News and notes from around the interweb: Stackable promotion codes for booking hotels at a discount. These make TravelPony useful again. Amazing award availability using Star Alliance miles (United, Aeroplan, etc) for business class seats on Turkish Airlines and Swiss from Montreal and Toronto this coming November through January. The BigCrumbs cash back shopping portal is now MainStreetSHARES. Instead of straight cash back, your online shopping earns a share of company revenue, and your shares get you a piece of any payout if the company is acquired. (HT: Free Frequent Flyer Miles) How to protect yourself from hacks like the British Airways one. “It’s a major cost to the programs themselves. Members are always made whole and do not lose their points once the problem is identified,” says Gary Leff, co-founder of online frequent flier…
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BOOKMARK THIS POST: Here’s a Link That Still Works for the 50,000 Mile Bonus US Airways Credit Card
A few days ago I explained the wind down schedule for the US Airways credit card, with the Dividend Miles program being folded into American AAdvantage. Barclays was only able to issue new cards for the Dividend Miles program. Existing cardmembers get to keep their cards and are transitioned into Barclays-issued American AAdvantage cards. But new AAdvantage personal credit cards can only be issued by Citibank. But just because Dividend Miles is over as a program, doesn’t mean that the US Airways credit card application links are gone. They’re only ‘mostly gone’. Most US Airways links are dead. In my earlier post I explained that ‘remind later’ feature on the application would generate a link that would still allow applications for 30 days. This link still works at least as of this writing. I would…
American’s New Upgrade Process is Working… Almost. Here’s What You Need to Know.
American is making some changes to its upgrade processes along with the merging of Dividend Miles into AAdvantage for a single frequent flyer program. Complimentary upgrades for all elites on flights of 500 miles or less (instead of requiring 500 mile upgrade certificates for all domestic upgrades, with complimentary upgrades only for top tier elites) No more ‘grace’ of 51 miles for 500 mile upgrade certificates — a 501 mile flight requires (2) 500 mile upgrade certificates. Auto-requesting of upgrades, the default it to auto-request an upgrade where it’s complimentary instead of having to proactively opt-in Per Traveling Better there are some glitches to this process that are being worked on. Elite ‘AAirpass’ (prepaid travel) members traveling with a companion cannot have upgrades requested online, and have to contact American to make their upgrade request.…
The Strange Reason American Now Requires You to Enter Your Last Name at Login
Now that US Airways Dividend Miles is being combined into American AAdvantage, the American website login process requires you to enter your frequent flyer number and password.. and last name. You can log into the American or US Airways sites with either your Dividend Miles or AAdvantage account number. If you were a Dividend Miles member and not an AAdvantage number you may not even know your new American Airlines frequent flyer number yet. Here’s why they need to know your last name.
The Weakest Credit Card Signup Bonus in History, 100 Free Miles, and How the TSA Knows You’re a Terrorist
News and notes from around the interweb: New Rocketmiles first time customer offer earn a minimum of 10,000 miles on a stay of 5 or more nights booked by March 29. Credit card signup bonus: A 2-liter bottle of soda The TSA’s checklist for Behavior Detection — my objections to the screening process mean I’m a possible terrorist. How Allegiant cuts costs. Employees fly standby even on company business — “if he is going to go meet with bankers” — which strikes me as just stupid (if really accurate). 100 free Aeroplan points — reset those expiration dates on Aeroplan accounts!
Ways to Maximize Your Miles Without Credit Cards
Reader WR asked for “[w]ays to maximize miles *without* use of credit cards.” I’ll take the question to mean, what are the best ways to earn miles without signing up for credit cards, or using credit cards as the means of earning miles (through bonus categories, or heavy spend – manufactured or not). I’ll allow that credit cards can be used as a payment mechanism for activities you’d do otherwise. There have been plenty of great opportunities over time. I’ll never forget earning 20,000 Delta miles for a Bosley hair restoration consultation (I had more hair back then). I used to benefit mightily from United’s GroceryMiles program with Safeway. And then there was dumpster diving. But there are lots of ways to earn miles today:
Making a Career Out of Miles and Points
Reader Justin asked, Hi Gary – Do you have any recommendations for points or miles careers working out of Boston? Maybe working in the loyalty space or for a blog? I have a financial services consulting background and recently left my firm. I am an avid traveler and would love a career where I could pursue my passion. I have been reading your blog for over 6 years now and would love any advice you have to offer. Thank you so much! Justin, the best advice I can offer is run. Run away. As far and as fast as you can. The travel industry generally is a really tough place to make money. And while there are certainly large and enduring contracts — such as providing new CRM systems to loyalty programs, and even managing…
Why Aren’t There Any Good Thai Restaurants in New York?
Reader Andrew said, Gary, would you tell us about your favorite Thai restaurants in NYC? Are any of them the same caliber as Elephant Jumps? Bonus points for being run-down, hole-in-the-wall places. If you want to eat Elephant Jumps’ food you’re going to have to go to Elephant Jumps. There’s unlikely to be a New York substitute. For all of you New Yorkers that have your back up at that statement, I’ll happily concede that the Washington DC area can compete or outcompete New York in probably only one or two other areas — Vietnamese for sure, and I’m tempted to say Ethiopian although that cuisine has been in long-term decline in the District. You’re going to get more hole in the wall places in Flushing than in Manhattan, and in Manhattan on the streets…
You Can Now Use American Miles and Systemwide eVIPs to Upgrade US Airways Flights
With the merger of US Airways Dividend Miles into the American AAdvantage program, there’s no more separate US Airways program. There are no more US Airways miles or elite upgrades. There’s only AAdvantage. US Airways members are now American AAdvantage members. The two airlines remain separate and will continue to operate separately until late this year. American’s new domestic first class product Until now, American miles could be used to upgrade American flights, and US Airways miles used to upgrade US Airways flights. Each airline’s top tier elite systemwide upgrades could only be used on the issuing-airline’s flights. American’s business class seat onboard the Boeing 777-300ER That changes now. American AAdvantage elite status is valid for complimentary upgrades on US Airways domestic flights. American miles can be used (with cash co-pay) to upgrade US Airways…
Resort Fees are Evil (and Actionable), Arming the TSA, New Hotel Bonus Promotion
News and notes from around the interweb: The TSA wants to be armed. In Virginia, the director of the charitable gaming commission used to be armed until my then-boss was appointed to its board and pushed to eliminate this militarization. The TSA doesn’t need its own armed force — there’s already an on-scene armed force in the form of police. The Venetian and Palazzo are being sued over resort fees. While consumers kvetch about well-disclosed checked bag fees, hotels engage in perhaps the most egregious deceptive pricing practice in travel. Club Carlson 5000 bonus points per night promo The airline flight that carried more drugs than people. (HT: Idir) In light of the Germanwings tragedy, Norwegian now requires two crew members in the cockpit at all times. Lufthansa will too. As will Air Malta and…
