Starwood posted on Milepoint that they are increasing the price of cash and points awards starting March 5, and also introducing cash and points awards for upgraded rooms including suites. Here are the current cash and points award prices And here are the prices starting March 5. In order to figure out how big a price increase this is, I needed to put the award charts side-by-side and use a common currency (money) to compare simultaneous changes in both cash and points prices. I decided to use a points price of 2 cents for the exercise, but the results aren’t particularly sensitive to that assumption. The changes represent about a 21% – 25% increase in price depending on category, with no change in category 7. I still see cash and points as a better deal…
Monthly Archives
Monthly Archives for January 2013.
Icelandair Redemptions on Alaska Airlines are Back: Buying Miles for First Class Award Travel to Hawaii
Just last week I mentioned I use changedetection.com to track when websites update — like the Icelandair Saga Club site, waiting for the return of Alaska Airlines redemptions with those miles. Back in August lots of folks were hitting Icelandair pretty hard with their partner redemptions on Alaska Airlines. Over the summer you could straight up buy miles and redeem them on Alaska for first class to Hawaii for about $350. This morning I got the alert. Icelandair brings back Alaska Airlines redemptions, effective January 20. Although they’ve raised the price of Alaska Airlines awards. Alaska Airlines awards used to simply be 20,000 miles in coach and 30,000 in first class. Here’s the thing. For some it may still make sense to buy Icelandair miles and redeem them for premium cabin travel on Alaska to…
40% Off Most Hotels, Anywhere
Slickdeals has a post that has since spread like wildfire to other blogs — an opportunity for 40% off of virtually any hotel, anywhere. But the deal is already coming to an end, it seems, even though it was originally scheduled to last through January 19th. Read on, though, both because it’s an interesting story and because some good deals are still being eaked out of this one. Last night folks discovered that Explore Cruise Travel, a USAA partner, was offering USAA members 40% off all hotels booked through January 19th. It turns out anyone can join USAA. I did. I answered all of their questions honestly, I am not in the military, my parents are not in the military, I am not related to a USAA member, I once saw an action flick in…
Delta Confirms Revenue Requirements for Elite Status Next Year
I reported yesterday that Delta had leaked changes to elite qualification requirements on its website and then quickly removed the information. One suspects just sticking up the details on the web page wasn’t how they wanted to roll out changes to elite qualifying mileage earning for some fares and a minimum spending requirement along with miles or segments flown in order to earn elite status. Delta confirmed the changes today. First, it’s true that we’re introducing a new requirement for earning status on Delta for US-based SkyMiles members. Starting January 1, 2014, Medallion status will be earned with MQMs or MQSs and a new threshold – Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs). MQDs will be paired with our existing MQM/MQS requirements at each tier level and will include base fare and applicable surcharges (excluding taxes and fees)…
American’s New Logo Will Take 3-5 Years to Roll Out, and Next Up New Uniforms
American unveiled their new logo and aircraft paint scheme today. It’s been much-anticipated. There’s little question that: American’s current brand identity has been in place for decades, so it’s not unreasonable to look to a refresh As you conclude a bankruptcy process, a new brand identity can help generate the feeling of new beginnings and forward momentum And American has been shopping around the idea that it’s not just desirable but also necessary to update the silver bird, the unpainted bare metal planes, because they’ll be bringing the Boeing 787 into their fleet. That new aircraft is made of composite materials that call for painting, you don’t just get the shiny metal look from unpainted aircraft. Still it’s been curious timing — they are concluding merger discussions with US Airways, and if a combination of…
Tipping at Checkin for Hotel Upgrades: in Las Vegas and Around the Country
The Twenty Dollar Trick Tipping for hotel upgrade: MleValue writes about tipping $20 at checkin at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. This is usually called “the twenty dollar trick”. He got an ocean front Ali’i Tower room with free breakfast. Personally I was surprised to learn that MileValue didn’t have Hilton HHonors Gold status, which would have gotten him free breakfast anyway (either this way or this way). But $20 to upgrade his four night stay was clearly worth the ‘tip’ at checkin. The only time I’ve ever done this is in Las Vegas. When I was staying at the Bellagio for four nights I pre-prepared myself. I took out the credit card I would be using, and stuck a $100 bill behind it — folded so that it was smaller than the card, but with…
Delta Introducing Revenue-Based Elite Qualification
There has been much talk of ‘revenue-based programs’ — rewarding greater mileage earning for higher spending, pricing awards based on the cost of a paid ticket on the redemption side. Some programs have considered the former, others the latter, and still others both. The program that has been expected the pull the trigger first is Delta. They’ve dropped many hints along the way. Today Delta briefly published on their website new revenue-based elite qualifying rules but quickly pulled back the information. The text was quickly archived here. Earning Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) Beginning March 1, 2013, the MQMs SkyMiles members earn on select fare classes will change: For Delta-marketed flights, the MQM bonus for First/Business F and J fare classes will double from 50% to 100%, and Economy M fare class will no longer earn…
Requalifying for Intercontinental Royal Ambassador Status the Easy Way
Intercontinental’s Royal Ambassador elite level is in some ways the best elite status of any hotel program (although Lucky makes a pretty good case for Kimpton’s Inner Circle). But first, the areas where it really falls short. Very few benefits are guaranteed on award stays No guaranteed club lounge access Very few properties — this is status at Intercontinental hotels only, and while it comes with ‘Platinum’ status in the Priority Club program that’s not especially meaningful either. Still, the positives are remarkable. On top of the usual elite level benefits one finds with the major chains, they offer: Guaranteed 8am check-in, not just 4pm late checkout Complimentary free drinks from the mini-bar Now, the minibar thing is ultra-cool. But after a few times over-indulging, and hosting parties in your suite, at least I find…
5000 Free Membership Rewards Points for ‘Pay Over Time Option’ Signup Extended
Via Free Frequent Flyer Miles, the American Express offer to sign up for ‘pay over time’ with your Amex charge card in exchange for 5000 Membership Rewards points has been extended through April 30. You can only earn the bonus once per Membership Rewards account. Most people with American Express Membership Rewards — and more than one Membership Rewards-earning Amex — have just one Membership Rewards account where the points are pooled. In that case you can’t earn the bonus per card, but rather just once. And this offer applies only to charge cards — the ones where you otherwise have to pay off in full each month, which you should do anyway. You should consider signing up for this offer, it doesn’t cost you anything to sign up. But only if you are willing…
New Years in Paris: Air France Business, British Airways First, and the Park Hyatt Vendome: In and Around Paris
A trip report in five parts Air France A380 Business Class, Washington Dulles – Paris Park Hyatt Vendome Mostly Eating in Paris British Airways Paris Orly – London and the Concorde Room British Airways “New” First Class, London – Washington Dulles The first night’s dinner was a bit impromptu, the Park Hyatt’s concierge stepped in with a recommendation based on my request for something nearby (walkable), casual bistro, reasonably priced (I didn’t want to spend 50 euros per person), and good food — that was available at the last minute by reservation, so that it wouldn’t entail a wait. The recommendation was for Restaurant L’ardoise, which fit the bill perfectly. We walked in and the place was packed. I mentioned that we had a reservation and the woman greeting us said, “You talked to me??”…
