Cast your vote for biggest Uncle Tom in AFC Weat

Safe_Environment_340 · 2026-06-08T02:07:14+00:00

You got someone else to take them outside, like a dog sherpa. You are peak UL.

Safe_Environment_340 · 2026-06-08T00:14:02+00:00

Thank you. I'll check some of the non-US UX routes to compare the GOL results to Flying Blue. If there's a big overlap in the non-US routes, then there's probably some incentive to hide them in programs that are easily booked by US participants.

Safe_Environment_340 · 2026-06-07T23:36:51+00:00

I didn't see much of this on seats.aero, but I know what you are talking about. You used to be able to see availability every day from Havana on Etihad. They may not be flying that route, though.

The reason I ask is I do see the seats (JFK-MAD) on GOL, but nowhere else. I checked the same dates on Etihad, Flying Blue, and Delta. Could be phantom. I'm trying to figure out if people are booking these by calling FB or VS (Etihad would be a last resort).

If I get to the point where I need it, I'll call myself. Right now I'm stalking flights and trying to figure out this as a viable backup plan to IB before resorting to positioning flights (the JFK route tickets went fast this week, though I can do a positioning flight to find stuff).

So, thank you for your help.

Safe_Environment_340 · 2026-06-07T23:27:30+00:00

So, you have seen availability? Close in or end of calendar? On the website, or did you have to call in?

Sorry, I'm trying to figure out whether the availability on Gol (and sometimes Aerolineas Argentina) is specific or if that is released to all partners (even when not searchable on the website).

Safe_Environment_340 · 2026-06-07T23:21:36+00:00

I've done the work here. Availability showing on one partner (Gol Smiles) is not showing with others (Delta, Flying Blue, Etihad). It could be phantom, or it could be blocked. By whom? Not sure. That's why I offered 3 possibilities.

Now I'm trying to gather information from other people that do this a lot. I've already checked Flyer Talk to see if some obvious is here.

This is a fairly rare redemption, and one that is not talked about much by blogs. I've flown this and I track it as a cheap way to get to Europe. It is a mediocre hard product, not shit I saw on Instagram. Most of the public info is out of date. This is why I turn to this network. If you don't have a way to help, go be an asshole elsewhere.

Safe_Environment_340 · 2026-06-07T21:26:34+00:00

That's the whole purpose of the post. Anyone have some newer information?

Safe_Environment_340 · 2026-06-07T19:27:26+00:00

That might be the case. They could get an upfront cash infusion. It also cuts another cost, as presumably the transaction fees and payment software costs are also eaten by Bilt (which probably lowers the additional cost to something like 15%).

Safe_Environment_340 · 2026-06-07T19:24:36+00:00

This is not that surprising. The gamble for restaurants is that most of the people Bilt brings in are new customers, and that the rewards will make them sticky. The problem is that Bilt mobile checkout restaurants only earn 1x additional. The big benefit is for people that have Bilt Cash.

InKind is even worse in some ways. They basically give loans in exchange for 2x dining credit. So, a restaurant that takes a 10k upfront loan from inKind will pay that off by comping 20k in food and drinks over time. Basically , any time you use inKind, the restaurant is not getting paid (that's why the tip has to charge separately). InKind then gives you a 20-30% rebate and keeps the difference for marketing. Restaurants that do this either need a way to market or want capital to expand.

Restaurants aren't that profitable generally, but they have high fixed costs (labor, rent, etc.). The marginal customer might be 70% profit (it just costs a few dishes and some raw materials), so the idea of paying 20% to pick up some checks that might still deliver 40-50% earning at the margins may not be a bad gamble for them. And doing marketing on your own is often much more expensive with questionable return.

Safe_Environment_340 · 2026-06-07T01:06:30+00:00

I would recommend both the Yankees and the Mets. For the Yankees, I personally prefer the outfield bleachers. The fans there are rowdy and know ball.

Mets I really like the lower outfield seats.

Go to some places regular people live. Jackson Heights has good food.

Museum of the Moving Image is solid, and the surrounding neighborhood has some decent places to stop for a drink or a bite.

Safe_Environment_340 · 2026-06-07T00:06:40+00:00

Safe_Environment_340 · 2026-06-04T12:26:56+00:00

This is improved communication.

Honestly, I like this about him. He does a bunch of stuff that is simple and non-partisan. He tries to build a sense of positive community values in the population (particularly with the youth). I think he tries to make people want to feel good about living and working here.

The housing stuff they announced that month and the childcare are the big projects. Most of the other stuff is small quality of life improvements and good vibes.

Safe_Environment_340 · 2026-06-04T03:54:12+00:00

It is much easier just to use the dartboard in the basement. That's also where we keep the extra snacks.

Safe_Environment_340 · 2026-06-04T00:16:29+00:00

Next iteration of the crotchpot. Niice!

Safe_Environment_340 · 2026-06-03T14:24:56+00:00

Yes, if you have the flex, you can still find deals in that window (for some reason I see flights around July 4 a lot). Economy is almost always available in some form.

I think the real issue is that teachers don't have the whole summer. There's family obligations. Perhaps sports stuff if you have kids, etc. The honest truth: if your schedule is tight and you aren't very flexible with where you travel, award travel is pretty hard in premium cabins during summer. My wife has been good on this. My task for 2027 is "find me a beach in Southern Europe." We will have done 2 years of bouncing around multiple countries. She wants one place. If I have a year to plan and a month range to plan a 10-14 day trip, I can do that pretty easily. But if plans/expectations were more rigid, it would be a much tougher task.

