Welcome to my weekly travel, points, credit cards and other news from the blogosphere. Here are some topics:
- How to spend American miles in case of devaluation
- Qualify for Hyatt Globalist status in 2021 with a six-night stay
- New Bank of America rewards credit cards
- Thailand opens on November 1
- A guide to Iceland’s geothermal pools and spas
- And more!
To access publications hidden behind the paywall, I have three words for you: Firefox. Bypass. Paywalls (no relation 
).
Planes
Here is a collection of tips from Frequent Miler on how to spend American miles “just in case of devaluation.”
It was about time that London Highway Robbery Airport finally got a little pushback from the regulators, by Skift.
Cathay Pacific has discontinued award waitlist, by Loyalty Lobby. Cathay Pacific wants travelers to use miles and cash rather than waitlist for award tickets. Well, I used waitlists exactly twice in probably 10 years (on Singapore and CX), and both times I didn’t get my tickets. And it’s totally common for planes to take off with empty seats in premium cabins, so I feel like good riddance, although I’m sure some folks have had better luck.
Hotels
Amex Platinum cardholders can save $350 off $800, on Fine Hotels and Resorts, by Thrifty Traveler.
Are you a little annoyed by bloggers reminding us every single day for the last week or so about the Hyatt Peak / Off-Peak devaluation that comes on October 26? Understandable, but there comes a point for all procrastinators out there (me included) when we just should go ahead and make these speculative bookings, as you literally have only two days left to save a few thousands of extremely valuable Hyatt points. I think this Upgraded Points post is the most comprehensive on the subject matter.
This is my final post on the Best Hyatt Values at Cat. 1-4 International Hotels, in which I’m digging into the best deals on Suites. If you don’t want to bother with achieving Hyatt Globalist status in 2021 (see below), but still want to enjoy the perks, do click. Seriously!
By the way, speaking of digging, while everyone has reported Citi’s new partnership with Choice Hotels, no one, from what I can tell, has researched the topic deep and wide like yours truly. See for yourself: Citi Adds Choice Hotels With a 1:2 Transfer Ratio: Here Is Why It’s Great News PLUS a Few Ideas for Your New Year’s Eve Travel!
And speaking of Hyatt (again): Miles to Memories has crunched some numbers and found the way to qualify for Hyatt Globalist status in 2021 by staying just six nights at an Andaz hotel! Of course, you must be a Hyatt credit card holder, but still!
Credit cards
A new Bank of America Business Card with a $500 welcome bonus has been launched this week, by Rapid Travel Chai.
And a new Bank of America personal elite infinite card (no word yet about the bonus) will supposedly launch on November 22, by Doctor of Credit.
Note: before you apply, keep in mind how finicky this bank is. BoA doesn’t like applicants who aren’t their banking clients. And I, personally, don’t like banks that push me into relationships I don’t need. Last time I applied for the Alaska Business card, they offered me a secured card instead!!! 🙂
If you can benefit from the Southwest Companion Pass, Running With Miles outlines your options even if you already have a Southwest card. And if not, there is a new (and record) 100,000-point bonus.
It’s scary how easy it is to commit credit card fraud. And it’s even scarier how some totally legit things we do may look like frauds, by VFTW.
Capital One is about to launch its first airport lounge, by Thrifty Traveler.
Covid-19
CDC Expands Eligibility for COVID-19 Booster Shots, by CDC. And, by the way, Moderna boosters are now available.
There are very specific challenges to Covid-19 vaccine approvals for younger kids, by CNN.
Since children are not small adults, as many pediatricians like to say, the FDA needs to examine data from trials done specifically with children. Children’s bodies are still developing and react differently to a vaccine than an adult would, so as with any vaccine for kids, scientist tested different doses to determine what a child’s body can tolerate and what dose level would be protective. For younger children, Pfizer requested authorization for a 10-microgram dose; the doses used in people 12 years and older is 30 micrograms.
If you can’t wait to start traveling to Thailand again, there is good news. Thailand opens to U.S. travelers on November 1 without quarantine (however, a negative 72-hour PCR test is still required). By Loyalty Lobby.
Other tidbits
Can you win playing by the rules? By The Free-quent Flyer. I enjoyed his philosophical musings about the topic that’s not very philosophical, LOL.
This is a good article about one of the most underrated destinations in the world — the Canary Islands, by Lori Zaino from TPG.
A great guide to Iceland’s geothermal pools and spas, by Vogue.
TBB
- Best of Web: The Great Resignation, 10 Stock Market Truths, Escape from Kabul, Never Too Late To Change, Wildlife Photography
- Most Beautiful Castles, Flexible Spending Accounts, 100k Southwest Cards, Hyatt Bookings
My favorites:
- The Great Resignation Is Accelerating
- People Are Remembering The Biggest Catastrophic Failures Of Various Human-Made Devices And Here’re 30 Of The Most Devastating Pics (and you must read comments, so that’s a very long read).
- The Secret Life of a Happy-Ending Masseur and the Women Who Swear By Him
And now just for fun
Sexy charming security threat…
