For a long time Hyatt ‘Stay Certificates’ were a great way to buy Hyatt stays at a discount. For many hotels, Hyatt would let you make a reservation with what’s effectively a gift certificate that they would sell for less than the price of the room on the Hyatt website. Then, once you had a reservation in hand, you could buy the gift certificate. These stays wouldn’t earn points or elite credit, and weren’t always available, but could get you room nights in some very nice hotels at substantial savings. Back in January they fiddled with the pricing a bit, but overall these certificates remains ‘one for the arsenal’ at least. I did know they were re-evaluating their gift card (buy a card that serves as cash to pay for your stay) and stay certificate…
American’s New Pimped Out Domestic Product… Now Onboard the 737!
When I went out to see American’s new Airbus A319 this past summer, I loved the new inflight product — but did not like that they had only 8 first class seats aboard an aircraft that would be primarily replacing an older plane (MD80) with 16. In fact, though it looked like a great ride, my intention has been to avoid flying it — I love my upgrades too much. What I didn’t realize was that the product I saw first on he A319 is in fact the new standard domestic offering. So I walked aboard a new 737 — so new that Gogo’s inflight wireless hadn’t even been installed yet — and was confused for a short while what kind of aircraft I was flying. This is the new domestic first class — onboard…
Marriott New Member Stackable Free Night Bonus!
Marriott is offering new members a free night at any category 1-5 hotel for staying twice at participating hotels within 120 days from the end of the month in which you join. That is of course in addition to the MegaBonus free nights category 1-4 (for most) after each two stays up to two free nights, between February and June. Marriott is a great program for triple, quadruple, and quintuple dipping such as buying Marriott gift cards at office supply stores (to earn 5 points per dollar) or buying at an even bigger cash discount — plus making your reservation through a shopping portal like the Ultimate Rewards Mall to earn additional points, on top of the usual points in the Marriott Rewards porgram earned through stays. Once this new member promotion ends, it’s still…
Frequent Flyer Lonely Hearts, Celebrating Travel for the Holidays
Two blog readers in a long-term relationship are on a break from each other. One wrote a poem to the other for the holidays, and decided to share it. I don’t know much about the relationship, other than that I met the person who wrote the poem at a frequent flyer seminar event two years ago just before the couple traveled to Asia in Cathay Pacific first class on points. In whatever direction things take, I hope they both find their hearts in their love of travel and adventure. My best to them, and to all of my readers out there, my best to you! Christmas is a time for giving, and reflecting on the year we’ve had Which as you know, started off quite well, but has ended fairly sad. You see, it feels…
Why Fuel Surcharges Won’t Spread in the US and Make Award Tickets More Expensive
Miles and points were once seen as a reward for loyalty, a customer to be treated better and more flexibly when reaping the fruits of travels. In recent times though airlines have become more draconian with change fees and some have sought to gouge customers with accumulated miles for cash co-pays when booking awards under the guide of ‘fuel surcharges’. Instead of offering ‘free’ travel the notion is that miles cover just the ‘fare’ and not add-ons. Only a few airlines in the US, and for travel on a few partner carriers, impose these fuel surcharges on customers booking award tickets. But they’ve been a specter haunting programs for some years – a risk of future devaluations. But the very existence of fuel surcharges is an historical and technological accident. And recent program devaluations actually…
Which Airline and Hotel Program Will Link Up Next?
A new concept that took flight this year was the airline-hotel loyalty program partnership. Hotel programs have long offered the ability to earn airline miles for stays. Hotel programs have also pitched airline elites with complimentary status in the hopes of luring business. There have been points transfer bonuses, and other tie-ups like even the ability to earn Delta elite qualifying miles through Hilton stays. But what was new year this was the closer relationship — both points-earning and elite-recognizing — in exclusive one-on-one partnership between airlines and hotels. Delta and Starwood introduced Crossover Rewards at the beginning of the year and then added it to in the late summer with complimentary upgrades at the gate on Delta for Starwood Platinums. United and Marriott hooked up with RewardsPlus, Marriott Platinums getting United Silver and United…
The Holidays Are a Time To… Book Award Travel: the Deadlines and Opportunities You Need to Know About
Take the next few days with family. But while you’re together with your family, talk to the people you travel with and plot out what sorts of award redemptions you may want to make in the coming year. Making your bookings soon could save you a whole lot of points. United MileagePlus awards go up, up, up in price on February 1, especially for international business and first class partner awards where some redemptions increase by more than 80%. The price of Hyatt Gold Passport awards is going up January 7, and it’s worth booking now especially for the 13 hotels most affected by price increases (and if you want to redeem your points for suites whether on paid nights or awards). US Airways leaves Star Alliance March 30 and joins oneworld the next day.…
Happy Holidays… From Chuck Norris, Up in the Air
There is no theory of evolution, only species Chuck Norris has allowed to live. You can join the 30,000+ people who see these deals and analysis every day — sign up to receive posts by email (just one e-mail per day) or subscribe to the RSS feed. It’s free. You can also follow me on Twitter for the latest deals. Don’t miss out!
Free $45 Car Service Credit, the Flaws in Devaluing Miles, and the Coolest Lounges (Bits ‘n Pieces for December 20, 2013)
News and Notes from Around the Interweb: The 12 Coolest Airport Lounge Perks Free $45 Uber credit for first time users is still alive! Business Week covers award chart price hikes at Delta and United. Contra the explanation that partners are charging more for seats so programs have to charge more miles, I note that other international alliance members (buying the same seats) haven’t had similar award chart increases. The award ticket level hikes have not been matched by Delta and United partner airlines and suggest the U.S. airlines may be trying to reduce the number of award redemptions, says Gary Leff, a travel blogger in Arlington, Va., who writes for View From the Wing. Difficulty in redeeming frequent-flyer miles for a free ticket is one of the most common complaints from mileage collectors. “If…
First Look: Hyatt Times Square
NY Insider emailed me off his iPhone last night while visiting the new Hyatt Times Square: [S]oft opening happening now…rooftop bar scheduled to open right before the Superbowl (but not for New Years)…decent size footprint for rooms….Braun alarm clocks, people will definitely steal them….53 (maybe 54?) stories….limited meeting space, gym is ok…outsourced spa, still under construction. Suites are smallish, but stylish enough…friendly staff (but then again, I was on a hospitality tour). Here are some iPhone photos of the rooms: Beds Desk Side table with alarm clock that is going to disappear Television and minibar This is what the toilet looks like Tub Sink You can join the 30,000+ people who see these deals and analysis every day — sign up to receive posts by email (just one e-mail per day) or subscribe to the…
