Singapore Airlines is rolling out their new inflight product across their fleet of 777-300ERs. Singapore Airlines is to invest US$325 million to upgrade 19 Boeing 777-300ERs with the latest generation of cabin products, featuring new seats in all classes of travel and the world’s most advanced in-flight entertainment system. The significant investment programme will provide consistency across the Airline’s entire B777-300ER fleet, with next-generation cabin products that are the new industry benchmark for premium air travel. Singapore Airlines introduced the new cabin products in September 2013 after taking delivery of the first of eight additional B777-300ERs ordered from Boeing. The upgrade programme announced today will see the same products fitted to 19 existing B777-300ERs. Installation work is expected to begin early in 2015, with all aircraft completed by September 2016. I attended the delivery of…
Monthly Archives
Monthly Archives for May 2014.
Leverage Hyatt Status and Casino Status into Big Recognition Across Vegas
Last summer Hyatt and MGM hotels launched a loyalty program partnership. You can earn and burn points at their respective properties, and elite status is recognized across both chains. What that means for Hyatt Gold Passport members is more hotels to earn at and redeem at (chains have historically been underrepresented in Vegas), and also for Hyatt elites recognition at MGM hotels. Elite benefits in MGM’s M Life are different what you expect from the traditional hotel chains. A Hyatt Diamond member becomes an M Life Platinum and gets to flash their Platinum card in a very ‘Don’t You Know Who I Am?’ fashion. Show it in front of the hotel for instance, and skip the taxi queue. What’s interesting is how some folks have leveraged their Hyatt status turned MGM status. MGM status comes…
Frequent Flyer Miles Are a Scam: Are You Being Taken?
My evil twin brother Gerald seized control of my WordPress account. And he decided to force me to make a case against frequent flyer miles. He tells me that he’s also gotten hold of my Awardwallet password and will drain all of my accounts if I don’t comply.
Up to 30,000 American Airlines Miles for a Checking Account
Citibank is again offering American Airlines miles as an incentive for opening a checking account and taking various account actions. The offer is valid through June 30, and you then have 60 days from account opening to take required additional steps of debit transactions and a billpay in two calendar months. You can apply on-line, in branch, or over the phone at 866-810-9043 using promotion code DON42OQL3X. I tend to think 15,000 miles is the sweet spot with this offer since in the past Citibank has sent out 1099 tax reporting forms on mileage offers where the value is greater than $600, as the 30,000 mile offer is likely deemed to be. I still like the 22,000 point BankDirect signup offer better. BankDirect also offers miles for average balances on an ongoing basis, and doesn’t…
Big Miles for Satellite TV Offers Extended
You can earn 25,000 American Airlines miles for signing up for DirecTV. You can also earn 30,000 United miles for DirecTV. Both offers have been extended through July 23 (they keep getting extended). You need to choose a ‘select’ package or above and take a 24 month agreement. While the offers specify ‘new customers only’ I spoke to one participant at the recent Frequent Traveler University event in Seattle that had earned well into the six figures in miles by signing up for DirecTV offers. Digging into the terms, the eligibility is: Customers who have a current DIRECTV account, or have been a DIRECTV customer within the last 24 months are ineligible. Mileage is posted after the account is kept current for 60 days, and then you have to wait 6 to 8 weeks to…
Marriott Rewards Announces Summer Promotion, Plus a Roundup of Other Chains’ Offers
The major chains have all come out with promotions in recent weeks: Hyatt: Triple miles on 8 airlines starting with your second stay Hilton: Double Points or Double Miles Starwood: Double and Triple Points IHG Rewards Club: Up to 15,000 Points Now Marriott has one as well: Marriott Rewards Getaway Bonus Marriott has several targeted versions of the offer, with most people getting the version that I received, double points after your second paid stay, up to 25,000 bonus points. Other offers include: Earn 25,000 bonus points after 15 paid nights, plus an additional 10,000 bonus points after 20 paid nights, up to 35,000 bonus points. Earn 35,000 bonus points after 20 paid nights, plus an additional 10,000 bonus points after 25 paid nights, up to 45,000 bonus points. Regardless of the specifics, earning is…
Etihad Shares Their Excitement, Uber Has Kids, and Silvercar Spawns Too (Bits ‘n Pieces for May 9, 2014)
News and notes from around the interweb: Etihad is excited about Lucky’s kickstarter project. Silvercar, which makes it possible to make money on your first rental of an Audi, is opening a location in Phoenix. Uber is now offering UBERFAMILY… UberX with car seats in New York. Meanwhile data suggests DUI rates decline when Uber enters a city. Not surprising – convenient and reasonably priced on-demand transportation reduces incidences of drunk driving. Virgin America jumped the gun a bit on selling tickets from Dallas’ Love Field but it appears they’ve managed to secure gates there, after all. Generating free credit card spending through beer. You can join the 40,000+ 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…
I Was Actually Impressed By.. A Marriott.. at the Seattle Airport No Less!
For the first time in my life late last month I spent five night at an airport hotel. In a row. I flew out to Seattle for three back-to-back events. Global Flight’s loyalty industry conference The Freddie Awards Frequent Traveler University I had agreed to emcee a panel at the industry event, which included the head of a hotel loyalty program, the head of partnerships for an airline program, a data guy, and an IT solutions provider. The topic was on creating a program beloved by members. I had to come in on a Tuesday night because my panel was at 9am on Wednesday. The Freddie Awards would be the next day at the nearby Museum of Flight, and I was the emcee. And then I would be giving four or five talks and spending…
“Plus Points” 2000 Free Marriott Rewards Points Each Month
Marriott Rewards will now give you up to 2000 points per month for social media activities. Step 1: Connect your social profiles to your Marriott Rewards account, starting with Facebook. Step 2: Follow the social profiles of participating Marriott brands and properties on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Foursquare. Step 3: Earn Marriott Rewards points by: Sharing or retweeting our posts to your Facebook or Twitter feeds each day Checking into properties on Facebook or Foursquare every day you visit Posting a photo each day to Instagram and tagging it with a property’s location Using #LoveMarriottRewards, #RenHotels or #Autograph in your daily Facebook, Twitter and Instagram posts Liking and following select brands and properties in Facebook or Twitter Sign up by giving them your Marriott Rewards number and linking it to a social media profile. I began with Facebook, which passes information to them but doesn’t allow them…
How to Book the Etihad A380 Residences With Miles
Etihad’s big announcement about the most luxurious travel product in commercial aviation has been all the rage. I’d love to fly it, but the truth is I’m not going to. It’s way too pricey for me and at this point there’s no reasonable way to access it with miles. And goodness can striving to book it generate controversy! It isn’t just ~ $20,000 one-way. It’s also bookable with miles. Just a lot of them. Note that the Residences are a separate booking class from first class. The new A380 has a first class (“Apartments”). And it also has a single Residence for up to 2 people. There are no saver first class awards (“Guest First”) that I’ve seen yet for the Apartments. Each day I’ve searched it shows as unavailable. However — eventually — and…
