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Redeeming Your Air Miles


Every now and then people tell me they have problems redeeming their air miles. Since I normally fly Southwest…I do not seem to have that problem. 

This week, I read a post by IdeaWorks. Based on 6,720 booking queries made by IdeaWorks at the websites of 24 frequent flier programs during March and early April 2011, these are their results. They checked on travel dates which spanned June through October 2011; with 20 top routes checked to assess reward seat availability.

The results, showing the percentage of successful award bookings for U.S./Canadian programs and the change from last year’s results:
<!–[if !supportLists]–>1.    <!–[endif]–>Southwest – 99.3 percent (No change)
<!–[if !supportLists]–>2.    <!–[endif]–>Air Canada – 82.1 percent (-11.5 points)
<!–[if !supportLists]–>3.    <!–[endif]–>JetBlue – 79.3 percent (New for 2011)
<!–[if !supportLists]–>4.    <!–[endif]–>United – 71.4 percent (+2.8 points)
<!–[if !supportLists]–>5.    <!–[endif]–>Continental – 71.4 percent (No change)
<!–[if !supportLists]–>6.    <!–[endif]–>Alaska – 64.3 percent (-10.7 points)
<!–[if !supportLists]–>7.    <!–[endif]–>American – 62.9 percent (+5 points)
<!–[if !supportLists]–>8.    <!–[endif]–>AirTran – 47.1 percent (-20.8 points)
<!–[if !supportLists]–>9.    <!–[endif]–>Delta – 27.1 percent (+14.2 points)
<!–[if !supportLists]–>10.  <!–[endif]–>US Airways – 25.7 percent (+15 points)

Maybe this will help you when you are redeeming your miles.
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Best Holiday Days to Travel

Fall is upon us and the holiday season won’t be far behind. If you are planning a trip over the Christmas or New Year’s holidays, Priceline.com publishes their annual chart of variations in the cost of holiday travel. This year both Christmas and New Year’s fall on Sundays.

According to Priceline:
Best travel dates are: Dec. 12, 13, 14, 17, 20, 24, 27, 28, 31
Fair travel dates are: Dec. 15, 16, 18, 19, 21, 25, 30, and Jan. 1, 2
Worst travel dates are: Dec. 22, 23, 26, 29

If you are traveling over Thanksgiving, take a look at these dates.
Best travel dates: Nov. 19, 24, 29, 30, Dec. 1, 3
Fair travel dates: Nov. 24
Worst travel dates: Nov. 18, 20, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28

You can get more info at http://travela.priceline.com/promo/deals/winter_holidays/deals.html

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Hotel Rooms

Frequent travelers know how and what to ask when booking their hotel rooms. Upper floor rooms and away from the elevators are first things to request…if you want a quieter hotel room.
Did you know the quietest part of the floor is midway along a hallway. It’s away from the ice and vending machines and laundry facilities. And if you do not want outside noise…stay away from rooms with a view of the pool.
You can always ask for a room on the concierge level. If the hotel is not full, chances are you will get a room there.
Happy Traveling…and sleeping…
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Treasure Island, San Francisco

Treasure Island’s Flea Market is not your average flea market. Held on Treasure Island, connected by a small isthmus to Yerba Buena Island. Constructed in 1936 and 1937 from fill dredged from the bay for the Golden Gate International Exposition, the island is named after the novel by Robert Louis Stevenson. He lived in San Francisco for a couple of years.
Color everywhere…
I was a little concerned for the poor bear…so I bought some stuff.
More history later…think flying, movies, and the Navy.
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Garden of the Gods

Outside of Colorado Springs, Garden of the Gods Park is a registered National Natural Landmark. Fantastic red sandstone rock formations are set off by the brilliant blue Colorado sky. Quite the contrast…
Rocks like this balanced one make you wonder how they got here. Apparently they were deposited horizontally but have been tilted vertically and faulted by the immense mountain forces close to Pike’s Peak.
Legend has it the name came from a couple of surveyors thinking this would make a great place for a beer garden. They thought the gods would come…hence it turned into Garden of the Gods. The beer garden never materialized!