[Nathan]

China Air and Golden Gate aren’t great but I think people give them a worse time than they should.

China Air also has limited hours for PP, they prioritize their airline customers, and I can’t recall on Golden Gate.

If your bar is DFW Cap One, none of those are anything like that.

The Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse is nice and you order hot food off a QR code, but it’s hours are limited.

I go to all three of those all of the time at SFO by hopping terminals.

I never have an issue and find it worth it, but I’m always alone or occasionally with a friend.

If I’m honest I’d expect you would only find the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse *maybe* worth it, so I’d consider that if your layover falls under the parameters of their open hours.

[Nathan]

For Flying Blue cancellations, I believe you have to call in.

You can’t do it online.

[Nathan]

Probably depends on which airline you are flying and what ticket you have.

If you are flying Basic Economy on Spirit or United, I would expect them to be quite strict even if your CPAP machine is technically a medical device.

Personally, I would just pay to check it and avoid the hassle.

You can reach out to the specific airline to ask their policy if you really want to carry it on.

[Nathan]

When it is up and running, look for details at https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias_en

travel-europe.europa.eu

ETIAS

Official EU website on ETIAS, the new travel authorisation for visa-exempt travellers to enter 30 European countries. Applications should be filled in this website from mid-2025.

[Nathan]

I usually book through Costco, but Hertz has had some good deals on electric vehicles lately that let you earn free nights.

In my opinion, Nashville Airport has a decent car rental setup.

If you have status with any of the companies, it’s even better.

It’s a short walk from baggage claim and doesn’t require a shuttle, which is great, especially when returning the car.

[Nathan]

You are correct that using a travel credit card can get you 2-3x points on Airbnb.

I don’t think Airbnb has coupons or sales, unfortunately.

Best suggestion is is to check Evreward which compares the cashback options from all the different online shopping portals and you can see who is offering the most bonus miles for Airbnb.

It looks like the best option is currently from British Airways which is giving 2 Avios per $1 spent on Airbnb.

That should stack with your travel credit card so you should get a 4x return per $1 spent at Airbnb!

britishairways.com

Collect Avios with Airbnb | Executive Club | British Airways

Find the perfect Airbnb and collect Avios when you stay. Airbnb offers you alternative way to travel, with access to over 7 million places to stay worldwide.

[Nathan]

Avios points are typically linked to British Airways and its partners in the OneWorld alliance, which includes Iberia.

So if you have any Capital One Points or AMEX Membership Rewards points, you can transfer them to BA, and then link them to Iberia.

If you don’t have any points, then you can find a great offer for British Airways card or Iberia card that might give you, for example, 85,000 sign-up points.

That is how I got started.

 

[Nathan]

I just signed up an hour ago and combined it with the AA shopping portal offer for 6,200 miles and loyalty points.

Rakuten offered 7,500 points, but I already have plenty of Amex points.

One downside:

you don’t get the $5 autopay discount with T-Mobile if you use a credit card for auto payments.

[Nathan]

I’m not a fan of tipping culture, even though it might not be a popular view.

Back in Australia, tipping was seen as a bit rude, except for maybe letting the pizza delivery person keep the change.

I believe bosses should pay fair wages and set prices accordingly, instead of relying on customers to make up the difference.

Tipping just helps maintain the low wages for servers in America, which I find pretty unfair.

And tipping for non-server roles?

Well, you can probably guess my thoughts on that.

[Nathan]

You definitely need medical coverage, so I would recommend getting travel insurance.

[Nathan]

The collision damage waiver only covers expenses directly related to a car accident.

Theft or contents may have their own policies, and you should also think about factors like loss of use with rental cars.

To be certain about what’s covered, read the terms and conditions of your specific credit card.

[Nathan]

We rented a car at Edinburgh Airport and drove around 2000 miles across Scotland.

Our rental from Costco offered the best price compared to other options.

Despite one flat tire incident, easily resolved at a tire store, our journey was smooth, though some roads and shoulders were rough in places.

[Nathan]

Has anyone traveled with LEVEL Airlines?

I was looking into Iberia, and it seems they’re offering LEVEL no-stop flights from JFK to BCN.

Not a lot of reviews online.

[Nathan]

You can always try, but it could be that the flight is simply not available on United.

[Nathan]

I absolutely loved my experience at Pera Palace.

It was fantastic, and I must say, the best massage I’ve ever had was at their spa.

perapalace.com

Pera Palace Hotel - Iconic and Historical Hotel- Heart Of Istanbul Pera

You are right in the heart of Istanbul. Pera Palace Hotel has been welcoming you for lasting moments and fascinating experiences since 1892.