Starwood introduced a whole new suite of elite benefits two and a half years ago. The one most initially prized was “Suite Night Awards” — Platinum members who stayed at least 50 nights a year would receive 10 nights that could be confirmed into suites in advance of arrival. How Upgrades in Advance Work Now Some members have had good luck with these, and of course it depends on the hotel (primarily how many suites they have) and when members stay (competition for those suites). But on the whole there’s also been much frustration over the ability to actually use the upgrades. In fact, at the end of 2013, unused suite night awards had their validity extended through the end of April 2014. These upgrades are not really ‘confirmed’ the way we usually think about…
The Guy Who Sparked the Knee Defender Controversy Plans to Keep Using It!
The passenger who touched off a media firestorm over use of the ‘knee defender’ and who caused a United flight from Newark to Denver speaks out. Scott Mayerowitz of the Associated Press scored an interview with James Beach, the man who touched off the firestorm. And all I can say is… wow. On the one hand he says he is “embarrassed by the way the confrontation unfolded and that he regrets his behavior.” The knee defender is against the rules at all of the major US airlines and he acknowledges that passengers have a right to recline their seat, but he plans to continue to use it anyway. Here’s how he goes about it: “I put them in maybe a third of the time. Usually, the person in front tries (to recline) their seat a…
New Partner Mileage Earning Bonus
Frequent Flyer Bonuses highlights and offer of up to 5000 bonus miles for earning points with partners on air berlin. Earn up to 5,000 Top Bonus Miles when you earn topbonus miles from at least two different partners. Register Online (Registration is required) Until Oct 31, 14 Bonuses as follows: 2 partner services – 2,000 extra award miles 3 partner services – 3,000 extra award miles 4 partner services – 4,000 extra award miles 5 partner services – 5,000 extra award miles As FFB observes, ” it is quite easy to earn at least the lowest bonus of 2,000 miles as you only need two partner earning actions and one of those can be Holiday Check where you earn miles for submitting a hotel review.” Partner earning promotions are some of my favorites. I always…
SPG Pro: Starwood’s New Points and Status Earning for Meetings, Agents, and Company Travel Assistants
I spoke with Chris Holdren and with Krystal Zell from Starwood Preferred Guest yesterday about a new initiative they’re rolling out: SPG Pro. This program continues the high level activity we’ve seen from Starwood over the past two and a half years since they: Introduced a new slate of elite benefits like Suite Night Awards, 24 hour check-in, breakfast, more bonus points, and free internet for Golds — plus lifetime elite status. Joined forces with Delta to offer each others’ elites more points and upgrades Partnered with Caesars in Las Vegas to offer reciprocal points-earning (plus limited elite qualifying night earning) Chris opened by saying he wanted to prove me to I was wrong about a blog post I wrote five weeks ago.
Last Chance to Buy LifeMiles at 1.5 Cents Apiece!
I almost called this post ‘Sarcastic Shock #2’ — Star Alliance member Avianca is offering a 100% bonus on purchased miles in its LifeMiles program through September 30. You can purchase up to 75,000 miles and receive 150,000 miles — at a cost of $2250 or 1.5 cents per mile. I don’t like investing in LifeMiles speculatively: Last May they tweaked some award prices without notice and increased the cash cost of cash and points awards as well. We got advance notice this time, but there are big award chart changes coming October 15. When Avianca joined Star Alliance I declared their program the most generous in the alliance. After United’s February devaluation, that’s likely true. They are part of my “Devaluation Plan B” which is to look to international frequent flyer programs for value…
Airline Amusement Parks Coming! Profits, Savings, and Death Threats!
News and notes from around the interweb: Passengers who bring their own device to watch movies think they deserve compensation. I just think it means they won’t be bored. (HT: Alan H.) Four years ago I actually got death threats over this blog. Eight years ago I had a stalker who actually worked for one of the major credit reporting bureaus. That was scary. Another flashback: Frequent flyer miles are really code for insider trading. Those signup bonuses can get you in trouble with the SEC! I write often about Uber and love the service. Here’s another view, and I don’t express an opinion on the veracity of the claims: Uber’s Playbook for Sabotaging Lyft. Just how profitable US Airlines are (video). Number one – by far – in pre-tax profits, pre-tax profits per passenger,…
United Joins the Game With a 100% Bonus on Purchased Miles, But There’s a Giant Catch…
Through Thursday only United is offering up to a 100% bonus on purchased miles. But there’s a catch. If you get the 100% bonus then miles are 1.88 cents apiece. That’s the regular price US Airways offers miles at, pretty much every month, with their promotions. And you may not be able to get the 100% bonus. It depends how many other people buy miles. You need a critical mass of others buying to get in on the deal — sort of like Groupon, but:
United is Evaluating a New Business Class Seat!
New United business class seats! A reader (who would like to remain anonymous) passes along an email from United gauging his interest in demoing a new international business class seat that United is considering. You’re one of our most valued customers, and your perspective on the United travel experience matters greatly to us. We would like to invite you for an in-person exclusive event at the Boeing Dreamliner Gallery to try a few aircraft seats we’re prototyping and let us know what you think. We are conducting research next week right outside of Seattle, and would like to invite you to participate for one day or night in a simulated flight experience to test new BusinessFirst seat prototypes. If selected, you would be invited to participate in a 9-hour overnight “flight” with a few other…
IHG Rewards Brings Back “Big Win” Promotion for the Fall With a New Name
IHG Rewards Promotions — for the fall it’s “Into the Nights” but it’s basically a redux of “The Big Win” which is fun, specific offers targeted though so whether or not it’s especially lucrative will depend on the offer you get — and how easy it is to earn tons of bonus points depends on your stay plans. A few people have managed to add incremental stays at the margin quite lucratively with the offer in the past, but in general it’s not quite generous enough to be worth staying just for the points. The tag line of the earning potential is “Earn at least two free nights, 50,000 IHG Rewards Club bonus points or 10,000 bonus miles” though of course many members will be given an opportunity to earn more. A look at how…
Sarcastic Shocker: US Airways 100% Bonus on Purchased Miles is Back
US Airways is offering a targeted bonus of up to 100% additional miles when you buy miles through Seotember 30. The offer is targeted, then you go to the buy miles page you have to enter your account information to see whether you’re being offered a bonus. (And there may be other, smaller, bonuses targeted to some accounts.) At least I’m suggesting it’s targeted because of the requirement to verify your account information — although it does look like the details of the bonus is itself in the background, which suggests to me that the bonus may not vary although it’s possible some won’t be eligible. If the offer is available to you, buying miles at a 100% bonus means buying them at a cost of 1.88 cents per mile. US Airways is almost always…
