Last year I explained how to use ‘hidden city ticketing’ to save big money on airfare. Airlines often price tickets from one city to another through a hub cheaper than flights that terminate at the hub. Flying United New York to Milwaukee through Chicago is often much cheaper than just flying New York to Chicago. But if you get off the plane in Chicago and don’t board your connection to Milwaukee, you’ve potentially saved yourself a lot of money. This is called hidden city ticketing. In the live example I gave in that post, I helped someone save $1415 on a one-way ticket. That’s a big deal. If you’re interested in the technique, read the post, it walks you through how to do it – and how not to do it – including simple pitfalls…
United Increases Change Fees on Awards for Most MileagePlus Members
After the big news yesterday that United was following Delta’s lead in imposing minimum revenue requirements for elite status, at least for US frequent flyers who don’t spend $25,000 or more on a United co-brand credit card (this exception, or the one for legacy Presidential Plus credit card holders, not applying to 100,000 mile flyer status), comes more news a mere 18 or so hours later. The MileagePlus program has increased the fees that non-elite general members have to pay to change and cancel award tickets. For travel more than 21 days out, changes that didn’t involve a different origin or destination were free. Now — effective immediately, no advance notice given — changes will be $75. If the changes are made inside of 21 days that fee is $100 per passengers. Cancelling and redepositing…
Bits ‘n Pieces for June 19, 2013
News and notes from around the interweb: Hertz still hasn’t solved the Jerry Seinfeld problem: When taking the reservation doesn’t actually hold the reservation. US Airways is rolling out online pre-order o paid meals in coach. You’ll no longer need to game their IT system to be able to have this. You can comment on my blog for a chance to win a Samsung Chromebook. Taipei-based EVA Airways has joined the Star Alliance and is a truly awesome ‘get’ — business class award availability is really, really good and thy fly to Toronto, Vancouver, New York JFK, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle. Another great way to get between North America and Asia and with a really stellar inflight product. I’ve found the Aeroplan website good for searching space, along with the ANA website. I…
United Imposes Revenue Requirements for Elite Status
Chris R. emailed me this morning to bring a Milepoint.com post to my attention where United announced changes to elite status qualification beginning in 2014. The following revenue requirements — in addition to the standard mileage or segment flying to reach status — apply to accounts with addresses in the United States only. Silver: $2500 minimum qualifying revenue Gold: $5000 minimum qualifying revenue Platinum: $7500 minimum qualifying revenue 1K: $10,000 minimum qualifying revenue In addition, you can’t earn status entirely on most of United’s partners. Earning status will require flying at least 4 qualifying segments operated by United, United Express, and/or Copa Airlines U.S. members who charge $25,000 to a co-branded United Chase credit card during the calendar year are exempt from the revenue requirement for that year if qualifying for Silver, Gold, or Platinum…
$150 off an Air/Hotel Package from Travelocity
Travelocity $150 off a $750 air and hotel travel package on the first 3000 coupon uses through June 19 (tomorrow) when paying with American Express. Here are the details: Search for a vacation package (Flight + Hotel or Flight + Hotel + Car). They have learned their lesson from past deals and now require the hotel to be in the same region as the destination airport… Hah! Enter promo code AMEXPK150 at checkout (valid on the first 3000 uses) Pay with an American Express card by 11:59 Central Time on June 19, 2013 Of course going to Travelocity via the Chase Ultimate Rewards mall should earn 2 points per dollar spent as well, and in my experience the use of a coupon hasn’t voided that points-earning. I’m curious to hear others’ experiences with Travelocity shopping…
JetBlue Points Will Never Expire — And That’s Not a Good Thing
I first read it over at Wandering Aramean yesterday, that JetBlue points would no longer expire. Previously you had to either fly or charge something to their co-branded American Express card every 12 months to keep an account active. That’s a rather stringent policy. In my post last month on how to keep your miles from expiring I surveyed the major frequent flyer program expiration policies and most allow you to keep an account active with any kind of activity every 18-36 months. Delta miles do not expire, and when they rolled out the change they framed it as a ‘moral issue’ and yet they captured the financial benefits of having led the charge to shorten account expiration times and did not restore any of the miles they had taken away. Some moral stand. In…
Comment Here for a Chance to Win a Samsung Chromebook!
All I’m going to ask you to do is leave a comment, the details of which you’ll need to read on for so you know what to say! Last month I was at a conference where I walked away with a giveaway item of a Samsung Chromebook — courtesy of Gogo Inflight Internet. Now, I love Gogo. Inflight internet has materially changed my life. I used to get off of a plane after a long flight during the business day and I’d be inundated with work, with messages, with ‘crises’ (manufactured or otherwise). Instead, I keep up with work from the air. I’m more productive, and landing after a long flight is no longer stressful. I currently pay for a ‘monthly pass’. But I didn’t want anyone to think I loved Gogo because I received…
Marriott Brings Back Mileage Earning With and Transfers to American AAdvantage, Plus 500 Bonus Miles Per Stay
American Airlines and Marriott Rewards announced a partnership today, restoring a relationship which was severed back in June 2010. Members will be able to earn AAdvantage miles for Marriott stays (rather than Marriott Rewards points) if they wish, and will be able to convert Marriott points to AAdvantage miles. The conversions will take place at the ‘higher’ tier that Marriott offers, similar to transfers into Aeromexico, Aeroplan, Alaska, British Airways, Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines, GOL/Varig, Hawaiian Airlines, Iberia Airlines, United Airlines, US Airways, and Virgin Atlantic. The conversion rate of Marriott Rewards to American miles (and to the mileage currencies of the other airlines listed above) is: 10,000 points = 2,000 miles 20,000 points = 5,000 miles 30,000 points = 10,000 miles 70,000 points = 25,000 miles 140,000 points = 50,000 miles Other air…
Bits ‘n Pieces for June 17, 2013
News and Notes from Around the Interweb: Passengers stuck on a plane for hours were charged for water. And it wasn’t even Spirit. Or an attempt to utilize the price system to ration scarce resources. (HT: sobore on Milepoint) Tasting notes on Hyatt’s private label Canvas house wines. If you didn’t win Briggs & Riley luggage in my recent giveaways, you can enter Points, Miles, & Martini’s TORQ bag giveaway. (Well, strictly speaking, you can enter there even if you did win here.) 20% off a Virgin America ticket valid for travel September 10 – November 6 by liking and entering info on their Facebook page. United partner Silver Airways introduces its own frequent flyer program that earns… United miles. You can join the 30,000+ people who see these deals and analysis every day —…
Why Frequent Flyers Are LESS Likely to Cheat (Despite Survey Data)
Point Me to the Plane flags a story about cheating spouses traveling in order to carry on their affairs. “There’s no better time to pursue a discreet affair than when you’re hundreds or even thousands of miles away from home,” said AshleyMadison.com founder Noel Biderman. “Our members have stated that the distance not only lessens their fear of getting caught, but also alleviates feelings of guilt.” …And how on earth do these cheaters pay for these rendezvous without getting caught? Turns out more than half pay for it through a business trip, either directly on a corporate card or through a rewards program (no paper trail!) or by adding days onto a business trip. Using miles under the belief that there’s “no paper trail” seems naive at best. Sure, strictly speaking the tickets are electronic…
