mike carey

I should have commented on this at the same time as I made my previous comment. I also think it's a great card even though it is far less generous here in the number of points you get than the US version. The other benefits are comparable. I have an airline visa card for places that don't accept Amex, and it returns roughly the same number of miles per dollar spent as Amex MR points would yield. Qantas has some useful (although I wouldn't say 'valuable') benefits from certain levels of ground-based earning (including from MR transfers) so I'm not strict in using Amex when I can rather than the visa card. There are lots of detailed consideration you can give to which cards, airlines and FF programs you use (and it can become a hobby [or an obsession]), so do that if you want, or just work out a plan that works for you and stick to it.

I've been a premium member on and off for a couple of years (I don't have it set to auto-renew and there's usually a few days or weeks between my periods of membership). It only costs me $AU49.95 for six months, well worth it for the reasons others have enumerated.

Moderator's Note: Please keep the discussion here about the effects the war might have on your business, or on Rentmen, not on the progress of, or factors affecting the war itself.

This is a case where YMMV is literally true. Using MR points to pay for tickets is an option. If you are close to the line of qualifying for elite status at any particular level and won't otherwise qualify it makes sense regardless of the economics. If those loyalty points won't make an appreciable difference (say, you have no prospect of qualifying that year, or you have already done so), then you should compare the number of points it takes to buy a ticket directly, with the number you need to transfer to claim an award ticket. (My recent experience is that using MR points directly is significantly more expensive than transferring, but it's been a moot point as I've had enough FF points not to need to transfer any. If I've needed airline loyalty points [or there have been attractive offers of bonus loyalty points, as I had recently] I've tended to pay cash. YMMV!) So, by all means consider paying directly with MR points, but consider your other options.

The thing you are 'doing wrong', and it's not you, it's RM, is that you live in the US (assumption on my part). Text comments on RM reviews are not visible there (reviewers don't always write one, BTW). Short of moving to Canada, you need to use a VPN or a proxy server so you can log on as if you were in another country. I can't recall an address to use (I'm in Australia and don't need to use one), but there are some that are simple to use. I'm sure others will chime in.

Magpies have outwitted scientists by helping each other remove tracking devices: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-02-22/magpies-show-cooperative-behaviour-by-removing-tracking-device/100851458

I guess that means he has a salad with his steak once every three months or so. Whether he needs it or not.

Yep, here it's 22/02/2022 which, if you leave the /s out is a palindrome!

I can understand your concern as it appears to be a new thing, but in reality it's an established practice being applied to a new disease. Children receive a raft of vaccinations some having up to three shots in the course. Most of them are long lasting but boosters for some, like pertussis, are recommended in later life if you're going to be around children too young to be vaccinated. When I travelled in tropical countries cholera and typhoid vaccinations were required on a cycle (every three years IIRC) as their effectiveness was known to wane. And back in prehistoric times, regular smallpox inoculations were needed. Also, if you don't have an up-to-date tetanus vaccination, you're dicing with death. (Which reminds me, I don't.) Long story short, the understanding of the efficacy and duration of effectiveness of vaccines develops over time. As it does, regimens for boosters or revaccination are established. I'll be paying attention to what is recommended and getting those jabs. And checking which others I hadn't been paying attention to.

I remember seeing a version of this question with LinkedIn being listed just after 'climb in through my bedroom window'.

If it wasn't clear I was alluding to the forum weekend, and by 'short flight' I meant coming in from Seattle, New York or Washington, or wherever. 'Short' is a relative concept, so for me those trips are 'short'!

You're welcome. Brussels is a place I haven't been for years, it's good to be reminded of travel destinations. Moderator note: perhaps you guys can take this offline so as not to divert this thread.

I was going to say welcome to the forum, but you've been here for a year!

First port of call is always your mobile service provider, they will have options (as references above to AT&T attest). They may have more than one way to do it, so you need to research. I'm in a different country so my experience is not directly relevant, but my provider offers add-ons for up to seven days for data, voice and text, or both that don't use my plan credits. On some of their plans they offer a roaming fee (like the AT&T plan) that uses your home credits. They also have (very high) default call and data charges if you don't set something up. YMMV. Buying a local SIM is always an option, but you need to weigh the disadvantages of not being on your usual number: you won't receive incoming calls, and if you call people in your life they won't know it's you. (Your WhatsApp will continue to work regardless.) You can minimise your use of your plan credits by using WiFi (including for regular calls and texts if your phone can be set up to do that, or if it does so automatically). That is less important, or even irrelevant, if your roaming deal is a flat daily fee, but important if you're charged by the amount of usage. There is always the option of calling (or checking the web page of) your provider, asking what their option is and saying, 'That sounds fine'.

Moderator's Note: This thread is about one pastor's journey from an adult industry career to his current calling. Comments on the issues that arise from that are fine, but a more general discussion of Religion does not belong in the Lounge. Members are welcome to start, or continue, conversations about Religion in the Political Issues Forum.

Here too. Does it give you Avis and Hertz status as well?

Good points raised by Benjamin and also @Pensanton the benefits offered by the Amex Platinum card (what I get in Australia is different so I didn't know for sure what they were in the US). Also @tassojunioron the different value of hotel program points, and some travel redemption ideas. (On hotels, if one program's points are worth twice another's, make sure you aren't getting just half as many for each dollar spent.) Bear in mind that a hotel or airline card will credit all your points to their loyalty program, but you will receive a set of benefits at that hotel or airline. Make sure what they offer is what you need, and that you're happy with how that limits how you can redeem them. Chase, and others like Capital One, and Amex offer benefits that aren't brand specific and allow you to transfer your points to other programs. The travel cards have flagship cards (like Amex Platinum) but they also have a range of cards with lower and sometime zero fees (and lesser benefits) that work the same way. You can pick the level at which you enter, and move to a higher (or lower) price point later if you need to. You may find it's worthwhile to have both types of cards, but only you know if you have the discipline to use each for the purposes for which they are best suited.

Oh, he is! Twenty-six and some months. It's right there at the top of his ad.

I've only just recovered from had my first booster, so not something I've had to consider yet. I'm not sure what the protocols are here for fourth and subsequent shots. It may well not be possible to have a fourth. I won't mention taking the one after that.

From what I've seen RM profiles continue if an escort changes his profile name without leaving the site. You see this if you buddy list someone and they change their name, they are still in your buddy list. So, reviews would probably remain if they change their handle.

Not at the standard retail outlet, although there used to be some that they did (more common with ointments than drugs taken by mouth). There are businesses called 'compounding chemists' that do that.

I hope only the bed deflated.

A minor point of clarification, these flights are on Air Tahiti Nui (TN) not Air Tahiti (VT), which is the domestic carrier in French Polynesia.

Are you talking about their B787 or former A340 J class (I haven't flown with them at all)? Air Tahiti Nui have stopped flying to Sydney but they codeshare with QF across the ditch and I've seen them on QF searches SYD-LAX.