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!

My Very Late 2019 Hotel Elite Status Recap And A Look At 2020

You might wonder why I’m bothering to write this post in late February. While I’ve always written this blog with you, the reader in mind, I do use this as a place to keep track of things. I like to look back and see if my travel ended up the way it did. I reviewed my airline elite status earlier this year, and now it’s time to take a look back at my 2019 hotel elite status achievements. As a business traveler, I value elite status. It provides me two […]

Hyatt Announces Double Points Promotion, First Promo of 2020

Hyatt announced a double points promotion today that runs through May 15th, 2020. And, if you hold a Hyatt credit card you’ll earn even more points on weekend stays.

Cheap Flights to Hawaii! $260 Round-Trip!

Doesn’t get much lower than $260 round-trip to Hawaii. I hope you guys can score some flights!

2019 Airline Status Review And A Look Towards 2020

I had a healthy diet of United Airlines in 2019, which isn’t good for my blood pressure. What does 2020 look like for you? Here’s what I’m expecting….

500 Bonus Points Per Night at Hyatt And United Status Match

If you want to see the best travel news every day, I publish a transcript of my NowBoarding podcast 5 days a week. Each show covers the best travel news and deals on a daily basis. If you prefer reading to listening, these posts are perfect for you! NowBoarding, your daily travel news in 7 minutes or less: Don’t forget to check out the Miles To Go Podcast where we bring you the latest travel news, tips and tricks each week to help you save money and travel better. Final Transcript NowBoarding, your […]

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.

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 […]

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 […]

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. […]