Hot Takes - alternatives to Airbnb, get miles for late bags, get airline help fast in an emergency, and new French flight tax, free access to point.me for American Express card holders
Greetings from San Pancho! We are currently enjoying a wonderful beach vacation with dear friends in the gorgeous town of San Pancho, Mexico, just north of Sayulita and about an hour north of Puerto Vallarta. We are NOT doing any travel planning this week, but here are a few things I hope will be helpful if you are making plans for your upcoming adventures.
Alaska & Delta Airlines Give Miles if Your Bag Isn’t on the Carousel Within 20 Minutes - “It might be worth starting a stopwatch on your phone the moment you begin disembarking the plane. Because if the final leg of your flight is on Alaska Airlines or Delta Air Lines, doing so could net you miles or money toward future travel. Both Alaska Airlines and Delta Air Lines offer what they call a 20-minute baggage guarantee. If your checked luggage isn’t on the baggage carousel within 20 minutes of your aircraft’s door opening, you’re entitled to 2,500 miles on Delta flights and the option to choose either 2,500 miles or a $25 travel voucher on Alaska flights. The two airlines typically don’t automatically give travelers the miles or money when luggage is delayed—you have to ask for them.”
Airline help is just a phone call away (if you know which number to call) - According to Brian Kelly, aka The Points Guy (one of our favorite travel resources) and author of How to Win at Travel, when your flight gets canceled and things start to melt down, call the foreign helpline of your airline (such as Delta’s Mexico line) instead of the US phone number. “You’re probably going to get through in five minutes versus two hours.” Kelly said in his interview with Afar Magazine on their Unpacked podcast. “And that is winning because you can get through before everyone else and snag the last seat home.”
Where to stay during your travels - alternatives to Airbnb
I’ve been collecting a list of alternatives to Airbnb for our travels. Here’s what I have so far - have I missed any of your favorites?
Asia
Agoda - particularly good in Asia but growing quickly around the world
North America Plus
Evolve - US and Mexico
Avant Stay - US
Furnishedfinder - US
Savvy - US
Sonder - US, Canada, and Western Europe
Hipcamp - Tent sites, RV spots, and glamping in the US, including many national parks
Blueground - US, Brazil, Tokyo, Europe, and the Middle East
United Kingdom
Sykes Cottages - UK and Ireland
Worldwide
Booking - worldwide
Hometogo - worldwide
Homestay - worldwide
TripAdvisor Rentals (formerly FlipKey) - worldwide
VRBO - strong in the US and quickly growing around the world. Includes searches on these platforms:
Stayz.com.au - AustraliaMarriott Homes & Villas - worldwide. Stays count within the Marriott Bonvoy system to collect and redeem points.
Nomad Accommodation Reviews Facebook group - a great curated list of accommodations that are recommended by the people who have stayed in them, typically for a month or more.
The Cris Gawlik Method - she really should trademark this as she generously walks others through her approach whenever asked. Cris hones in the the neighborhoods she is interested in using Google Maps, then searches local realtors and property managers to see what they may have available. She’s found lots of great places this way.
What if you find an Airbnb that you love and want to see where it may be listed elsewhere? Try a reverse image search. There’s a good tutorial by Thrifty Traveler here.
The French government has approved a new flight tax that will take effect this year on all flights in France, both international and domestic. All the more reason to use the fantastic French train system while you're there. For short and medium-haul flights this will not be a hugely noticeable tax (between €7-15). However, long-haul flights will see a hike of €40 for economy flights and even more for business and first-class tickets. Read more about the changes and when they take effect here.
And finally, Amex Cardholders: Get Free Access To The Award Search Tool That Saves You Time And Points American Express launched a partnership with Point.me last year (but I am just finding out about it!). The idea is to help Amex Membership Rewards cardmembers get the best value out of their points. The partnership lets you log in using your Amex credentials and search award space (plus, take advantage of all of their features like tutorials that walk you through transferring points and making the award booking) with all of the airline frequent flyer programs that American Express supports:
Star Alliance: Air Canada Aeroplan; ANA Mileage Club; Avianca LifeMiles; Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
oneworld: British Airways Executive Club; Cathay Pacific Asia Miles; Iberia Plus; Qantas Frequent Flyer; Qatar Airways Privilege Club
SkyTeam: Aeromexico Rewards; Air France KLM Flying Blue; Delta SkyMiles; Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
Non-alliance: aer lingus Aer Club; Emirates Skywards; Etihad Guest; JetBlue TrueBlue
While this perk is targeted to Platinum nad Gold cardmembers, any Amex login seems to work so if you have a Delta or Hilton Amex.
This was another gem! Great tip about the 20-minute maximum time for baggage onto the belt with those two airlines. Also great were the alternatives to Airbnb. I have one long scheduled rental through Airbnb but after that never again!
These hot takes continue to provide great info. Each brings a treasure. Thanks!