This is a public confession, of course. It runs contrary to all the advice I’ve ever given. I flew paid business class and didn’t credit the flights to any frequent flyer program. But hear me out. Now, with promotions I always tell people to sign up/register. Even if you don’t think you’re going to take part in the qualifying activity. Perhaps you’ll get re-routed on another airline during irregular operations, or connect in a city you hadn’t planned. Perhaps you’ll be forced to overnight somewhere, and while airline-provided hotel nights don’t generally earn points I’ve seen points credit anyway. It can’t hurt to be registered, I’ve seen too many people lose out on miles they would have received just because they didn’t register, thinking they wouldn’t have earned the bonus. Granted, registration takes a few…
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United’s Unlimited Complimentary Domestic Elite Upgrades Began Today
United’s Unlimited Domestic Upgrade program has launched, and went into effect today. The most common question being asked is, “What happened to my 500-mile upgrade certificates?” For elites, those all went poof. General members and Premier Associates (“3P”‘s) keep theirs and can still use them as before, through the end of their validity date. No more electronic 500-mile upgrade certificates are being sold. Elites who back in 2007 registered to continue having their 500 mile upgrade certificates converted to miles upon expiration should still see that happen — in a week or so. Certs have gone poof, miles not yet in account, indication is that they will be, but of course only for those who (a) registered to continue to receive the miles on expirattion of the upgrade certains and (b) who have remained elite…
100 Free Priority Club Points
Quick survey – all of the above, redeem online any time, all of the above. Boom.
The Gold Coast Giveaway is Coming!
This is sure giveaway season! If you haven’t already entered to win one of two 2-night Hyatt Place stays and personal assistant services for two months, just leave a comment here. I recently teased an upcoming high-end laptop bag giveaway and another Hyatt Place free-night giveaway via Twitter (you’ll want to follow @garyleff). But here’s a really great one, first mentioned a week ago: a trip for two to Australia’s Gold Coast including air and seven nights hotel (all mileage-earning), meals even, and cash and gift cards as a kick-in to cover taxes on a trip that’s otherwise valued at over $10,000. Entries in this contest are only about three days away. Beginning on March 22 there will be several BoardingArea bloggers participating in this giveaway. Each blog will be able to select one reader…
Aeroplan 1500 Bonus Miles for Transferring In Hotel Points
Via One Mile at a Time, Air Canada’s Aeroplan is offering a 1500 mile bonus for transferring hotel points into at least 10,000 Aeroplan miles. Registration for the offer is required and the offer is valid through April 30. I wouldn’t make a transfer just to take advantage of this bonus, in general I find maintaining the flexibility of points to be hugely valuable. But if you’re considering or even potentially might transfer miles into Aeroplan, you should certainly register. And Aeroplan is in general a great place to accumulate points (though you need activity in your account at least once a year to keep it active, and all points expire if unused after seven years). Their award chart pricing is good, they don’t block partner award availability as Star Alliance member United does, and…
Award Booking Advice Starts with Choosing Your Frequent Flyer Program Carefully
The April issue of Conde Nast Traveler has a good bit on frequent flyer miles. I haven’t seen the physical issue yet, it’s not particularly available in my current secure undisclosed location, but 10 articles are currently up on their website (my guess it that’s about half the issue that normally winds up online). So far the two pieces of interest are How to Maximize Your Miles and a related sidebar on the pluses and minuses of various North American airline mileage programs plus American Express Membership Rewards and Starwood Preferred Guest for their ability to transfer points to a wide variety of airlines. In the mileage advice piece, Randy Petersen and I are interviewed extensively for advice. Pick your program wisely so that it meets your destination needs at a good mileage price, with…
250 Free American Airlines Miles
American is offering 250 miles for registering with their online mileage mall and opting in to receive email special offers. Offer expires March 31.
Amtrak Double and Triple Points
Amtrak is offering bonuses for train travel in March, April, and May: Earn double points on qualifying Amtrak travel from March 22 – May 7, 2010 and earn triple points on qualifying Amtrak travel from May 8 – May 29, 2010. Registration is required using code 32210 (Hat tip Dan R.)
50% Off Free Night Redemptions at Radisson
Via TM Travel World, Goldpoints Plus has a redemption sale offering 50% off the points required for stays at participating Regent Hotels & Resorts, Radisson Hotels & Resorts, Radisson Blu Hotels & Resorts, Radisson Edwardian Hotels, and Park Plaza Hotels & Resorts In addition, there’s a 25% discount at “participating Country Inns & Suites By Carlson and Park Inn hotels.” This is valid for stays between April 1, 2010 and May 31, 2010. Now, I don’t have a ton of Goldpoints, and I generally consider their progam to be the weakest (plus I’m not a fan of most Radisson properties), though the program has recently increased the value of points. But this could be a good opportunity to use any stray points, and there’s a free silver status promo that’s still live and which many…
United Door-to-Door Baggage Delivery for only $25
Taken straight from One Mile at a Time: For a limited time United is offering their Door-to-Door baggage service for $25. That’s the same price as actually checking the first bag, and cheaper than checking the second bag (for those of you that are stuck paying bag fees). The United site says this service is normally $79 or $99 (or depending on where on the page you look, normally $149). You’re without your bags longer, but it’s a decent deal, and you don’t have to do the schlepping. Not bad.
