TPG reader Allisa sent me a message on Facebook to ask about earning miles:All you have to do is contact the carrier you booked with (United in this case) and request what’s known as an origi…
Does Alliance Elite Status Give Me Status with Each Airline?
TPG reader Creighton sent me a message on Facebook to ask about airline elite benefits:Each of the three major airline alliances offers its own version of elite status. You can qualify by earning s…
Hook yourself up with a last-minute flight upgrade with this new app
When something similar happened to my friend Iain Griffin, he was confounded by the revenue the airline lost in his free upgrade because he had actually been willing to pay before they offered. He …
Which United Club Lounges Are Most Worth a Visit?
TPG reader Kai sent me a message on Facebook to ask about United Airlines lounges:While United has made efforts to update its lounges lately, some of them still feel cramped and worn out. I’v…
Does the Amex Platinum Companion Fare Offer a Good Deal?
TPG reader Eric sent me a message on Facebook to ask about Amex Platinum benefits:The Amex Platinum companion fare (also knows as the International Airline Program) allows a companion to join you w…
Is Elite Status Worth Being Loyal to a Single Airline?
TPG reader Josh sent me a message on Facebook to ask about being a frequent flyer:I get a lot of value out of the AAdvantage program and Executive Platinum status, but that’s partly because o…
Deal Alert: NYC to Cozumel from $286 Round-Trip
Airfare deals are typically only available on limited dates. We recommend that you use Google Flights to find dates to fly, then book through an online travel agency, such as Orbitz, which allows y…
Beached whales in Germany
Photo by Amila TennakoonThe whales’ stomachs were filled with plastic and other man-made garbage. They found the shards of a sharp plastic bucket in one whale’s stomach. They found a 13…
don’t take selfies with wildlife
Photo by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Northeast RegionAfter the tragic “death by selfie” of a baby dolphin in Argentina last February; the guy who let his kids ride a protected manate…
5 Things to Do in the South of France This Summer
There’s nothing quite like the South of France, especially in the summertime when you can do everything from whale watching in a replica of a 16th-century Turkish sailboat to dancing the nigh…