Observation Deck

Here Are My Favorite Travel Podcasts (And A Few More)

July 30, 2018By Edward Pizzarello4 Comments

Here are some of my favorite travel podcasts, and a few others I can’t stop listening to.

Pizza On A Podcast! Hanging Out On The Observation Deck

July 20, 2017By Edward Pizzarello0 Comments

I always have a ton of fun talking travel. That’s why I was happy when the Observation Deck folks let me ramble for 30 minutes about a range of subjects. Listen in!

False Alarm! At Least Two More Months to Book Top Marriott Properties At Reduced Award Rates

One more bite of the apple? Marriott has announced that the increased category 8 pricing for awards won’t go into effect until at least March, 2019. We had assumed this would happen in January. That means you may still have time to book at least one or two more “once-in-a-lifetime” vacations at unbeatable redemption rates.

New Episode: More Cheap Flights to Europe And How To Improve Lifetime Airline Status

You may have missed it when we released it, but a new Miles To Go episode is ready for you to download and listen! We’ve got Norwegian Airlines on the podcast in this episode to talk about new routes that can get you to Europe on the cheap! I’m a big fan of Norwegian’s premium cabin, it’s a great value for the money. Jen and I talk Southwest Airlines and when is the right time to buy Early Bird boarding. Finally, we wrap up with Gary Leff discussing how American Airlines can […]

Now Boarding: Nick Reyes, Frequent Miler

This week on the NowBoarding podcast, Nick Reyes stopped by from Frequent Miler. He talks about traveling the world both before and after children, and the significant differences between the two.

New Episode: Saving A Bunch Of Money On Last-Minute Flights!

You may have missed it when we released it, but a new Miles To Go episode is ready for you to download and listen! This podcast goes back a few weeks, but it still contains some great info. First, you can learn how to navigate the changes Hyatt made to their Points & Cash awards. Then, Gilbert and I sit down to talk about a new way to save a ton of money when you need to book a last-minute flight. Hope you enjoy the show! Where Can I Find The Podcast? […]

No One Should Ever Have to See This: Rudy Giuliani With His Pants Down in the Emirates Business Class Lounge Restroom

I really couldn’t come up with a title that didn’t make this sound like click-bait. But, when you walk into a restroom and find Rudy Giuliani with his pants down, I’m not sure you say it any other way than that.

I Flew Frontier, Saved $400 And Didn’t Die. My Frontier Airlines Review

Those low-cost carriers always have very appetizing fare sales. Who wouldn’t want to pay $20 to fly somewhere? But, what does $20 really buy you? I found out exactly what Frontier does (and doesn’t) offer customers on my first flight with them recently.

A Summary Of United Airlines Global Services Benefits

As travel has gotten more stressful the benefits of elite status are even more valuable. In some cases, what used to be free for everyone is now only free for those customers that fly most frequently. I value my American Airlines Executive Platinum status more highly than any status I’ve earned, including 1K service with United Airlines. However, Global Services is another matter. For those not aware, Global Services is an invitation-only status level that United bestows on their best customers. What defines a best customer? Well, United doesn’t list […]

Update: American Airlines Variable Choice Plus Pricing A Feature, Not A Bug

I have to admit, I was pretty pleased with the original announcement that American Airlines was creating bundled pricing that included change fees at a lower apparent cost. Things got a little better when American also announced they were expanding the timeframe you could request a same day change to your flight. And, then things started to get a bit screwy. It started with just one flight I couldn’t get to price right with Choice Plus as an add-on. But, then I did a bit more digging and found out […]

How To Use New Metro Silver Line To Get Between Dulles and Reagan National Airports

People talk about how bad the traffic is in places like Los Angeles with plenty of adjectives. And, it is quite bad. But, the traffic in DC is what I refer to as “stealthy bad”. It doesn’t get the same press that LA traffic does, but a trip that normally takes an hour can easily turn into a 3-hour ordeal. With visiting dignitaries, protests and construction as variables, weather can also wreak havoc on a system that consistently backs up during rush hour. For those of us that live in […]

Is Foursquare Dead?

Venture Beat doesn’t think so, and I’m not 100% sure they’re wrong. But, before I discuss the article, a little background on why someone allergic to social media like me became a Foursquare nut. A few years ago, a company called TopGuest came up with this concept where you could earn airline miles and hotel points for checking in at various places on Foursquare. I can’t say I thought it was a terribly good business model, but they convinced a bunch of hotel chains to hand out miles for this. […]

JohnB - December 16, 2018:
This doesn't surprise me at all. Ghouly-anny is just a troll. He [...]

Meeting Rudy Giuliani In The Airline Lounge Men's Room, How NOT To Use Your SkyMiles, & More - Your Mileage May Vary - December 16, 2018:
[…] You never know who you’re going to run into when you’re [...]

ChuckB - December 15, 2018:
Had a great time, Ed, thanks again for organizing it.

dh - December 15, 2018:
nice blogging

LNMTravelLynn Hakam - December 14, 2018:
I know right?