Greetings from South Florida! I was supposed to be in Asia right now on my round-the-world trip but I canceled it because of the coronavirus. Instead, I used 12,500 AA miles to fly LAX-MIA at the last minute to surprise my 91-year-old dad (here’s the 45-second video). What’s great about being an elite member of American’s frequent flyer program is that they will upgrade you if there’s space available, even when you’re on an award ticket. A few days before my flight, I looked at the prices and flight loads and noticed that the 5am flight was wide open in first class. I know...who wants to take a 5am flight? Well, the 6:15am was almost full so by getting up 75 minutes earlier, I got to fly up front. That's a no-brainer to me.
Yesterday, I called into Bob Sirott’s morning show on Chicago’s WGN Radio. I provided tips and websites but since I speak rather fast, I promised to list them in my newsletter. So here are my show notes:
4 reasons airline miles are not worth it Airline miles are often the most valuable award travel currency. While many travel rewards are worth around 1 cent each, airline miles can be worth up to 6 cents each for first-class flights. Despite the potentially high valuations, miles are not always worth earning.
Here’s why.
I’m speaking at TravelCon 2020 in New Orleans
In May, I will be in New Orleans speaking at TravelCon. There are over 60 incredible speakers so if you're in the travel industry or thinking of joining and want to level up your skills, come attend this massive event! As a subscriber to this email list, you can get $50 off your ticket with the code SPEAKER50.
The most interesting travel story of the week
The coronavirus is freaking everyone out, myself included. On my flight to Miami, I counted at least six people wearing masks, including two in first class. I almost put mine on because there were multiple people around me coughing up a storm. Instead, I just blasted the air vent over my head to create a force field, even though it was freezing. If I don’t get sick that trick must really work.
The most interesting story I read about the coronavirus this week was how the U.S. transported the American passengers back to the country (especially those that tested positive for the virus). Another interesting read is this expert on why coronavirus infection control on the Diamond Princess is "completely chaotic."
Companies I work with and recommend
Allianz (travel insurance), Amazon (travel gadgets and supplies), Blacklane (reliable car service), Bluffworks (wrinkle-free clothing), Booking.com (hotel deals), Hotspot Shield (VPN to protect your data and get cheaper travel deals), Medjet (medical evacuation and transport), Rail Europe (trains in Europe), Scottevest (travel clothes).
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