I had a very nice conversation this afternoon with Chris Holdren, Senior Vice President for the Starwood Preferred Guest program. He reached out to me after my post on SPG’s decision not to adjust hotel categories for 2010 — which I called a “stealth devaluation” (and which was picked up USA Today‘s excellent Barbara De Lollis). My original argument was basically that a hotel’s category level in the Starwood program basically rises or falls with its average daily room rate (and Chris confirmed that it is indeed average daily room rate rather than revenue per available room, for all you hotel revenue geeks out there). Now, with hotel rates lower than in 2004, Starwood Preferred Guest hotel category assignments aren’t being adjusted downward to reflect that. In my post last week I initially made the…
Monthly Archives
Monthly Archives for March 2010.
35% Off at W Hotels Store
MilesQuest offers up another 35% discount at the W Hotel Store: promo code QDG8Y. For those considering a W Hotel bed, the 40% off codes are rare and I haven’t seen one for awhile. 35% is pretty good. And if you’re considering stocking up on Bliss products (my daily use choice), this isn’t a bad offer either.
US Mint Dollar Coins Update
Frugal Travel Guy reports that there is now a 50 boxes per household limit on the purchase of Native American $1 coins (which come with free shipping, of course).
Texas Lawyer Threatens to Sue Continental, the Airport Food Court, and the City of Houston Because He Lost His Jacket
Seriously. The 62-year-old Ogletree, you see, was headed to Las Vegas on December 30 when he stopped at a pizza place in the Houston airport. Upon departing the food court in Terminal C, Ogletree somehow forgot to take his “expensive black leather coat,” an XL Polo model (with a fashionable plaid lining) worth $800. Not surprisingly, the coat subsequently disappeared. Now Ogletree is threatening to sue the City of Houston, Continental Airlines, and the food court’s management company for failing to have “collected the coat, kept it in a secure place and held it for a reasonable time” until he was able to reunite with the garment. These prospective defendants, Ogletree reasoned, “breached their duty” in connection with how they “manage lost and found items for which they are responsible.” He wants $800 not to…
Award Booking Successes and Frustrations
Grey Roberge details his experiences booking a Star Alliance first class award through Aeroplan. Regular readers of my blog know that I’m a big fan of the Aeroplan program, and in particular their first class award from the US to South Asia (as far south as Singapore) for 120,000 miles — which allows you to transit the Atlantic or Pacific (or one ocean each direction) and to stopover twice in addition to your destination. And I rather like Aeroplan agents, I have found them on the whole to be quite friendly. It’s a Canadian thing. The one thing I don’t like is that they do not permit award holds. Instant ticketing only. Now, you can make changes to an itinerary after ticketing for CAD$90. And as long as you’re three weeks out from travel, you…
“Together We Fly Delta” Team Bonus Mile Promotion
Frugal Travel Guy outlines the Delta Team competition for bonus miles. Find a team captain with an address in Michigan, Minnesota, Tennessee or Washington state. Additional team members can reside anywhere. And up to 4 people can participate as a team. Then the total Delta miles flown by the team through May 31 May 15 on tickets paid for with an American Express card determines the number of bonus miles earned by each member of the team. 2500 total miles flown = 1500 bonus miles per person 5000 total miles flown = 3000 bonus miles per person 15000 total miles flown = 9000 bonus miles per person 20000 total miles flown = 15000 bonus miles per person 25000 total miles flown = 20000 bonus miles per person Registration required by April 15th.
Hilton Point Stretcher Awards Are Back! (Sort of…)
Hilton Point Stretchers — which more or less disappeared last year — are back. Point Stretchers offer 40% off of standard redemption pricing, though historically some participating hotels would offer only a smattering of dates… like two weeks for the whole year. But it’s still worth checking and the website to do so is up. Though currently the only hotel they’re displaying availability for is the Hilton Garden Inn Allentown West — and then only for March 26 – 28 and April 30. Fortunately the ‘real’ list is a little bit longer, and Flyertalkers are building it by hand. For instance, the Hinckley HIlton is available March 2 – May 30.
Hilton’s Very Modest Second Quarter Promo is Coming
I saw the news yesterday and didn’t bother writing about it. Some details of Hilton’s second quarter promotion are out, and they really aren’t all that exciting. Hilton’s first quarter promo was a free night every four stays or 10 nights. When Hyatt runs these sorts of promos, it’s a free night every two stays — far more generous. Fly Gracefully and TM Travel World note that the new offer will be a free night every 10 nights, or double points. Registration and fine print to come, but geez, c’mon. If you’re gonna run a promo, run a promo. It’s better than no promo (by a little bit) so I guess we’ll take it. But c’mon, Hilton, generate some excitement!
4 Nights in the Bahamas, Hotel and Air, From $0 (Yes, That’s Zero)
I’m not overly interested in the deal for myself since I was in the Bahamas over New Year’s and the Carribean isn’t my favorite, but it’s a great deal nonetheless. I first saw it a week ago at Frugal Travel Guy and now there’s a Flyertalk thread. The deal is this: book an Expedia vacation package to the Bahamas with a minimum four night stay using coupon code BAH400 for up to $400 off. Coupon is valid through May 10, 2010, for travel completed by December 22, 2010. March 19, 2010 through April 10, 2010 are blacked-out. Make sure you uncheck the ground transportation box (on the 3rd page of the booking process). There are packages from Ft. Lauderdale to Freeport, hotel and air, that price out at $0 with this coupon. From DC I’m…
Upgrd 57: LOT o’ Mail
Listen to me (and the rest of the crew..) on the new Upgrd podcast. We discussed: Damian joins us to discuss his very recent experience in LOT business class Standby on United Airlines US Airways open to merger – anyone want an airline? United Airlines finalizes 787 order Program options for Qantas travellers International Star Alliance partners and domestic USA lounge access and Ben’s additional prediction of the possible demise of DEQM
