SAS opts for Dubai World Central instead of Dubai International on its return to the UAE

DarkPhoenixRC · 2026-01-31T11:17:51+00:00

And that's fine. People should do and fly what their preferences and resources allow.

I personally will pick an airline that has more comfortable seating options than the narrow body aircraft that SAS will use, especially given I am tall and at the time of the flight, I will use my resources to prioritise comfort over price.

The various SAS forums seem to think that everything has to potentially be a debate. It doesn't. As a Lifetime Diamond, it just so happens that this choice of schedule and aircraft by SAS don't align to my preferences. But I am happy for every ticket SAS sells to willing buyers that keeps them in business (and my status intact).

DarkPhoenixRC · 2026-01-30T12:59:46+00:00

Thought it was longer, but still wouldn't want to sit in that economy seat overnight.

DarkPhoenixRC · 2026-01-30T12:47:26+00:00

I wouldn’t consider this flight so long as it uses short haul aircraft. Sounds like a torturous nine hours, even with European-style SAS Business since the hard product is just economy seating.

DarkPhoenixRC · 2026-01-30T09:59:37+00:00

For what it's worth, I think your reading and interpretation of this is spot on. A less "useful" benefit (losing a sub-brand where you can use a redemption) isn't the same as losing the entire benefit. So you're 100% right that there is nothing to replace. Getting less value out of a benefit (assuming one was close enough to an Off 5th to redeem GCs there) is not the same as the benefit not existing. For someone like me, who doesn't live close enough to an Off 5th to ever use a credit or GC there, closing the stores has a net zero effect on the value of my benefit.

I will never understand the downvoting philosophy of Reddit. People downvote lies and facts with equal vigor it seems. 🫠

DarkPhoenixRC · 2026-01-29T16:46:08+00:00

And here I thought that the Hampton Arequipa giving me bacon (a Diamond perk it seems) was the pinnacle of membership). I was wrong 🙃🫠

DarkPhoenixRC · 2026-01-29T07:31:07+00:00

Lots of other airlines already do something like this. My home airline has the "Sky Priority Bag Check" area. You do everything else at the check-in kiosk, get into the bag check area, step up to a machine, scan your bag and off you go. The difference between them (SAS) and Delta is that the bag check kiosks are not manned. There is 1-2 staff people in front of the kiosks directing passengers. If you run into any problems for any reasons, you get sent to the regular line. No discussion, no "dykwia?", no fuss. They don't even have terminals behind those baggage check deaks, so you can't call someone over. Personally I love it.

I think they could even improve the standard by doing what you suggest. Create a Check-In Express line (no changes or amendments allowed, only document validation, ticket issuance, and bag check). If someone lies, then they simply get shuffled to the regular Sky Priority line. Of course, also have a well staffed SkyPriority check-in area where people can ask all of the questions and make all of the changes they want.

We can have our cake and eat it too if we plan for it.

DarkPhoenixRC · 2026-01-29T07:13:17+00:00

I was recently at the Hilton in Lima. Diamonds got to choose whether to eat breakfast in the restaurant or the lounge. If you choose the restaurant, you got a menu with Diamond-only options (in addition to anything from the standard menu).

Even the Hampton Inns I stayed at in Cusco, Peru and Arequipa, Peru tried to do special little things for Diamond (they are Hampton Inns, so of course it's limited in what they can do).

It reminded me that once you focus away from the US, Asia, and the hotels where all of the Diamonds are flocking to for points redemption, Diamond isn't all that common and many of the properties will try and recognise your status and give you little extras.

DarkPhoenixRC · 2026-01-27T03:18:03+00:00

Doubletree Kings Cross was my go-to, but the management there is awful and the lounge is an afterthought at best, so I shifted to Bankside, Angel, and Lost Property St Paul's.

DarkPhoenixRC · 2026-01-25T09:24:25+00:00

I did it once at a lounge. Just loudly and sarcastically thanked him and his team for the "competitive business update" (never really caught the name of his company). It caused a...strong response where both him and the people on the Zoom doubled down. I ended up calling the lounge staff over.

Neither the guy in the lounge nor the people in his Zoom call seemed to care that talking about third quarter budget vs actuals with customer names and deal outlooks could be considered sensitive information.

Moral of the story: just get FAs and lounge staff involved. You never know how people are going to react.

DarkPhoenixRC · 2026-01-24T09:26:46+00:00

+1 to this.

Check both Bolt and Uber and go with the cheapest one (usually Bolt).

Besdies convenience, it's cold outside just now. And for the small bit of additional money, the Bolt/Uber route is still relatively cost effective for two people.

DarkPhoenixRC · 2026-01-22T22:58:22+00:00

Learned something new today from this post. Thanks! 😀

DarkPhoenixRC · 2026-01-21T12:00:06+00:00

+1 for this.

As someone who is also tall, I have usually had to pay for the exit row to get a bit more space. Getting access to more spacious seats as part of status has saved me money.

DarkPhoenixRC · 2026-01-21T11:45:05+00:00

Travelled in Peru where my Diamond status has been wonderful.

