Citibank significantly overpaid to grab the Costco co-brand away from American Express — even though the deal should have been worth more to American Express than to Citi.
Indeed, under the arrangement Costco’s credit card acceptance costs will be near zero.
The New York Times today lays out the best ‘in one place explanation’ of what Delta SkyMiles has done to their program this year — and frames it with comments from Delta, United, American and American Express. People will be able to do with that information (or not do with it) as they will, but at least they’ll be informed well beyond what I can do with this blog.
I keep you up to date on the most interesting writings I find on other sites – the latest news and tips.
It’s 1993 all over again, as Seinfeld’s “Double Dip Chip” returns to Hilton HHonors. Hilton brings back ‘double dipping’ into its terms and conditions… and makes an elite-unfriendly clarification to internet access rules as well.
“Many [airline executives] rue the day in 1981 when American Airlines introduced its frequent-flier program and resent the consumer entitlement that resulted, even if airlines did take for granted the loyalty that the programs fostered for so long.”
What’s wrong with United Airlines comes straight from the top. The IT problems and labor relations are just symptoms.
I keep you up to date on the most interesting writings I find on other sites – the latest news and tips.
NRG Home Solar will give you 5000 American Airlines miles if you’re a resident of California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York or North Carolina and you take them up on a solar power consultation.
They’ll give you 25,000 additional miles if you actually buy.
United is offering a 25% bonus on hotel points converted to miles through August 31.
When they ran a similar bonus in the fall (with a higher cap), Starwood was excluded. This time Starwood transfers — still a poor value to United — are eligible.
The baddest credit cards for earning miles and points, and offering benefits, don’t always look the coolest.
Sure, Chase Sapphire Preferred isn’t just one of the best bonuses, fastest earning cards, and with points that are among the most valuable — it’s also gorgeous. It’s heavy, a metal card, and without raised numbers or letters. It’s a sleek piece of plastic. And you can’t even shred it, or destroy it with a blow torch. AndyAndy tried.
But if you don’t have one of these cards and want one you can have one made.
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 »
