The New Travel Thread: Now with write ups in the OP

Discussion in 'The Mainboard' started by Jax Teller, Apr 8, 2015.

  1. bRamonceTaylor

    bRamonceTaylor Well-Known Member
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  2. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
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    3x the emails and I get all a half hour earlier than others

    Tbd but if it helps once it is
     
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  3. Jax Teller

    Jax Teller Well-Known Member
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    I'll add those write ups today.
     
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  4. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
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    Anyone have a SW companion pass? I'm about to apply for the credit cards to get it
     
  5. CoastalOrange

    CoastalOrange Well-Known Member
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    Where are you seeing these deals or getting this info? I need to follow or subscribe to whatever as well.
     
  6. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
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    Scott's Cheap Flights
     
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  7. Jimmy the Saint

    Jimmy the Saint The future is a benevolent black hole
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    ohhaithur you can't buy alcohol at bars in Indiana until 10:30 on Sundays?
     
  8. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
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    not sure that's true, soccer bars open before that on Sundays. but liquor stores and groceries can't sell alcohol on sunday at all

    we're the fucking worst
     
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  9. Jimmy the Saint

    Jimmy the Saint The future is a benevolent black hole
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    I thought I read bars couldn't serve until 10:30 but maybe it was outdated info. I'd just rather not sit at IND sober.

    NYC is the worst with this shit; no Sunday sales until after noon.
     
  10. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
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    I think you'll be fine

    sober is the worst
     
  11. enjj

    enjj Well-Known Member
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    Couple of our friends are thinking of going surfing there tomorrow. We are doing ATV /zip lining instead.
     
    #6811 enjj, Dec 2, 2016
    Last edited: Dec 2, 2016
  12. Zap Branigan

    Zap Branigan I suffer from a very sexy learning disability.
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    Zip lining near Tamarindo? Did that when we were there. Loved it and have go pro videos somewhere.
     
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  13. enjj

    enjj Well-Known Member
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    Not sure. I think somewhere behind the resort.

    IMG_5888.JPG
     
  14. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
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  15. NC Wolfpack

    NC Wolfpack Go Pack Go
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    That's better than NC. Noon here.
     
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  16. two

    two Hello
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  17. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
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    It's been raining for 20 straight days in Thailand's islands and it doesn't look like it's going to stop
     
  18. Jax Teller

    Jax Teller Well-Known Member
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    Sounds like Nashville right now.
     
  19. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
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    You going to Phuket? May be worth checking out the other side of the peninsula (or vice-versa)
     
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  20. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
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    20 days until Copenhagen

    It's going to be so fucking cold. However, the prospects of watching Bama-UW are encouraging, that shouldn't be a problem. Thank goodness Bama got the early game, they'll be kicking off about 9 pm Berlin time, 2nd game won't start until around 2-3 AM

    85 days until India
     
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  21. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
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    I'm doing both I think and neither look good
     
  22. C A N E

    C A N E Let justice be done though the heavens fall
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    Bros I can't fucking wait for Tokyo. Still blows my mind that I didn't pay a dime for the flight or the rooms for 8 days. I could technically spend the rest of my points as spending cash when I'm there and the trip will be totally free.
     
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  23. Jax Teller

    Jax Teller Well-Known Member
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    Do you have snapchat or IG? I'm looking forward to following your long ass trip and being immensely jealous as I do.

    Or just post lots of updates in here.
     
  24. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
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    I'm sure I'll post a ton in here. IG is the same name as here, I don't ever really get on snapchat
     
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  25. Jax Teller

    Jax Teller Well-Known Member
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    I'm going to steal idea from your trip for my next one. Just letting you know.
     
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  26. PJP3

    PJP3 Well-Known Member
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    Maximizing points and getting free travel is such a rush.
     
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  27. Room 15

    Room 15 Mi equipo esta Los Tigres
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    Just gave you a follow, how do you know Kelly S?
     
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  28. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
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    Went to law school with her. Haven't spoken to her since I finished in 2012, though.
     
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  29. Room 15

    Room 15 Mi equipo esta Los Tigres
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    Oh damn, then we know a lot of the same people.
     
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  30. rezy

    rezy Member
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    looking at traveling next summer, what is a good redemption rate I should look for in terms of price per mile/point?
     
  31. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
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    southwest+hyatt
     
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  32. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
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    It really depends on what you're transferring it through. I've always heard Southwest is the best, but that also kind of restricts you to domestic. I have no idea about Chase's redemption rate, but I do know they're one of the best to simply accumulate a ton of points.

    Others ITT can speak to transferring points b/w systems. I believe Korean Air is the best for flights to Asia.
     
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  33. tjosu

    tjosu This is kind of like the breakfast club, huh?
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  34. Wee Bey

    Wee Bey racially ambiguous
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    Charleston or Nashville for NYE?

    Me (31) and my gf (25) are planning a trip for the week leading up to NYE through the 2nd - 5 nights total.

    I've never been to Nashville, she has once. We've both been to Charleston and absolutely love it.

    We aren't partiers, more so looking for good restaurants and nice bars where we can watch the bowl games. She would appreciate a NYE event, I would appreciate it being mellow.

    Looking for suggestions. Thanks fellas.
     
  35. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
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    It's not as cut-and-dry as simply charging for overhead bin use. I had the same reaction you did, but after reading about it a bit more, it's part of a larger plan by United.

    http://www.fool.com/investing/2016/11/20/customers-will-hate-united-airlines-basic-economy.aspx

    Basically, as I understand it, United will start offering ridiculously low fares to compete with Spirit/Frontier/etc., but in order for them to actually offer those fares they have to take away from the basic necessities.

