Embracing Solo Travel | SingleFlyer

Gay Travel Discount on Alaska Airlines

March 22, 2015March 20, 2015

While browsing Facebook I came across a sponsored post by Alaska Airlines which is rather common. The focus, gay travel, was new. Or at least I hadn’t seen it before.

When I clicked through the ad I found that Alaska has an entire web page on their site devoted to discounts to various LGBTQ Pride events. The discounts are short term (I’m assuming only over the Pride weekend/event) and relatively small (7% or 10%), still a nice acknowledgement and support of the LGBTQ community.

Clearly Alaska has made promoting equality as a company a priority; they score a perfect 100 on the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index. Alaska is one of only five airlines to score a perfect 100.

Boeing 777 Memorabilia

May 30, 2017March 19, 2015

I was going through a bunch of my old stuff today and found some fun Boeing 777 memorabilia from the launch in 1994. Hard to believe the 777 is almost 21 years old!

My father worked for Boeing for 40+ years and used to give me freebies that the company gave their employees. While I have thrown away a good amount over the years, I kept a hold on to these items (probably because they were so small!)

First item is a sealed commemorative coin from the first 777 roll out on April 9, 1994.

See the rest of the Boeing 777 memorabilia below:

Mileage Run Beijing in Business Class

July 23, 2022March 17, 2015

I was alerted to an amazing business class fare from Washington DC to Beijing by OneMileataTime. In the rule of travel hobbyists, I booked immediately and knew I could sort out details later. I couldn’t pass by a mileage run in business class.

I am glad that I booked quickly because the fare was gone in less than an hour. Read more to find out additional details.

Daily Getaways Valuation

July 25, 2022March 17, 2015

The US Travel Association is once again running its Daily Getaways promotion. Beginning March 23 there will be a different offer for a limited time each day. An interesting change this: there is NO added discount for using an Amex card. You can find discounts on rental cars, hotels, and theme parks. Only the first three weeks’ offers have been posted as of this post.

Likely the most popular offers will be for the hotel stays that, for the most part, come in the form of loyalty points. Below I have created a grid that shows the cost per point for each of the hotel point offers.

Soccer Flights Discounted on Alaska Airlines

July 23, 2022March 16, 2015

If you are a fan of Major League Soccer or just want a deal on a flight, check out this promo that Alaska Air is running. 10% off flights during the week of away games to the opponents city. What it basically breaks down to is a 10% discount between two cities for a week throughout the next 6 months.

Hyatt Diamond Challenge 2015

July 25, 2022March 14, 2015

Note: As of June 1, 2015, the Hyatt Diamond Challenge 2015 has been updated. Diamond status is now good through February 2017. Reports are also in that you can directly contact Hyatt Gold Passport at 1-800-228-3360 to enroll in the Elite Tier Offer. Read more here.

I first signed up for Hyatt Gold Passport last summer after I learned about their relationship with Mlife. Since I was a Gold Mlife member I received Platinum status with Hyatt’s loyalty program. I had signed up for hotel loyalty programs before, but with the purpose of earning miles on Alaska Airlines for my stays. In 9 months I have accrued 20,000 points with HGP through my stays at Mlife hotels in Vegas and Hyatt hotels.

The benefits of Platinum HGP status are minimal; it was devalued even more last month when all guests were given free wifi. Reports over at Flyer Talk have some people being offered a Hyatt Diamond Challenge (also known as the Hyatt Gold Passport Elite Tier offer) with 12 nights in 60 days. Some said the offer was targeted only to those with a high number of stays in 2014 while others said they were able to enroll in the challenge by contacting the property of their upcoming stay.

I have four booked reservations between now and June so I emailed the two properties that had an email posted on their website.