Instant Platinum (top tier) status in the Accor Hotels loyalty program comes around with some frequency, each time it does the signup link won’t stay active for long — sometimes a couple of days, sometimes just hours. Here’s a current offer for instant Platinum status. (HT: Loyalty Lobby) Note that the signup page is just a signup page, no indication on that page that accounts will start at the Platinum level, but indeed it’s currently working as of this writing. You must open a new account, it cannot be applied to existing accounts. And when you do so you must use an email address that’s not currently on file with them. Even if you don’t frequently stay at Sofitel, Novotel, Pullman, Mercure, and other related properties frequently, you never know when you might find yourself…
Looking at the Future of Frequent Flyer Programs By Watching Experiments in Europe and the Middle East
Etihad Guest is one of the most innovative programs in terms of monetizing their product and their frequent flyer program. They offer a bidding system for flight upgrades. They also offer LoyLogic’s PointsPay system where you essentially carry your points with you in you wallet and use them to buy whatever you wish — though never as good a value as using miles for flights. When points are redeemed for flights they are both a rebate and leveraging deep discounts the program makes on the bulk purchase of inventory which would otherwise spoil. When points are used as cash to buy other things, they’re just the rebate without the leverage. It’s useful to look at the experimentation that programs around the world are engaged in. While the US has historically been the leader in frequent…
Airline Arrivals Lounges, and American’s Offering at London Heathrow
Most airport lounges are places to wait before getting on a flight. Some are even designated as departure lounges only, which is to say that you need to show a departing boarding pass to get in (either a business class or above boarding pass, or a coach boarding pass and something else to demonstrate you’re entitled to access like an eligible elite frequent flyer card). But there are also designated arrivals lounges, usually places to shower up after a long flight. This is especially important in some markets where many long haul flights arrive in the early morning — business travelers turning up and needing to go straight to the office, a place to clean up and even have a suit pressed, leisure travelers who get into the city too early to check into their…
$100 Statement Credit and 25,000 for Alaska Airlines Visa
Here’s the application link. It can’t hurt to take a screen shot of the offer when signing up for the card, since it isn’t intended to be marketed broadly, though I’d be surprised if there’s any difficulty in having the offer automatically honored — it’s clearly stated on the application page what you’re supposed to get. Ben describes how he got the offer to come up (hat tipping one of his commenters): going through a purchase of an Alaska Airlines ticket either not logged in or at a minimum if logged in, without already earning points through a card, and then finding the link on the confirmation screen after you’ve purchased a ticket. 25,000 bonus miles on approval, no minimum spend A $75 annual fee but a $100 statement credit after $1,000 in purchases within…
Republicans Woke Me Up in the Middle of the Night — at the Hyatt Regency Sacramento
The Hyatt Regency Sacramento is a perfectly serviceable hotel with a nice lobby, generally good staff, and good rooms that gets very expensive and sells out when the legislature is in session in California’s state capitol, given its proximity. I stayed there recently at the tail end of my UAE and Maldives trip because a friend was getting married nearby. The hotel was expensive when I looked into it, showing sold out months in advance, but another friend decided not to use his booking at the Hyatt and stay at the nearby Sheraton instead — and transferred his cheapie reservation to me. I should have known that showing sold out (only “Diamond Guaranteed Availability” open) months out must mean a conference taking up the bulk of the hotel. In those situations rooms often become available…
Are International Upgrades Still the Best Use of Frequent Flyer Miles?
I wrote a short piece last year for Conde’ Nast on why the conventional wisdom for getting the best value out of your miles has changed over the past several years. It used to be that the best use of miles was for international upgrades (buying a coach ticket and using miles to upgrade to business class). And for the most part that’s no longer true at all because upgrades have gotten much more expensive, and international award tickets have gotten much easier to book. Those two developments, in most cases, flip the value proposition between upgrades and award tickets. It’s easier to book alliance and partner award tickets. Upgrades have gotten more difficult to snag, but the growth of airline alliances has made it simpler to mix and match partner airlines on a single…
Bits ‘n Pieces for April 18, 2013
News and Notes from Around the Interweb: Virgin American is offering up to a 40% bonus on purchased points through May 7. Last month’s 80% offer piqued my interest but I still wasn’t quite a buyer. 40% only makes sense to top off an account with close to enough points for a high value award. Australian Frequent Flyer has the scoop on two stackable 15% discounts for flights to and from certain markets. Nearly 30% off of paid business class would be a huge discount (on a still expensive ticket!). American is proactively handing out lots of miles to customers who may have been affected by Tuesdays travel disruptions. A non-status colleague traveling on a domestic award ticket was offered 1500 points, reports of Executive Platinums with 7500 point offers, which seems reasonable for their…
Only in New York (Since it’s Illegal to Just Start a Taxi for People)
Since the number of cabs is strictly limited, no new licenses to operate one are granted, if you want to drive you can either become a licensed black car or… I doubt very many of their customers, though, can successfully flag this cab down, or dial them to pre-arrange a ride.
Upgrade Policy Changes and Other Developments at My Favorite New York Hotel, the Andaz 5th Avenue
About six months ago Jonathan, the General Manager of the Andaz 5th Avenue, moved over to Hyatt corporate. His role was filled by the Director of Rooms from the Park Hyatt Washington DC. Most things remained the same, but a few things changed. I haven’t been to New York much the past few months, or if I have it’s been for a specific purpose that’s had me staying at another hotel, it’s been for a flight connection, or it’s been a same-day in and out so no hotel stay needed. A far cry from a time not too long ago where I was here pretty much every week. So I haven’t stayed at the Andaz 5th Avenue in awhile, and I haven’t reported on things here in even longer – at least six months –…
TSA PreCheck Becomes Actually Useful, and Not Merely Awesome
Computer doesn’t have to come out of the case (mine doesn’t normally, since I use a bag the TSA permits through the screener as-is anyway). Liquids don’t have to come out (I rarely take mine out anywway). Shoes stay on (hallelujah!) And most significantly, perhaps, there’s usually no line and even if there was the lack of a security theatre drill, let alone nude-o-scope to opt out of, means things move very quickly. TSA’s PreCheck is like going through airport security before airport security was federalized. It’s a humane process. Not quite as civilized as going through security screening in Lufthansa’s first class terminal, perhaps (the screeners there assist me with my jacket). But it’s still… civilized, almost. But even though PreCheck makes airport security so much faster to go through, I’ve argued that it’s…
