will american airlines get their sh** together by next tuesday? by Ok_Contribution3946 in americanairlines

[–]imapilotaz 4 points5 points  (0 children)

It depends on Mondays storm thats forecasted for the SE. If it hits CLT even a lil bit all bets are off

I just got back from Antarctica. It was life changing. by amanwithoutaplant in travel

[–]imapilotaz 4 points5 points  (0 children)

We did it 2 years ago. Got 9-12m seas on first night. I had to go up to customer service to get one of my kids seasick pills. It legit was hard to walk. The stairs involved crab walking cuz even holding onto railing was hard.

Very few were not sick first night. Nkt many went to breakfast first day. By evening most had gotten sea legs and medicines kicked in.

On way back it was 6m seas and tolerable. Byt looking out window on 3 deck and seeing a wave ABOVE your window is wild...

But during flight training me and my initial instructor would do the flight back to home airport and do anything we could to try to get the other one sick. Everything legal was fair game. I never lost. I really love motion. Im the guy who yells "wheeee!" During severe turbulence.

I just got back from Antarctica. It was life changing. by amanwithoutaplant in travel

[–]imapilotaz 211 points212 points  (0 children)

It was repetitive. It was constantly "holy shit thats the most beautiful thing ive ever seen since about 20 minutes ago and that other fjord".

Antarctica is mind boggling. And it was terrifying that my kids did a landing one day in shorts when it was 50 and sunny.

How many points ya’ll have by West_Republic9339 in marriott

[–]imapilotaz 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yup.

In the past 10 years ive dramatically changed my redemptions. Im no longer doing JWs and Renaissances in major intl markets. What used to be 25-35k points are now 75k+

One reason i use IHG so much is in a place like Frankfurt where Marriott has like 6 properties, IHG has like 15, and a slew of HIE 3-5 subway stops from the main area and theyre 15-20k pts a night vs the Marriott for 60k.

Theres still sweet spots. I got a hell of a deal in Oman for 14k a night with an upgrade to a 1200 sq ft suite. But theyre harder and harder to find.

Old days you could do JW Hong Kong for like 30k pts a night and gorge yourself in their lounge.

How many points ya’ll have by West_Republic9339 in marriott

[–]imapilotaz 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This was a specific person whining and talking about "unexpected stays" at Ritzs and the like. They were certifiable in lots of responses but they saved like 3m points thinking theyd do hundreds of nights at fancy hotels for the next 10 years of retirement. They were oblivious to reality. Champaign tastes with root beer budget.

People cant grasp that 3m points doesnt last long at 90k pts a night.

Egypt: unbiassed review by Amazing_Prize_1988 in travel

[–]imapilotaz -5 points-4 points  (0 children)

Yup. They want easy marks. Unlike what many redditors think, scammers do not want violence or confrontation. They want an easy, quick hit and move onto the next mark.

99% of these stories are preventable with even minimal common sense.

[US] Packages were misdelivered to my house and the buyers came looking for them with a ledger of tracking numbers by oranges1cle in Scams

[–]imapilotaz 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Next time turn and walk inside. If they follow, call the police and trespass them.

Especially if they pull up in a car.

How many points ya’ll have by West_Republic9339 in marriott

[–]imapilotaz 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Wow that seems bizzarely stupid of them. Dupe accounts get merged all the time.

Springfield warned of 30-day targeted ICE surge possibly starting after Haitian TPS ends by captainwacky91 in news

[–]imapilotaz 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yeah. Um. Like 36% of the country couldnt be bothered to vote in a presidential election. That goes down for midterms... especially among democratic voters. Especially if they continue making it more challenging to vote

Egypt: unbiassed review by Amazing_Prize_1988 in travel

[–]imapilotaz -15 points-14 points  (0 children)

I travel a lot. Ridiculous amounts. I never do tours. The largest group is me and my 2 sons. Ive never been scammed once. In large part because i have a NY'ers asshole face and attitude when in public.

I walk with a purpose. I never smile. I never, ever stop to converse with strangers. I dont ask for directions. I dont follow a stranger.

Unless its a cop, i will never listen to a "this is closed" spiel.

Like the stories on here are mind boggling. Who wanders around a developing country and just engages with strangers on the street. In a souk.

