Milenomics² Episode 188: Fluz 2.0 Lands, Upstart Airlines and Booking/Rebooking Issues

News

0:30 Fluz 2.0 Lands

• Need Power Portal Access and a Business account
• Load cash at 3% using Cash loads
• Picking MCC in the app, loading cash in the Power Portal
• Create 1-Time Cards either in app or in power Portal
• Cards last 24 hours if not used, and earn cash back when used (up to 1.5% back, so net 1.5%)
• Discussion of Scale, etc.
• #fluz-discussion for more information

09:26 Hyatt Category Changes (Direct Link)

• Some big moves up of favorites
• Still some gems
• A bit of a runway, check for bookings now and prebook at old rates.

13:24 Amex Marriott Bonvoy Business back up to 125,000

• Available through referral
• If you get the pop-up try applying head-on (no referral, no affiliate, no redirection from Marriott)
• Direct link: https://creditcard.americanexpress.com/d/bonvoy-business/

15:57 US bank business checking $500 bonus

• Mailer targeting me came but should work for anyone
• Usbank.com/bizcheckingbonus500
• Promo code Q1BUS23
• No DD requirement.
• $3k deposit
• More discussion on DoC (link)

18:13 Plucky upstart airline of the week: Starlux airlines

• Taiwanese carrier founded in 2018 and first flew January 2023.
• A350 long haul fleet
• Announced TPE-LAX service to start in April. (5x weekly)
• Is currently not part of an alliance but wants to be. Expanding the footprint in Asia

19:57 East Coast Contribution: Norse Atlantic Airways

• https://flynorse.com
• Boston to London Gatwick from $157/pp one-way
• Starts in September
• Redeye flight
• Lots of incremental costs for bags etc but very cheap way to get to Europe

22:10 Tip of the Week: Morgan Housel of The Psychology of Money Podcast (link)

What We’ve Been Up To

22:45 Fluz Repayment

• Fluz was reasonable about this
• Finally squared away
• Did not have to pay 3% on the load
• Split up the charges by multiple categories

26:23 Booked: Cape Rey Carlsbad (With Hilton Certs)

• Memorial Day weekend (return from last year)
• These certs were slow to arrive, I was nervous standard space would disappear
• 80k a night or $429.
• A return for us, and burning of certs
• Phone call to book is just so clunky. “Let's check which certificate we can use” (All of them were needed for the booking)
• Total time to book on the phone: 21 minutes. WHY?
• Called the hotel to inquire about upgrades. Last year they were $25 (pool view)/$85 ocean view balcony/$150 suite.  This year $25/$50/$185
• Suites are still high, $1050/nt
• This is not a luxury hotel, just a nice location with kid friendly pool.
• Last year I was mad at myself for not upgrading–this year…. What happened?

33:41 Overly Generous Amex Platinum/Gold Uber Credits

• Soliciting Data Points, is anyone else seeingthis?

38:19 Amex Travel Hassles

• Truly Infuriating non-ticketing of flight booked with travel credit entirely in their automated ecosystem
• BofA Travel Concierge *way* better

45:01 Broader discussion: As Airlines codify their ‘refundability’ be sure to press back with common sense

• There was a time where the idea of a refundable fare was the exception
• Now there’s from nothing to a slight premium ($75-$100) and they’re the rule.
• Airlines have eliminated change and cancellation fees. Sure, but they also want to lock you into airline instruments (vouchers).
• In the past few years there have been very specific rules, one of which I bumped up against this week.
• Booked with Jetblue, flight moved by 80 minutes (for a short <1hr flight). What do you think Jetblue’s policy is on this?
• Turns out they will only refund if you have a >2hr schedule change.
• Not all airlines are created equally here, this is really bad compared to other domestic carriers.
• Automated options are programmed with the rules (usually)
• So getting a human and giving them a good reason (‘Because’) ended up giving me a refund
• Twitter reps for this one (and whenever possible)
• Why is this so hard and so much work?
• How can we keep ourselves and friends/family from missing out on refunds?