Nov 18th, 2011 at 12:00PM: There's a whole pseudo-science on the web regarding the art of earning miles and points by means of credit card applications. Many in the mileage running and hoarding business use credit cards heavily to earn special bonus or signup-miles by applying at certain times or hitting minimum spend limits. With a decent credit score it's a fairly easy game to play, though I'll be the first to admit that ...Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.
creditcard posts
Frequent flyer applies to 13 credit cards in one day to earn points
Nov 18th, 2011 at 12:00PM: There's a whole pseudo-science on the web regarding the art of earning miles and points by means of credit card applications. Many in the mileage running and hoarding business use credit cards heavily to earn special bonus or signup-miles by applying at certain times or hitting minimum spend limits. With a decent credit score it's a fairly easy game to play, though I'll be the first to admit that ...Travel to Europe easier with chip enabled debit cards
Dec 14th, 2010 at 1:00PM: The days of traveler's cheques are far far behind us, but that doesn't mean that paying by credit cards oveseas is always easy. In particular, Europe and many other countires are prone to using chip and pin cards for accepting transactions rather than the magnetic striped plastic that most Americans use. While most outlets have a backup machine for "swiping" cards rather than plugging in the chip, ...Hotel employees nailed in $20 million airline ticket scam
Jul 11th, 2010 at 3:00PM: The feds just threw down indictments against 38 people accused of pushing fraudulent airline tickets at hefty discounts. They were slashing between $100 and $200, usually, from the normal price of a (real) ticket. And at least two of them worked in hotels, where they were accused of swiping credit card and debit card information to keep the con afloat. Among the charges are: conspiracy, credit ...Delta offers free luggage for branded credit card holders
May 6th, 2010 at 1:00PM: A thin, thin silver lining on the dark cloud of checked baggage fees by Delta Airlines was announced today. According to the airline and American Express, the sponsor of their branded credit card, premium holders of the Delta Gold, Platinum, or Reserve SkyMiles Credit Card will soon be allowed to check one bag for free, a savings of $25 per direction of travel.
Travelers will still need to pay ...Bring an emergency credit card - International travel tip
Mar 18th, 2010 at 3:52PM: Pickpockets and thieves are rampant in certain parts of the world. While falling prey to one is unlikely, it always helps to be prepared. I recommend activating a new credit card before departing on your trip.
Remember to notify the card company you'll be leaving the country and always keep it in a secure spot -- separate and apart from the rest of your travel money! -- wherever you're staying. ...Sometimes, collecting frequent flyer miles with a credit card pays off
Feb 22nd, 2010 at 10:00AM: Are frequent flyer miles worth collecting anymore? I've asked that question elsewhere, and have been advocating the use of credit cards paying up to 5% cash back as a better alternative for many travelers who rack up most of their miles using airline-affiliated credit cards. For many people, now that there are new fees associated with cashing in miles, the answer is no.
Most of us travel ...Double-check your credit card statement - Hotel tip
Feb 19th, 2010 at 8:08AM: Hidden hotel charges can appear on a credit card statement weeks after your stay, even if you paid your balance at checkout. Generally, these phantom charges include amenities like Internet access and parking. Be sure to scan your credit card statement to be sure you were charged the correct amount -- and not charged twice.
Also, be wary If you've used a voucher for a meal at the hotel ...Airport checkpoint nabs gang with 518 stolen Wal-Mart gift cards
Feb 7th, 2010 at 1:30PM: To balance out some of the negative TSA checkpoint stories, I'm always happy when we stumble across some positive stories from the airport. In this story, TSA agents at Nashville airport noticed something strange in the luggage of a passenger, and got the local airport police involved.
Inside the suitcase was a stash of 518 Wal-mart gift cards. When police arrived at the checkpoint, six people ...Ryanair blasted for "childish" payment system
Jan 5th, 2010 at 3:30PM: Rarely does a week go by without some kind of news blasting Ryanair for something the low cost carrier did to annoy their customers.
This time, it all revolves around a silly payment method implemented by Ryanair. For years, the airline has been advertising its ultra low cost fares without mentioning additional fees or surcharges.
New regulations in the UK mean Ryanair has to include credit ...Delta joins the ranks of "cashless cabins"
Nov 15th, 2009 at 12:30PM: I can't remember the last time I paid with cash for a drink on a domestic flight. Even on my last few international flights, I pulled out the plastic when it was time for a nerve-calming vodka-cran. So I was actually kind of surprised at the announcement that Delta Airlines would no longer be accepting cash on flights in North America, Central America, and the Caribbean. I didn't even realize cash ...Budget program strains your budget
Feb 6th, 2009 at 4:00PM: We're all turned on by the thought of getting free money in the mail, but you should be skeptical unless the tooth fairy delivers it personally. According to Upgrade:Travel Better, you should be wary of a new deal from Budget Rent-A-Car. Sign the $10 check that you get from Budget, and you're really joining a fee-laden membership program that will cost you much more. The best part? You're giving ...San Antonio hotels involved in massive credit card theft
Jan 31st, 2009 at 5:00PM: If you have spent a night in San Antonio recently, be sure to keep an eye on your credit card statements. Information from 17,000 guests is reported to be involved in a large scale fraud with stolen receipts from 3 different hotels. Authorities are declining to release the names of these hotels, pending their investigation, but a local newspaper identified one as the Emily Morgan Hotel. So far, ...Be on the lookout for credit card skimmers in The Netherlands
Dec 16th, 2008 at 3:00PM: Dutch public transit user Paul Wiegmans noticed something strange when he tried to purchase a tram ticket from a machine in Amsterdam; the card slot looked a little out of the ordinary. When he took a closer look, he discovered a so called "skimmer" had been placed over the original card reader. Skimmers are devices that read your credit card information at the same time the real reader does its ...Best Western (Europe) becomes the victim of the largest data theft in the world (UPDATED)
Aug 24th, 2008 at 5:30PM: The European operation of the Best Western hotel chain has become the victim of a massive cyber-theft attack. By placing a "keylogger" on a corporate computer connected to their reservations system, a whopping 8 million customer records were stolen. Included in the records are names, address, phone number, credit card numbers and employment information. The records were stored for every single ...Virgin Atlantic's "big" announcement
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Jun 12th, 2008 at 4:30PM: As Grant mentioned last week, Virgin Atlantic has been up to something. When they started sending all kinds of cryptic emails to their frequent fliers last week, our minds started to run wild. What could it be? In flight jacuzzis for upper class fliers?! New solid gold airplanes?! Personal in-seat LASERS?! Last night, Gadling headed over to the Frank Gehry-designed IAC Building in Manhattan to ...Hidden Credit Card Charges When Charging Abroad
Aug 2nd, 2007 at 1:00PM: Do you use a credit card when traveling abroad? I do. While having a stash of cash is always necessary, it's also convenient to be able to reserve rooms and pay for the occasional item using your Mastercard or Visa. Be careful though; some (if not most) credit card companies will charge you a premium for using their card in a foreign country. Mastercard and Visa, for instance, charges a 1% ...
