A future that has self-driving cars inside are certainly not a daunting thought at all – in fact, I believe that many people who have to slug through traffic gridlocks each day as they head off to work will more than appreciate a self-driving car, especially when you do not need to engage the services of a human driver, letting you rest and relax in the vehicle’s cabin all by yourself. One of Google’s more successful side projects has been the self-driving car that you see above, and we are proud to say that this particular ride has clocked up more than 300,000 miles on its odometer, where its journey has seen the vehicle cover a huge range of traffic conditions, without a single accident happening under the guidance of its computer control.
This is definitely progress in the right direction, but I would assume that there is still plenty of work left to be done for the future. In order to deliver the best kind of self-driving vehicle experience, Google believes that they will still need to master various road conditions such as snow-covered roadways, interpret temporary construction signals while juggling a slew of other rather tricky situations which everyday drivers encounter.
Needless to say, members of the Google self-driving car team will begin to use the vehicles in a solo ride instead of being in pairs, and this new way of travel will be used to test out everyday routes such as commuting to work. Bear in mind that this would mark an important milestone, since it would brings such technology one step closer to every commuter. What would you do in a self-driving car if you knew you had an hour or so during the commute? Would you take that opportunity and doze off to catch up on your beauty sleep, or do you prefer to utilize the freed up time and indulge in a little bit of reading instead?
Many of the team members will also continue to carry out tests on their algorithms on a new type of vehicle that Google has already added to the self-driving car family over the past few months, where this step is hoped to refine their systems in various environments and on different terrain. All the best to the Lexus RX450h!
Chase is offering 25,000 points in Southwest’s Rapid Rewards program, worth more than $400 towards any ticket in their “Wanna Get Away” fare class. Unlike other frequent flier programs, you don’t have to worry about award seat availability, as points work essentially as credits towards the cost of any ticket that is sold. Furthermore, there is an opportunity here to get both the consumer and business cards in order to earn 50,000 points. This gets you closer to receiving their companion pass, which requires 110,000 points in a calendar year. The trick here is not to activate your cards until after the new year, so that you can accumulate all your points in 2012. Doing so will qualify you for a free companion ticket on on all of your trips throughout 2012 and 2013, even on award flights. There is a $99 annual fee for this card, but it is worth it as it comes with an annual bonus worth $99 in flights.
Chase has become one of the largest issuers of credit cards, and they are trying hard to develop a proprietary rewards program to rival American Express’s Membership Rewards. This card is currently being offered with a sign-up bonus of 50,000 points in their Ultimate Rewards program. Those points can be redeemed for miles with United, British Airways, and other airline and hotel partners. Alternatively, you can use their sign up bonus to book $625 worth of travel through Chase’s travel agent. To receive this bonus, cardholders must spend $3,000 within the first three months of opening their account. There is a $95 annual fee for using this card, but it is waived the first year and there are no foreign transaction fees with this card.
Travel experts find exceptional value in American Express’s Membership Rewards program. There are many cards that earn Membership Rewards points, but the Business Gold Rewards card is now offering 50,000 points to new members who spend $10,000 within five months. While there are many cash back, gift card, and merchandise options, the real value comes when you transfer those points to miles with over 15 different airlines. There is a $175 annual fee, but it is waived the first year.
This card is now being offered with a 30,000 mile sign-up bonus after spending a reasonable $750 within the first four months of opening an account. Cardholders will also receive two free Admiral’s Club lounge passes immediately upon sign up. The best part about having miles with American Airlines is that they are very easy to use at the lowest award levels. I have had few problems redeeming two or even award three seats with them, at the lowest level, on the same flights. There is an $85 annual fee that is waived the first year.
This is the wild card in the bunch. Their current 50,000 mile sign-up bonus is competitive, but they had previously offered an incredible 100,000 mile bonus on two separate occasions. Nevertheless, those who can spend $30,000 with this card in a calendar year will earn a companion award certificate that essentially doubles the value of their miles. Another great feature is that cardholders will earn 1.25 miles per dollar spent, significantly more than most airline affiliated credit cards. This deal is further complicated by two other conditions. First, British Airways engages in the disreputable practice of imposing hefty “fuel surcharges” on flights they operate. Secondly, they are currently in the process re-branding their frequent flier program as Avios. Marketing aside, it is unclear what their award redemption chart will be when this process is concluded. There is a $95 annual fee for this card. While that fee is not waived the first year, at least this card doesn’t have any foreign transaction fees.
