Why a 25% Discount on Purchased Starpoints Can Be Quite Good, and How to Scale It

by Gary Leff

Apr 22 2015

Starwood is offering up to a 25% discount on purchased points. And even though it’s just a 25% discount, it can make real sense. Through May 31 here’s the tiered discount: 10% off 500–9,500 Starpoints 15% off 10,000–14,500 Starpoints 20% off 15,000–19,500 Starpoints 25% off 20,000 Starpoints This isn’t an uncommon offer — Starwood offered this in April and November of last year, and they offered it in 2013. But it’s also the biggest discount I’ve seen. The ‘normal’ price on Starpoints is 3.5 cents per point. Ouch. Fortunately, unlike airline miles, you don’t pay an additional tax on top. And there’s not also a ‘processing fee’ like many of the airlines charge. If you max out on the discount, and buy 20,000 points, it would cost you $525… that’s 2.625 cents per point. Still…

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The One Simple Pleasure That Makes a Trip Perfect

by Gary Leff

Apr 21 2015

I don’t aspire to be Gordon Gekko (though I used to have his cell phone more or less, a long long time ago – ever notice how cell phones are one of the great democratizers, no matter how wealthy you are you can’t really get a better iPhone or Galaxy S6?). I’ll never be ‘rich enough to own my own jet’. But I do not like to waste time. I hate checking bags, because I don’t want to wait for them on the back end of a trip. (Not to mention that if something is important enough to bring with me, it’s important enough so ensure I don’t lose). But I also hate carrying on… because I don’t want to board early to ensure I’ve got overhead bin space, and ideally bin space near my…

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American Express Business Platinum Adding a 30% Rebate Benefit When You Pay With Points

by Gary Leff

Apr 20 2015

On July 1 American Express is ending the ‘20% rebate on points when you redeem using the Pay With Points benefit’ on the American Express Business Platinum card. (The personal Platinum card lost this in 2012.) I really didn’t care, because Pay With Points is not a valuable feature of this card for most. Sure, the rebate meant you could get 1.25 cents per point in value purchasing paid travel with your points (that earn miles and count towards status) instead of one cent. And 1.25 is better than 1. But: It’s not nearly the value you can get transferring points to miles. If you’re getting only a 1.25% rebate towards paid travel, you should be using a different card (Barclaycard Arrival+ for instance gives you 2.2% towards travel, and other cards have valuable category…

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Life Imitates Airplane!, Ryanair Trolls Aer Lingus, and LAX Secret Tunnels

by Gary Leff

Apr 20 2015

News and notes from around the interweb: The tunnels connecting terminals 4, 5, and 6 at LAX The top 100 grossing restaurants in the United States (HT: Marginal Revolution) Some of the mediocre spots in the DC area towards the bottom of the list really surprised me. New Mommy Points Travel Channel videos Aer Lingus brings a knife to a gun Twitter fight with Ryanair. The security researcher who tweeted what he believed he could do to a plane through controls at his seat and was removed and questioned by the FBI has subsequently been denied boarding by United. They do not want him onboard.

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British Airways Wants to Take Away Lounge Access and Priority Boarding from Elites on the Lowest Fares

by Gary Leff

Apr 20 2015

British Airways plans to exclude elite lounge access and priority boarding benefits from their lowest fares, extending the concept where these fares do not permit a free baggage allowance either.

That’s a huge devaluation for British Airways members and also for American AAdvantage elites. And it’s a really bad idea for BA, too.

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$99+ Fares to Europe are Back!

by Gary Leff

Apr 20 2015

Wow Air flies from Boston and ‘Washington DC’ (cough, Baltimore) to Reykjavik and beyond. And their one-way fares really do start as low as $99 to Iceland, with connecting flights beyond an add-on price. The return flight starts at under $160. Boston – Reykjavik is available at $99 during April, May, June and October. $99 really is the all-in price for the outbound. Return flights start at $164.39. They’re a low cost carrier, so expect fees or everything. Here’s the charges for pre-assigned seating (left column for online payment, right for seat assignments at the airport). You’ll pay for anything more than an 11 pound carry on. Checked bags are expensive — the first checked bag is $48 online in advance, $67 at check-in, and if you are forced to gate check that’s $95. That’s…

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