Air Canada’s Aeroplan came out with announcements of several changes to its program this morning. They’re improving points expiration rules, going revenue-based for awards that don’t have the same capacity controls as ‘classic’ (and partner) awards do, increasing the price of premium cabin international awards to several destinations, and introducing a new status program for points earning members (in contrast to the airline elite status program based on flying). Overall I like the changes to expiration, the status benefits for mileage earning seems an interesting concept though isn’t especially rewarding, and I view the award chart changes as a significant negative. Elimination of Seven Year Expiration Rule You need activity in your Aeroplan account each year to keep miles active. But regardless of activity, any miles unused seven years from the time they were accumulated…
Bits ‘n Pieces for June 27, 2013
News and notes from around the interweb: A simple comment on my blog may win you Hyatt points and Vegas experiences A resort fee that isn’t a resort fee, meant to cover the cost of something that is free to begin with. The Hyatt Visa is surprisingly valuable for status in Las Vegas. Food guru slams British Airways salmon salad: ‘the driest thing I’ve ever eaten’ Starwood points transfer to LAN kilometers now at 1 to 1.5 rather than the previous 1 to 2. I wrote about this when it appeared to be changing at the end of April.
Slow Steps Forward In Using “Science” to Regulate Onboard Use of Electronics
The Associated Press‘ Scott Mayerowitz writes about how a ‘delay’ actually constitutes (slow) progress in eliminating bans on passenger use of electronics below 10,000 feet. An industry-labor advisory committee was supposed to make recommendations next month to the Federal Aviation Administration on easing the restrictions. But the agency said in a statement Friday the deadline has been extended to September because committee members asked for extra time to finish assessing whether it is safe to lift restrictions. … “It’s good to see the FAA may be on the verge of acknowledging what the traveling public has suspected for years — that current rules are arbitrary and lack real justification,” Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., one of Congress’ more outspoken critics of the restrictions, said in a statement. She contends that unless scientific evidence can be presented…
My Upcoming Hilton Award Reservation is Really, REALLY Confirmed
Hilton was updating systems on Saturday which made it impossible to book award nights. While I did burn points in advance of the dramatic HHonors devaluation that went into effect in March, I also wound up with a decent balance of several hundred thousand points left over. And I consider them stranded or secondary points — points I am not trying to conserve and don’t value especially highly. I used to save them for trips to places like the Conrad Koh Samui which has now gotten 90% more expensive. So when I’m faced with an expensive short stay, where I just need a room, and I can get somewhere close to half a cent a point in redemption value then I’m interested in burning Hilton HHonors points rather than spending cash. That was the case…
When You’re Tempted Not to Hang Up, Call Back… Hang Up Call Back Anyway
Hang up, call back. The four most important words in travel. For some, perhaps, the four most important words in life. I know this lesson. I share this lesson. But I don’t always practice it. And I know better. Call center agents vary tremendously in quality. The airline computer systems they are working with vary tremendously in quality. When things aren’t going smoothly — when they are taking longer than they should, when an agent isn’t understanding your request, when they are not coming back with the correct answers right away, hang up and call back. Sometimes it’s tempting to ignore the rule. You’ve been on hold for awhile, you don’t want to do it again. Surely your request is straightforward and for something you’re entitled to. It has to be better just to keep…
How Bad an Airline is United? Just Ask its CEO
Jeff Smisek promised frequent flyers “changes we’re going to like.” And I don’t think Continental, now doing business under the name United Airlines, gets enough credit for two of the things that are actually good since the merger between the two airlines — The elimination of “Starnet blocking” or “throttling” (United used to tell customers that award seats on partner airlines weren’t available even when the partners were offering the seats but when United didn’t want to pay for them) Much more generous “award routing rules” or the ability to fly just about any way you want between two cities based on what seats are available with miles instead of being highly limited in what flights can be used. The reason they can’t really get the credit they deserve for these two items is because…
When Is It a Good Idea to Redeem Your Miles for Merchandise?
USA Today‘s Charisse Jones has a piece on the things you can do with your miles besides taking flights. There are the obligatory examples of using miles to purchase “Tumi luggage and MacBook Pro computers” as well as spending them at auction for experiences like Rod Stewart concerts. The piece offered two of my thoughts. “More options are good for frequent fliers,” says Gary Leff, co-founder of the frequent-flier community Milepoint.com, who’s noticed the trend building over the past three or four years. “Not everyone wants to fly throughout the year for business and be rewarded with another flight. Sometimes they’d just like to stay home and use their miles for a retail treat.” … Unique experiences, however, could be perceived as a better deal, Leff says. “When you’re leveraging the connections, the sponsorship, or…
Comment Here for a Chance to Win Free Hyatt Points & Vegas Experiences
Earlier in the month Hyatt Gold Passport announced a great new partnership with MGM’s M Life program. Gold Passport members can earn and redeem points at the 12 Las Vegas M Life properties. And starting in August there’s reciprocal status as well. Which is great, because I’m not an especially high roller so the M Life status will help me feel a bit more like Sinatra around that city or at least around MGM’s properties (“Don’t you know who I am?!” :). The major hotel chains are hugely underrepresented on the Vegas strip (though Marriott has Cosmopolitan and IHG has the Venetian). This hotel program “codesharing” fills a real gap — it instantly gives Hyatt the biggest major chain loyalty program presence in the city with the most hotel rooms of any other. And it…
Bits ‘n Pieces for June 25, 2013
News and notes from around the interweb It appears there is still a 50,000 mile signup offer for the Citibank American Airlines Visa (HT: Million Mile Secrets) Women’s breasts can undermine the TSA. National Car Rental plans to bring back their outstanding 1-2-Free promotion. American Express is offering 55,000 Delta miles and 20,000 elite qualifying miles for spending $5000 on their $150 annual fee Delta Platinum Business Amex. (25,000 miles and 5000 qualifying miles after first purchase, 30,000 miles and 15,000 qualifying miles after $5000 spend within 3 months, apply by July 7.) 11 Things We No Longer See on Airplanes 13 Things Americans Do That The Rest of the World Finds Bizarre Delta isn’t all bad. You can join the 30,000+ people who see these deals and analysis every day — sign up to…
Did You Win a Samsung Chromebook?
Last week I ran a contest to give away a Samsung Chromebook. I won it at a conference last month, and no doubt it’s the latest greatest coolest technology but I’m a one device kind of guy so I prefer my Lenovo Ultrabook. Why not let my readers benefit? The prize came to me from Gogo inflight internet, which I’m also a huge fan of. As Louic CK said, “you’re sitting in a chair in the sky” and it’s the most amazing technology. So with thanks to Gogo, I asked readers to pick their favorite post from this blog and share it in the comments. That way other readers might discover some posts they hadn’t seen but that their peers recommend, and I would get valuable feedback on what readers value most. I did learn…
