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Anyone have any recommendations on a reasonably priced place to park within walking distance of Rockefeller Center? Parking right there tends to be very expensive, but I don't know Mid-town well enough to know places that are cheaper.
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May 1, 2014 02:39
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FrozenVent posted:My Nexus interview took up like half an hour, mostly because I spent twenty-five minutes shooting the poo poo with the CBP agent about custom clearance procedure for cruise ships and fishing boats, and the comparative experiences of getting searched by German, American, Russian and Canadian customs. It was a slow day. There is a tiny dock where a ferry docks after coming across Lake St. Clair from Canada, and there is a solitary customs official who sits in this shack waiting for it to arrive. Its funny to drive by it cause you can't look at it without comparing it to the airport holding areas.
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May 1, 2014 03:07
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Good to know about national. Thanks everyone. I had a hot streak with both where I got a mercedes and a bmw as an upgrade but generally it's been pretty meh. I should match status and see how it works.
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May 1, 2014 03:33
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Uncle Jam posted:There is a tiny dock where a ferry docks after coming across Lake St. Clair from Canada, and there is a solitary customs official who sits in this shack waiting for it to arrive. Its funny to drive by it cause you can't look at it without comparing it to the airport holding areas. My favorite custom office was the guy in Ohio who wouldn't come on the ship because he deemed the gangway unsafe, so he had all 25 crewmembers come off the ship (Using the same gangway that was so unsafe) to go up to his car window and get checked. In the rain. Back on topic, if you travel more than five times a year and don't have Global Entry / Nexus / Pre-Check you're doing it wrong.
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May 1, 2014 03:37
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I never got Pre-Check despite being extremely eligible due to some sort of mystery reasons that the government has not been able to explain to me. It's definitely not a similar name on the no-fly list; my name is extremely unique. This is why I'm doing the Global Entry application process.
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May 1, 2014 13:28
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sellouts posted:Good to know about national. Thanks everyone. I have an AMEX Platinum and I think that's how I instantly got Executive, check this out: https://www.nationalcar.com/index.do?action=/genericPageTemplate&page=zl-amex-platinum-emeraldclub
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May 1, 2014 14:20
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KYOON GRIFFEY JR posted:I never got Pre-Check despite being extremely eligible due to some sort of mystery reasons that the government has not been able to explain to me. It's definitely not a similar name on the no-fly list; my name is extremely unique. This is why I'm doing the Global Entry application process. I'm in the same boat. I think either because I have some gaps in my housing record or because I subscribed to some revolutionary socialist magazines during college. If it were the latter, I'd expect to be straight-up on the no-fly list though.
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May 1, 2014 14:57
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Shbobdb posted:I'm in the same boat. I think either because I have some gaps in my housing record or because I subscribed to some revolutionary socialist magazines during college. If it were the latter, I'd expect to be straight-up on the no-fly list though. I also think it is due to housing record issues.
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May 1, 2014 15:09
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KYOON GRIFFEY JR posted:National Emerald Exec is nice. I have had, in recent history, a couple Chargers, a Camaro, a couple Volvo S60s, a Chrysler 300, a couple Buicks of various sizes and a brand-new Impala. I was very impressed with the Impala. Best big American interior by far. Plus, you can pick what you want. I get a disgustingly good rate through a Penn State alumi association code that I swiped off of someone - $35/day for a midsize. I have a hint, if you are silly enough to mention you may travel internationally for work, have a really good justification for why you are the ONLY PERSON in the entire world who can do what you do and why someone in country X can't. I got in to a bit of an argument because I had a "do you know who I am, I am the best in the world at this thing" sort of moment with the officer there and it wasn't clicking and I almost got arrested.  My point is, it is much easier to say you travel a lot for leisure and don't be a dick like me.
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May 1, 2014 15:30
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Ynglaur posted:Anyone have any recommendations on a reasonably priced place to park within walking distance of Rockefeller Center? Parking right there tends to be very expensive, but I don't know Mid-town well enough to know places that are cheaper. http://nyc.bestparking.com All of them are pretty much the same and are run by ICON or something similar. You drop it off and the valet parks it. Prices change daily but you can find some good ones for about $20.
