What Is Travel Hacking?

Travel hacking could be anything, from booking error fares, breaking routing rules with hidden city ticketing, or just working to the limits of the rules.  Booking error fares and breaking rules can be harmful to your mileage balance.  Airlines have closed accounts, cancelled tickets, and taken miles from people who break the terms and conditions.  Usually it requires a pattern to emerge, but only one infraction could cost you all your miles.  They can also bill you the extra cost you avoided when you do hidden city ticketing or just void your ticket.  

Lonely CRJ-700 Taxiing at CLT

I'm not a travel hacker.  I just enjoy taking advantage of poorly thought out marketing decisions.  I stay within the rules at all times.  I do work somewhat at the bounds of the rules, but make sure I am always on the good side of the line.  There is no hack to my process, just a good bit of leg work researching deals and finding flights.  There is plenty of value to be had staying within the rules, so don't risk your gains for a few extra points.

E175 Engine Detail

Upgrade List Ranking

Always fun to be first (United shows cleared upgrades alphabetically, but that doesn't take away from the fun).

United Upgrade List

Fun While It Lasted

Office Depot isn't selling variable value Visa or Amex gift cards any more.  I was using my Chase Ink card to buy them and get 5% back on the office supply store bonus category.  After fees it worked out to be 4% back everywhere.  They still sell gift cards to select stores, so 5% on Amazon and Bass Pro Shops still works.  I still have a decent collection of cards, so I'm not stopping cold.  Good deals are always temporary, there usually will be another.

A Few Jets at BCN

Update: I stopped at Office Depot while picking up my cleaning and they still had the Vanilla cards.  Worked just like last month, this deal might not be dead yet.

Lufthansa A380 First Class Review

I flew on Lufthansa's A380 in first class before I started this blog and it was an amazing experience.  A friend asked me to write a post on it and let the pictures tell the story, so here goes.

In 2011 I used some United miles for a Luftastic flight experience and a few days in Copenhagen.  I was able to find a first class seat on the new A380 from SFO to FRA and I quickly built my trip around that award space outlier (I used ANA to search, but United.com would work too).  I also wanted the Lufthansa First Class Terminal experience in Frankfurt and grabbed a FRA-DTW flight in the antiquated A330 first class (more later).  The DEN-SFO, DTW-DEN, and FRA-CHP-FRA flights were wide open and easy to make work.  A quick call to reservations and I was booked.

Lufthansa's A380 first class is an amazing product that puts United to shame.  The seat is outstanding with ample space.  It reclines into a fully flat bed and the flight attendants will make your bed while you change into your special Lufthansa PJ's. 

A380 First Class Seat and Personal Space

View From 2A

Flight Attendants Made My Bed, Then I Messed It Up

Lufthansa's flight attendants are the best I've encountered. The crews always proper and polite.   They also seem to genuinely care about your flight experience. I wish I could fly with them every trip.  They even helped explain the caviar service (it was my first time). The food was amazing.  The eggs and super crispy bacon (by request) were cooked fresh and better than room service.  

Post Departure Snack and Blue Label

Caviar Service

Salmon Fillet

Made to Order Breakfast, With BACON!

The cabin is unlike anything else.  There is increased humidity to help you feel refreshed.  The sound absorbing material was great, it was as loud as regular airliners when I wear earplugs or Bose noise cancelling headphones.  The bathroom is epicly huge.  The electric window shades were a fun touch too.

A380 Bathroom, It's Huge

First Class Lavatory

First Class Cabin Forward Section

I was disappointed to hear the captain announce we were 20 minutes from landing and I can't wait for my next Lufthansa A380 flight in first class.  

Morning Light

American Miles Are On Sale Too

American is following US Airways' lead and selling miles at a discount.  The American deal gives up to a 50% bonus on purchased miles.  This isn't a very good deal because 90,000 miles costs $1,809 and that isn't enough for a business class award to Europe.

American Airlines 737 Taking Off From LGA

US Airways Is Selling Miles For Cheap Again

US Airways is running a 100% bonus on purchased miles again, up to 50,000 free miles.  If you want to fly around the world in business class, 90,000 miles will cost $1,575.  I wouldn't buy miles to hold onto them, but only buy them to top off my account for an award I'd want to book soon.  These promotions happen every month or two.

You Don't Have to Fly US Airways When Burning Their Miles

Taking a Few Pictures Along The Way

I brought my good camera and lens on my mileage run last weekend and got two dozen fun pictures that will make their way into future posts.  I played with the zoom and was able to catch some fun details.

US Airways Flight Deck Crew at PHL