Yesterday I booked two passengers from the US to South Africa via Asia and thought it was an especially valuable award. Alaska Airlines partners with Cathay Pacific. They charge 140,000 miles for first class between North America and Asia. They also charge 140,000 miles roundtrip for first class between the US and Africa. So these folks who live in San Francisco I routed SFO – Hong Kong – Johannesburg and return. Now, it’s 30% more flown miles than a one-stop via Europe. But it was available on their preferred dates, it got them to South Affirca with a single connection. And it was Cathay Pacific First Class, a total of four long-haul flights. American Airlines requires routing from the US to Africa via Europe, so they would have charged for US to Asia and a…
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Westin Diplomat Has Started Selling Rooms at its Sister Gold Resort a Mile and a Half Away, Buries Disclosure on its Website
The Westin Diplomat Resort also has a sister property, the Diplomat Golf Resort. They had two separate websites (apart from their separate sites at starwoodhotels.com) — diplomatresort.com and diplomatgolf.com. These two properties are a mile and a half from each other. But now they seem to be marketed as one. And that’s going to be confusing for a lot of guests. They are very different properties. The Diplomat Resort is on the beach, two tall towers standing atop the rest of the area, and famous for its outstanding treatment of Starwood Platinum members (because they have more suites in their upgrade pool than any other property I’ve ever heard of, and because they have a lovely club lounge facility). The Golf Resort is much more low key and a mile and a half away. They…
Marriott and American Airlines Sever Their Relationship
Earning American miles with Marriott, or transferring Marriott points into American miles, ends June 30. An email from American yesterday stated: We would like to provide you with an important update to the American Airlines AAdvantage® program. Effective July 1, 2010, the Marriott Rewards program will no longer offer AAdvantage miles for stays at Marriott hotels. All qualifying stays at participating properties completed by June 30, 2010 will be eligible to earn AAdvantage miles. It is also important to note the final date to convert your Marriott Rewards points to AAdvantage miles will be June 30, 2010. Presumably they couldn’t agree on the price of miles in a new contract, perhaps American wanted a higher price, Marriott wanted to lower the price, or they’ve been successful with other programs and not with American on reducing…
Sometimes it Really is the Little Things that Make a Place Perfect
I’ve previously offered my peaen to the Le Meridien Chiang Rai’s macaron cookies. It’s just one of the little treats that guests receive throughout their stay, I remember receiving something different every day. And each day a new wonderful surprise! Keri, who recently checked out of that property, sent along the following photo. Brings back some of my absolutely favorite memories.
Predictions for a Continental-United Merger
I’ve been chatting with a bunch of media surrounding the expected United-Continental merger, being considered by the Continental board tomorrow. Lucky offered his thoughts on Thursday. Here’s his money quote: If you’re a mileage runner you shouldn’t be looking forward to this merger, plain and simple. Part of what makes United “profitable” as a customer is what a mismanaged airline they are and how poorly so many of their policies are thought out. If you complain that your seatmate farted, you’ll get a $200 electronic certificate good for future travel. And that’s certainly true, United is pretty dysfunctional and customers who understand their system have lone done well by them. Ultimately some of the more rewarding quirks of United will likely ultimately go away in a post-merger world. But somehow I don’t think United’s perspective…
Return to Manila: a continuation of “Cathay & British Airways First Class, Philippines and Macau, a Presidential Suite, and the Fat Duck Restaurant”
After 5 nights at the Hilton Cebu Island Resort & Spa, it was time to head back to Manila. I grabbed the hotel’s pink Corolla instead of a cab, it was right there and the price was right, a few minutes later we were at the airport. As is the case across the Philippines, we had to pay the airport’s departure tax in cash before proceeding through security. We were given a paper receipt, which we handed to a staffer immediately behind the booth where we paid the fee. Presumably they can match the receipts to the cash taken in, and the requirement for the receipt prevents corruption on the part of the staff member manning the booth. At least I can’t think of any other purpose for handing you a receipt and then collecting…
Philippine Cooking Class: a continuation of “Cathay & British Airways First Class, Philippines and Macau, a Presidential Suite, and the Fat Duck Restaurant”
Philippines Cooking Class in Cebu: I try to take cooking classes when I travel, and bring back the food and lessons to my own kitchen at home. I love Thai cuisine in particular, perhaps because I’m most familiar with it and it’s actually pretty easy — I can always fix mistakes (add a little more chili paste? Some more fish sauce?) and there’s not so much precision required. I’ve done both Southern and Northern Thai and Balinese cuisine. So naturally I wanted to take a stab at Philippine cuisine, both to learn to cook but also to better understand the culture through its cuisine. I emailed my hotel to ask for a recommendation, and they suggested the Caro & Marie cooking school. But it turns out that their classes were all featuring international dishes. I…
500 Free American AIrlines Miles for Registering with their eShopping Site By May 31
What was originally a 250 mile bonus for signing up for the American AAdvantage shopping mall expiring March 31 was boosted to 500 miles expiring April 30 and has been extended again — 500 free American AIrlines miles for signing up for their eShopping site, currently valid through May 31. (HT: Vito)
3000 Bonus American Miles Per Hyatt Stay and 10,000 Additional American Miles for 5 Hyatt Stays
This bonus will make Hyatt’s coming point increases go down a bit smoother. Hyatt is offering 3000 bonbus American miles per stay, on top of the usual 500 miles when crediting your stays to American Airline miles. The bonus can be earned 5 times between May 3 and July 5, and if you do earn it five times you earn an additional 10,000 bonus miles. This period coincides nicely with their Big Welcome Back offer of a free night every two stays, which runs through June 30. All told if you make 6 airport stays at $70 each, you might be all-in with tax around $475 and clear 3 free nights at any Hyatt in the world (valid through August 31) and 28,000 American miles. Registration is required. And don’t forget that if you aren’t…
Hyatt’s Upcoming Modest Points Devaluation
Hyatt Gold Passport posted on Flyertalk early this morning that they’d be making changes to their award chart. Currently hotels are spread across five categories. They’re creating a new category 6 as of June 4 at 22,000 points per night. That will include 20 properties. They’re also moving hotels up and down in categories, a total of 89 going up (including the 20 moving to category 6) and 65 going down. On the whole it seems that the reductions are all at the low end, e.g. there are 46 category 2 properties moving down to category 1. And the increases are more evenly distributed and even clustered towards the high end. There are even some two-category jumps, like the Grand Hyatt New York going from Category 4 to Category 6. Hey, I remember when you…
