deals and such that inflame so many passions. George’s mirthful, cutting style reminds us all to take things in perspective, lighten up, and have a sense of humor. I do not have the expertise to have a strong opinion of some of these debates, but I do believe these are not life or death matters. Earn some, miss some, travel a lot, enjoy.