I’ve found that Starwood hotels are the best overall at responding to complaints. If something goes wrong on a stay, an email to Corporate Customer Service (customercare -at- starwoodhotels.com) generally takes care of it. I find that most of the time a meaningful complaint yields points equal to a free night’s stay at a given hotel. It seems that Starwood seems to have the most control over its individual properties, and corporate headquarters is the most empowered to make things right unilaterally. The hotel itself, of course, it the one that’s going to wind up paying for any ‘make good’. Most chains aren’t quite as responsive as Starwood. But thanks to the Hilton brand standards documents we know exactly what Hilton hotels are responsible for. Hilton has separate documents for each of their brands and…
About Gary Leff
Hilton Has an Elite Status Level I Didn’t Even Know Existed. Here’s What It Is.
I receive compensation for many links on this blog. You don’t have to use these links, but I am grateful to you if you do. American Express, Citibank, Chase, and other banks are advertising partners of this site. I do not write about all credit cards that are available — instead focusing on miles, points, and cash back (and currencies that can be converted into the same). Prompted by my post on Accor’s loyalty manual, which follows summaries I’ve written of private ‘hotel eyes only’ documents for several chains: Secrets that Holiday Inn Express Tells Hotel Owners Secret Rules of the Club Carlson Hotel Program Best Western’s Hotel Manual Revealed …reader Bryan pointed me to Hilton’s proprietary standards documents for each of their regions and brands which are available unprotected online. One interesting tidbit that…
Frequent Traveler University Dallas in April: the Only Large FTU Event in 2015
The next USA TODAY TRAVEL Frequent Traveler University is April 17-19 at the Hyatt Regency DFW, minutes from the Dallas Fort Worth airport. I’ve had conversations at the last week, and with a number of other commitments through 2015 this will be the only large Frequent Traveler University this year. As you’re only chance to go to an FTU, with hundreds of other like-minded frequent flyers for a weekend and great speakers, you’ll want to get your tickets right away! Frequent Traveler University ($149) Hotel booking link – Hyatt Regency DFW special $99 rate Some of the speakers include: Seth Miller, Wandering Aramean Gary Leff, View from the Wing Ben Schlappig, One Mile at a Time Summer Hull, Mommy Points Ed Pizzarello, Pizza in Motion Greg Davis-Keane, Frequent Miler Stefan Krasowski, Rapid Travel Chai Scott…
The Best New Travel Tools, Anthony Bourdain’s Favorite Burger, and Double Qualifying Miles Through March 8
News and notes from around the interweb: 11 Cool Things from the Comsumer Electronics Show That Will Make Travel Better Cyprus Airways shuts down. I flew them in 2007 as part of the Alitalia $33+tax business class mistake fare, and much enjoyed them (and my time at the Le Meridien Limassol). United is putting out new special-edition destination-specific amenity kits Anthony Bourdain hits the airport In ‘n Out Burger at LAX every time he goes through Los Angeles. Just like the rest of us. Passengers flying out of Seattle today on Alaska Airlines get a free cocktail. Register to earn double base points on JetBlue for flights booked and flown by March 8. The points do count towards status. (HT: Free Frequent Flyer Miles) You can join the 40,000+ people who see these deals and…
The Government Will Now Require Airlines to Permit Instruments As Carry Ons
The Department of Transportation is focusing on the truly important issues of the day. On Monday they published a final rule that will require airlines to permit small instruments as carry on items. The rule will also require airlines to allow customers to purchase seats for larger instruments. The American Federation of Musicians is pleased. “For many years, [American Federation of Musicians] members have been subject to very arbitrary and contradictory size and weight requirements imposed by each airline for musical instruments that are carried on board the airplane or checked as baggage,” AFM President Ray Hair wrote in a letter to the organization’s members. “Airlines will now follow a consistent policy for all musicians traveling with instruments.” Note that this new rule will do nothing to: Prevent United from breaking guitars that are indeed…
10 Great Ways to Save Money on Rental Cars
Airlines and hotels get most of the ink in travel and in terms of getting the best deal. And when I write about rental cars that seems to generate the last interest. But I rent cars, on many trips I’m in the car longer than the plane and if the trip is long enough I can spend as much on airport taxes and gas as on my ticket. Cars shouldn’t just be an afterthought. Here’s how you can save money renting cars:
Review: Qantas First Class Lounge, Sydney
Must-read Earlier Installments: Singapore, Cathay, and Qantas First Class.. Some of the Best Meals of My Life, and a Tour of Hyatts in Bangkok, Singapore, and Sydney Inside the New Oneworld Lounge at LAX’s Tom Bradley International Terminal Cathay Pacific First Class, Los Angeles – Hong Kong Cathay Pacific “The Wing” First Class Lounge, Hong Kong Cathay Pacific Business Class, Hong Kong – Bangkok Grand Hyatt Bangkok: Suite, Club Lounge, and Facilities Thai Molecular Gastronomy at Sra Bua in Bangkok Getting Custom Tailored Suits Made in Bangkok at Empire Tailors Nahm at the Metropolitan: the Best Thai Food in Thailand? Thailand’s Iron Chef Cooks Ancient Recipes in a Deserted Top Notch Restaurant Eating The Best Local Thai Dishes in the Bangrak Neighborhood of Bangkok Louis Tavern CIP Lounge and Cathay Pacific Business Class, Bangkok-Singapore Grand…
Why Airline Frequent Flyer Programs Have Gotten Less Generous (It’s Not the Reason You Think!)
One of the most widely held views of my readers is that frequent flyer programs have become less generous because of airline mergers — there’s less competition. It’s an interesting view, although I’m not sure that it’s a correct one. We very much still have competition from: Delta/American/United/Southwest (4 huge domestic players) Alaska/Virgin America/JetBlue/Frontier/Spirit/etc (real domestic competitive role players) Most customers at most airports have real choice in whom to fly. There are hub captives, for sure (which is to say, one airline offering the most service and the most non-stop options so consumers spending other peoples’ money make purchase decisions based on convenience) and there’s not much serious competition for hubs — outside of New York (Delta and United, and to a lesser extent American and JetBlue), Chicago (American and United), Los Angeles (Delta,…
Accor Hotels Secret Loyalty Manual Uploaded Publicly to Google Play. Here’s What it Says..
When loyalty program manuals that are given to hotels leak, they make for interesting readings — about the economics of the program, what hotels are expected to deliver, and how programs ensure (such as through fines) that hotels comply. I’ve written about several of these in the past: Secrets that Holiday Inn Express Tells Hotel Owners Secret Rules of the Club Carlson Hotel Program Best Western’s Hotel Manual Revealed The Le Club Accorhotels Manual turns out to be available free on GooglePlay Books.
Buying Gift Cards With Gift Cards, Earning Miles Paying Rent (for Free!), and Bill Boeing Dies
News and notes from around the interweb: On New Years Eve (so you may have missed it!) I wrote about a new way to earn miles for paying rent. The service has just eliminated fees! This won’t last: earning rebates buying eBay gift cards with eBay gift cards Bill Boeing, Jr. has passed away. He never worked at Boeing. His father, of course, left the company after the government broke it up (it was not only an aircraft manufacturer but also the parent of United Airlines and United Technologies). India’s second-largest budget airline, SpiceJet, is working on a bailout. Oman Air has initiated a cost-cutting program aimed at stemming losses. JetBlue has announced Portland-Anchorage service. Not a route I would have predicted, but they’ve done Long Beach – Anchorage and Seattle – Anchorage (another one…
