Update: It is now official and Air India has put out a promotion page as well. Air India seems to be on a roll these days with its frequent flyer program. I am guessing while I had a view that they are the most miser program out there, someone is working to change my view a bit. They still don’t provide 100% flown miles like Jet Airways does, but they have created new opportunities to earn miles such as the SBI Air India Credit Card, which can let you earn miles at about 8 INR spend per mile earned if you go for the top end variant. Now, a new unannounced mileage seat sale has come into play from today…
India now allows gate-to-gate use of Portable Electronic Devices
For the longest time, India has had a rule, which stated that Portable Electronic Devices could not be used while planes are airborne, not even in flight-safe/airplane mode. Not that it dissuaded passengers because we thought our rules were in line with the rest of the world and hence we continued to use them anyways. Sometimes you’d run into issues with airline staff, because they wanted compliance, but it would all pan out well in the end. Until the DGCA put SpiceJet in a mess for this incident on Holi. Yesterday, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, India’s civil aviation regulator, decided to finally update the rulebook to bring it in line with the rest of the world. the last…
Today only: Free Uber rides in Mumbai/Chennai today to encourage voting
Earlier this month, I wrote about the great move Uber made in Delhi with providing two free rides to voters to encourage them to get out and vote. The campaign is a national one, and since it is voting day in Chennai and Mumbai today, you can sure use two free rides between 7 am and 7 pm today. The promo code for Chennai, which is valid for these 12 hours, is VOTECHENNAI, while for Mumbai, it is, VOTEMUM. You can add these promo codes mentioned above as a new or existing user of Uber. If you’re not familiar with Uber, it is a smartphone application for iOS/Android which connects you to a nearby premium/luxury car such as a Toyota…
Jet Airways mobile app now supports Mobile Check-in
This should have come in long ago, and it is now here. Earlier this week I wrote about the new self-service platform that Jet Airways has implemented, which is a step change from the earlier platform. Now, Jet Airways also has been late to the mobile party, and recently introduced apps for iOS, WindowsPhone, BlackBerry and Android devices. However, these did not have the ability to manage your reservations or even check-in into your flight. Now, with this update at the back end, the apps at least provide you with the ability to check in for your flight with your mobile phone (though they still don’t have PassBook based features!) One step at a time, I hope Jet Airways does…
Hilton announces 2x points/miles summer promotion till July 2014
Hilton Hotels have announced their new points earning promotion which will run between May 1, 2014 to July 31, 2014. You earn Double (base) Points or Miles on all stays during the promotion period. This is close on the lines of SPG announcing a similar promotion. To be able to earn 2x Points/Miles, you need to register using this link, prior to your first check-out. About 600 properties have opted out. There is only the DoubleTree by Hilton Pune which has skipped this promotion from India. If you choose to go 2x on Points, you will have to select Points + Points as your DoubleDip earning option. Non-elites earn 10 base points per US Dollar spent, and with this promotion…
Flight AI 682: Cochin – Mumbai, Air India, Economy
Mumbai Airport Terminal 2 Clipper Lounge, Mumbai Terminal 2 Courtyard by Marriott Hotel, Kochi Airport Clipper Lounge Cochin If I haven’t mentioned this before, the Cochin Airport is made to look more like arriving at a red-brick palace than arriving at an airport. Here is what it looked from outside. We spent a brief moment pre-security at the dead Clipper Lounge, and then proceeded to clear security check, where I realised my palatial analogy was going to fit even better. This airport missed anything that was modern, and was full of wooden chairs (more like side pieces from couches) from another generation. My first time there and I sure was surprised. The wait was prolonged, because like it always happens,…
SPG’s new promotion offers 2x points till July 2014
Starwood launched their new promotion for the summer months of May through July 2014, and it is the regular 2x points per stay promotion they do many times over the past years. This time around, it is called the Earn Away Get Away, and earns you 2x points on all eligible stays (excluding Award nights and Cash+Points), and 3x points if your stay includes a Sunday as well. If you’re in the Middle East, Saturday counts instead of Sunday for the 3x points. This means, you earn 4 points per $ if you’re not an elite, and 6 points if you choose to bring in the weekend at an eligible SPG property as well. And yes, you get your elite…
Ever had 3 flights board simultaneously from the same gate?
Last week, I was in Kuwait for a quick trip, and this trip was filled with a lot of confusion. First it was the hotel which claimed to have given me a suite but turning out it was a room and so on, but the best was saved for the end. I’ve been to Kuwait enough number of times to know how the airport functions there. You are supposed to go through a security check at every step with your belongings (check-in, passport control and boarding gates). At the boarding gates, usually my flights usually are from an aerobridge, so there is a big holding area. Since most of the travellers in this region are not frequent flyers, they usually…
Jet Airways’ new Check-in platform brings in new features
Earlier this week, I was on a round trip with Jet Airways, and I happened to notice that on April 16, 2014, there was a new interface for web check-in, and self hosted on the Jet Airways website (they were earlier using a Sabre solution). I found multiple good things happening with this interface, as compared to the old one. First and foremost, as compared to the earlier interface, the current one has multiple options to check-in. All you need is your name, your departure station, and either of your reservation locator, your frequent flyer number or your e-ticket number. Earlier, while you could only get through with your Jet Airways PNR, now you can use your PNR with the…
Free Club Carlson Gold Status
File this under the mistake offers segment, but American Express and Club Carlson have tied up to offer American Express card members in Europe the benefit of complimentary Gold status to Club Carlson, if they sign up for a New Account. It works for everyone, as long as you can put in a European address there. Open for enrolment by May 31, 2014 and your status is good till February 28, 2015. Do disregard the incorrect text there. On enrolment, you will see a Classic Level on the screen but almost immediately you will be upgraded to Gold Club Carlson Status. Though it is not the most rewarding mid tier status, it comes with some benefits, namely: Complimentary room upgrades…
More rescheduling of Jet Airway’s Mumbai Paris route (to be launched)
At the cost of repeating myself, I am reporting back for the third time on this new route between Mumbai and Paris with Jet Airways. In January, Jet Airways announced that the route was going to be operational from May 14, 2014 with a 7 day frequency. That is a keenly watched development at least for me, because after a long time, Jet Airways is breaking into a new long haul market, and I really want them to succeed considering I love the airline much. Also, this is a hint of how things will be after the Etihad partnership is going to fructify. For reasons unknown, the airline already cut back on the route to 4 days a week earlier…
