Loyalty Traveler reports that Marriott Rewards is making its annual adjustment to reward categories (which hotels cost how many points) — new rates go into effect March 15 — 100 hotels are going down a category and 526 are going up a category. Marriott is the chain whose economics I’m least familiar with, several years ago it was explained to me that hotels are compensated based on the number of redemptions made during the year — the more redemptions, the more they were paid per redemption. This was how Marriott incentivized hotels to make more rooms available as awards. I hadn’t paid much attention, and since that time Marriott has changed policies to more closely match its competitors and make award rooms available on points more or less whenever those rooms are available for cash.…
Monthly Archives
Monthly Archives for February 2012.
Free Instant Accor Hotels A|Club Platinum Status is Back
Here’s the link to open a new account at the Platinum level, it says the offer is valid through May 31 but my guess is they will close it earlier. The offer says it’s intended for Citi Premier Miles World Mastercard holders in the United Arab Emirates. However, as with past offers, this will likely work for anyone. Here’s how I described a similar offer back in October: Platinum status generally requires 60 nights (or 25,000 points earned) and comes with a 100% points bonus and then at Sofitel, Pullman, and MGallery hotels: room upgrades that the rules say you specifically have to ask for, 4pm late checkout, guaranteed availability, and a welcome drink and gift. I’ve always found it odd that A|Club elite status doesn’t get you recognition at Novotel properties, but still being Platinum which is their…
20% Off Virgin America
Via Jared Blank: Virgin America is offering a coupon for 20% off a flight Between April 11 and June 13. Here’s how you get the Virgin America promo code sent to you: 1) Go to this page 2) Fill out the short form 3) Get promo code in your email 4) Book your trip Offer is good until February 29 or until they’ve sent 35,000 codes.
United’s New Elite-Unfriendly Upgrade Priority Already in Effect?
The new Mileage Plus program doesn’t start until the beginning of March, I’ve ranted on this before, but the thing I like least about it (beyond taking economy plus-at-booking away from first-tier elites) is that upgrade priority now factors in how you’re paying for the upgrade even ahead of elite status. In other words, a general member burning miles they earned from their United Visa trumps a 1K. I’m expecting that to be the death knell for 1K complimentary upgrades on smaller planes during peak business travel times. But is the new algorithm already in effect? Here’s a battlefield report that makes me think that it is — a 1K and a non-status member are on the same reservation. They don’t clear in advance, though their upgrades had been supported by confirmed regionals. At the…
American Will Start Adding Fuel Surcharges to Iberia Awards Beginning March 1
JonNYC at TravelingBetter.com posted that effective March 1, American AAdvantage will begin adding (modest) fuel surcharges to awards booked on their oneworld partner Iberia. The YQ fuel surcharge amount is based on the market and varies from 7.50 Euros up to 30 Euros. Fuel surcharges are often $400+ so the amounts here aren’t bad, but it is a worry to see a US airline mileage program extending the practice of hitting members with fuel surcharges on ‘free’ frequent flyer award tickets. Two weeks ago I wrote an extensive explanation of fuel surcharges added to award tickets. Basically, programs outside of North America have charged them for awhile (though SAS EuroBonus actually stopped the practice a couple of years ago). Aeroplan was charging them only on Air Canada flights until a few months back, and now…
Mexicana Coming Back?
The Wall Steeet Journal is reporting that an investment group may acquire the assets of Mexicana, which ceased operations in August 2010, and bring the airline back to life. Apparently $300 million is what it’ll take to get the airline back in the skies, with an initial handful of planes and a target launch date of April (good luck with that…) and plans to have over 40 aircraft flying by the end of the year. This all strikes me as quite speculative at this point, there’s not yet agreement on a write down of previous debt and claims that the airline “has the pilots, flight attendants and ground staff ready to start working” strike me as implausible (not to mention that it could secure gates and slots in two months’ time). However the idea that…
American Squashes Award Wallet Again, Browser Plugin No Longer Available to Track Miles
I’ve been loving American Airlines as a customer since doing their Executive Platinum challenge as part of the oneworld MegaDO. American’s 100,000 mile flyers are truly top tier, in contrast to at United where it’s just mid-tier and the real top elite level is Global Services. American’s top elites clear their upgrades, their international confirmed upgrade instruments are valid from any fare, and the lounges are nicer (albeit with less free food). And onboard wireless internet has changed my life. American miles are also currently my favorite mileage currency, since my own goal is international first class awards — Star Alliance first class awards have gotten really tough, especially for a North American-based flyer who doesn’t want to fly United‘s first class. While first class awards with American miles are quite doable — Etihad (and…
Virgin Atlantic Award Sale
Via NotiFlyer, Virgin Atlantic is running a “two for one sale” on economy award redemptions (must be logged into your account to access the details). The offer is valid for travel through May 31, 2012, although their Vancouver route will allow discounted redemptions through October 27 and Cancun through July 3. Sample prices: JFK-London is available for 29,500 miles roundtrip, San Francisco-London is available for 47,500 miles roundtrip. The rub? Virgin adds fuel surcharges onto the cost of awards, which means that you’ll pay over $500 in cash as part of the redemption. That’s why it’s almost never worthwhile redeeming economy award tickets with mileage programs that hit their members with fuel surcharges. You still wind up paying much of the cost of a paid ticket, while spending miles rather than earning them. You don’t…
Frequent Traveler University (April 27-29) Registration Now Open!
Frequent Traveler University details have been announced, the event will be held at the Sheraton Meadowlands on Saturday, April 28 and Sunday April 29. It’s the conclusion of a days’ long Frequent Flyer Extravaganza — there’s an industry conference on loyalty taking place on the Wednesday and Thursday, Thursday evening April 26th is the return of the Freddie Awards honoring the best in frequent flyer programs as voted by the members themselves. Friday will be the return of the Randy Petersen Executive Travel Summit. And it all concludes with a two-day learning event for frequent flyers. Mommy Points has done a nice job summarizing the event. Complimentary cocktail party on Friday night sponsored by milepoint.com On Saturday you will be able to learn from the best in the biz from exclusive speakers you won’t be…
Hotel Award Redemption Prices Should Be Lower Than They Used to Be
According to Calculated Risk, while hotel revenue per available room and occupancy rates are trending above 2011 levels so far this year, and are of course higher than when the bottom dropped out in 2009, they are still below their median level for the 2000 – 2007 period. That’s worth remembering when hotel chains like Starwood Preferred Guest which say they’re explicitly tying hotel categories to room rates bump up their redemption categories. I would argue that members haven’t fully shared in the effects of the Great Recession — lower room rates should mean lower redemption prices than during the 2000 – 2007 period, not just slowed growth in the increase in points necessary to redeem for rooms. I’m tilting at windmills here, but it’s a useful perspective to keep in mind, the more we…