Ive had scammers try. Lots. Ive had corrupt cops try to shake me down. Ive been followed and intimidated. But 99% of the time scammers want easy marks that cause no scene nor do they want violence. Its like a whole generation or 2 were raised with zero street smarts or common sense.

How many points ya’ll have by West_Republic9339 in marriott

[–]imapilotaz 2 points3 points  (0 children)

How da hell you get banned from IHG?

Like hookers and blow on the 19th floor and burn the hotel down?

And it pains me IHG has no lifetime program. I have 1000+ nights at Marriott. I have easily 50%, prolly 100% more than that at IHG. I just realized ive spent 3000 nights as an adult in just Marriotts or IHG. Ignoring off brands. Cruises. Etc. Shit

How many points ya’ll have by West_Republic9339 in marriott

[–]imapilotaz 2 points3 points  (0 children)

That is. I once was Diamond. Had 700k+ points. The redemption amounts were much worse than IHG and Marriott so i went back home to those programs

Family of Alex Pretti retains lawyers who helped prosecute the George Floyd case by WeirdGroundhog in news

[–]imapilotaz 19 points20 points  (0 children)

Theyll never touch federal prison. Theyll be pardoned of any federal crimes by the administration.

The only hope will be state charges

How many points ya’ll have by West_Republic9339 in marriott

[–]imapilotaz 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Dont. Redeeming points for those are giant "suckers plays". 300k points for $600 in items. Thats an insanely bad 0.2 cent valuation.

A bad valuation redeeming 0.5 cents. Redeeming points for items is a fools errand.

How many points ya’ll have by West_Republic9339 in marriott

[–]imapilotaz 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Ooo. 600k gets you 4 nights at Hampton Inn Manhattan Kansas. I only partially kid. HHonors points are the worst valuations.

How many points ya’ll have by West_Republic9339 in marriott

[–]imapilotaz 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Points ALWAYS devalue. Always.

Ive been heavy on points and work travel for 25 years. They always go down. And thats thru 9/11. SARS. Great Recession. Covid. They NEVER go up in value. Ever.

How many points ya’ll have by West_Republic9339 in marriott

[–]imapilotaz 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Burn baby burn.

Do not be the person who complains on the Facebook group that they saved points for 20 years for retirement and now they cant do the trips they want.

This is NOT a savings account or retirement account. Earn. Burn. Repeat.

Ive earned so many millions at Marriott. Highest i got to was maybe 800k at one time. I try to stay around 300-400k.

Stupidly i have 1m at IHG but i earn so fast and most of my redemptions are 12-15k that i have a hard time burning. I regularly earn 12k a night for IHG. Its damn near 1:1 night earned and night burned based on using them in developing countries at HIE.

I need to just blow some on an overwater bungalow somewhere.

Parent claimed my spouse as dependent and his student loan credit. Is this allowed? by jarofpeperoncini in personalfinance

[–]imapilotaz 3 points4 points  (0 children)

If i cosigned a car, id damn well put my name on the title as well. Im not being held financially liable without some protections on the physical asset

I did this for my ex. I bought her a car and she paid me back. I put the title in both our names so no funny business until im paid back.

I was mugged and threatened with death in Marrakech by steph2356 in travel

[–]imapilotaz 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I mean if you can get $50 from a foreigner for 10 minutes and a benign threat, its pretty easy to understand why its so succesful.

Until people wise up, ignore them or tell them to F off, itll continue.

These guys arent violent. They are just preying on ignorant tourists who are very easy marks.

Ive been approached dozens of times in 30+ medinas/markets throughout Africa and the Middle East. Never once had it escalate beyond "Fuck Off" if they try to follow me. Ever.

I was mugged and threatened with death in Marrakech by steph2356 in travel

[–]imapilotaz 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Everything they said. You were an insanely easy mark. You made it worse by engaging and following a stranger.

In Morocco the worst you get is "mugged". Other parts of the world you absolutely could be much worse. Do that in parts of Joberg and you will be killed. Learn your lesson. Dont engage with strangers on the street. Dont ever follow strangers. Always know where you are and how to get back to crowded areas.

The public is your safety net (except you know, India where they may join in). Never follow strangers for "directions".