Baffled by Bonvoy? Check Out These 7 Other Branding Failures

It’s official: Bonvoy is the name of Marriott’s new  loyalty program, combining the SPG, Marriott Rewards and Ritz-Carlton Rewards programs under the world’s largest hotel chain roof. The name was first leaked back in November 2018, to much groaning and face-palming from TPG readers and beyond. But despite the public outcry, Marriott executives moved forward …

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After Just 2 Weeks, New DFW Centurion Lounge Is Reaching Capacity

Rumor has it that just a scant two weeks after opening, the new American Express Centurion Lounge at Dallas Fort-Worth is already hitting capacity. Last Saturday, traveler Nathan Totusek tweeted a photo of a sign outside the Amex Lounge that stated, “Due to high traffic in our lounge at this time, we can only welcome …

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Engine Issues May Spell Doom for Future of the A380 Program

Emirates has been credited with saving the Airbus A380 program by placing a massive 11th-hour deal earlier this year. But progress on the $16 billion order has ground to a halt due to stalled negotiations with Rolls-Royce, the official engine provider for Emirates. The issue has to do with the price and fuel burn on the engine, a design that …

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United 1K Members Speak up About 2019 Policy Changes

United announced last week that the airline is raising its qualification requirements for its highest tier of elite status, United 1K. Beginning Jan. 1, 2019, United 1K travelers will now have to spend $15,000 Premier Qualifying Dollars (PQDs), up from the current $12,000 PQD requirement. Furthermore, business or first-class tickets booked in “P” class will …

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‘Furious’ Travelers Shun Ryanair Amidst ‘Flurry’ of Strikes

Infuriated customers are rallying forces to boycott beleaguered budget carrier Ryanair after the latest employee strike led to 190 flight cancellations, representing 8% of the airline’s total operations and stranding more than 35,000 of travelers across Europe. The Daily Star reports that some customers say that Ryanair has “ruined [their] lives” after nearly a dozen total strikes in …

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Apparel Retailer CEO Sues Delta For Failing to Detain Alleged Sexual Assault Perpetrator

Apparel retailer CEO Delany Luh has sued Delta Air Lines for failing to detain a passenger who allegedly sexually assaulted her mid-flight on June 16 of this year. The lawsuit seeks $1 million in compensatory damages, and another $5 million in punitive damages. Delany Luh, the founder of fashion brand I Am Plenty, filed her complaint earlier this week …

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AA’s Main Cabin Menu Gets a Fresh, Healthy Makeover

Bored of the boxed fare currently available on planes? American Airlines is sprucing up its menu game with new, healthy options through its partnership with fast casual restaurant chain Zoës Kitchen. The new menu is the brainchild of Zoës Head Chef and Vice President of Culinary Innovation Antonio Iocchi, and includes some of Zoës signature dishes, …

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The Polite Way to Deal With In-Flight Flatulence

Welcome to Travel Etiquette, a new TPG column that explores the fragile social contracts and the delicate dos and don’ts of travel. Have an opinion or suggestion for a future subject? Sound off in the comments below.  The nightmare and pet peeve of travelers alike, feeling flatulent on flights is a very valid and very common occurrence. …

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Pilfering Pebbles From This Greek Beach Could Cost You $1,170

Like collecting rocks? Lalaria Beach on the Greek island of Skiathos is not the place to acquire your next find. Described by Travel+Leisure as “one of the most idyllic beaches in the world” in part for its clear waters, this special beach is also renowned for the distinctive smooth, white pebbles that comprise its shoreline. The …

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Going to Beijing? You’ll Find the City’s Cleanest Skies in a Decade

Beijing’s notoriously smoggy atmosphere is the bluest it’s been in a decade, following a decisive push by the government to combat air pollution. 📷 @cingy5984 Peaceful. #TempleOfHeaven #Sky #History A post shared by Beijing Insta (@beijing_insta) on Aug 18, 2018 at 6:43pm PDT Data from July 2018 showed that pollution levels averaged 44 micrograms of …

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Chile Traveler Fakes Bomb Threats, Disrupts Nine Flights Over Lost Luggage

Nine commercial flights ground to a halt Thursday, including several that were forced to make emergency landings, after a Chilean traveler made anonymous bomb threats in frustration over lost luggage. Franco Sepulveda Robles placed a series of anonymous phone calls to a ticket counter, a LATAM operations center in Colombia and to civil aviation authorities, according to …

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The US Supreme Court Handed Amex an Anti-Steering Victory

American Express scored a win Monday when the US Supreme Court ruled that the credit card processor did not violate antitrust laws in its merchant contracts. In a 5-4 ruling, the conservative majority of the Court stated that the “specialized nature of credit-card transactions justified what in other circumstances might have been anti-competitive conduct.” All credit card processors …

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According to a New Report, Heathrow’s Runway Expansion Only Benefits the Rich

Heathrow’s third runway primarily benefits wealthy travelers headed out on holiday, according to data from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), an independent corporation that regulates aviation. Aviation tax reform campaign group Fellow Travellers analyzed two decades of CAA passenger data to discover that wealthy international leisure tourists were the primary source of pressure behind Heathrow’s recent expansion. The …

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No Love at Love Field: DAL Airlines Hate Gate-Allocation Plan

Despite a longstanding dispute over gate space at Love Field Airport in Dallas, Southwest Airlines and Delta Air Lines have found common ground: Neither carrier likes the April 30 resolution proposed by the City of Dallas. The proposed terms would allow Atlanta-based Delta to continue operating five flights out of DAL for an additional three …

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Mandarin Oriental Leaves Vegas, Waldorf Astoria Takes Over

Starting this September, you’ll no longer be able to stay at the Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas. The iconic hotel received a notice terminating its management agreement this past week, following the property’s sale to an undisclosed buyer for $214 million. Vital Vegas suggests that the buyer may be California-based investor Man Ho “Ronnie” Lam, owner of …

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