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I paid for a work trip with miles and had the company reimburse me with cash. The boss did not like it, but eventually compensated me and told me not to do it again. I spend 20-30k a month on my company card now so I rack up points pretty quick. Paid for a good portion of our last trip to Kauai.
…..why?
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Back in the 90s my dad was the finance guy for an engineering firm. They had a creditor demand payment (of near 1 million dollars) and my dads position was "the only way we can pay that now is you will take a VISA". They said sure, just pay us. My dad used his personal card (had to get special approval from VISA) and got a LOT of points. He took my mom to Hawaii and the family to Florida and still had lots of points left over. I believe you will get taxed if you try something like that now.
He called the bank, got an authorization for a million dollar charge on his personal card on the basis work would pay him back? That's fairly remarkable.
I don't see how the IRS considers that taxable. But I bet it would earn an audit for the 1M reimbursement check. The tax burden would be very low if they wanted to tax 1M points... $2500 maybe. Gov usually see points as worth $0.01/pt when purchasing them outright IIRC. I'd buy a millino points for $2500 every month if someone let me.
this is in Canada, I do not remember the details (I'll ask him about it again) but that was pretty much how it went down. Claiming points is considered a taxable benefit by CRA in certain circumstances like this.
Flight deal experts spot a surprise upcharge: Flying solo
Some airlines on some flights charge solo travelers more for a seat than they do for each of two.travelers.
https://wapo.st/3HtbkDd
For the paywall-averse: https://archive.ph/CX6WLQuote:
Originally Posted by Meadow Skipper
I'm going to the UK in a month or so and need to figure out the cell phone thing. Can I get an eSim in the US before I leave? I want data, voice and text.
That should have been a ‘gift’ link, according to WaPo. IOW, anyone should have been able to open it, subbed or not.Quote:
Originally Posted by skaredshtles
It was, but WAPO makes you create a free account to read a gifted article.Quote:
Originally Posted by Meadow Skipper
^ I did not know that. Another reason I’m cancelling my subscription, but I’m paid through this fall so I’m still reading it,
Fuck Bezos.
Redeye pro tips for someone who typically has a tough time sleeping on a plane?
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Window seat, good airplane neck pillow, eyemask (underrated), comfy noise canceling headphones with white/brown noise. Bring an extra jacket or actual blanket to put on top of you to mimic the weight of a blanket (also underrated). Eat a good meal a couple hours beforehand, i like to take ZMA 30 mins before sleeptime, and then 5 mins of basic breathing exercise to downregulate my nervous system.Quote:
Originally Posted by nickwm21
Thats my $0.02. Im not a fan of drugging yourself to sleep (ambien, weed, alcohol) as i would rather grab a coffee upon landing and be fine, instead of just having that weird fuzzy hangover you can get from the drugs not quite wearing off.
Thanks.Quote:
Originally Posted by californiagrown
I have to be on when I wake - work trip - so no drugging.
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Try doinking the stewardess, as soon as she finishes the beverage service.
Redeye for a work trip? Just ask them to book a non-redeye and explain you won't be at your best on arrival otherwise. Or fly out a day earlier so you can sleep in a bed the night before you have to get shit done.Quote:
Originally Posted by nickwm21
I need to be at the corporate mothership in MD on a Monday morning. SEA to IAD. I’d rather spend my Sunday with my kids. I’ve done this redeye two or three other times for the same circumstance but can never get the sleep right… I do get a FC seat for my troubles…Quote:
Originally Posted by dan_pdx
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Ah, they've got you right where they want you then. In in that case, Californiagrown's advice seems like the way to go. Personally I swear by Wyld elderberry gummies to get to sleep, but I get that's not for everyone, especially with work the next day. Have definitely had the groggy morning after if I take them too late at night.Quote:
Originally Posted by nickwm21
Quote:
Originally Posted by Todds
Yes. There are a few different apps, such as airalo that should work you.
I am usually a light sleeper myself and red-eyes have always been rough. What has helped me most is picking a window seat so I am not getting brushed past, plus bringing my own thick hoodie to use as a pillow or blanket. Earplugs and an eye mask cut down distractions a ton for me, sometimes I even put on a calming playlist with headphones, which helps block the engine noise. It reminds me of nodding off during long rides to places like Santa Margherita Ligure, where the train gently rocks you to sleep and waking up to the coastal views is actually worth it. Those travel days taught me to prep a cozy corner for myself, wherever I am.
chat bots fly?
