Hyatt is offering up to a 30% bonus on purchased points. The more points you purchase the higher the bonus. Receive up to a 30% Point Bonus! Purchase points from November 15 through November 29, 2013 and receive the following bonus:1 Purchase 10,000 to 19,000 points and receive a 10% bonus Purchase 20,000 to 39,000 points and receive a 20% bonus Purchase 40,000 points and receive a 30% bonus When Hyatt offers a bonus on purchased points, it is usually this bonus — such as in June 2012, February 2013, and June 2013. I value Hyatt points at 1.5 cents apiece. I would not do this on a speculative basis. If you were going to buy some points to top off towards an award, it’s great that there’s a bonus. There are a few situations where it would make sense to buy points instead of…
Monthly Archives
Monthly Archives for November 2013.
Are You Ready for Inflight Cell Phone Use to Come to US Airlines?
Several days ago I reported that the inflight use of 3G and 4G mobile data plans. This follows US approval of gate-to-gate use of electronics. Lifting the Department of Transportation’s ban on electronics did not allow for the inflight use of a phone’s cellular or data connectivity. That ban was under the authority of the FCC. Now it turns out that the FCC is considering lifting its ban, which would then leave it up to individual airlines whether or not to allow cell phones onboard — for data and for voice. If the Government Allows Inflight Cell Phone Use, What Would Happen? Does this mean you’re going to have to listen to your bloviating seatmate talking about the big deal they’re trying to close? or talking to their paramour? That’s the awful future that many…
Despite Devaluations, the Miles Game Goes On — And We Still Win
When I got started in miles and points I mostly earned through actual butt-in-seat flying. Miles were much harder to earn: Credit card bonuses seemed a big deal when they were 15,000 miles for a signup (I had never seen a 20,000 mile bonus for a United card until April 2002). I thought iDine — earning miles for eating at particular restaurants — was pretty cool. If memory serves, United once limited that to elites. Redeeming awards wasn’t nearly as flexible, either: US frequent flyer programs did not allow one-way awards, and you could not combine more than one partner on a roundtrip award. If you booked a business class award on a partner airline and needed a domestic flight to connect up to the international segment, United would only throw that in ‘as a…
Delta ‘SkyPesos’ Really Has Stuck, and Gone Mainstream
Even in an article I’m not quoted in, and wasn’t interviewed for. Here’s the Wall Street Journal: Besides the lack of availability of awards, travelers complain that raising the price for awards essentially devalues the miles or points in their account. The currency no longer has the same buying power. Frequent fliers on forums such as FlyerTalk and MilePoint jokingly refer to Delta’s SkyMiles as SkyPesos. Truth’s truth, even in the ‘mainstream media’. 😉 You can join the 30,000+ people who see these deals and analysis every day — sign up to receive posts by email (just one e-mail per day) or subscribe to the RSS feed. It’s free. You can also follow me on Twitter for the latest deals. Don’t miss out!
Labor Acrimony Begins at the New American Airlines
Mergers are Tough — Especially Integrating Union Workforces Mergers are tough in any industry, bringing together large enterprises. It’s tough to realize the paper gains that were used to justify the merger. Things become even harder merging unionized enterprises, since the layers of negotiations and contract complexity are far greater. Unions of both airlines generally supported the American Airlines-US Airways merger because they were promised raises if it went through. US Airways Never Managed to Complete it in Their Last Merger US Airways never managed to integrate its pilots after its merger with America West… even though its pilots were represented by the same union. US Airways, in its second bankruptcy, was deemed a ‘failed carrier’ and union rules dictated that American West pilots would rank higher in seniority. So the more numerous US Airways…
Spirit Passes the Affordable Fare Act, Because Their Website Works!
I suppose other major airlines couldn’t make the same claim about a functional website. There simply aren’t that many functions at spiritairlines.com, so perhaps it’s actually credible. So they claim to have passed the “Affordable Fare Act” — “If you like your low fares, you can keep your low fares!” And though Spirit does often have low fares, there are definitely no subsidies (or cross-subsidies), only ancillary fees. When the Anthony Weiner sexting story first broke two years ago, Spirit ran an Anthony Weiner sale. And a More Bang for Your Buck sale on flights to Cartagena when secret service agents were revealed to have frequented prostitutes there. Back in 2010 they invited customers to check out the (suntan) oil on the beaches that they fly to… during the BP oil spill. (At the time…
Don’t Miss Your Chance to Win Hilton Gold Status, United Miles, and More!
Enter to Win. Milepoint, the frequent flyer community that I co-founded, is offering a Premium Membership at $49 which gets you: Hilton HHonors Gold elite status through the beginning of 2015. 1000 United miles National Car Rental Executive status One free day of parking with Parking Spot (no minimum stay required) And more. I’m giving away (3) packages. Each winner will receive premium membership on Milepoint, which comes with all of the above benefits. Go to the official entry thread where you can leave a comment to be entered, no more than one per day, and no later than 8pm Eastern time on Thursday. You can join the 30,000+ people who see these deals and analysis every day — sign up to receive posts by email (just one e-mail per day) or subscribe to the…
The Andaz Wall Street’s Plan to Get Back on Top
The General Manager of the Andaz Wall Street stopped by to comment on yesterday’s post about the hotel which noted declining service offerings there. For a New York hotel frequently pricing substantially under $300 it seems a spectacular value provided the location on Wall Street can work for you. But it isn’t offering as much as it used to, there have clearly been cutbacks, and my expectations had been set based on previous stays and the overall Andaz brand. The gist of the issues I shared: Elimination of evening wine reception and 24 hour coffee in the lobby Hotel no longer offering a restaurant with dinner service There were cutbacks in the restaurant breakfast offerings (which as a Hyatt Diamond member for whom breakfast is complimentary, this is disappointing — though perhaps I shouldn’t complain…
Possible Date Revealed for US Airways to Exit the Star Alliance and Join oneworld
Frequent Business Traveller reports that US Airways is expected to exit Star Alliance on or about March 1 and join oneworld at the beginning of April. We already expect that US Airways and American Airlines will begin to allow reciprocal mileage-earning (fly US Airways and earn American miles, and vice versa) and mileage-burning (spend US Airways miles to fly American Airlines, and vice versa) on January 7. US Airways is not confirming the March 1 date to exit Star or their plan for oneworld integration. So far US Airways has publicly said “by the end of the first quarter of 2014” for leaving Star and haven’t detailed their entrance into oneworld. But if this is true or, regardless of dates, that a good bit of time passes after US Airways and American link up but…
Don’t Forget to Enter to Win 25,000 Miles
Click Here for the Official Entry Thread, to comment for your chance to win 25,000 miles. American Express Membership Rewards has a new partnership with Emirates and indeed through this Friday they are offering a 25% bonus when you convert Membership Rewards points to Emirates Skywards miles. To highlight this offer, American Express asked if I would give one lucky reader 25,000 Emirates miles. To be clear, I do not receive anything for running this contest and giving away the miles. But American Express is providing the points. Go to the official entry thread to leave a comment. You may enter no more than one time per day. The contest closes 8pm Eastern time on Thursday (that’s tomorrow). You can join the 30,000+ people who see these deals and analysis every day — sign up…
