At United’s Investor Day last week, where they unveiled details of their new Basic Economy fares that will be more limiting than anything we’ve seen from an ultra low cost carrier like Spirit (no ability to even pay for a carry-on that must go in the overhead), they also shared that they intend to make changes to the MileagePlus program that they believe will improve their earnings.
Given the paucity of international premium cabin saver seats on American flights, combined with an inability to see award space on many partners online, I imagine there’s a reasonable number of AAnytime awards with domestic connections being booked at AA.com right now. And those members are being seated in economy for their domestic flights as a result of an American Airlines programming error. So it pays to be aware.
Ink Business Preferred℠ Credit Card The introduction of the Ink Business Preferred℠ Credit Card is a big deal. It’s an 80,000 point signup bonus card (after $5000 spend within 3 months) that has a $95 annual fee. Many cards with bonuses like this are premium cards at much higher price point. The card earns 3 points a dollar on the first $150,000 spend on travel, telecommunications, shipping and advertising on social-media and search engines. So that’s really broad triple points earning. It’s great for folks who advertise a lot on Goole or Facebook. It’s great for people who spend on shipping. But it no longer has a 5 points per dollar earning category. Since the card launched we learned three things: You cannot upgrade another Ink card to the Ink Business Preferred℠ Credit Card at…
Six months ago I interviewed the CEO of ThanksAgain the company that gives you points for all of your spending inside of airports. You sign up, register a credit card, and the miles credit automatically.
Right now you earn 100 Hilton HHonors points just for signing up for the ThanksAgain program.
Delta is running an early Black Friday award sale that will last a week, through the real Black Friday.
United has already largely been matching the low fares in the market.
Basic economy is a way of moving some passengers who buy those fares today to buy more expensive fares instead.
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For years I’ve written about routes that offers superior award space with United or other Star Alliance miles are often anything between the US and Brussels. That’s been even more true over the past year, although it’s also something that comes and goes in waves.
United charges 57,500 miles each way for travel on their own business class award flights, and they have strong availability. United charges 70,000 miles each way when business class transatlantic is on their partner Brussels Airlines.
I’ve written quite a bit about Club1 Hotels savings, they report $50 to $100 off per night on average. I’ve found the best deals at nicer properties. And they’ve been improving their website. They’re giving away a $50.00 Restaurant.com certificate with all reservations, and for every $1,500 spent they’re giving out a Priority Pass membership (both of these things can be gifted).
I’ve shown some of the better hotel deals offered but what’s been underreported is that they have airfare deals, too. This doesn’t get as much attention because you can’t search their airfare deals online, you have to request a quote. I’m told that their air partners don’t want to publicly reveel (and undercut their own online) pricing.
There’s been lots of controversy and confusion surrounding Hyatt’s program changes going into effect March 1. I’ve had plenty of thoughts about what the changes mean and there are things I really don’t like (and not just the new names for elite tiers).
I’ve formulated a hotel elite status plan for myself going forward, in light of these changes.
Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel -- a topic he has covered since 2002.
Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »
