Starwood’s last round of cash and points awards expired, but a new set are now available for stays through November 30th and it appears as though there’s an increase in the number of properties participating. The value can be illustrated with a single example: instead of 10,000 points for a night at a ‘categoy four’ hotel (such as the Westin in the Bahamas or the W in Mexico City), the cash and points award gives you that same property for $60 and 4,000 points. Put another way, you’re buying back your points at only one cent apiece. Since I generally consider a Starwood point to be the most valuable hotel or airline currency out there, this is an exceptional value. Not all Starwood properties participate in this promotion. Many do not. But it’s worth checking…
About Gary Leff
Starwood Cash & Points Award
Starwood’s last round of cash and points awards expired, but a new set are now available for stays through November 30th and it appears as though there’s an increase in the number of properties participating. The value can be illustrated with a single example: instead of 10,000 points for a night at a ‘categoy four’ hotel (such as the Westin in the Bahamas or the W in Mexico City), the cash and points award gives you that same property for $60 and 4,000 points. Put another way, you’re buying back your points at only one cent apiece. Since I generally consider a Starwood point to be the most valuable hotel or airline currency out there, this is an exceptional value. Not all Starwood properties participate in this promotion. Many do not. But it’s worth checking…
Joining the technology age
Emirates Skywards has introduced online award booking.
Destination Asia for Beach Vacations
A new Frommer’s article touts Bali as an excellent beach vacation at a reasonable price. I couldn’t agree more. Add Thailand to the list and you have two of the most ideal can’t-miss destinations.Imagine an island where the sunsets are breathtaking fireballs of red and orange. A place where you can laze on the beach all day with food and drinks brought to you while a masseuse works out the tension in your neck. A place steeped in culture and history, where the locals are peaceful, friendly and welcoming, the shopping is nirvana, while staying in a your own villa with a pool and a personal chef to cater to your every culinary whim. Well imagine no more: The answer is Bali. …
Alaska Airlines is Giving Away Worthless Sunglasses
But at least they’ve got a good tagline for it, with apologies to Timbuk 3. Alaska Airlines has a deal so bright that you’ll need shades. Luckily, we’re providing the sunglasses for this endless summer. Simply fly on any Alaska Airlines flight during August, September or October and receive a certificate for up to 4 pairs of free Gattaca Sunglasses with a retail value of $79 to $229 a pair (a small shipping and handling fee is required). You will also receive a certificate to extend your summer with discounted travel to seven sunny Mexico destinations. Discounts include: – Save 20% on airfare between September 1 and October 6, 2004 – Save 10% on airfare between October 7 and December 15, 2004 – Save 10% on Alaska Airlines Mexico Vacations September 1 through December 15,…
Delta Silver Elite Trial Offer
Delta is offering Silver Medallion status to members who fly 5000 medallion qualifying miles between August 1 and October 15. The status lasts only through February 2005. The promotion is targeted, but if you’re interested try to register. One of the nice things about Delta IT compared to most airlines is that they’ll let you know right away whether you qualify for an offer or not (unlike, say, United which makes it look like you’ve successfully registered for a promotion but in the end the benefits aren’t awarded if you weren’t targeted). Bear in mind that the required flying is 5000 Medallion Qualifying Miles which means more than 5000 miles of flying at low fares and less than 5000 miles of flying at high fares.
More on Air New Zealand Changes
I’m still a little unclear on all of the implications of Air New Zealand’s changes to its rewards program. Here is one summary. Air New Zealand has unveiled a revolutionary change to its frequent-flyer scheme, becoming the first major airline in the world to give rewards based on ticket price instead of distance flown. (Side note, America West used to do this. Independence Air currently does this.) An unpopular feature of frequent-flyer programmes such as the Air NZ airpoints scheme is the difficulty in redeeming rewards for flights. This has been changed, with any seat on any flight available for airpoints users. … Air New Zealand, backed by a supplied auditors report from accountancy firm PricewaterhouseCoopers, says that 61 per cent of all flight redemptions will require fewer “equivalent airpoints”. A further 15 per cent…
Science Fiction at the Grocery Store
The future of payments is here. That is, if here is the Piggly Wiggly in South Carolina. San Francisco-based Pay By Touch has launched its finger-scanning payment system at four Piggly Wiggly supermarkets in South Carolina. Beginning today, Piggly Wiggly customers will have the option of paying for groceries by using a finger scan which is linked to their financial accounts. Customers enroll in the Pay By Touch program by creating a “Pay By Touch Wallet” which includes: scanning their finger, selecting a PIN, swiping a supermarket rewards card and entering a debit card, credit card or their checking account information. All data is kept in a secure center. The finger scanning technology does not store actual fingerprints; it creates a set of data points that cannot even be reverse engineered back to a fingerprint.…
Who’s Better in Bed?
Forbes prefers the Westin bed over the Marriott bed. I agree.
1000 Free United Miles
Sign up your Safeway Club card to earn United miles here and earn 1000 bonus miles. (Link via Free Frequent Flyer Miles.)If you don’t yet have a Safeway club card, go to a Safeway store and get one — but don’t sign up to earn miles. Then go to the link which provides the bonus miles for signing up. For Alaska Airlines fans, I mentioned a a similar offer the other day.
