Is 2014 The Deadliest Year For Flights?

July was not a good month for the aviation industry. In one week, there was three crashes of airplanes with hundreds of casualties. Of course, people have started to question the safety of airlines. I think people questioning airline safety is good.

One question that has come up is if 2014 is on track to be the Deadliest Year for Flights?

CNN and the Airline Safety Network have the answer: not even close. According to their analysis, 1972 was the worst year for airline casualties (2429) with 1985 being a close second with 2331 casualties.

 
With 761 casualties this year, 2014 is not even close to the deadliest. Last year, "264 people were killed in flight incidents - the safest year in aviation since 1945"was

How about the most crashes? Again, 2014 doesn't even rank in the top 10.

With 55 crashes each, 1948 and 1972 have the most crashes. As of the end of July, there has been less than 20 crashes this year.

Personally, I feel airline travel has become much more safer. Recently, a family member asked me if I am sacred to fly. My response was no. I come from the belief system that if something is going to happen to me, I can't stop it.

I am going to live my life regardless of what happens....

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------                                                      Follow us on Twitter @doit4thepoints!

I Am Stuck On Hilton

I have been stuck on Hilton Hotels, as of late. Hilton, Hilton, Hilton! All I think about is Hilton!

I don't know why? But, I am kinda excited about the Hilton brand. Even after their devaluation last year, Hilton is still one of my favorite hotel brands. My fascinations could be a multitude of reasons:

First, I have an upcoming stay at the Stamford Hilton Conference center. I stayed here last February and had a great stay.

The stay in Stamford is going to earn me 7,000+ points due to Hilton's Quarter 1 Promotion, Hilton HHonors Weekend. This quarter's promotion offers you 1,000 points per Thursday-Sunday night stayed at a Hilton. If you stay two consecutive weekend nights, you earn an additional 5,000 Points.

To register for the program, go here.

On top of all that, I was approved for Citi Hilton Reserve Card.

The main benefit of this card is 2 free nights at a Hilton after spending $2,500. However, the benefit I am going after is Diamond Status after spending $40,000 in a calender year. $40,000 is alot of money to spend in a calender year, but I think its doable. Diamond status offers the following benefits:

2014 may be the year of Hilton for me.

Am I crazy to spend some much time with Hilton this year?

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Follow us on Twitter @doit4thepoints! Have a question for me? E-mail me at jdteitelman@gmail.com

2013: A Look Back

Overall, 2013 was a great year. It was filled with tons of travel, earning lots of points/miles and Do It For The Points turning 1.

Even though I had a great year, I wanted 2013 to end. Staring at the beginning of November, I had this strange desire for 2013 to end. No real reason for this desire, but just this urge to start 2014.

Before closing out 2013, I have one last things to do. Its time to look back on what I accomplished in 2013. I know people don't like these posts, because its people bragging about what they did. However, this post isn't for you. Its for me. Frequently, I write that this blog is a journal for the future. So future JD, here is what you did in 2013:

In 2013, you wrote here that your travel goals for the year were as followed:

1) Visit either South America or Australia in Business Class 

2) Revisit Europe or Africa (in any class)

3) Try at least 1 new airline

4) Visit one state, in the USA, that I have never been to

5) Do one thing I haven't done in Washington, DC each month and report back

6) 600,000 miles/points earned

7) Create and stay within a travel budget


How did I do, not to well:


1) Visited South America With Mom - Win!

2) Revisit Europe or Africa (in any class) - Fail!

3) Try One New Airline - Fail!

4) Visit One State, in the USA, that I have never been to - Texas & Colorado - Win!

5) Do 1 Thing I haven't done in DC each month - Fail!

6) Earn 600,000 Points or Miles - Smashed it ~ 865,000, this year

7) Create and stay within a travel budget - utter fail!


Accomplishing 3 out of 7 goals isn't a great record. However, I believe I accomplished much more than the my goals show. For one, I boarded an  airplane each month of 2013 and flew just under 40,000 miles. Not a huge number compared to other frequent flyers, but I paid for each of those flights with my own money or points/miles.

Another major accomplishment was taking my mom to Buenos Aires. This was her first trip outside of the United States and her first time in Business Class. She had an amazing trip. My favorite moment was when my mom said, "I have never stayed in a hotel that gives you bathrobes." That one little statement made me smile and knew the trip was well worth it.

Finally, 2013 was a full year of blogging. Never though I could write this much and so often. The strange thing is that I love doing this. I don't know if I have a niche yet or even a voice people want to hear. However, if you are still reading this, then you must find me either interesting or feel bead for me.

Time to close 2013 and move on to 2014....

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                           Follow me on Twitter @doit4thepoints!

Morocco to Levy Tourist Tax on Flights

Morocco World News is reporting that the North African country of Morocco is planning on levying a tax on flights from the country.

   

"Parliament approved on Wednesday the plan for an aviation tax, which will come into force on April 1," stated the Tourism Minister Lahcen Haddad. 

Those flying in first class flights will be taxed 400 dirhams ($48). Flying in the back of the plane, ie economy seats, will incur a 100 dirhams ($12) charge. The government expects to raise around "$121 million a year initially, half of which is expected to fund the activities of the Moroccan national tourist office, with the rest to go to a social development fund." 10 million tourist visited Morocco last year.

Tourism taxes are the easiest way to raise money with a country, state or municipality. Why? They can't hurt the politicians that put them in place. The lay people that elected these politicians aren't really effected by the new taxes. Unlike an income or sales tax, a tourism tax effects citizens sporadically. If the tax is not to big, most tourist won't notice it. Their desire to visit the location overrides any tax or fee that might need to be paid to visit. Tourism taxes are a great revenue booster.

Well played, Morocco!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Follow us on Twitter @doit4thepoints! Have a question for me? E-mail me at jd@doitforthepoints.com

Live Like A Local: Opera In The Outfield

One of the tricks I use to stretch my budget on vacation is to seek out free activities. Almost every city has them from concerts and festivals to museums and walking tour. The hard part is finding what a city has to offer for free. One of the first places I look before traveling is the cities' local newspapers' website. Typically, newspapers allow groups to post free events in the lifestyle section. If I find nothing prior to arriving in a city, I immediately search out a small community paper as they always know whats doing within the city.

In Washington, DC, the Washington Post's entertainment section is a great starting place particularly the Going Out Guide. Similarly, the Thursday edition of the Express always has a great section about what is happening that next upcoming weekend. It was Thursday's Express newspaper that brought to my attention the 5th Annual Opera In the Outfield was occurring on Saturday night.

Opera In the Outfield is a collaboration between the Washington Nationals Baseball team and the John F. Kennedy center to simulcast a performance occurring at the Kennedy Center to an audience at National's Stadium. This year's performance was "Show Boat." The event was free and first come, first seated.

Gates opened at 5 pm for a 7 pm show. To get the best seats in the outfield, one needed to get to the stadium early. If you plan on sitting out on the field, bring a few blankets, as no chairs are allowed. However, it rained all day Saturday, so the "best seats" weren't really wanted:

Many people choose to sit in the stands under the overhang, in case of more rain.

The experience was surreal:

2012's show had 12,000 people attend. Last night's was closer to 1,000 most likely due to the cold weather and rain. Those who did not attend missed a great show!

During the bow, all the performers came out with National baseball caps, a nice nod to those of us watching from the stadium. 

It was a very cool experience. Where else can you watch opera, drink a beer and eat chili cheese fries:

I hope you can join us in May 2014 for The Magic Flute!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Follow us on Twitter @doit4thepoints!

 Have a question for us? E-mail us at chris@doitforthepoints.com or jd@doitforthepoints.com