Megg Mueller Schulte has an excellent followup on the Expedia rate glitch at the Hiltons in Tokyo and Osaka. She repeats the Expedia line about honoring rates booked in November and packages, and that they’re offering $250 package coupons to others whose reservations will be cancelled. But then goes on to explain that apparently (I can confirm this) Expedia is honoring reservations for folks who confirmed the rate after their booking. There also seems to be some confusion over some reservations still being honored if the people contacted Expedia more than once. Reader Derek Meyer wrote to me that “From my readings on FlyerTalk, and correspondence with other people who also booked this rate, it seems that Expedia is honoring the reservations of people who called or emailed into Expedia to ‘re-confirm’ Expedia’s confirmation email…
About Gary Leff
Expedia lies
Reuters has posted a story on the Tokyo and Osaka Hilton rate glitch where rooms at those two properties were bookable on Expedia for $2 and $3. Expedia first told customers that it would honor the rate. Then it told USA Today that it would only honor the rate for bookings in November. Now it explains Expedia said on Friday that Hilton would honour some of these bookings and that other customers would get a $250 coupon for a package trip to Japan. The company also said it notified some customers offering to confirm the original booking at the correct price or cancel the booking with a full refund. Apparently the bookings that it is honoring are those for customers who specifically reconfirmed with Expedia that the rate was valid and who were told that…
Independence Air’s Woes
Over at Marginal Revolution I discussed the economics of regional jets and why Independence Air was doomed to fail. And then just a few days later it did fail, or at least it filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy. When Atlantic Coast Airlines announced they were planning to re-start as a standalone carrier, did anyone think they were really serious (a low-fare carrier flying RJs a la Midway in its second incarnation, based at Dulles)? It was just supposed to be a bargaining tactic with United over fly-for-hire rates that somehow spun wildly out of control. They’re planning to sell off their assets, holding an auction for the next sixty days. They have 21 parties so far potentially interested, signing confidentiality agreeements which allows the parties to get a closer look at the company’s books. Sixty…
Update on $3 Hilton Tokyo rooms
While guest-blogging at Marginal Revolution I posted about a rate glitch at Expedia where the Hilton Tokyo and Hilton Osaka were selling rooms for about $3 a night. I personally booked a week next year at the Tokyo property in an Executive-level room. Expedia charged my card in full for the stay and confirmed over email that in spite of the rate error that they were going to honor the booking. Indeed, one member of Flyertalk.com has already successfully checked in at this rate. However, USA Today covered the rate glitch and quoted an Expedia spokesman as saying “If a booking was made for the month of November, Hilton will honor the reservation at the quoted price. But if a booking was made for December or beyond, it will be cancelled – unless it is…
Starwood’s Online Booking Bonus is Back… for 11 days
Starwood is offering 500 bonus points for reservations booked online between November 7 and November 18 (with travel complete by March 31, 2006). Fully combinable with the current triple points promo as well…
42,000 Bonus Miles for United Premium Class Tickets to Europe
Nov
04
2005
Last month I mentioned American Airlines matching British Airways’ megabonus for premium class tickets to Europe, and said that United couldn’t be far behind. Indeed, United is offering 42,000 bonus miles for first and business class roundtrip tickets to Europe flown by December 31. Registration is required.
Earn a Roundtrip ticket on Airtran by Buying 64 Cokes at Wendys
Nov
03
2005
As described in today’s MilesLink Newsletter, Airtran and Wendy’s have partnered to give away credits in the Airtran frequent flyer program when you buy drinks or combo meals at Wendys. You earn a quarter of a rewards credit for each combo, 20 or 32 ounce drink purchased at participating Wendys through December 31st. An Airtran coupon will be printed on the cup. You can only buy five drinks per transaction, so you may need to go stand in line a few times or circle ’round the drivethrough. After you have consumed your beverage, carefully cut out the Proof of Purchase/AirTran Flight Coupon along the dotted line. Fill out a 3×5 card with your complete name, street address (no P.O. Boxes) and AirTran Airways A+ Rewards account number and mail in a handwritten business size (#10)…
Gambling to Replace Ticket Prices at Ryanair?
If network television can be unpriced to the consumer, financed by advertising, why can’t airline travel be financed by ancillary revenue as well? Ryanair believes revenue from inflight gaming and gambling could eventually replace the need to charge air fares, Chief Executive Michael O’Leary said on Wednesday. Ryanair gave away about a quarter of its seats last year and that figure could rise to between 50 and 100 percent depending on how ancillary revenues grow, O’Leary said. “Ultimately entertainment will be where the money is,” he told reporters, while answering questions about his plans to introduce gaming and gambling onboard, probably in 2007. “It would transform ancillary revenues and profits,” he said. “We’ll probably announce a gambling partner (company) in the next 2-3 months.” I’m not sure I believe this will become their business model,…
Triple Starwood Points on Hotel Stays
Starwood is offering triple points on hotel stays between November 28 and December 21. While Starwood is famous for doing only targeted promos, for once it appears as though this is open to everyone. Registration is required. And speaking of targeted promos, some holders of the Starwood American Express card are in the middle of a 50% bonus on all spending (Oct 1 – Nov 30). I wasn’t targeted. I wasn’t targeted last summer for double points on all spending above a certain threshold last year either. Apparently I use the card too much, they don’t feel the need to incentivize me further. I wrote to American Express last year to express my displeasure, their executive offices called me and they dropped a large number of points (likely more than I’d have earned from the…
See me here, see me there
Starting tomorrow I’ll be guest-blogging over at Marginal Revolution for five or six days. Check out my postings over there.
