Tag Archives: Travel

Pilot Program Announced: BART Riders to SFO get Access to Priority TSA Security Lines

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Good afternoon everyone.  I just received an email from BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) about a new pilot program that was just announced for BART passengers traveling to San Francisco International Airport (SFO).  According to the announcement, passengers who take BART to SFO will have access to priority TSA security lines.  This is kind of a goldilocks line between general TSA security lines and TSA PreCheck lines.  I believe the screening process is the same as general TSA security, but with a shorter line.  Since I have TSA PreCheck, I would probably never go through the priority TSA security line, but this is good news for passengers who do not have TSA PreCheck or are heading to SFO for an international flight.

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4 Buy Miles/Points Promos Ending Soon: Alaska (40%), Etihad (15%), American (42,500) & Choice (25%)

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Good afternoon everyone.  I was working on my Buy Miles & Points Page and found a few offers ending soon.  Always check the math to make sure that buying miles & points makes sense for you.  Do not buy miles & points speculatively unless you have a use in mind.  With that said, here are 4 offers that end this week.  Up first, Alaska Airlines is offering up to a 40% bonus, depending on the number of Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan Miles you purchase.  This offer expires on October 31.

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Earn Double Alaska Airlines Miles on SFO-TLV El Al Israel Airlines Flights (Travel 10/15 – 6/30/20)

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Good afternoon everyone.  I just received an email from Alaska Airlines regarding a promo with El Al Israel Airlines.  If you are flying El Al Israel Airlines from San Francisco (SFO) to Tel Aviv, Israel (TLV), you can earn double Alaska Airlines miles when you add your Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan number to the reservation.  But, you must register for the promo first before registration ends on December 15 and travel by June 30, 2020.

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Hotel Review: Sweet Upgrade to the Presidential Suite at Historic San Diego Courtyard Marriott

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Good afternoon everyone.  After our short Alaska Airlines flight from Santa Rosa / Sonoma County to San Diego, we took an Uber to the Courtyard San Diego Downtown Hotel.  I picked this hotel because the “hotel is in the former San Diego Trust and Savings Bank building, and the old vault has been converted into a one-of-a-kind meeting space that your colleagues will be talking about for years to come.”  I love staying in old, historic, charming hotels, like my Amazing Stay at DoubleTree Arctic Club Hotel in Seattle (Historic Building Built in 1917).

This hotel costs 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy Points per night, so I used my Free Night Certificate from the Chase Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card to book the first night and then I used 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy Points for the second night.  Somehow, I received 5 free Suite Night Upgrades in my Marriott Bonvoy account (probably from combining my SPG & Marriott Rewards accounts and from having several Marriott credit cards with elite nights stacking).  I decided to use my last 2 Suite Night Upgrades at this hotel because they were going to expire on December 31, 2019, and I don’t have any other Marriott stays booked or planned for the rest of the year.  This turned out to be a great use of my Suite Night Upgrades…

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My New Favorite Alaska Airlines Route: Santa Rosa / Sonoma County (STS) to San Diego (SAN)

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Full Disclosure: Alaska Airlines provided 2 round trip tickets for my wife and I to experience and write about their new daily flight from Santa Rosa / Sonoma County to San Diego.  The below thoughts and opinions are my own.

Good morning everyone.  This past weekend, I had the pleasure to fly from the Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport (STS) in the heart of Santa Rosa / Sonoma County to San Diego (SAN) on Alaska Airlines’ new route.  I live in Sonoma County and it is only a 20-30 minute drive to the Santa Rosa / Sonoma County Airport (compared to a 75-90 minute drive to the San Francisco International Airport or Oakland International Airport).  Conversely, if you want to visit the many wineries (and breweries) in Sonoma County or neighboring Napa County, flying into Santa Rosa will save you a lot of time.  Plus, with Alaska Airlines’ Wine Flies Free program, Alaska Airlines “Mileage Plan members can bring home a case of wine with no baggage fee from 30 participating West Coast cities.”

Image source: https://www.alaskaair.com/content/deals/special-offers/wine-flies-free

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