National is offering Executive Status in their Emerald Club as a complimentary benefit to American Express Platinum cardmembers. I happen to have the card, but the link alone is sufficient, they didn’t even request the Platinum card number anywhere during the enrollment process which suggests that the offer could likely be used by anyone. If you’re not already an Emerald Club member the offer provides free signup. And if you are it’ll provide the status upgrade. Emerald Status members earn a free rental day for every six credits instead of seven, and choose a car from the Executive Selection rather than the standard Emerald Aisle, and when reserving a higher class of car than midsize pay for one car class below what was reserved. (The Avis Presidents Club offer for Continental Presidential Plus Mastercard holders…
About Gary Leff
Hilton 3rd Quarter Bonus: Double Points or Double Miles
Between July 7 and September 30, Hilton HHonors is offering your choice of double miles or double points. You have to choose which one you want, and you have to register for that offer. Double points applies to base points only. If you’re choosing double miles, your earning style of course needs to be set to earn miles — either points and variable miles or points and fixed miles. As a general matter I choose to earn points and fixed miles, and use British Midland as my double dip partner — 1000 miles per day up to 3 days per stay. I’d be happy earning 6000 bmi miles on a 3 night stay. Not nearly as lucrative an offer as the recently-ended Hyatt Big Welcome Back (aka Faster Free Nights) of a free night for…
Amtrak Guest Rewards Northeast Corridor Point Bonuses
Via Wandering Arameam, Amtrak is offering bonuses for Acela and Northeast Regional train travel through September 4. Every 6 one-way trips on Acela earns 3000 bonus points (registration required) and the bonus can be earned three times. Every 4 one-way trips on Northeast Regional service earns 1500 bonus points (registration required) and the bonus can be earned three times as well.
Aegean Airlines — the New and Easiest Path to Star Alliance Gold Status
Lucky and Kiwi Flyer have already written about the great, low qualification requirements for Star Alliance Gold status with Aegean Airlines which has just joined Star Alliance. I’ve previously written about the easiest ways to secure Star Alliance Gold status, Turkish Miles & Smiles requires 40,000 miles in 12 months to make Star Alliance Gold. That status is valid for 2 years. And — as long as you don’t reside in Turkey — requalifying only takes 25.000 status miles in the first year or 37.500 status miles over two years. Asiana Club…Star Gold is earned after flying 40,000 qualifying miles within two years, and status lasts for two years. If you earn the status quickly enough, it can actually last for a full four years before dropping down and having to requalify again. And of…
Delta Adding Minimum Stay Requirements to Award Tickets Booked Within 21 Days of Departure
I really didn’t think that Delta could make their Skypesos program any worse or less friendly than it already is. But they’ve found a way. In August they are adding minimum stay requirements for award tickets booked at the usual standard (‘low’ in Delta parlance) mileage price within 21 days of departure. Minimum Stay (Effective in August 2010) A minimum of a Friday or Saturday night stay will be required for Award tickets booked within 21 days from departure. Minimum stay will not apply to the following: •Awards booked by Diamond, Platinum and Gold Medallion members •Awards booked by Delta Reserve, Platinum and Gold primary cardmembers •Awards priced at mid or high tier levels Continental did away with Saturday night stay requirements. It’s not something that United or American have. It was long a feature…
An Excellent Introduction to the World of Miles, Points, and True Travel Bargains
Back in November I recommended Chris Guillebeau’s $49 frequent flyer guide e-book. It’s not for the battle-tested two million miler that upgrades all their flights already, books international premium class award tickets for breakfast, or who figured out all on their own that buying stickers from US Airways back in December could fund their international first class aspirations for the rest of their life. No, it’s an excellent introduction for someone coming at this from the beginning, maybe the kind of person reading this blog (admittedly written more of the time for experts than for novices) for the first time perhaps via a Google search, or someone who travels a lot and knows there’s more out there but is overwhelmed by all of the information. Chris’ book is a good start on miles and points…
BMI’s Diamond Club to Close Next Year
The Global Traveller lays out the plan to close bmi’s Diamond club. Back in April, the bmi website said the program was ending and members being migrated over to Lufthansa’s Miles and More program. That turned out to be a bit premature, the notice was only intended for residents of specific countries where bmi had ceased service. But since Lufthansa controls the carrier it was only a matter of time before they migrated its frequent flyers away from the more (too?) generous Diamond Club program and over to their own offering. According to Kiwi’s post, Lufthansa says the 2012 accounts will reflect the full effect of Diamond Club closure. This means Diamond Club will be closed by around 30 June 2011. Other aspects of integration refer to a country by country approach, and this may…
The Best Ways to Cure Jetlag
I’ve never found a magic cure for jetlag. I really don’t suffer too badly going to or returning from Europe. If I take an overnight flight I just have to force myself to stay up, a short name mid-afternoon is fine but I can’t let myself go to sleep otherwise. The key of course is to adopt the local time as quickly as possible. Coming home from Europe I’m just tired early, and that can last a couple of days, but I’m otherwise fully functional. Similarly coming home from Asia is no big deal, I love making it back mid-day rather than late at night or else I’ll suffer for 24 hours. But my real challenge is going to Asia. I show up and though I may be tired at night I will wake up…
How to Make Your Vacations Bring You Happiness
Back in February I reported on research that planning vacations generated the greatest amount of happiness, much more so than being on vacation and that the happiness effect from vacation wore off quickly upon returning to real life. Via Marginal Revolution comes more research on what kinds of vacations make us happiest. For example, how long we take off probably counts for less than we think, and in the aggregate, taking more short trips leaves us happier than taking a few long ones. We’re often happier planning a trip than actually taking it. And interrupting a vacation — far from being a nuisance — can make us enjoy it more. How a trip ends matters more than how it begins, who you’re with matters as much as where you go, and if you want to…
US Airways Twitter Deals this Week, Deep Discounts but for Very Limited Departure Cities and Travel Dates
@USAirways is offering deep discounted fares this week. They don’t offer Twitter deals as frequently as United, this is something new for them. And they’re not especially flexible. At least with United one can leave from various cities usually and there’s flexibility in travel dates. With US Airways departure city and travel dates are limited. Still, they’re worth watching for especially if you live in a US Airways hub city. Yesterday’s offer was Philadelphia-Oslo. This morning’s deal is $79 each way plus tax for roundtrip Charlotte – Rio. •Depart from Charlotte between September 21 and 23, 2010. •Return from Rio between September 27 and 29, 2010. •Hurry – there are only 30 seats each way! If this helps you, great! If not, follow @USAirways on Twitter and hopefully their deals later in the week will…
