News and notes from around the interweb:
- Expedia’s loyalty program is a study in devaluation, they lit the first match less than 8 months after launch and unsurprisingly devaluations continued (in several rounds, really). So is anyone even surprised that without notice you can no longer redeem points for flights?
Expedia Reps Dance On The Ashes Of Their Loyalty Program Flickr: Juggernautco - Virtuoso has dropped Trump Hotels from its network
- Air India has banned employees from criticizing it on social media
- Association of Flight Attendants President Sara Nelson has bigger ambitions for herself than representing her members and says “you have to look for the next fight.” Right now she’s distracted by organizing Amazon workers rather than taking care of flight attendants.
- Meeting planner points: ICE securing hotel rooms to hold growing number of migrant families (HT: Paul H.)
A website like Expedia is useful for searching what is available, but actually booking through it just adds a layer of complexity compared to booking directly with the provider. As such the devaluation of their loyalty program or the existence of their loyalty program to begin with does not factor into my travel planning.
Why does anyone use Expedia?
Why does anyone use Expedia? – I was naively hoping to get that yellow suitcase Gary pictured once I get enough points….
Expedia, Orbitz, Hotels.com… are only good when you are on a budget travel, and plan to stay at a local no-name hotel. You use Expedia to prepay to prevent revealing your credit card information. For instance if one plans to stay on a budget hotel in India, it is a MUST to prepay with Expedia, Orbitz and bring the voucher to the hotel only. Expedia would help to protect credit card information from Indian scammers and thieves.
It’s like Skymiles, Expedia, and Bonvoy all rotate loyalty personnel.
@T – not necessary to go through that process assuming your credit card has zero liability