This is an addendum to what I posted here in this FlyerTalk “blog”…

Tonight, I edited The Definitive “How To Earn Delta Air Lines SkyMiles” Thread, which is linked from within the PLEASE READ FIRST: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Anything To Do With Delta thread, to update the information in it.

While editing it, I found out that some changes have quietly occurred.

For example, many properties in the Marriott brand family that used to award 3 Delta Air Lines SkyMiles per US$1.00 spent on qualifying charges now only award 2 Delta Air Lines SkyMiles per US$1.00 spent on qualifying charges.

On the other hand, all Hilton properties now have the option of earning 1 Delta Air Lines SkyMile per eligible US$1.00 spent in addition to 500 Delta Air Lines SkyMiles per qualifying stay, which was the only option previously.

There have been subtle changes on which classes of airfares on many airline partners are eligible to earn Delta Air Lines SkyMiles — too numerous to mention here. While in many cases on a number of airline partners, an increasing number of airfares are no longer eligible to earn Delta Air Lines SkyMiles, there are some airlines partners that actually increased the number of airfares that are eligible to earn Delta Air Lines SkyMiles — albeit, most of the time, only one airfare class was added.

There are many other changes overall that are too numerous — and, quite frankly, rather miniscule — to even mention here. The point is that one should include a check of the “sticky” threads in addition to other sources of information to remain current with the numerous amount of changes that occur in a frequent traveler program that earns points or miles.

The NOT crossing the border thread is, at best, a borderline topic launched by MileageAddict, who is one of the original members of FlyerTalk.

Do you dare live on the edge and post in this thread?

If not, you can always read about fellow FlyerTalk members who were so close to entering another country or other jurisdiction but never actually set foot in it.

I personally do not recall an instance where I have been so close to a border but have not actually crossed it. I suppose that when I visited Iguazu Falls in Argentina, Paraguay would qualify, but it was not as though I was close enough to see it or walk to it. Of course, I could not resist crossing over into Brazil — but that is another story…

The topic of this thread is interesting enough that one should not be bored with the discussion, or get even bored-er if the discussion further ensues.

One question comes to mind: if one actually stepped into that adjacent jurisdiction but immediately stepped back out of it again, would that person become a Double-Crosser?

I would be line to you if I said that posting that question was unintentional…

You have just checked into a hotel in a strange city to which you have never been, far away from home.

You are hungry and seeking a restaurant in which to eat, but you currently do not feel adventurous in sampling the local cuisine. Somehow, stewed possum eyeballs sprinkled with braised roach legs topped with sauerkraut whipped cream does not whet your appetite tonight.

Despair starts to set in, until you recognize a familiar logo burning brightly off in the distance under the dark nighttime sky.

It is a chain restaurant!

But wait — is it any good?

Find out from your fellow FlyerTalk members using one of the following links to keep you from being chained to your decision:

Chain restaurants that are actually good

What is your favorite/least favorite chain restaurant?

Fast Food Chain You Absolutely Detest

Of course, McDonald’s is usually a good stand-by on which to fall back when all else fails. Oddly enough, it has been my personal experience that McDonald’s restaurants outside of the United States are typically far superior than their counterparts within the United States overall in terms of quality and service.

Find out more in the Mcdonalds around the world thread.

Bon appetit!

Do you have a question about what goes on behind the scenes during your hotel stay, such as how much to tip the housekeeper or whether or not comment cards are really read? What advice do you need for handling and resolving an adverse situation that you recently experienced at a hotel property?

There is room to check in to the Ask me a hotel question thread where your concierge, FlyerTalk member g_leyser, will be more than happy to address and respond to your questions and comments.

You may want to lobby some support for this FlyerTalk landmark from your fellow FlyerTalk members to check out this thread, as it may be key to unlocking some of the secrets pertaining to little-known hotel operations that may be revealed.

Although most FlyerTalk members have not yet personally experienced this for themselves as this “blog” entry is being posted, apparently if one rents a car from Avis from one of 25 major United States airports, one will receive a “smile pack” containing toothpaste, mouthwash and dental floss on the front seat of the car to which one is assigned upon arrival.

