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

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

  1. Jimmy the Saint

    Jimmy the Saint The future is a benevolent black hole
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    I was not willing to chance it so we went to Slovakia instead.
     
  2. Jimmy the Saint

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    Right, I’m sure everyone flying into Amsterdam from the U.S. on that flight was attempting to connect to Ljubljana.
     
  3. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
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    It's obviously not everyone but I mean there's a reason the flight was listed and available for you to book. It's a common route that they run and multiple people are booking it.
     
  4. Arkadin

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    They're not going to intentionally set you up to miss your flight. Weather etc is a different story but if things go as planned you'll make a scheduled connection provided by the airline
     
  5. Jimmy the Saint

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    It’s not intentional but you’ve got a lot of variables that have to go precisely right. Departing flight is 10-15 minutes late taking off, gate traffic landing, customs backed up. Why set yourself up to rely on things going exactly as planned with an airline? Great for you if you’ve made tight connections, I have too, but I’m not setting myself up for the stress of that if I don’t have to.
     
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  6. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
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    I was just answering the question that was asked. If the airline thinks it's enough time, it is likely enough time. If your plane is late landing, they're aware of this and they're aware you're connecting on their airline and they almost always send help to make sure you don't miss it.
     
  7. Jimmy the Saint

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    Do you also throw out food as soon as it passes its expiration date because it says to?
     
  8. Arkadin

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    What is it you're disagreeing with about my statement I'm confused
     
  9. Jimmy the Saint

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    Pretending the airlines run smoothly and you should fully trust them is fucking stupid.

    But you’d argue water isn’t wet so I don’t know what I expected.
     
  10. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
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    You're picking an argument over me stating that their connection times are designed for you to be fine, and I'm the argumentative one?
     
  11. Jimmy the Saint

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    You’re arguing that blindly trusting the airlines is a good idea. GTFO.
     
  12. Arkadin

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    That is not the argument at all. Jesus man can't you take simple things like "if they designed it you should have time" and let it be?
     
  13. Jimmy the Saint

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    No. Just because they say it doesn’t make it fucking practical you dolt.
     
  14. Arkadin

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    It is absolutely practical if they design it that way. They literally won't allow you to book something they think you can't make and give you a warning during booking if it's really tight. But yes, they have no idea what the connection and transfer times are like and just loooooveee to fuck shit up
     
  15. Arkadin

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    Why are you making personal attacks and calling names about this conversation
     
  16. Jimmy the Saint

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    So Kit doesn’t get fucked over by your terrible advice.
     
  17. Arkadin

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    :laugh:

    Alright man. The airlines were trying to trick kit. My bad
     
  18. FrankReynolds

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    I always plan my travel arrangements with 0 flexibility
     
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  19. The B1G Kucktis

    The B1G Kucktis 2 years, VARSITY!!
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    It is one thing to think you can make a connection just based on the time offered (for example, I routinely have less than 45 minutes to connect through DFW which seems like enough time if you're close to your connecting gate), it is another if come from a smaller airport, or via a commuter flight, etc. LAX is awful if you land in the commuter terminal, have to navigate the ground traffic, wait for the bus, have the best weave between the planes and try to make your connection. I've done a one hour connection there before and made it by 10 minutes.
     
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  20. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
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    Definitely true. The airport factors in to what airlines consider minimum connection time and they plan accordingly
     
  21. Arkadin

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    Any of y'all redeem a lot of Delta points?
     
  22. Where Eagles Dare

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    Yes. I have before bc Atlanta

    I've go an invitation for 70k plus $100 gift card and 10k mmq if you want it. It's 3k vs 2k spend tho
     
  23. Fran Tarkenton

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    thats what I operate on
     
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  24. Arkadin

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    Yall find fairly good redemptions options yeah? I'm familiar with the good deals flying blue presents semi regularly but I've never stacked Delta points in an attempt to maximize the system. If I don't play on accumulating them organically but want to make a couple of credit cards runs, it's worth it yeah?

    Also WED what's the fee on that card?
     
  25. Where Eagles Dare

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    :laugh:

    I like this comment
     
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  26. Where Eagles Dare

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    I think the fee is like 300, comes with a companion pass and zone 1 priority and free check bag for everyone in your reservation.

    I'm pretty sure there's a new platinum card that is about the same price but you get Delta Sky Lounge access to.

    I've booked better deals through delta partners like virgin and air France than through delta portal
     
  27. Whammy

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    As someone who traveled twice a week for five years, Arkadin is correct. Even if the plane is late taking off, they can almost always make up the time in the air.

    Take the tight connection, the “safe” flight you were booking will probably have an open seat for them to bump you on if you miss
     
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  28. Whammy

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    Jimmy the Saint went to Cancun once and layed over for five hours
     
  29. Where Eagles Dare

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    Arkadin

    It's actually only $195. So that's cheaper than the newer premium card that gets you Sky Lounge access.

    Easily pays for its self with free checked bags (travel with wife), zone 1 and companion pass. Bought an 800 ticket to Wyoming last year with it

    Never posted a referral link here, but this is for 70k delta miles

    Apply for an American Express Card with this link. We can both get rewarded if you're approved! http://refer.amex.us/GREgOSWwIz?xl=cpsb
     
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  30. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
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    If you can use the companion pass it's easily worth it. No brainer in that case.
     
  31. Where Eagles Dare

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    Yup. I can usually get 1 trip a year in the US.

