If you are not a member of the Hyatt Gold Passport frequent guest loyalty program and want to experience the benefits of Platinum membership, why not go for a “Free Trial” Platinum Status on Signup or Upgrade for Members? All one needs to do is sign up as a new Hyatt Gold Passport to automatically have four months of Hyatt Gold Passport Platinum status at no cost. Stay a minimum of five nights during that period and Platinum status is secured through February 2011.

Furthermore, the requirements have been temporarily reduced for Gold Passport members to upgrade to Diamond status, which is the top tier in the Hyatt Gold Passport frequent guest loyalty program. This status can also be secured through February 2011.

Some FlyerTalk members want to know what is the definition of stranded before they answer the question Where have you been stranded?, and other FlyerTalk members take it upon themselves to redefine the word stranded. Some FlyerTalk members relate what they did while they were stranded.

Regardless, FlyerTalk members share their stories of places around the world where they had no choice but to stay due to different varieties of circumstances, including aircraft malfunctions, inclement weather, cancellations, and even a crash into a fence and fights with a boyfriend.

FlyerTalk members are currently discussing breaking news where a Continental pilot dies during flight… [18-Jun-2009][threads merged]

A 60-year-old pilot who was employed by Continental Airlines for approximately 32 years allegedly died of natural causes during a flight from Brussels to Newark.

Some FlyerTalk members believe that Soap is now a special request amenity at Westin hotel properties really takes the cake. Furthermore, apparently not only are they reducing the amount of soap in each room, but Westin hotel properties are also allegedly reducing or eliminating shower gel and mouthwash out of suites.

The reason for these cutbacks on what used to be expected amenities is due to the “green” initiative being implemented by Westin. However, some FlyerTalk members believe that Westin should come clean and admit that this initiative is nothing more than a cost-cutting measure.

Well, at least Westin is not out to bar soap entirely from their hotel rooms…

First some background. The FTer bought a ticket with Jetstar that included connecting flights on Qantas. Jetstar is a fully owned subsidiary of Qantas. When the FTer went to check in for the Qantas flight, they said it wasn’t ticketed & required purchase of a new ticket. Naturally the FTer wants a refund.

Now to the current discussion. Months pass. Qantas and Jetstar are still passing the buck over who is responsible. Result unhappy customer. What should/could be done next?

Imagine if a person was about to prepare your food order when suddenly she sneezes into her hand and then proceeds to fulfill your order without first washing her hands. Your initial reaction is that you do not want to take any chances of getting sick. You request of her not once, but twice, to wash her hands before touching your food. Do you Tell the manager or walk away, hoping to prevent other customers from possibly becoming ill? Would you ever return as a customer of that establishment again?

FlyerTalk members are debating a question that may never officially be answered:

When do you officially become a world traveller? Is it determined by how many years you traveled? Perhaps what counts is how many countries, or even continents, to which you have visited, but then what constitutes as an eligible visit? Should obscure destinations be thrown into the mix of places visited, and what would be your idea of an obscure destination? Can landing yet never leaving the airport qualify as a visit, or should you not only leave the airport but stay overnight at your destination? Maybe the experiences regarding places, food and lodging — and the resulting knowledge gleaned fron those experiences — need to be factored into the equation. Could the distance you traveled have anything to do with it? Do you have to actually live in multiple countries to count as being a world traveler?

Does you actually need to leave the the planet Earth and visit another world in order to officially become a true world traveler?

Two men, reportedly Japanese citizens, allegedly attempted to smuggle US$134,000,000,000 (that is billion with a B) worth of United States bonds across the border from Italy into Switzerland. It is unknown as of the posting of this story as to whether or not the bonds are genuine or counterfeit. This could be one of the biggest counterfeiting operations if the bonds are fake. However, if the bonds are indeed genuine, the two men could be fined as much as 40 percent of the total value of the bonds for attempting to smuggle them out of Italy without declaring them.

Follow the details of this amazing yet bizarre story, as well as FlyerTalk member reaction, discussion and commentary, in the Japanese men stopped at Swiss border with $134 Billion! thread.

Well, we at The Gate are pretty sneaky.

First, we discussed hotel guests who sneak pets into hotels to avoid the fee.

Then, we ask about the morals of upgrading yourself to a better rental car to which you are not entitled, or sneaking an upgraded class of rental car without paying for it.

Two days later, we discuss sneaking into the club lounge of an airline: can it be done?

Now, we bring to you Sneaking into First Class, a classic FlyerTalk thread which discusses, amongst other things, whether voluntarily upgrading oneself is something about one should be proud, is it nothing more than a form of stealing, or is it something somewhere in between?

You decide…

Have you ever checked into a hotel where the front desk clerk advises you that you have been automatically upgraded, and you thank them, only to go to what appears to be just another ordinary room?

What exactly does a room upgrade mean? It could mean that the new room is the Presidential Suite located on its own penthouse level with butler service and all of the amenities, which does happen, albeit rarely. However, it could also mean something as simple as a better view, a higher floor, a balcony, a better bed, or any of the other possibilities and combinations thereof discussed in the Thanks for the upgrade. . .but is it really? thread, where there are also some tips, tricks and advice on how one can tell one has truly been upgraded to a better room.