A very Merry Christmas to The MileLion Community!
Wherever in the world today finds you, I hope itโs in the company of friends and loved onesโ even better if youโve got a brand new Le Labo amenity kit in your possession, or several glasses of Cristal in your liver!
A few brief updates on whatโs happening on my side.
It recently dawned on me that April 2025 will mark The MileLionโs 10th year anniversary (I know, right?), so Iโll be slightly delaying my annual reflections to coincide with those festivities. One decade of blogging, 5,500 articles published, 70 million pageviews, and all it cost me was my majestic mane.
This time last year, I was getting ready to head to Bali with the family for the MileCubโs first-ever overseas trip. Since then weโve completed trips to Perth, Kuala Lumpur (twice) and Bali (again), becoming seasoned pros in the process. Yes, so long as we travel on short-haul flights within the same time zone with abundant caregiver support and absolutely nothing goes wrong, I am completely fearless!
But 2025 is the year that the MileCub turns two, which means the end of 10% tickets, and a big decision to make: burn precious miles on a Business Class seat for a child who wonโt be using it half the time, and whose alcohol tolerance is, shall we say, somewhat lacking? Or fly everyone in Economy Class and learn the true meaning of family togetherness?
Speaking of 2025, on the docket so far are Melbourne, Perth (but a different part of Perth โ who says Singaporeans are unadventurous?), Iceland, and Banff National Park. Thereโll be an opportunity to finally try Finnairโs AirLounge Business Class seat (I was about to call it โnewโ, but itโs already been in the market for three years now!), and Iโm still on the lookout for an opportunity to snag awards on JALโs new A350-1000.
On the hotel front, Iโve already penciled in The Standard Singapore, and might spring for the Banyan Tree Mandai if the rates arenโt insane. Speaking of insane rates, the Raffles Hotel Sentosa is also meant to open in early 2025, though I suspect the price wonโt be within the range of what Iโm willing to pay for a review. Perhaps the new-and-improved Grand Hyatt Singapore will be more palatable, when it completes its renovation with the reopening of the Grand Wing!
Iโm also going to be posting my annual Christmas wishlist for the miles and points game (which is surprisingly clairvoyant, based on how many 2023 wishes came true!), together with a recap of the biggest stories on The MileLion in 2024, and of course, my overall credit card strategy for 2025.
Finally, a reminder that thereโs still time left to join The MileLionโs Christmas Fundraiser, which this year is seeking to raise S$60,000 to support the work of Dads for Life and the Centre for Fathering. As of this morning, weโre just shy of the halfway markโ a very big thank you to everyone whoโs donated so generously!
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All donations of at least S$50 are eligible for 2.5X tax deductions, and you can refer to this post for which credit cards still earn miles on donations.
Merry Christmas to one and all!
Have a blessed Christmas! I just came back from Banff and Jasper with my kids in June. Itโs amazing (I sort of grew up in Canada, so Iโm biased!).
Definitely go and visit the Fairmont hotels in Banff and Jasper (Jasperโs is particularly special and having a picnic there โ even if you donโt stay there โ is amazing. The lake is so serene, and the $100 canoe I paid for sounds expensive but was one of our family highlights in crystal clear water).
Blessed Christmas, and may this season be filled with Love, Joy, Peace and Hope!
Yes, went to both Banff and Jasper just before the big wild fire happened. Gorgeous view and enjoyed hiking. We went Mountain View. We stayed at both Fairmont Hotels and highly recommend it!
The Fairmont Hotels look lovely, but the price tags are quite frightening too! Would you say it was worth the splurge?
I spent a few nights at Fairmont Banff in 2022 after the COVID reopening. Decent property, nice Fairmont Gold lounge, but the prices are not really worth it at what they are now. Most base level rooms are incredibly small, and this is after the hotel already had a major renovation recently necently. Bathrooms are almost claustrophic and Iโve seen many iBis hotels with way bigger bathrooms than those in the base Banff Springs rooms. In some of the bathrooms you cannot even close the door unless you squeeze yourself into a corner to avoid the door swing radius! Ifโฆ Read more ยป
Jo Teo will love the small spaces. Delete lol.
A very merry Christmas to all. And an especially Merry Christmas to all the LQBTQ folks in our community who are unfortunately discriminated against by the Milelion Christmas charity. May 2025 see the end of discrimination and bigotry in our society.
๐คก๐คก
Better to choose a more appropriate charity next year
Merry Christmas to all!
BTW, Air France is pricing SIN-KUL redemptions on MH J for 5K miles plus taxes โ it initially shows 15K, but click through and it inexplicably drops to 5K. (MH Y is available for 2K plus taxes). Was able to successfully ticket. Not sure how long itโll last but hope it comes in useful for somebody!
thatโs a great little christmas gift. thanks for sharing!
Merry Christmas Aaron! Have u tried minoxidil and/or finasteride?
even tried asking santa.
Congrats Aaron. Hope you like the Finnair business seats, unfortunately they werenโt my favourite. Enjoy Oz.
They look good visually. What didnโt you like about them?
Suggestion for next year: You and the wife fly Business, child plus helper in Economy.
Merry Christmas!