Last year I wrote How to Get – and Use – Airline Status Matches. Travel providers are interested in acquiring their competitors’ best customers, but elite status has a lock-in effect. Sure, you might want to defect from United to American or from Delta to Alaska, but it’s pretty tough to do that and start from scratch with a new airline. You’re well treated as an elite, and it’s rough out there flying without any status (although now the bottom tier of status can be approximated in many cases with the airline’s co-branded credit card). So airlines came up first with status matches (you have elite status with a competitor, we will give you that status on our airline to make it easier to move your business over) and then status challenges (we’ll let you…
About Gary Leff
The Shocking Fact About Trump’s New Hotel Brand and Free Points
Sep
28
2016
A roundup of the most important stories of the day. I keep you up to date on the most interesting writings I find on other sites – the latest news and tips.
Should You Fly First Class on a US Airline or Business Class on an Asian Carrier?
Sep
27
2016
Not all Asian carriers have the top business class products, but all of the truly best business class products are offered by Asian or Middle Eastern carriers. Take Singapore Airlines. With a four-across configuration like in first class, Singapore Airlines seats are incredible wide and they are also relatively private.
Increasingly US airlines are eliminating first class, with American slated to be the last carrier offering it and then only on their small fleet of Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. And US airlines don’t offer service or food that’s as good in first class as some of the better carriers offer in business. But I’ll still always take first class over business class.
With These Airlines You’ll Want to Eat Onboard — Not at a Restaurant
Sep
27
2016
t’s rarely the case that airlines will provide meals that will be better than what you can get on the ground. The prepacking in the flight kitchen, constrained spaces onboard, and altitude present real challenges. And food is hardly the primary driver of my choice of premium cabin airline (heh, award space usually is!).
But some airlines do a fantastic job despite the challenging conditions.
$50 Rebate on Hyatt Regency Stays for New and Existing Hyatt Visa Customers
Sep
27
2016
Hyatt’s 10% rebate on award redemptions for co-brand credit card holders runs through October 31.
They’ve got another offer for Hyatt Visa cardholders as well: a $50 statement credit for $500 in cumulative spend on the card at U.S. Hyatt Regency properties.
The Huge Downside to Signing Up for Global Entry, and How to Circumvent It
Sep
27
2016
Most US citizens want Global Entry because it includes PreCheck, for an extra $15 gets expedited immigration (of decreasing importance as immigration kiosks roll out), and it reimbursed by more premium credit cards than PreCheck. Frequent Canadian visitors should get Nexus, and it’s cheaper, but the waits and dual approvals may discourage.
Here’s the rub in all of this. Wait times. If you sign up for Global Entry now, you may not get it this year.
Uber Looking to Add Flights and 250 Free Avios
Sep
26
2016
A roundup of the most important stories of the day. I keep you up to date on the most interesting writings I find on other sites – the latest news and tips.
$500 Hotel Credit Giveaway: New Luxury Discount Booking Website
Sep
26
2016
Hotels set their price, and generally they have to offer the same price through their chain’s website that they offer through online travel agency sites like Expedia or Hotels.com. Online travel agencies get a commission, but usually aren’t able to reduce the hotel’s price. If they did, you could claim the chain’s ‘best rate guarantee’.
But a membership website isn’t going to be subject to a best rate guarantee. A new one promises big savings, rebating their commissions, and is giving away free one year memberships — and a reader will get $500 to spend on a hotel there as well.
More Great News from Marriott
Sep
26
2016
Last week’s big news was that the Marriott acquisition of Starwood closed, and immediately they offered to let members transfer points between accounts and status match.
That’s great, but today we have more good news. Depending on your perspective this may be even better news — not for the loyalty program, but for actually staying at their hotels.
How Does Earning Marriott Platinum With Credit Card Spending Work?
Sep
26
2016
Marriott has been investing in their rewards program more than I’d have expected since announcing the Starwood merger, which has now closed. I see Marriott Rewards getting stronger. And Ritz-Carlton Rewards status is honored equally as Marriott status.
So earning Gold status just for having a credit card is great, $10,000 in spend each year to keep it is as well. And being able to earn Platinum status through spend is impressive.
