I’ve written in the past about getting significant savings on hotels by buying Hyatt stay certificates. For years Hyatt would let you reserve a hotel and then buy a certificate to cover that reservation at far less than the hotel’s published rate. Those stays would not earn points or elite credit, but Hyatt did honor elite benefits when using the certificates. This was one of the great loopholes in travel. I noted last week that several Hyatt hotels appeared to have been removed from participation in the stay certificate program. Many other hotels went up ion category, such that the certificates required for a given property were now more expensive. Changes were apparently rolled out on August 28th. I reached out to the person that runs Hyatt’s gift card program to get a better understanding…
About Gary Leff
Hyatt Regency Coral Gables Revisited, and Still Pretty Good for What it Is
I reviewed the hotel just last month but thought I’d mention it again because I had such a similar experience that I can say that it’s a good property for its purpose and for the money, and my earlier experience was not a fluke. The hotel is perfect for near the airport, I arrived in Miami around 10pm and didn’t want to make a lengthy drive until the morning. So I’ve used it twice now for one-night stays and it’s suited me perfectly. (It’s not an airport hotel per se and has no airport shuttle, but since I’m picking up a rental car and it’s close it works well.) Elite recognition it good, both stays I’ve been assigned a junior suite without using any sort of confirmed suite upgrade instrument. There was a semi-separated bedroom…
Bits ‘n Pieces for September 3, 2013
News and notes from around the interweb: Like US Airways, Alaska Airlines has been rolling out pre-order of buy on board coach meals. The test runs September 4 through November 30, 2013 on flights from Seattle to Atlanta, Newark, Honolulu, Kona, Chicago, Oakland, and Ontario. British Airways is offering a 25% bonus on transfers from hotel programs into Avios. 40-60 minutes to clear security in Orlando, and the crew line being used by ‘friends and family’? A bad deal on buying miles from United that becomes less bad the more people who are taken in by it. On September 12, the Visa/MasterCard anti-trust case settlement goes before a judge for approval. Law professor Todd Zywicki comments in Forbes. British Airways will begin Austin-London service with a Boeing 787 in March — five times weekly to…
The Death of the Brazil Trick for Australia Airfare Savings, and Thoughts on Sharing Deals
I made a mistake, it seems, in sharing a great tip at the April Frequent Traveler University. In an ‘off the record’ session where folks are asked not to post or write publicly about what’s discussed — I specifically offered up a tip on the understanding that it wouldn’t be publicly disclosed, suggesting that anyone who was uncomfortable with those terms please leave the room – I shared a way to save as much as $600 on tickets to Australia. The reason the tip was ‘off the record’ is because I believed that, if written about, the opportunity would go away. That’s why I never wrote about it on my blog, though of course sharing such ‘secrets’ is precisely how one gets notoriety and fame in this travel blogging world. I try hard to share…
Swiss Restricts First Class Redemptions to Top Elites – Don’t Worry You Didn’t Used to Be Able to Redeem for it Anyway
Via GhettoIFE, beginning January 1 first class award tickets on Swiss will only be available to Miles & More Senator and HON Circle members. They will still allow other Miles & More members to redeem for upgrades on paid business class tickets to first class. But no more redemptions. They claim this is because of “the prevailing market situation” which is a meaningless sentiment, almost as meaningless as calling this an ‘enhancement’. (And if this is really the product of current market conditions, when those change we can count on Swiss to change this approach right…?) Nonetheless, it really only effects Miles & More members (and folks who would transfer points into Miles & More from other programs) as Swiss first class awards have not in any meaningful way been open to Star Alliance partner…
Bits ‘n Pieces for September 2, 2013
News and notes from around the interweb: My hotel burned down and every other place was full. Frequent Traveler University is now less than 4 weeks away! 20% bonus on purchased Lufthansa Miles & More miles throughout the month of September. I am not a buyer. (HT: Milepoint) TopGuest social media checkins no longer earn MGM M Life points. Why travel agents still exist. They’re great for complex trips and travel to obscure places. The number of travel agents have fallen, but their average incomes are on the rise. You can join the 30,000+ people who see these deals and analysis every day — sign up to receive posts by email (just one e-mail per day) or subscribe to the RSS feed. It’s free. Don’t miss out!
All Mommy Miles and Points Bloggers Need to Start Flying Etihad, Stat!
Etihad has introduced onboard nanny services. We are delighted to announce the introduction of our Flying Nanny on all long-haul flights, a dedicated childcare assistance programme offered onboard and on the ground to provide families with an extra helping hand when travelling with children. All Etihad Flying Nannies are cabin crew members who have received additional training from Norland College, the world leader in training childcare professionals. Our Flying Nanny, dressed in a distinguishable bright orange apron, will: Begin assisting you right from the boarding gate, all the way until you and your family are comfortably seated on the plane Help onboard with the preparation of bassinets for babies Look after unaccompanied minors Keep children entertained while you’re enjoying a nap, in-flight meal or entertainment Now with our Flying Nanny onboard, you can rest assured…
New Stackable Aeroplan Bonus for Starwood Hotel Nights
Starwood is offering up to 9000 bonus Air Canada Aeroplan miles (Registration required). Stay five qualifying nights at Starwood hotels and resorts around the world from September 1 – December 15, 2013 and earn 5,000 Bonus Aeroplan Miles. Stay a seventh night and enjoy 2,000 more Bonus Aeroplan Miles. Stay a ninth night and earn 2,000 more, up to a maximum of 9,000 Bonus Aeroplan Miles during the promotion. Nights can accrue across multiple stays. Last month I called Aeroplan the most devalued airline frequent flyer program in North America. So if the promotion required giving up Starpoint accrual, I likely would not be highlighting it. But it doesn’t. And this promotion should even be stackable with the Starwood’s “Take Two” promotion offering double points plus 2500 bonus points for every 5 eligible nights (up…
Seat Assignments are Harder to Get Than First Class Awards on Cathay Pacific — But Here’s How to Solve That
Cathay Pacific Award Availability Can Be Fantastic – Far in Advance and Last Minute Cathay Pacific offers one of the world’s best inflight products. It probably has the very best business class (though with similar seats, pre-order meal options, and Dom Perignon champagne perhaps EVA Air gives them a run for the money — I have not personally flown EVA). And it has one of the very best first class products, too. But most of all it has one of the very best products that you can pretty easily redeem for, since award availability is generally quite good. Cathay Pacific flies from several North American gateways to Hong Kong: New York JFK, Newark, Toronto, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Vancouver. Award availability on Cathay Pacific is generally fantastic far in advance — when schedules…
Miami’s “Secret” American Airlines Club With Premium Liquor and a Nice Buffet
Miami used to have an American Airlines “Flagship Lounge” — an international first class lounge also open to American’s 100,000 mile flyers traveling internationally and also their oneworld partner top tier elite members. That one closed for renovations, never to re-open. The nice thing about Flagship Lounges, other than tending to be quieter and less busy than Admiral’s Clubs, is that they offer self-serve liquor and usually a decent buffet. I’ve been very fortunate to be a British Airways Gold member, granting me access to the New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles Flagship lounges whenever I pass through on American even just flying domestically. I became a British Airways Gold when BA acquired british midland. I was a long time bmi Gold, even though I never flew that airline — they were an easy Star…
