The US Airways Premier World MasterCard® This card is offering 40,000 miles after first purchase (no minimum spending requirement). These miles will ultimately be combinable with miles in an American AAdvantage account. That means you can get American Airlines cards too and you’ll be able to pool the miles when the two frequent flyer programs combine, or possibly even earlier. You will not be able to apply for the card once the American and US Airways programs combine. This card is from Barclays, and Citibank will become the exclusive issuer of new American Airlines credit cards. But if you have an existing Barclaycard account, you can keep it. If you hope to get more than one US Airways MasterCard, it’s best to sign up for one now. Barclays is tougher on getting second cards than…
About Gary Leff
Why Hotel Programs Should Keep Points Prices of Their Best Properties Low
Hilton HHonors so devalued their program last year that top-end hotels which once cost as little as 32,000 or 40,000 points per night on a 5-night stay like the Conrad Maldives cost 80,000 or even 95,000 points a night When I had breakfast with Hilton HHonors Vice President Mark Weinstein last month, he explained the bind they’re in, with room rates rising and hotels full their hotels have to be compensated more for award nights. And I told him that doesn’t mean they want to pass on the corresponding increase to their members in all cases; that members and the program can benefit by keeping the cost of certain aspirational properties more modest even if that means holding onto them as a loss leader. That’s because they’ll build loyalty and put heads in beds throughout…
The Most Useful Travel Websites
I’m not sure if I’ve just become curmudgeonly (“they don’t make them like they used to”) but despite an explosion of travel websites I haven’t updated my mental model of those that are actually the most useful in several years. So I thought I’d list the travel sites and tools that I find the most useful, and hopefully you can chime in with the ones you use. I’d love to be educated, shaken out of my complacency and usual routine, and learn about something new. Awardwallet. The free version suffices for most anyone’s needs, it’s a great tool for tracking all of your miles and points in one place, and it lets you have one-click login to your accounts as well. They offer some social and trip organizing features as well, though I don’t use…
The Best Airline and Hotel Mistake Deals — and What to Do When You Find One
Frequent flyer award tickets are one thing, you can get amazing value. But when airlines and hotels give away their product nearly for free, you can do even better — and usually without having to constrain yourself to dates that are available on points. here are some of the best deals that have come along, and what to do when they appear.
$15 Fare, Mileage Purchase Discount, Award Redemption Discount, and More Kickstarter (Bits ‘n Pieces for May 13, 2014)
News and notes from around the interweb: Frontier comes to Washington Dulles with $15 fares. Of course your trip will cost more than that once you pay fees for carry on bags. JetBlue is offering 20% off award redemptions made through tomorrow. United is offering up to 35% off on the purchase of miles. But that’s still over 2.4 cents a mile so not a very good deal. Travel is Free has a kickstarter to raise funds for an adoption. Meanwhile pfdigest is raising funds for a hostile takeover of Citibank. All inspired by this? How to activate $200 Visa gift cards from Staples.com without waiting for activation codes. 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…
United Giveth.. And Quickly Taketh Away: No More Free Checked Bags for Star Alliance Silvers
United used to give Star Alliance elite members really outstanding treatment — including economy plus seating for Gold members and a generous checked baggage allowance for Golds and Silvers. Long after economy plus extra legroom seating went away, Star Alliance Silver members lost their second free checked bag in March 2011. Star Alliance Gold members were reduced from 3 checked bags to 1, and down from 70 pounds each to 50 in October 2013. At the same time Star Alliance silver members had free checked bags taken away from them entirely Then at the beginning of last month the United.com website was updated to show Star Alliance silver members again receiving a free checked bag. But commenter M S points out that this benefit has again been removed from the United baggage fee detail page.…
Should Members of Congress Be Allowed to Fly First Class?
@pcpontificates tweets about a proposed bill to make Members of Congress fly coach. Members of Congress fly 2x+ a week. They should get free elite upgrades. Still, this bill is a stunt. cc:@garyleff Let me first say that I think the bill is pure grandstanding. It’s a legislative fix in search of a problem. When I read reports on the bill about Members of Congress having to sit in coach, I cringed — surely the authors understand that frequent flyers get upgrades? And it turns out it isn’t as idiotic as it sounds on face, with Members of Congress being required to turn down elite upgrades and finding it harder to work inflight. The bill applies standard federal travel rules for agencies which allow for premium cabin travel under specific circumstances. Under the proposed bill…
North Korean Airline News, Say Goodbye to the MD80, Bonus Amex Points, and Earn Up to 100,000 Miles (Bits ‘n Pieces for May 12, 2014)
News and notes from around the interweb: 1500 American miles on a one-day Avis rental When US Airways joined the oneworld alliance they weren’t adding fuel surcharges onto British Airways award tickets. Last week they started to, but I explained that it may still be possible to get in under the wire. Matthew walks through the process of how it’s done. The indispensable source for all things related to North Korean aviation Etihad’s new 3-bedroom The Residence onboard their soon-to-deliver A380 represents a clever use of otherwise-dead space. Retiring the MD-80. The end nears for the decades-long mainstay of the American Airlines fleet. 10,000 American Express points for making a purchase from ANA of $2000 or more American is offering ‘up to 100,000 miles’ for transatlantic travel on their flights and those of their joint…
It’s Amazing How Many People We Depend on When We Travel
This morning I woke up and realized something that I simply take for granted. When we travel we depend on so many people to execute their assigned tasks — ideally flawlessly, but at least to execute them. Our days and our successes rely on others. We couldn’t accomplish even the simplest things on our own. (See also, “I, Pencil“) And just one of those people, at an airport hotel, has the ability to turn your entire day for better or worse. Now, the basic principles of choosing an airport hotel are: You choose the hotel attached to the airport (if one exists and you can afford it). You choose the most recently renovated hotel. Airport properties tend to take more of a beating more quickly than other properties. But there’s a third thing that I…
2 Free Marriott Weekend Nights With Purchase of Tires
Pizza in Motion is spinning his wheels over a new promotion for two free Marriott nights when you buy tires from Tire Rack. When you purchase a set of four (4) Continental passenger or light truck tires in a single transaction (excluding HSR and HDR tires) for a total value of $440* or more, you may be eligible to receive 2 free nights† at participating Marriott Hotels. Offer valid on tires purchased from Tire Rack’s in-stock inventory between 12:00 a.m. EDT May 5, 2014 and 11:59 p.m. EDT June 2, 2014. The minimum $440 purchase for 4 tires is the cost of tires only — it excludes “shipping, mounting, balancing, taxes, road hazard insurance coverage or any other fees.” These are weekend nights (Friday or Saturday check-in) and the free nights will be delivered by…