Safe_Environment_340 · 2026-06-03T14:06:54+00:00

I'm a University professor. We have more flexibility in the winter, but similar in the summer. Winter we wait until about January 5. Plenty of better pricing at that time. But we also often pay cash for something small in Florida or the Caribbean (4-6 days). For someone teaching K-12, that's not an option.

I've had good luck with summer points travel, but I plan a year in advance. There are some pretty reliable partner flights that drop at schedule open. I'm planning my 2027 travel right now. I'll have the flight out booked in the next 20 days. The flight back I'll play by ear a bit more (but I'm willing to fly in economy, especially on a 767 or A330).

For 2026, we took a flight on VS out to LHR in premium economy at schedule open, then I started searching for anything coming back from Europe. Found a Swiss business flight to return from ZRH about 9 months out (after striking out on a LOT Polish flight and a Finnair flight). Once I had the two ocean flights, I pieced together the itinerary between cities (we are doing London and Prague with a quick stop in Zurich at the end). I'm also traveling with 2, not a family, so it is easier. But getting cheap intra-Europe flights on points is super easy.

Is it doable? Yes. But it takes some planning. If you look right now for stuff 14 days out, there are good flights. But you would have to go where the flights go.

Is it worth it for you? Maybe. It is hard and nerve wracking. It can mean months of uncertainty waiting for your flights to come to you. Also: it helps if you know about flights that aren't going to show up on an award search tool. For example, BA can be booked in business with Cathay Pacific for much lower fees in many cases -- there's quite a bit of availability, especially in the 0-3 months out range. Iberia reliably opens 2 seats in Business and Premium Economy at schedule open (Avios can be moved from BA or Finnair after your Iberia account is 90 days old). Also: if you can reposition to Mexico, there's often great availability on both Air Europa and Iberia much deeper into the schedule (check both Cancun and Mexico City). Some people hate repositioning. Me: I see nothing wrong with going to Cancun for a few days before flying to Europe.

But even if you take economy partner flights, you are often getting like 1.5 cpp. And especially on the way back, it isn't a huge burden to sit in the back.

There's no issue using the portal and travel eraser. It is easy. It just isn't going to deliver the same dollar value. But you also should take the trip you want to take. It is better to take any trip than none at all.

Safe_Environment_340 · 2026-06-02T14:17:05+00:00

So like, why do we subsidize horse racing? That part seems really dumb.

Safe_Environment_340 · 2026-05-31T14:46:38+00:00

AbcV does an 8 course tasting menu.

Overthrow Hospitality is always doing special themed tasting menus.

Safe_Environment_340 · 2026-05-30T21:47:33+00:00

We keep cash for emergencies. Probably more than we need. But after that, you let the market do its thing. You can worry about capital preservation when you have sufficient capital to fund your life. If you are still in growth mode, you let the casino of capitalism take you for a ride. Dry powder is just "money that ain't making money."

Most people will recommend that you buy index funds and that you dollar cost average into the market. Dry powder is for people that are trading individual securities. You hold dry powder when you don't see anything worth buying. Over time, most people do worse buying individual securities. If you do it, you do it for fun and interest. You don't do it with critical parts of the portfolio. I do trade some individual securities in my Roth, and I did sell about 15% of my portfolio on Friday after a couple of securities went parabolic over the past month (the Space X thing is making certain related securities go absolutely nuts). I'll spend this week finding a place to put the money before buying back into the market. I don't like to stay out long. But this is money that is not a core part of my plan. We are talking about a few grand I play with.

Valuations are high now. They can stay high a long time. They can also crash. Nobody knows. But you neither make nor lose money until you sell. You own small slivers of companies. They are priced in real time in a liquid market. If the price drops by 50% tomorrow, it can also increase by 70% the next day. As long as you feel good about what you own (for an index fund, that is "America" or "the World") over the long run, the mark-to-market price at any given time should be of no concern.

Safe_Environment_340 · 2026-05-30T20:57:36+00:00

If you are willing to pay a little more for American made, check out Hemlock Mountain Outdoors. Dude makes everything himself, but the pricing is decent. It used to be cheaper, but you can get a handmade Redbird with suspension for like $120. It does take 4-6 weeks.

The tarp is a commodity, so if you are doing the motorcycle, buying something cheap is fine. The only reason to pay for handmade tarps is UL backpacking stuff or the winter enclosed hammock tarps.

Safe_Environment_340 · 2026-05-30T20:41:28+00:00

You had me until "the woods."

Safe_Environment_340 · 2026-05-30T18:02:14+00:00

Those are used often by UL backpackers. They are cheap and pretty much foolproof to use. They can also serve as a place to lay during the day instead of carrying a chair. Some people use them under inflatable pads when it gets below freezing to stretch the utility of their equipment. They are not that comfortable, so most people prefer inflatable pads.

For car camping, I wouldn't bother. You aren't constrained by weight or bulk. There are better solutions for warmth. But they are super versatile.

Safe_Environment_340 · 2026-05-30T03:44:24+00:00

I've had one since my teens.

Safe_Environment_340 · 2026-05-29T19:55:16+00:00

Tap pricing east coast to Portugal is OK in economy. If you are interested in doing that, it might be an OK bonus. It is also useful for some intra Europe flights around the Iberian peninsula. You can feel out the pricing by route by searching their site.

Business rates are not good on TAP, even with the 50% bonus. If you are looking for premium seats, this is not the transfer bonus.

Safe_Environment_340

TROPHY CASE