The trouble is that the toothpaste, mouthwash and dental floss are full-size packages, not travel size. So what does one do if one is only away for a day or two? Due to current increased security measures, one must either dispose of these items (well, except the dental floss, of course) or check them.

Will dentists start recommending that one rents a car from Avis for healthier teeth and fresh breath?

Will car rentals from Avis be officially approved by the American Dental Association?

Please check the Avis to provide us with toothpaste!! thread for further discussion.

Now what in the world would compel a potential passenger to commit such a foolish act as to falsely admit to a Transportation Security Administration agent that he was carrying a bomb instead of telling the truth and describing what he was really carrying?

In fact — what was he carrying? Additionally, what was the reason as to why he lied to the Transportation Security Administration agent?

You will not believe the details of this bizarre story — nor the response of fellow FlyerTalk members — when you read it in the Screen THIS thread…

Atlanta?!?

Yes, even though I reside in the Atlanta area, I will admit that unless one is into Civil Rights or Civil War, both in which Atlanta played a significant role, there really is not much to see and do in the Atlanta area.

However, FlyerTalk member flygirl555 already hosted one gathering of FlyerTalk members in the Atlanta area this past July and is getting ready to host another one: the ATL – “HOT”LANTA DO II – Sept 22-24 on the weekend of September 22 through 24, 2006.

While some potential sites to see on that weekend include the new Georgia Aquarium, which recently celebrated its 3,000,000th visitor despite being open for only approximately 9 months since its Grand Opening, the laser show on the side of Stone Mountain, which is followed by fireworks, and a tour of the historic Fox Theatre, the one I would recommend by far is the tour of the Delta Air Transport Heritage Museum — especially for FlyerTalk members who are interested in aviation history and aircraft. A quick outline of the Delta Museum is provided by me here.

Please read about my personal experience here, which includes a rare and unexpected tour of “Ship 41”, the first DC-3 to carry Delta passengers. This aircraft is not a replica — it is the real thing!!!

As a bonus, here are some pictures, courtesy of allen074 and flygirl555.

I took this picture, this picture and this picture of allen074 in the cockpit of a redesigned section of the hull of the first L-1011 ever built, housed in a part of what is now an 800-square-foot museum gift shop!

Come on down (or up) to Atlanta. “It ain’t just for changin’ planes no more!”

In this entry that I posted to this FlyerTalk “blog”, I wrote Now if FlyerTalk can also have a similar list for all other airlines outside of the United States…

A mere few hours later, FlyerTalk member Kiwi Flyer granted that request by posting the Definitive list of FFPs mileage expiry in the MilesBuzz! forum.

All I can say is thank you to Kiwi Flyer, who is an asset to FlyerTalk!

Now if only the rest of that request could be granted: a similar comprehensive list of expiration policies for the frequent guest programs of hotel chains worldwide and the frequent renter programs of car rental companies worldwide — if those do not already exist, that is…

Although FlyerTalk member Kiwi Flyer first mentioned this topic here in this FlyerTalk “blog”, please allow me to further elaborate on this topic, as well as specifically mention the new policy change pertaining to the expiration of Delta Air Lines SkyMiles.

All FlyerTalk member SealBeach did was ask a simple question:

“Is there a definitive and/or comprehensive list somewhere of the US carriers’ mileage expiration policies?”

Only two hours and one minute elapsed until a comprehensive but incomplete list of the mileage policies of many airlines based in the United States was graciously posted by FlyerTalk member choster.

Fourteen minutes after that, FlyerTalk member soitgoes amended the list with additional information.

How is that for service?

This thread not only epitomizes the MilesBuzz! forum where it resides, but also exemplifies the intended purpose of what FlyerTalk is all about, at its very core.

Read all about it in the Definitive List of US Carriers’ Mileage Expiration Policies? thread!

Now if FlyerTalk can also have a similar list for all other airlines outside of the United States, as well as a comprehensive list of expiration policies for the frequent guest programs of hotel chains worldwide and the frequent renter programs of car rental companies worldwide, that would be great — that is, if those threads do not already exist…
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