Via Frugal Travel Guy, Starwood Preferred Guest is offering 250 Starpoints for reviewing their new redemption option, SPG Flights.
General
Category Archives for General.
Surely There Must Be More to Starwood’s Announcement?
Granted, the conference call is only two and a half hours away. But the Wall Street Journal came out with news of Starwood introducing a new benefit, SPG Flights, where you can redeem your points for paid airline tickets. Sure, the redemption rate is better than Amex or Diners Club offers these days, and better than Citi’s Thank You Network variable redemptions. Which is to say you get better than 1 cent in value per point. But it doesn’t look like you can ever do better than 1.5 cents, and so I can’t imagine that I would ever use or recommend this benefit to anyone. Granted, adding benefits without taking benefits away is a positive thing. I was just hoping for more from the big announcement — something game-changing to take on Hilton which has…
Northwest’s Mountains of Miles Promo
Northwest has unveiled its new mileage promotion, Mountains of Miles. Not as great as the last one, not every activity under the sun earns credits towards miles (without any meaningful activitiy with Northwest — I’m not particularly involved with their program — I still managed to bank 10,000 miles last time). Still, as always it’s worth registering for the promotion no matter what because any sort of activity at all will earn some bonus and you never know when that activity might just turn up, such as by getting re-routed from your planned carrier onto Northwest during irregular operations. Register for the promo by December 31, 2008. But, really, register right away — because only activities from the time you register count. Activities completed by January 31, 2009 count towards the promo. And sadly, Northwest…
Air New Zealand Rolls Out Their Version of Economy Plus
The Global Traveller details Air New Zealand’s introduction of a Space+ product, more legroom at the front of coach akin to United’s economy plus. They’re starting with short-haul planes, which strikes The Global Traveller as odd. But it’s a clear improvement and these seats are open to Air New Zealand elites, Koru Club members, and to Star Alliance Gold members — the latter being a benefit that United used to offer but sadly took away. Meanwhile, Air New Zealand has updated its video on demand offerings. Way to go Air New Zealand!
Thai Airways Introduces Online Star Alliance Upgrade Award Redemption — United, Please Pick Up the Red Courtesy Phone….?
Last month I mentioned speculation that United would finally be re-introducing Star Alliance upgrades. Hasn’t happened yet. In the past they’ve said it was technology issues standing in their way, though other Star Alliance airlines managed to make it happen. Meanwhile, even Thai Airways has figured out how to offer these upgrade awards online. So time to get your act together, United! Or perhaps outsource your IT department to the Thai Airways web wizards?
Airtran Double Credits for Trips Originating in Atlanta
Airtran is offering double credits on trips originating in Atlanta betwee September 2 and September 30th. Registration is required.
A Different United Visa with Signup Bonus
Via Free Frequent Flyer Miles, Chase offers the United Visa Signature Gold Class free the first year with 25,000 miles after $250 in purchases. The value here is that you should be able to get the signup bonus for this card even if you’ve had a regular United Visa Signature in the past. Chase has really cracked down on churning signup bonuses with their cards, so having more, unique cards is huge. Pick up the 25,000 miles and no fee the first year Visa Signature, small business Visa, and this one and you’ve got 75,000 miles. Then there’s still the Platinum class card with a $165 fee and another 25,000 miles plus elite qualifying mileage bonuses, and you can be at 100,000 miles quite cheaply. Update: Free Frequent Flyer Miles has posted an update, hedging…
Marriott Rewards Improvements Coming?
Marriott may be on the verge of announcing an end to blackout dates and capacity controls for award night redemption, as well as other benefits. Loyalty Traveler writes that Marriott posted an announcement about changes to their program coming in 2009. In addition to an end to capacity controls (matching Starwood and Hilton), the annoncement included pay for 3 award nights and get the 4th free and an increase in Platinum elite bonus points earned for hotel spending. Loyalty Traveler wonders what will become of Marriott’s award chart which includes substantial discounts for progressively more redemption nights, speculating that 4th night free will mean more points required for the first three. The announcement was pulled from the Marriott website after a few hours, and Marriott now says they have nothing to announce at this time.…
8500 Continental Miles for 5-Day Airport Car Rental
For the month of September, Budget is offering 8500 Continental miles for a 5-day car rental from airport locations other than Birmingham, AL (BHM); Memphis, TN (MEM); Kansas City, MO (MCI) and Omaha, NE (OMA) which do not participate. Sign in to your OnePass account at time of reservation to qualify for OnePass mileage. Go to the Advanced Car Search tab and enter BCD number U072500 and coupon number (promotion code) MUAZ041.
Starwood’s Big Announcement (New Benefits?) Coming Tuesday Morning
There are some changes coming to Starwood Preferred Guest, and instead of burying the news in a Friday afternoon press release and blaming high fuel costs (ha! they’re a hotel…) they’re actually touting the news. Starwood Lurker says it really is good, not the way loyalty programs usually use the word ‘enhancement’ to me ‘gutting the program’. In fact, it’s been my understanding that Starwood has been working on some new benefits, in particular focused on their elite members, for quite awhile. But the driver of the project was lured away to market and brand the lauch of Starwood’s new aLoft hotel brand, and things stalled. Presumably this is the announcement we’ve been waiting for. No, I don’t know for certain what the details which were finally decided upon actually are. So I’ll be tuning…