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May 1, 2014 15:33
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Belldandy posted:I have a hint, if you are silly enough to mention you may travel internationally for work, have a really good justification for why you are the ONLY PERSON in the entire world who can do what you do and why someone in country X can't. I got in to a bit of an argument because I had a "do you know who I am, I am the best in the world at this thing" sort of moment with the officer there and it wasn't clicking and I almost got arrested. Wait, why do they care about that? Isn't the program intended for frequent business travel?
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May 1, 2014 15:52
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KYOON GRIFFEY JR posted:Wait, why do they care about that? Isn't the program intended for frequent business travel? Some countries, especially Canada and Brazil, are very protective of their workforce and don't want Americans going in to do a job that a citizen could do. It's really strange, I mentioned I visited a friend frequently in Brazil and all they asked was her name and moved on, the questions came when I mentioned business. I don't think you should lie and exclude it, but have a really good reason as to why you are the guy who has to travel.
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May 1, 2014 15:58
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Someday I'll get to travel internationally and things like that will matter to me. At least Delta is slowly upgrading service at my home airport to CRJ700/900s from the CRJ200s they've been using ever since I started flying.
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May 1, 2014 16:10
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Belldandy posted:Some countries, especially Canada and Brazil, are very protective of their workforce and don't want Americans going in to do a job that a citizen could do. It's really strange, I mentioned I visited a friend frequently in Brazil and all they asked was her name and moved on, the questions came when I mentioned business. I don't think you should lie and exclude it, but have a really good reason as to why you are the guy who has to travel. Good to know. Thanks!
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May 1, 2014 18:28
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FrozenVent posted:Back on topic, if you travel more than five times a year and don't have Global Entry / Nexus / Pre-Check you're doing it wrong.
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May 1, 2014 18:39
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Keep going back every few days to change your appointment, eventually something closer will open. My first appointment was six months out, then four, then three, then next month, then the week after. So maybe a month and a half after I got the "please schedule an appointment" notice.
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May 1, 2014 18:41
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It depends on where you are going in Canada. Vancouver? They don't care. Ottawa, oh yeah. They care. They really really care. Edmonton has been a bit of a mixed bag for me, it depends on whether I've got an Albertan nationalist on my hands. I haven't worked much with Montreal but they seem to be more on the Vancouver "who gives a poo poo?" end of the spectrum based on my co-worker's experience. Brazil is a loving nightmare though.
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May 1, 2014 23:53
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Shbobdb posted:It depends on where you are going in Canada. Vancouver? They don't care. Ottawa, oh yeah. They care. They really really care. I'm not sure what you mean, but I've flown in and out of Ottawa dozens of time (Heading to the US and to other places in Canada) and they're pretty laid back. Except the CBP guys when you're flying to the US, they're bored as gently caress and have too much time on their hand.
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May 2, 2014 00:38
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Just my experience going there to repair machines. One time, because we were doing a favor for another company we have an on-going relationship with so I didn't have the appropriate papers, I ended up spending the night in the Airport and flying back to the US the next day. The guy in the cell with me discovered that masturbation was a fantastic way to pass the time. Surprisingly, it was actually less fun than it sounds.
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May 2, 2014 10:46
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Shbobdb posted:Just my experience going there to repair machines. One time, because we were doing a favor for another company we have an on-going relationship with so I didn't have the appropriate papers, I ended up spending the night in the Airport and flying back to the US the next day. The guy in the cell with me discovered that masturbation was a fantastic way to pass the time. Surprisingly, it was actually less fun than it sounds. I go to Canada for the same reason, and we always get the Canadian office of our company to write an invitation letter specifically for us. One of the immigration guys still hassled me so I pulled it out and explained that no, there are literally no Canadian workers that can do what I do 
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May 2, 2014 13:33
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Shbobdb posted:It depends on where you are going in Canada. Vancouver? They don't care. Ottawa, oh yeah. They care. They really really care. Edmonton has been a bit of a mixed bag for me, it depends on whether I've got an Albertan nationalist on my hands. I haven't worked much with Montreal but they seem to be more on the Vancouver "who gives a poo poo?" end of the spectrum based on my co-worker's experience. I went to Vancouver weekly to do on-site implementation for a software product my company sold. After about three or four trips (this was while my NEXUS background check was in process) and them seeing weekly stamps in my passport they started giving me a bit of hassle. I was always arriving at YVR in early afternoon at the same time as about four or five 747-loads of people from various points in Asia, making the customs line often 1.5-2 hours deep, so that added to the frustration. The phrasing I used was extremely important in order to make it all go smoothly, and on one trip the CBSA agent stopped being a dick long enough to explain this to me. I had to specifically make it clear up front the client purchased the product from us, and I was providing implementation services pursuant to the sale contract. Under NAFTA you do not need a work visa for service after the sale. I made sure to get a letter from my company's Toronto office (where the rest of my project team was based out of) stating specifically the name of the client and the services to be rendered. After six weeks or so of this my NEXUS pass cleared and everything was right with the world.
