Santosh Kumar

Energy Analyst @RystadEnergy, know a thing or two about credit cards!💳 travelled a bit 🇳🇴🇹🇭🇱🇰🇺🇲🇦🇪🇹🇷🇳🇱🇧🇪🇭🇷🇭🇺🇨🇿🇲🇾🇮🇹🇬🇷🇬🇧 🇵🇹🇸🇬🇧

[Santosh Kumar @santosh251kumar]

With a new quarter coming up, @EquitasBank has now removed the miles redemption option under its PowerMiles credit card. Does it mean they are finally launching it tomorrow, or have they just shelved it forever,

[Sheel Mohnot @pitdesi]

Berlin is by far Germany's largest city, yet it has surprisingly poor air connections compared to smaller German cities like Frankfurt and Munich.

The reason traces back to the Cold War...

For 45 years after WWII, Lufthansa was legally banned from flying to Berlin. Instead, the city's largest carrier was Pan Am, the iconic international American airline, and they had a mini-hub there (see image 1!)

It's very strange to have a US airline dominating traffic between a bunch of German cities... it's a strange quirk that arose from how the powers divided Berlin after WWII.

Before the war, Berlin Templehof was among the busiest airports in the world, and one of the largest buildings in the world. After the war, the US, UK, France, and Soviet Union each controlled sectors of the city, with West Berlin (& the airport) sitting deep inside Soviet-controlled East Germany.

To maintain access, the powers created strict rules: only airlines from the US, UK, and France could fly into West Berlin, and the planes had to be piloted by citizens of those countries.

This meant that Lufthansa (German flag airline) was completely shut out of its own capital & largest city.

There was another restriction that made flying to Berlin especially difficult: planes couldn't fly above 10,000 feet in the air corridors. The Soviets imposed this ceiling as part of the 1945 agreement and refused to change it, even as jet aircraft were introduced in the 1960s, and Pan-Am was flying mostly 727's

For context, they usually fly at 30k feet+, so they were burning 30% more fuel and operating 20% slower than they should.

The whole thing worked because (like a lot of things there) prices and competition were controlled and very high, so even though it was operationally expensive, the math worked.

So for decades, American pilots flew Pan Am jets in and out of Berlin while German flight attendants staffed the cabins.

Meanwhile, Frankfurt and Munich developed into Germany's major airline hubs during the years when modern air networks were taking shape.

When German reunification finally ended these restrictions in 1990, it was too late. Berlin never fully caught up, and that's in part why Germany's largest city remains surprisingly underconnected by air today.

Now Templehof is a park that's open to the public. I recommend renting a bike and traversing the runways!

[Santosh Kumar @santosh251kumar]

@kishorefinance @karthic74 @CardWorld_Me @CardMavenIn @cards_wizard @CCMiles2Go @contliving @CreditCruze @DoBaniye @Daksh_k1 @iSatishAgarwal @CardsavvyIndia They acknowledged the booking was done via corporate code?

[Devil ✨ @Devil9623]

Photos I took from flight window.

[Santosh Kumar @santosh251kumar]

@Vinamralongani @airindia 1. The economy seats dont recliner, weird choice.
2. The economy tray is not sturdy enough. Dont see it withstanding the Indian crowds. Already saw some bending on those aluminum arms.

[The Great Indian Points & Miles Show @greatindianmile]

10,000 subscribers on YouTube!🤯

From recording with airpods to decoding first class redemptions, y’all made this wild ride worth it 🫡

Thanks for the love, the DMs, the shoutouts & for coming to Flight Mode!😀

This isn’t just a show. It’s a community! 🙌🏻

Dil se, Shukhriya!❤️

[Santosh Kumar @santosh251kumar]

Little steps brother! To many more to come 🍻

[Devil ✨ @Devil9623]

A proud moment ♥️

[Santosh Kumar @santosh251kumar]

@imYadav31 The forex mark up charges are 3.5% + gst? Bit unclear in the website as well.

[Santosh Kumar @santosh251kumar]

3 cars out and not even 1 lap is finished. What a beginning (or isnt) #F1 #AustriaGP

[Vineeth K @DealsDhamaka]

In a country where only cricket takes the limelight - let us also recognise that indian 🇮🇳 anthem has been played fir first time in Monaco grand prix

Thanks to podium finish by Kush Maini

FLY HIGH 🇮🇳

[Vatsalya @vatsalyatandon]

papa found old consulting interview prep sheets, asked if he can throw this away

fun times with @TusharGoswamy @_saksham_mittal :)

[The Great Indian Points & Miles Show @greatindianmile]

Want to fly Singapore Airlines First Class Suites or stay at Ritz-Carlton Reserve Bali on points? No catch. No lottery. Just smart use of Indian credit cards.

Four power users @aadil @dhimantn @prakharag2 @ameyakarve bring it alive in the new episode

https://t.co/Mm7oikkaoA

[D.M.N @dhimantn]

I had the fortune (& appetite!) to explore 48 affordable food and café stops across Vietnam 🇻🇳

Here are 13 of my most memorable ones, the places that surprised me, moved me, or made me go back.

P.S. The 8th gave me literal goosebumps. Don’t miss it. 👀✨

Plated for the soul!

[Santosh Kumar @santosh251kumar]

@vishal1mehra I have done this using Chat gpt. Give it a good prompt it can do all of this.

[Santosh Kumar @santosh251kumar]

@ProfessorCardz @greatindianmile Hey! Regalia Gold has the airport transfer benefit but has some caveats. More information is available here.
https://t.co/2ilRO9v0Eo
Note: Each voucher's value is INR 300.

[The Great Indian Points & Miles Show @greatindianmile]

Wow, 1,000 followers in less than 3 months! 🎉🙏 We are beyond grateful to each of you who’s been part of this journey so far. Your support and love mean so much to us. Here’s to many more adventures ahead! 🚀💫 #1000Followers #ThankYou #Grateful

@dhimantn @aadil @ameyakarve

[Santosh Kumar @santosh251kumar]

@elonmusk @myfrido @ganeshsonawane

[Santosh Kumar @santosh251kumar]

@NIKHILLJHA @sushantaggarwa1 Is this the one you are referring to?

[Double Dip @doubledip_in]

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Read my full review and learn how to optimize your spends:
https://t.co/qXBqkWq8Nq
#PersonalFinance #ccgeek #cashback

[Santosh Kumar @santosh251kumar]

@vinodchendhil Been looking for a healthier alternative to my night cravings. Would be glad to try out!