Friday, May 30, 2014

Prosper Loan and United MileagePlus Miles Promotion

Earn 1 mile fore every $1 loaned, up to 35,000 miles; no prepayment penalties either.  I was interested in taking out a loan, paying it back the next day and pocketing 35,000 for a negligible interest expense.  Then I looked at the fees page and saw a loan origination fee of 2% to 5%.  Yikes, I'm not paying 2c to 5c a mile, never mind.
Let This Offer Fly By

Thursday, May 29, 2014

United DC-8 Model

This is what travel on United was like back in the days of the original Hawaii Five-0.  The Wings Over The Rockies Museum had this and other cool models and some full size planes too.


Boeing Store Free Shipping Code

Use the code SYMBOL14 for free shipping at the Boeing Store.  The code expires today.  It's great for small value orders, like 59c luggage tags, $6 party kits, or t-shirts.  The Boeing Store has sales every few weeks.  If you are looking to buy an expensive model, wait for their 20% promotions. It would also be great if the Airbus Shop has free shipping because they ship from Germany.
1:1 Size 737 Model

Saturday, May 24, 2014

US Airways Store Sale


Get an additional 20% off your entire order plus free shipping on all orders over $75.* Here's how:    
  • Shop for gifts online May 23 - 26, 2014
  • Enter discount code SUMMER after you add the first item to your cart
  • Your 20% discount will be taken off your order
Grab Your US Airways Gear While It Lasts

Thursday, May 22, 2014

A Personalized Video Message for You

Etihad sent me an email with a personalized video message.  I clicked through to watch and the landing page was broken.  I'll never know what was on offer, maybe they'll call with a personalized phone message.
Not an Ideal Marketing Campaign

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

New British Airways Benefit

British Airways will offer members $75 off flights in exchange for 7,500 miles.  I don't like this offer for three reasons.  First, I expected the discount to be in British Pounds rather than US Dollars.  Second, a penny per point is a lousy point value, cash back cards offer twice that value in cash.  Third, 7,500 miles is a free one way flight up to 1150 miles long. British Airways miles are a great value for short point to point trips. 
I'l Keep Saving For A Trip On The 787

Monday, May 19, 2014

Star Alliance Cut Round The World Ticket Prices

The Star Alliance Round the World booking tool is one of the best day dream distractions on the internet.  I haven't booked a ticket yet, but now I am tempted because Star Alliance just lowered the fare prices and added a new short business class route. The ticket requires circling the globe and making 3 to 15 stops.  There are some tricks to maximizing value, like starting your trip at a major US gateway (positioning flights in the US are cheap) and you just have to start and end in the same country to save distance (start in LA and end in New York).  Also the Cook Islands are hardly out of the way when going from LA to New Zealand.
SWISS AVRO100 in Star Alliance Colors
I did book the Star Alliance Europe Airpass a few years ago and bounced around the continent for two weeks,  It is priced per segment, so I avoided connections and kept the costs very low.  It's a flat rate based on segment length, an outstanding value verses buying the flights at market rates.