    If United offers domestic flights at prices comparable to Spirit, I imagine they'd be successful (seeing as they're much more reliable than Spirit---not saying much), regardless of the overhead bin issue.
     
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  36. tjosu

    tjosu This is kind of like the breakfast club, huh?
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    That's pretty much the exact conversation I had with the person that sent it to me. I see it as their move to compete with those really cheap airlines. The problem I see popping up though is going to be this: these new base fares that don't include overhead bin space will have to be cheaper than their current base rates already are. If the new fare takes the place of the current base fare price, thus increasing the price of the fare that includes the normal amenities, then that's where I'd take issue with it
     
  37. Det. Frank Bullitt

    Det. Frank Bullitt God Bless Texas
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    With business travel dying, I would assume United will have to compete for a drastically different customer going forward.

    Unfortunately that means United rolling out a 'bare fare' type product copying from carriers like Frontier, Spirit, Allegiant, etc.

    United's fares are already low for all of the tickets I buy or itineraries I look it.

    If I had to guess, this new offering (basic economy, or w/e its called) will sit where regular economy is now, and regular economy will start costing more. Significantly more? I have no idea.

    I have card that offsets this, but if the new pricing for regular economy (meaning, you get to use all of the standard features of a flight, overhead, carry-on, select your seat, etc) starts costing more, i'll have probably start shopping based on fare alone (ugh).


    I haven't seen anyone talk about how gate + flight attendants will identify this new type of customer, and how they will enforce it. Seems like an operational nightmare.

    Do gate agents pull them aside when they are boarding and put a marker on their bag indicating they are basic economy with no rights to OH bins? FA then watch with a hawkeye? How do they accept payment? lots of questions to be asked. Probably will be some good confrontations for the rest of us to enjoy between a FA and an stubborn/non believing passenger.
     
  38. PJP3

    PJP3 Well-Known Member
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    All depends. Where are you looking to go to and economy or business? Generally when flying economy, spending chase or amex points through their booking sites is best, if wanting to go business/first, transferring to airline partners is generally better. Chase reserve points are worth 1.5 cents/mile. I've gotten value of up to 10 cents/mile booking international first/business tickets and transferring to airlines, but some people would rather get more economy flights than less business ones. Personally I save my miles for business/first and buy any economy tickets.
     
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  39. dahldennsull

    dahldennsull Living in the best state
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    had it in 2016, one more trip to chicago at the end of the year for wife and I, it's awesome.

    That said, you get one calendar year to accumulate 110,000 points to get it, so wait until January 1 next year to apply for your card and get your 50,000 points. Applying now will screw you as you can use those points.

    Also, look at their shopping portal and book hotel rooms through rocketmiles. You can find nice hotels for comparable prices and get crazy bonuses (like 6-10k) for booking through that website. That way you don't even have to spend as much money to get to 110k.
     
  40. tjosu

    tjosu This is kind of like the breakfast club, huh?
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    This is actually a really interesting point I hadn't thought about. Their assumption has to be that they're going to provide enough warning/notice during the booking process to the person buying the ticket that the passenger will understand and remember their luggage rules but we all know people are dumb so that assumption won't work
     
  41. tjosu

    tjosu This is kind of like the breakfast club, huh?
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    I use their portal frequently but I've never heard of Rocketmiles. That's a really good tip, thanks
     
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  42. TAS

    TAS 20_ _ TMB Poster of the Year
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    Rocketmiles is definitely worth checking out for the signup bonus. They routinely run promotions where your 1st booking gets you like 3k/4k bonus points. But overall I don't find their rates to be competitive with other sites (or booking directly with the hotels). And their options are pretty limited too, depending on the city you're going to.
     
    dahldennsull and tjosu like this.
  43. rezy

    rezy Member
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    yeah not totally sure where I want to go yet, have about 125,000 UR points and would like to use them for first if I am leaving the country on a long flight
     
  44. dahldennsull

    dahldennsull Living in the best state
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    good tip, used it one time and found a pretty competitive rate and got like 12k points with a promotion they ran. Was huge in getting my companion pass this year
     
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  45. TAS

    TAS 20_ _ TMB Poster of the Year
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    Glad it worked out. The CP is really just about the best thing imaginable. Mine expires this December, but we managed to get almost $2400 in free flights over the 22 months because.

    Gonna to have serious withdrawals not having it for the next year.
     
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  46. Wywan Bwowna

    Wywan Bwowna Wywan Bwowna
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    Nashville has turned into a NYE "destination." Last year they packed 150,000 people onto Broadway between the river and 5th. I'm sure that you would be able to find good meals and bars away from that action to watch the games, but the entire city will be crowded during that time. I live in Nashville, and make it a point to get out of town for NYE. Not trying to discourage it, just want you to know what you're getting into.


    Edit: It appears that the concert and guitar drop have been moved to bicentennial park, so I have no idea how crowded the downtown area will be.
     
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  47. PJP3

    PJP3 Well-Known Member
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    So thats worth $1875 through the portal. Probably not enough to get a rt business/first to europe or asia, but you may be able to get that by transferring to a ff program. Just have to do some searching. I have gotten RT business/first to Asia for 140k rt before.
     
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  48. PJP3

    PJP3 Well-Known Member
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    Just about to start the 29 hour door to door trip. Finally on my way to Queenstown.
     
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