Amtrak is offering a free roundtrip trip on a Northeast regional train after two roundtrips or four one-ways on same between January 7, 2010 and March 13, 2010. Registration is required. Up to 8 free trips can be earned, and will be valid for use between June 1 and August 31. They’ve basically outlawed straight mileage running for the promo by limiting folks to one qualifying roundtrip per day, and by imposing a minimum qualifying fare of $49 each way. Finally the terms and conditions also state, “Other terms and conditions apply.” But of course they don’t tell you what those other terms and conditions are. I suspect there really aren’t any, but they’re covering themselves, this is a program with a history of making significant changes without notice — I don’t really trust Amtrak…
Monthly Archives
Monthly Archives for January 2010.
American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts Rates Finally Bookable Online
American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts rates are finally searchable and bookable online. The Fine Hotels and Resorts program is available to Platinum and Centurion American Express cardholders. Previously you could search for participating properties, but you have to call to find out rates and make reservations. This is a huge improvement. The website isn’t great, but it’s functional, and no more needing to get on the phone. At least, that is, if you’re a Platinum cardmember. Centurion cardmembers get additional benefits beyond those offered to Platinum members as part of the Fine Hotels and Resorts program Those benefits aren’t online, and booking on this website gets only the standard Platinum Fine Hotels and Resorts benefits. So Centurion cardmembers still need to call. But it’s a great start, nonetheless! Meanwhile, many of the same properties…
Register now for Hilton’s Free Night for Every 4 Paid Stays or 10 Paid Nights
Registration is now available for Hilton’s first quarter promo.
Why Did I Go To Sleep Last Night?
Fell asleep early, about ten minutes before this deal was posted on Flyertalk: $550 each way for Qantas first class to Sydney. Oh, whoa is me, such a lost opportunity….
British Airways 100,000 Mile Credit Card Signup Bonus is Back
Via Frugal Travel Guy, the British Airways 100,000 mile credit card signup offer is back. They don’t seem to be promoting this as hard as back in November, but Rick reports this link came up on an online boarding pass that one of his readers printed. To remind, it’s 50,000 miles with first purchase and 50,000 more miles after $2000 in spend within 3 months. Spend $30,000 in a calendar year and earn a free companion award ticket. British Airways offers family accounts, so two people linking their accounts and getting this card can combine their miles — put $2000 on one card, $30,000 on the other, and you have 240,000 miles to use plus a free companion. In other words, $32,000 in spend nets 480,000 miles worth of travel. Of course, the British Airways…
Security for Flying Internationally to the United States: Little More Than Wasted Time
Went through security today, handed in my printed online boarding passes which read “API OK” (Advance Passenger Information). I was told that wasn’t acceptable, I had to go to the ticket counter to get a “real” boarding pass. So I went to the next line over where they happily took my “homemade” one. There was nothing extra at security or passport control. I was flying through an airport that pre-clears US immigration. The airline called for boarding a bit earlier than usual, and everyone had to go through an additional screening before reaching the aircraft. Men and women were separated into lines staffed by same sex officers. I got a pat down, but it wasn’t at all invasive. They certainly wouldn’t have found anything hidden in my more private regions. They asked me to empty…
Help Me Decide on a New Laptop Bag
I’ve had the perfect one for my needs for years. It’s a cheap American Tourister that I was issued by my IT shop once upon a time. Unfortunately after years of faithful service the canvas is beginning to tear. I’d hate for it to completely open up in the middle of a two week trip. I carry a Lenovo Thinkpad X200s with the extra light casing, it’s a small machine but works for me as my main machine and for travel. So I like a laptop bag that itself is rather light. The biggest non-negotiatiable is that it has to have the pouch that’s open on top and bottom for easily slipping onto the handles of a carryon. My current bag has a front pouch with netted/zippered pouch inside of it, I’ll throw my keys…
US Airways Big Bonus: Some Partners Post With the Same Name, But They’ll Still Count
Folks who participated in the US Airways holiday shopping bonus ot earn 250% bonus miles on all purchases for making qualifying transactions with five unique merchants have had a little bit of heartburn seeing that some merchants (like Sears and Omaha Steaks) have been posting to member accounts generically with the description “Dividend Miles Shopping Mall” rather than with their own names. The concern has been that US Airways would treat such transactions as being from the same merchant rather than from unique merchants, causing members with insufficient other transactions to have perhaps four or fewer merchants counting towards the bonus, and ultimately receiving perhaps a 200% bonus rather than the full 250%. US Airways assures me this concern is unfounded. Ultimately we’ll see what happens when bonuses post come March 1, but I’m reassured…
5 Frequent Flyer Wishes for the New Year
The opening editorial column in January’s Inside Flyer is ungated. Normally Randy Petersen uses the column to express his thoughts on the state of the loyalty industry, or to highlight some specific changes or opportunities for frequent flyers. This month he graciously offers up the space to my New Years wishes for frequent flyer programs. I’m truly humbled, as in the 8 or 9 years that I’ve been reading Inside Flyer I don’t recall him every doing something like this. In the column I try to avoid magical thinking, the kinds of proposals that could always be made even better simply by adding to it, “and everyone gets a pony, too!” Instead, I try to offer some of the small changes that would make a big difference to members. And with the ‘insider’ audience that…
Last Day to Transfer American Express Points to Southwest Rapid Rewards Will Be June 30
I read the news in this Flyertalk thread Amex is losing a transfer partner. But plenty of notice, so I can’t level tons of criticism here. And they’ve just added British Airways, so for my own uses I view cardmembers as net ahead here.