Quote:
Originally Posted by liv2ski
Here it is still 5 months from my flight date, and I am sorry to say that the shitty reviews seem to be spot on. First, my GF didnt enter middle names when buying the tickets and given the world situation and international travel in general, the name should exactly match the name on the passport, so I wanted to add my middle name and my daughters middle name. Well, Turkish Airlines wants you to do that through an online "feedback form". Ok, lets do that. Well, you can only submit feedback like this for 2 flight segments per form, i.e. 8 total for my daughter and I (since there are 2 segments in each direction). So I didnt do it right away.Quote:
Originally Posted by Danno
Then, they canceled the direct flight we had coming back to Denver on Sunday the 30th, and rebooked us all to Tues the 2nd. Uh, sorry, that doesnt work, we have school and work to get back to. My GF and her kids are fine with the change, so we called to get it switched to the 29th for me and my daughter (which sucks to lose a day of travel, but ok). So they create a new reservation for us, with a new confirmation number. But they refuse to make any name changes through anything but the feedback form.</p>
So, armed with the new confirmation number, I go in and submit 4 "feedbacks", 2 for me and 2 for my daughter. They change the names, but in doing so they split my reservation from my daughters, which is not ok as she is a minor and needs to be connected to my reservation. I call and talk to them and they are just terrible, they cannot now put us on the same reservation code but can link us supposedly. I have zero confidence that this wont be a complete shitshow.
Have you ever been in a Turkish prison?
My wife went on Semester at Sea when she was in college in the 80's, and for movie night before they docked in Istanbul, they played Midnight Express. Scared the bejabbers out of the kids. Definitely no one bought any hash when they were there.
Do you like movies about gladiators?Quote:
Originally Posted by riser4
Watch Midnight Express. All you need to know about Turkey.
United Polaris Business Class
To Yurp, I find us flying British Airways the most. Finnair is excellent, KLM is hit and miss and I hate Delta.
That is some genius level chaperoning there. ME hit hard with us college age stoners in the 80sQuote:
Originally Posted by I Skied Bandini Mountain
Finally had my first “rewarding” points experience. Used sixty six thousand chase Ink card points to book rental car for two weeks in Italy this summer. Cash price would have been nine hundred fifty bucks.
Meanwhile, my pile of United points feels like it’s not worth jack shit unless I fly at the most inconvenient times and dates.
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Live2- British Airways over Delta? Definitely not my experience, Delta wins that match up hands down.
The only bag Ive ever had delayed was BA, at a LHR transfer no less
Food was better on BA, but an overall experience, flying Delta+, Delta wins
For coach, Id fly BA again for sure
Tickets always need to match ID names, at the time of booking, for all airlines. That's not Turkish Airlines exclusive or anything related to current events.Quote:
Originally Posted by Danno
Try using online chat for putting you and your daughter back onto the same reservation number. Or, if flight costs are the same when booking that ticket today (and you can get a full refund or full credit), look into canceling your two separate tickets and rebooking under one ticket.
I know that the name thing is not just Turkish Airlines, that's why I wanted to make sure the names exactly matched. Their process makes it difficult -- they even have a special page about how to enter your name -- because they don't have fields for middle names (or things like Jr., hyphenated names, and the like). But the fact that the names needed to be changed wasn't annoying, it's their process for doing so. Cannot talk to an agent, must do it through their feedback form, and one feedback form can only address one passenger and two legs, so for 2 passengers on the same reservation with 4 total legs, that is 4 forms you have to submit. That's just a stupid process. And according to the person I spoke with, there is no way to put us back on the same reservation. I am going to try again.Quote:
Originally Posted by El Chupacabra
Cancel and rebook is a certain way to put you on the same ticket. But cost may be different from what you paid previously.
I don't recall ever using my middle name for an international plane ticket. Maybe I've been lucky.
For int'l travel, my work puts my first and middle name into the entry for first name. I can't say that's right for Turkey, but it has worked fine when I've traveled abroad.
Having two documents with conflicting middle initials = no bueno.
Having none or more documents without a middle initial = not a problem.
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Question for yall Europe/US travel nerds.
We’re planning our timing for our return home. Milan to Lisbon to US with an intentional 20+hr layover in Lisbon.
How many hours ahead of time do we need to arrive at the milan airport before departure?
I assume we should get to the Lisbon airport for our international flight 3hrs early, like as recommended in the states, right?
The Dolomites have been beautiful and rad with my wife and the children. Temps and humidity have been a bit high, but not too bad. We’ve explored a bit by car, lift system, and foot.
I have found it hard to find info about some of the obviously appealing spicy ski lines. Are there online resources? I have not been successful finding details.
Probably no use to you this late, but there are a couple of good hotels--one with a good restaurant and one next door to one--just outside the Milan airport.