Reader Chris asks, Would you recommend to use balance transfer in one lump sum but to pay minimum balance every month for 6-12 months or use the maximum limit every month but paying in full to increase future limit for a new immigrant to get into credit card air mileage bonus game? Which is better and faster to get higher credit limit plus getting good credit rating in US? First of all, a balance transfer isn’t a strategy for increasing your credit limit. Use the strategy to move high interest credit card debit onto a card offering 0% interest and no balance transfer fee for a promotion period like 12 or 15 months. And only do this if you’ve gotten yourself into trouble. You want to pay down your credit card debt. Your credit score…
Hyatt’s “Surprise and Delight” Reward for Staying at 50 Different Hotels
Hyatt emailed me yesterday to let me know that a stay I completed two and a half weeks ago was at my 50th Hyatt hotel. They produced a map of the places I’ve stayed, and also had a list. Several things struck me about their reaching out with this information, and 10,000 bonus points (which I value at ~ $140): I’m amazed I haven’t stayed at more than 50 Hyatt properties. I tend to use them for business mostly, staying at the same properties time and again. (In fact, I was certain that I had stayed at more than 50, but I’ve gone through their list and it appears they’re correct. Imagine that?) Award stays do count. There are properties on the list that I’ve used points only at, but they’re part of my 50.…
Alaska Airlines 3rd Roundtrip Free Promotion!
Residents of Washington, Oregon, and California can register for an Alaska Airlines promotion that lets you earn a third roundtrip ticket for just the tax. You have to fly 2 round trips from any one of those states to one of the following cities by February 23 and credit the flights to Alaska’s Mileage Plan frequent flyer program. Bend Reno Bozeman Salt Lake City Kalispell Steamboat Springs Kelowna Sun Valley Mammoth Lakes Vancouver If you do that, you’ll receive a discount code approximately two weeks later valid for a third roundtrip between one of those states and the cities listed above at the cost of taxes only (‘from $29’). The discount code will be valid for travel between February 1 and April 30, and must be ticketed by March 30. (HT: Diego R.) You can…
How Many Domestic First Class Seats Are Actually Sold, Versus Left Over for Upgrades?
A decade ago conventional wisdom was that 10% of domestic first class seats were occupied by passengers on paid first class tickets. Airlines used to charge sky high rates for first, didn’t really discount (other than through certain corporate agreements), and as a result they’d sell a few seats but most would be empty — and filled with upgraders, awards, and in the era before unlimited complimentary upgrades, employees. When Alaska Airlines contemplated abolishing their first class cabin entirely, they ultimately decided to keep it to differentiate themselves among frequent flyers but determined they needed to earn a revenue premium for it. Carriers started restricting the fare classes eligible for upgrades (Delta has for over a decade required a minimum fare domestically to use miles to upgrade if you aren’t elite) or adding a cash…
Alaska’s Seats Can Be Your Carry On, United’s 7 Hour Tarmac Delay, and Emirates Slaps Airbus Around – Puts Them Back in Line
News and notes from around the interweb: After speculation that Airbus could terminate the A380 program, they’re now saying that they’ll consider a new engine version of the plane which Emirates has been asking for and considering a ‘stretch’ variant for more passengers as well. (HT: Alex B.) We’ll see what they actually do, but they clearly don’t want speculation that the program could end as that would hardly boost sales! The new comments come, it seems, after Airbus got a spanking over the comments from Emirates. One analyst says the market would puke if Airbus actually moved forward with a new engine A380. Old Alaska Airlines seats have turned into carry on bags United’s 7 hour tarmac delay. Perfect example of how these things are rarely the airline’s fault – a closed airport and…
Here’s the 12 Days of Big Giveaways from Milepoint’s Christmas Promotion
The Milepoint frequent flyer community‘s big ’12 days of Christmas’ prize giveaway starts tomorrow, December 13. What I’ve got for you is a list of the prizes. I do not know the order in which they’ll be given away. You’ll want to be sure to sign up for the daily entry reminder and prize information by subscribing. Here’s rumor on the street regarding the 12 days of prizes, though in no particular order: 100,000 Hyatt Gold Passport points 10 X National Car Rental National Executive status 5 X 10-use Gogo inflight passes 1 $500 Hyatt Gift Card 5 X Hyatt Platinum status 50 Remove Before Flight tags with milepoint.com embroidered on them 4 X $100 Hyatt Gift Cards 5 X Hyatt Platinum status 10 X United Club passes 1 custom 777 model airplane in the…
How Much is the Renewed American Express Contract Worth to Delta?
Yesterday we learned that: American Express renewed their co-brand relationship with Delta Delta would not be implementing its cap on points transfers into the SkyMiles program from partners. It struck me at the time that American Express should have negotiated better for itself, I was surprised that the cap wasn’t going to apply going forward to all partners except for American Express! Of course I’m glad that’s not what happened, I don’t want to see caps on transfers, largely because I don’t want other programs to mimic the idea thinking that if Delta’s doing it then it must be smart. There’s not a ton of public information on the extension of the Delta/American Express relationship out there. But here, via Joe Brancatelli whose newsletter I subscribe to, Delta included the following slide in their investor…
An Update and Correction
Yesterday I cited a Travel Pulse article quoting a Delta spokesperson explaining in rather harsh terms when it is that they are willing to issue compensation to passengers. It was a startling quote which is why I highlighted it. I was pointed to the article by an industry e-mail list I participate in, and the author seemed credible. However, several readers doubted its veracity. PR folks are usually much better than to say such things The newspaper article cited for it didn’t actually include the quote. I reached out to the author of the article that I cited to get clarification, and did reach him. He shared that the Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinal piece is where he got the quote, and suggested that the quote was originally included in their article. After I asked about the…
Delta Partner Saudia Fined by the DOT Over Their New Los Angeles Flight
Saudia started flying Los Angeles – Jeddah this year, three days a week. That’s great because they’re a Delta partner, and they are among the airlines offering the most award space of any in the world. Want to take a whole family from the US to India in business class using Delta miles? Saudia is your play. The Department of Transportation, though, recently won a (cough) victory for consumers. The US and Saudi Arabia has an Open Skies agreement. Normally a foreign carrier needs Department of Transportation approval to operate a route to the US The Open Skies Agreement exempts Saudia from this requirement. But a 1997 DOT regulation says that an airline exempt from the requirement must obtain an exemption from the DOT before advertising and selling tickets on the route. Saudia apparently didn’t…
Here’s Why Airbus Says They May Discontinue the A380
Over the summer I made the controversial claim that the Airbus A380 is a failure. Let’s just say plenty of people disagreed with me in the comments. As a passenger I like the plane. I love flying Singapore’s A380 in first class for sure, there’s nothing yet in the skies like the Emirates shower. And the Etihad Residence should top even that. In August I wrote: There are no buyers in the U.S., South America, or Africa. They’ve barely penetrated China or Japan. In 7 years Airbus has delivered only 138 planes to 11 airlines. Word is the plane is being discounted by 50% off list. While aircraft manufactures don’t really sell for list, that’s still a significant discount and early buyers generally get ‘most favored nation’ status where future discounted sales entail rebates to…