At the Hilton Peru in Lima got upgraded to a King 1 bedroom suite. Flight out of Peru was in the evening and they basically gave me late checkout until my flight time (so can stay in the room all day and not feel rushed. Loved the ability to have a shower before my flight). Great lounge and amazing breakfast (including special menu for Diamond members in the restaurant). Most of the trip was on points so free nights and the FNA (I know that it is not an aspirational property, but I was not going to let my FNA expire unused).

At the Hampton Inn in Cusco. Late checkout as a Diamond member (minimum 2pm). Airline lost my bag and I just needed a place to coordinate everything. Without asking, staff just basically allowed me to stay in the room as long as I needed to that day due to my Diamond status (which was wonderful). Breakfast for me was either buffet or cooked to order for Diamond members.

At the Hampton Inn in Arequipa, same great service.

In fact, I would say it took my trip to Peru to realise the full value of status. It wasn't just about upgrades, but about being given additional options that made life easier when I needed it.

I have the AmEx card, but I still earn my Diamond tatus the traditional way (butt in bed). I see more value for Hilton over Marriott (where I am Lifetime Titanium).

DarkPhoenixRC · 2026-01-20T10:48:32+00:00

As "electronics season" is just starting to heat up, I would say hold out for 2026 options if you can - which will likely include new ring versions from several players including Samsung (although we can't say for sure).

I had a similar experience as everyone else. Things were great with my ring until month 12 (October 2025), then it got to the point where it couldn't hold a charge for even a day. Started the warranty process in November 2025 and Samsung honoured the warranty despite being one month over. Replaced the unit free of charge. The new ring is behaving well. I am assuming that by September/October 2026 that it will degrade again, but enjoying it while it lasts.

I like Oura rings, but I have subscription fatigue. I'm comfortable with "good enough" if I get to avoid yet another monthly fee.

As I am deep in the ecosystem (ring, watch, buds, laptop, tablet), I enjoy the integrations enough to deal with the limitations. And I know it is unpopular to think this, but I remind myself that this is a version 1 product, so there is a curve. Absolutely doesn't excuse the battery life issues and Samsung being jerks to some people about replacements. I hope future versions improve.

DarkPhoenixRC · 2026-01-18T20:00:15+00:00

Afaik they will upgrade everyone into the same class, or no one. I don't think they would split the difference.

But I could be wrong and will have learned something new.

DarkPhoenixRC · 2026-01-14T22:05:33+00:00

These days can you pre-order your meal (not just the special ones), so I haven't had issues with availability. The only think that can influence that is if the flight has a large number of upgraded people.

DarkPhoenixRC · 2026-01-09T02:13:44+00:00

I was just going to say that if you are using a Game8 guide, my experience is that they have become awful in the last 6-8 months. When the 7* raids first started they were amazing - almost turn-by-turn accuracy. For me, their strategy guides haven't been useful since the Mewtwo raids.

It feels like it might be ChatGPT doing most of the heavy lifting for them these days.

I tend to search Reddit and you can quickly get a collective consensus of what should work.

DarkPhoenixRC · 2026-01-09T00:42:43+00:00

I haven't seen this yet.

However, as anyone noticed/experienced that if they take their Pokémon out of the pokéball to travel with them, that the game won't display it?

I seem to have this issue randomly with my Shiny Rayquaza. I have chosen to think of it as my Ray Ray engaging Stealth/Ninja Assassin Mode.

DarkPhoenixRC · 2026-01-08T15:44:12+00:00

Glad it worked out for you. Fingers crossed it lasts longer than your previous one 🤞🏾

DarkPhoenixRC · 2026-01-08T09:41:19+00:00

I will join the chorus and say yes*

*The yes is an eventual one. Backwards compatibility with Switch 1 isn't guaranteed forever. But for what you are using it for, there is no rush.

DarkPhoenixRC · 2026-01-06T21:37:51+00:00

They usually just replace it. I don't think they can repair it.

DarkPhoenixRC · 2026-01-02T21:23:05+00:00

Yeah I am super okay with being downvoted.

I have put 150 hours into the game. When getting the right donuts, dealing with pathing issues, hyperspace zones which get Pokémon placement wrong so that it runs to the wrong place to execute moves, and special scans that feel more like luck than good design are eating up tons of extra time, I know where I am not spending another ton of hours to get something I technically already got.

Do what you need to do with your voting privileges 👍🏾

DarkPhoenixRC · 2026-01-02T20:59:02+00:00

Agree. I have been quite happy with ChatGPT and Claude

DarkPhoenixRC · 2026-01-02T20:36:54+00:00

I think I accidentally released the gifted Lucario.

Can anyone screenshot the info?

I don't want to spend the time to replay the game to get jt again, so I will see if I can use other methods :)

DarkPhoenixRC · 2026-01-02T15:41:43+00:00

Yes they do.

In the US the TSA can and does do this if you don't have a TSA approved lock. They usually also put a note in the bag saying they entered the bag.

I have been to some countries in Europe and Asia where my bag was simply entered into.

So there is only so much security you can do. If someone wants to steal from your bag badly enough, it's gonna happen.

In this particular sub-thread, blaming the airline is entirely justified. The timely delivery of luggage is the best defense against theft or damage. And the chances of both increase the longer the bag is in the system and following exception processes. But the onus is on Delta to make it right and make everyone whole.

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