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May 2, 2014 14:29
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Ynglaur posted:Easy to say until you realize the closest place for an interview is an 8-hour drive (I'm looking at you, Rochester, NY). The wait times in the port of entry I've used (Toronto) are typically 6-8 months. Lax was so full that my wife couldn't schedule an appt. I emailed CBP, I forget where I found the email, they said to keep trying but magically a new month had opened. Got a spot, then a day later a spot opened for the next day. She went from unable to get an appt to completed interview in less than a week.
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May 2, 2014 16:33
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Switched from Hertz to National Em Exec today, we'll see how it goes.
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May 3, 2014 05:34
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I just had a strange experience at MSP. When I came out of the gate from my connecting flight there was a guy dressed in a suit with two names on a clipboard, looked kind of like a limo driver. My name was one of them. So I say go up to him and say hi. He says he's part of their Delta360 team and he's there to give me and the other guy a ride to the Skyclub. Now, I don't have a Skyclub membership nor am I a part of Delta360, and I'm on a domestic itinerary so I wasn't getting access via Skyteam eliteplus. But I figure I'll follow along and see where this takes me, figuring maybe they were throwing me a bone since I occasionally pay for the a day pass if I have a long layover and my company does a shitload of business with Delta. But nope, he drives us to the Skyclub, says his goodbyes, and drives off. So I just kind of wandered in and when the desk agents didn't respond I just went back out of the entrance and off to my gate. I'm wondering if there was another person on the flight with my last name who is really disappointed right now.
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May 4, 2014 23:53
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Belldandy posted:Some countries, especially Canada and Brazil, are very protective of their workforce and don't want Americans going in to do a job that a citizen could do. It's really strange, I mentioned I visited a friend frequently in Brazil and all they asked was her name and moved on, the questions came when I mentioned business. I don't think you should lie and exclude it, but have a really good reason as to why you are the guy who has to travel. I said I traveled to a lot of programming conferences; kinda business, necessarily international (just got back from speaking at one in Brazil), and it passes muster for a tourist visa (not receiving payment or compensation from local entities). US -> Brazil customs at GRU (São Paulo Guarulhos) sucks, took about ninety minutes in a hot sweaty room. Brazil -> US customs with Global Entry at ATL owns, would have been in and out in five minutes if my bag had been priority tagged, could have snuck upstairs like I was leaving the airport to pre-check back in, and the F-concourse Sky Club has showers.
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May 5, 2014 04:06
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What is your guys favorite hotel rewards program? I've currently been using Holiday Inn, but it takes forever to get free nights.
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May 5, 2014 11:29
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The Sock posted:What is your guys favorite hotel rewards program? I've currently been using Holiday Inn, but it takes forever to get free nights. The Sock posted:What is your guys favorite hotel rewards program? I've currently been using Holiday Inn, but it takes forever to get free nights. I'm a big fan of Marriott, mostly because I'm able to earn free nights very quickly. With three young children, my points tend to be used for the more family-friendly Residence Inns rather tha the higher end properties. Their points store was decent a few years ago as well, though recently we've mostly used the Amex store for gift cards and the like.