    This year wasn't great, but it was still a free $400 flight back to Virginia Beach
     
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  32. Fran Tarkenton

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    $195 if you do the Platinum which is a yearly continental companion ticket + free bag + priority boarding

    $450 if you do the Reserve which is all of the above + business class companion + sky club + upgrade priority and a bunch of other medallion perks. We use this just bc it gets us upgraded so often and medallion status easier.

    Not sure if Im following your question, but if looking at taking up their Credit Card offer = lets say youre getting a 70k mile signup offer. You can sometimes find deals to Europe for ~45k, but usually 60k miles. USA they have deals all the time for 25k-35k. So the Signup offer is either 1 international trip or 2 domestics. Then youre getting 1 companion flight. So not sure its worth the $1k or $3k card spend face value, but if its expenses youre otherwise spending then yea they give you pretty decent value at the jump. If youre looking to combine miles, Transferring miles between accounts is like a $30 fee iirc.
     
  33. Arkadin

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    The question is poorly worded but basically "it's not a huge pain in the ass to actually use the points, right?"

    I don't believe it to be based on my general knowledge of the program, but hearing it from someone who routinely relies on the program is reassuring

    I'm not manufacturing the spending, it'll just be my normal spending once im done with the bonus on my current card
     
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  34. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
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    What I'll likely do is use this mailer I have for 70k, then the next time the 70k offer hits on the card WED referred I'll do that. Have about 150k and use them up then bail
     
  35. Where Eagles Dare

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    No, it's easy. The don't have massive blackouts or anything

    I've found Atlanta to CA for like 25k points round trip
     
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  36. Where Eagles Dare

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    Whatever
     
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  37. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
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    Lol. Id use yours right now but I'd wager that offer comes up a decent bit on that fee level card and this 2k in 3 months mailer for the low card I have is more rare
     
  38. Where Eagles Dare

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    I don't think you can double up easily like you can with AA or others

    Could be wrong
     
  39. Arkadin

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    They're different cards. I know you can't get the same card again but you should be able to get the different level of card
     
  40. Where Eagles Dare

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    Which card is it?
     
  41. Arkadin

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    Gold.
     
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  42. Where Eagles Dare

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    Whatever anyways
     
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  43. Arkadin

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    Hey man you will have my referral down the road. Im a credit card addict. I've got like 35
     
  44. Where Eagles Dare

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    We should create an app for this thread that just holds everyone's link and cycles through invites
     
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  45. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
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    I think you can only do one amex Delta card bonus
     
  46. Arkadin

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  47. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
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  48. rezy

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    I’ve done 4 different delta Amex bonuses with personal/business didn’t have any issues.
     
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  49. GoodForAnother

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    Greece review

    Athens:
    It isn’t Paris or even Rome. It’s grungy and edgier. But some amazing things to see. Greek ruins and history take more imagination than Roman historical sites or other places around Europe. Helps to read up before going (I read Ancient Greece by Thomas Martin for a primer before going). I also am a believer in guidebooks and had Rick Steves with me as per usual. Outside of the Acropolis, a lot of the stuff just looks like rocks to the uneducated eye, so it’s important to read up or have a guide. Acropolis was incredible, got chills. We went early to beat the crowds which I recommend as it was a shitshow when we were coming down at 10am. Also helps you beat the heat in the summer. We saw the Agora, the forum, the temple of Zeus, etc. There is a combo with the Acropolis to get into like six sites for 30 euro which is a heck of a deal relative to similar passes in Rome we used. Checked out the sunset from Lycabettus Hill. Had a lot of really incredible food. Acropolis museum and national archaeological museum are both world class experiences. Absolutely amazing to see things up close that are 6000+ years old. Athens metro system is clean and efficient and easy to understand. We were there three days which was plenty.

    Santorini:
    This is one amazing place and it lives up to all the pictures you have seen. I highly recommend it BUT I will likely never return, at least during this time of year. The island is suffering pretty badly from overtourism with huge tour groups from cruise ships flooding the place daily. Particularly the town of Fira is an absolute disaster during the day. We stayed in Oia which helped but it also super crowded due to sunset tourism in the evenings. The sunset is incredible though. There is a pretty good bus system but we chose to rent a car to avoid crowds. It is pretty intense driving with small twisty roads and not a lot of signage or guidance. Combined with driving a standard transmission it was challenging so I wouldn’t do it unless you’re a pretty confident driver. But thanks to the car we saw a lot of the island we would not have otherwise. We were able to see things efficiently and find more secluded beaches away from the crowds. People say the beaches on santorini aren’t great but we enjoyed them. They are not sand, more like tiny pebbles. You need water shoes as they get incredibly hot during the day. Saw a lot of topless euro women and fat naked euro dudes on a couple beaches. Speaking of women wheeeew there are a ton of hot women on that island, many not wearing many clothes. Did not have a bad meal on santorini. Best was at Metaxy Mas (another place the car helped in getting to). Had an insane lamb with yogurt sauce. Lucky’s souvlaki was great too. I went for lunch three days in a row. Falafeland was awesome too. Raki and ouzo are both awful. Really liked the santorini wines. The Akrotiri historical site was great as were the views. Did a boat tour at sunset and swam to the volcano. Cool stuff. Water is amazing, clear and refreshing. Like I said an incredible place — just hella crowded. Still one of my favorite vacations ever. Staying in a super high end place helped a lot as we got away from crowds there and had an amazing home base and incredible concierge. If you’ve got the cash or Marriott points to burn, Mystique is an incredible property. Best hotel I have ever personally stayed in.
     
  50. Gin Buckets

    Gin Buckets Well-Known Member
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    Has anyone done a Philippines trip? Found a somewhat decent deal, but realized I'd have to start from scratch planning that trip because I don't know anything about the place.