Author Archives: Andy Shuman

American Airlines Food Cuts Are Just a Nuisance — We Can Lose More Than First Class Meals

Posted on August 10, 2020 by Andy Shuman • 0 Comments

As several bloggers have alerted us, American Airlines food cuts are going to be permanent. The carrier is going to replace their disconnected full meal service in First Class with something “more modern.” This is bad, right? I don’t know. Short and medium hauls — I seriously don’t care. As long as they give me a… Continue Reading

Filed Under: COVID-19, Miles and Points

M&T Bank $300 Bonus for Business Checking: Now Waives the Monthly Fee for 3 Months

Posted on August 9, 2020 by Andy Shuman • 0 Comments

M&T bank operates in New York, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Connecticut, Virginia, West Virginia, and Washington, DC. You can get the M&T Bank $300 bonus for opening the M&T Tailored Business Checking account and meeting relatively simple requirements. I rarely cover bank bonuses (that’s DoC’s domain), but I thought I’d mention this one… Continue Reading

Filed Under: Bargains

3 Credit Card Retention Offers, One Product Change, and My Credit Cards Folder Is Shrinking!

Posted on July 31, 2020 by Andy Shuman • 8 Comments

This month I had to make a tough decision. Annual fees either posted or were about to post for 3 of my credit cards. Retention offers can significantly offset these expenses, but they’ve gotten hard to get lately. You know how much I like to pay for my free travel privileges – I don’t,… Continue Reading

Filed Under: Credit Cards, Manufactured Spend, Miles and Points

Awesomeness and Dysfunctions of Iberia Plus: How to Use the First and Skirt the Second | Iberia Peak Dates, Award Space and Prices, Fuel Surcharges and More!

Posted on July 13, 2020 by Andy Shuman • 12 Comments

I’ve blogged about Iberia multiple times. Long story short — you can fly between the U.S. and Madrid starting at 34,000 Avios in Business class with a very low fuel surcharge. You Can Still Fly to Europe in Iberia Business Class for 25,000 Points; and Award Space Is Fantastic — Plus Cheap Nonstop Flights… Continue Reading

Filed Under: Bargains, Cheap Travel, Miles and Points

Points for Your Post Pandemic Self-Indulgence Part 1: Top Laidback Hilton Luxury Resorts!

Posted on July 7, 2020 by Andy Shuman • 15 Comments

Let’s dream a little. When you’re able to travel to the places you want rather than places that allow you to come — where is it going to be? I don’t always crave luxury stays. In fact, I rarely do. My wife hates flying, so I almost always fly solo (and I can tough it out… Continue Reading

Filed Under: Bargains, COVID-19, Miles and Points, Miles and Points Trip Ideas

Caesars Diamond Status Match revised: Vegas, Atlantic City, and the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas Reopenings

Posted on June 30, 2020 by Andy Shuman • 0 Comments

Is Caesars Diamond status match still valuable? Here are my older posts about my status-match adventures in Atlantic City. My Atlantic City Status Match Adventure — Part 1: What’s Still Working and What Is Not My Atlantic City Status Match Adventure — Part 2: Total Rewards Diamond Benefits IN DEPTH! My Atlantic City Status Match… Continue Reading

Filed Under: Bargains, Cheap Travel, COVID-19, Travel News

My Atlantic City Status Match Adventure — Part 2: Total Rewards Diamond Benefits IN DEPTH!

Posted on June 30, 2020 by Andy Shuman • 24 Comments

On January 31, my Total Rewards Diamond status expired and was promptly reverted to Gold – the entry level, on February 1. Later on February 1, I rematched my Wyndham Diamond back to Caesars Rewards and got my Diamond back by the end of the day. Or, as this guy would put it … UPDATE:… Continue Reading

Filed Under: Bargains, Cheap Travel, Miles and Points

UPDATED 6.28.20: Greece, Aruba and Iceland Are Reopening Borders This Summer – Time to Pack?

Posted on June 28, 2020 by Andy Shuman • 6 Comments

MAJOR UPDATE 6.28.2020 So, remember those upcoming Iceland, Greece, and Spain openings? Right, not going to happen. Not for U.S. travelers anytime soon. Europe opens up its borders on July 1 and extends its invitation to citizens of dozens of other countries, but Americans are not on the list. I glanced at the WaPo crystal… Continue Reading

Filed Under: COVID-19, Miles and Points

Bermuda Travel Will Resume on July 1, 2020: Here Is What You Want to Know

Posted on June 22, 2020 by Andy Shuman • 0 Comments

Bermuda travel is supposed to resume on July 1. It’s not the only tropical paradise you can go to; Antigua and Barbuda is open right now, and other Caribbean destinations are supposed to open in July too. But Bermuda is incredibly beautiful, and, while it’s not an all-season destination, it’s going to be tropical… Continue Reading

Filed Under: COVID-19, Miles and Points, Misc, Travel News

Masks on a Plane: It’s Up to Airlines to #MASA — Make AirTravel Safe Again

Posted on June 20, 2020 by Andy Shuman • 8 Comments

UPDATE: Based on some responses I’ve received from researchers, I can’t consider this diagram accurate for the time being. I keep talking to people, so this might or might not change. Just to clarify: this revision doesn’t mean that my opinion about using masks for preventing the coronavirus spread has changed, but I won’t resort… Continue Reading

Filed Under: COVID-19, Miles and Points, Misc, Travel News

Author Archives: Andy Shuman

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