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May 5, 2014 16:41
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Ynglaur posted:I'm a big fan of Marriott, mostly because I'm able to earn free nights very quickly. With three young children, my points tend to be used for the more family-friendly Residence Inns rather tha the higher end properties. I've stayed over 200 nights in Marriotts, and I have to say the rewards program is not very good. There is almost never any good availability for redemptions, and when there is availability, the cash price is so low that you're getting like 0.5 cents per point. Best use of points by far is the flight + hotel package with United. Additionally, room upgrades almost never happen - even at the platinum level. It also takes forever to hit gold compared to other programs. Go with Starwood if you can, but really your choice of hotel is more dictated by who services where you need to be.
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May 5, 2014 18:46
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Pissingintowind posted:Go with Starwood if you can, but really your choice of hotel is more dictated by who services where you need to be.
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May 5, 2014 19:20
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The Sock posted:What is your guys favorite hotel rewards program? I've currently been using Holiday Inn, but it takes forever to get free nights. Hyatt has the best program out there, I think, but they also have the fewest properties. I roll with SPG as they tend to have properties most of the places I go and it's just under Hyatt in terms of value. Then Marriott, then Hilton, then the rest, and it quickly falls down after Marriott.
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May 5, 2014 20:00
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I personally found Hyatt worthless. Blackout dates months on advance, and 6 months in Chicago staying weekly got me exactly two free nights in New York.
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May 5, 2014 20:27
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I wish I was able to use National for our rentals. We are doing our long term rentals through Budget (Mini-Leases) and their service leaves a lot to be desired. And of course people have been abusing upgrades so our company disallowed Budget to give us anything besides what is exactly written on our reservations. Damnit! On the plus side, I just crossed 35k flight miles this year! Might still end up getting Platinum on United after all. Especially if I get that business trip to Switzerland later in the year.
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May 7, 2014 16:39
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I went with Hilton because they are the least Union unfriendly of the big chains. But if I had a time machine, I'd go back and tell myself to go with Starwood. Go with Starwood.
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May 7, 2014 17:46
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The Sock posted:What is your guys favorite hotel rewards program? I've currently been using Holiday Inn, but it takes forever to get free nights. Here's a chart from last year: http://s617.photobucket.com/user/viewfromthewing/media/RewardNightComparison_zps1d41dfec.jpg.html
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May 7, 2014 21:21
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Small White Dragon posted:Is free nights what you're primarily interested in? Rehosted it since it seemed handy to be inline  That doesn't make the Hilton devaluation look as bad as I'd thought. Though that is just base points and quarterly promos can greatly impact how many points you actually earn.
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May 7, 2014 22:07
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Also, see if they have some kind of fast track program for status. I was able to get Hilton gold within the first three months of road warrioring.
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May 8, 2014 00:21
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I wonder which program is best if you don't care about the actual hotel points? I usually end up transferring or crediting mine elsewhere.taco show posted:Also, see if they have some kind of fast track program for status. I was able to get Hilton gold within the first three months of road warrioring. Small White Dragon fucked around with this message at 00:37 on May 8, 2014 |
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May 8, 2014 00:32
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Small White Dragon posted:I wonder which program is best if you don't care about the actual hotel points? I usually end up transferring or crediting mine elsewhere. SPG has the best conversion ratio, but its usually not a great idea to transfer hotel to airline points http://thepointsguy.com/2013/07/maximize-monday-transferring-hotel-points-to-airline-miles/
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May 8, 2014 00:40
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Kinfolk Jones posted:I wish I was able to use National for our rentals. We are doing our long term rentals through Budget (Mini-Leases) and their service leaves a lot to be desired. And of course people have been abusing upgrades so our company disallowed Budget to give us anything besides what is exactly written on our reservations. Damnit! How does the use of free upgrades cause issues with the company?  Also, congrats on (maybe) hitting plat. I got a call on Monday asking me to be in PEK in 12 days, so I just locked up 1K for the first time. 
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May 8, 2014 00:46
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Small White Dragon posted:You can get Hilton Gold with a credit card these days. But not with a no fee card. It's either $75 for the Citi version or $95 for the Am Ex version. Which can make sense purely for Gold if you're planning on taking a single long vacation and staying at a Hilton property. I don't get why they're giving away their second highest status level for so cheap. Thoguh fucked around with this message at 01:27 on May 8, 2014 |
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May 8, 2014 01:22
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