I’m in the November issue of Travel and Leisure beating the drum about how TSA hamstrings the usefulness of PreCheck. Is it worth it? Gary Leff, cofounder of the frequent-flier community milepoint.com, says there’s hardly ever a line, since the program is exclusive. But since PreCheck privileges aren’t ubiquitous, he can’t bank on having them every time he flies. I’ve made the point before, it’s a great experience. I admit, I love getting my three beeps and being directed to the metal detector and x-ray with no line, no nude-o-scope, and no need to take off my shoes (I don’t take my laptop out anyway, since I use a bag where it isn’t required, and I’m almost never required to take my Freedom Baggie of liquids out anyway). It’s far more civilized. But it doesn’t…
About Gary Leff
Free Marriott Silver Status
Today’s been all about free hotel status, starting with Langham Hotels 1865 Voyager status and then Accor Platinum. Now, via FatWallet, a simple explanation of how Marriott signs up people at the Silver status level from a variety of companies that they have corporate agreements with. There’s a simple link, the format is http://www.joinmarriottrewards.com/account/silver/default.aspx?source=COMPANYNAME So the link for IBM is http://www.joinmarriottrewards.com/account/silver/default.aspx?source=IBM And the link for Accenture is http://www.joinmarriottrewards.com/account/silver/default.aspx?source=ACCENTURE And the link for the University of California is http://joinmarriottrewards.com/account/silver/default.aspx?source=UniversityofCalifornia … to give a few examples, each of which open new accounts at the Silver level. You can try to enter your own company name to see what’s offered, if anything. (For instance, Microsoft has a page but it doesn’t offer silver status.) The benefits of Marriott Rewards silver status aren’t exceptional, but it’s better to be…
Rethinking Hyatt’s Decision to Drop the Passport Escape Award
This morning I wrote about Hyatt’s decision to drop the Passport Escape award from its program. I like the award a lot, I used it myself earlier in the year, and I am disappointed to see that it’s going away on November 1. And not just because I hate to see options of any kind for members disappear, I viewed this as a really valuable option offered by Hyatt. Sometimes I shoot first and ask questions later. I need to get better about holding my opinions until I have all of the information. Shortly before I posted about the change, I asked the Hyatt PR folks if they could comment on why they were eliminating the award. I didn’t hear back immediately. It’s not unreasonable for it to take a couple of hours. I need…
40% Off at Sofitel and Instant Top Tier Platinum Status
Sofitel is running a 40% off flash sale for bookings made by October 21st stays between December 1st, 2012 and March 31st, 2013. The rates are pre-paid, non-refundable and take 40% off of the “Premium rate (or the Best Flexible Rate for hotels that do not have the Premium rate.” The full list of participating hotels, blackout dates, and restrictions (such as 3-night minimum stay) is here (.pdf) Sofitel is part of Le Club Accorhotels, and currently — as happens with some frequency — there is a signup link which yields instant top-tier Platinum status. Note that the signup page is just a signup page, no indication on that page that accounts will start at the Platinum level, but indeed it’s currently working. As I explained the last time there was a similar offer of…
Free Langham Hotels Mid-Tier Elite Status
Through December 31, Langham Hotels is offering complimentary 1865 Voyager elite status for Visa Infinite cardholders. The way they verify that you are eligible for the offer is by asking you to input the first six digits of your Visa Infinite credit card. This list of issuer identification numbers from Wikipedia contains 7 different Visa Infinite starting card number options. The status lasts for 12 months, and normally requires 5 stays in a year to earn but will be renewed after just 2 stays during a year under this offer. Benefits include 6pm late checkout, a one-category room upgrade each stay, a suite upgrade certificate once per year, complimentary internet, welcome amenities, and a luggage tag. Langham hotels are in Auckland, Boston, London, Pasadena, Melbourne, Shanghai, Beijing, and Hong Kong. (HT: Loyalty Lobby)
Hyatt Eliminating ‘Passport Escape’ Award Option Effective November 1
Hyatt Gold Passport doesn’t offer all-inclusive rewards, but has done one of the very best jobs at offering an award that comes close to approximating it — Passport Escape which provides daily breakfast for two and a welcome amenity and 3 dinners on a 5-night stay or 5 dinners on a 7-night stay. This is a great value option at pricey hotels and resorts for general members of the Gold Passport program and for Platinum members. For folks inclined to eat their meals at the hotel, 54,000 extra points on a full 7 night stay (it varies by 1000 points or so for category 3 through 7 hotels, and is less expensive at category 1 and 2 properties) buys 14 breakfasts and 10 dinners. For resort hotels where breakfasts run $25 per person (or much…
Bits ‘n Pieces for October 16, 2012
News and notes from around the interweb: American’s pilots union is making kissy faces at management: “While there are some very difficult issues yet to be resolved, we feel management is clearly listening to our issues and acknowledges that they need to be addressed..Enough progress has been made to justify the continuation of negotiations next week.” Through November 30, Hertz is offering 250 elite qualifying miles on Delta for each rental of 3 days or longer. You also earn 250 Skymiles, which isn’t a lot, you’re giving up greater redeemable miles offers elsewhere. But your rentals can help your elite status so if you’re in a position where that matters it’s likely worthwhile. Use CDP #165385 and PC #175512 when making the booking. (HT: MJOnTravel) Mile Nerd rounds up various mileage offers for switching utility…
United: the More People Who Get Snookered into a Bad Buy Miles Deal, the Less Bad it Gets
This is, I suppose, United’s attempt to raise money by being ‘social’. But the Groupon phenomenon of getting your customers to make your offers go viral in order to be eligible for an exciting offer (“The Deal is On!”) seems so two years ago. Through October 19 you earn a minimum of 30% bonus when purchasing miles from United, but the more people who buy the higher your bonus will get – up to 60%. Here’s the chart showing how many people buying into the offer it takes to yield each level of higher bpnus: As of this writing, 27 people have made purchases. But they dropped an email to a large member file, they do have about 90 million members, I imagine they can find 4000 people to buy most anything. At a 30%…
Donate to Charity, Earn United Elite Status
Milepoint, United, and KULA Causes are working together on an innovative charity auction. There are four different auctions for elite status, you can choose to bid for your choice of which status you want from United — 1K, Platinum, Gold, or Silver. The available statuses, which will last through January 2014, are: 1x Premier 1K status 2x Premier Platinum status 2x Premier Gold status 2x Premier Silver status Here’s a piece that I think is really innovative. Instead of supporting a pre-designated charity, like Susan G. Komen or Livestrong, the funds will be directed by your fellow frequent flyers. Each person on next month’s Star MegaDO will receive a coupon for their pro-rated share of pooled charitable donations, and with the help of KULA Causes they will get to direct the organization that will receive…
American Introduces Domestic Premium Cabin Pre-Order Meals
When I first ran across this over on a Dallas Morning News blog I was shaking my head, ‘seriously, we’ll get to pick our meals in domestic first class?’ I even shot an email off to folks at American to confirm my understanding, wondering if it would be a benefit limited to paid first class passengers and not just folks upgrading (which is how most of us get there). If you are a premium class customer on American Airlines (read first or business class) and you can predict what you’ll be hungry for by the time your flight takes off, you can pre-order your entrée under a program announced Monday. Images of Singapore Airlines’ Book the Cook began popping into mind. No, I didn’t imagine I’d be able to pre-order lobster thermidor for a Washington…
