.. and right on the heels of yesterday’s instant hotel status offer, too. 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 the offer for instant Platinum status. 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…
Faster Free Nights are Back!
It was just back in September that I pronounced the famous Faster Free Nights hotel promotion dead. Not just resting. Not just simply ‘stunned’ or ‘pining for the fjords.’ Definitely deceased. And yet I opened up the front cover of February’s Inside Flyer to find this: Now, Faster Free Nights was the Greatest. Hotel Promotion. Ever run. Two stays — even one nights — with Hyatt and you earned a free night at any Hyatt in the world. Two airport nights and you’d have a night at the Park Hyatt Tokyo. Back in the day it was even better, because as long as there was some sort of charge on your folio a Priceline room would count. What’s more, as long as something billed to your room when staying on your free night, your free…
A Cheaper Way to Buy Those American Airlines Miles
For the past day or so I’ve had a browser window open with the latest US Airways purchase miles offer which runs through February 28. Because I’m being offered a 100% bonus, but not only is it ‘targeted’ this time (only some people have the offer) the offer varies for different folks. And I’ve been trying to sort out US Airways’ thinking here. Some people get a 100% bonus, some people as little as 50%, and some people no bonus at all. When you go to the purchase miles page they make you identify yourself. Then they present you with your offer, here’s the one I got: If you didn’t get a 100% bonus, but you want one and know someone that did then remember that the bonus applies to buying miles and gifting miles.…
Free Hotel Platinum Status with GHA Discovery
Reader Nils shares that GHA Discovery, the loyalty program for Global Hotel Alliance (14 hotel brands with 300 hotels in 53 countries) is offering mid-tier Platinum elite status at signup. Clearly one of the smaller programs, but status benefits you with chains like Anantara Hotels, Kempinski, Omni, and Pan Pacific amongst others. Benefits include free internet, bottled water, upgrade to next room category, guaranteed room availability with 48 hours notice, and 3pm late checkout. They also have ‘local experience awards‘ earned each time you stay at one of their brands for the first time. The offer is pitched to MasterCard World Signia Cardholders (their high-end version of the card outside the U.S. though rebranded in some places as World Elite). Status is valid for a year. Limited applicability, probably, but I rarely turn down free…
50% Bonus on American Airlines Purchased Miles – Almost Worth It!
For the last six months of 2012, American offered up to a 50% bonus on purchased miles. For a purchase of exactly 40,000, 50,000, or 60,000 miles that meant a price of 2 cents a mile, the lowest price I had ever seen American sell miles direct to consumer for. Through February 28 that offer is back. For A Limited Time Only: Earn Up To 30,000 Bonus Miles, A 50% Mileage Bonus As we move towards the new American, and continue to modernize and innovate, we would like to share the excitement of our new look, with you – our valued customer. Now, through February 28, 2013, you can earn up to 30,000 bonus miles when you buy AAdvantage® miles. This is a price at which I’m almost a buyer. I won’t be taking advantage…
Million Miler Lawsuit Against United Moving Forward
The Million Miler lawsuit against United is going forward. Via Milepoint, a judge refused to dismiss breach of contract claims, “It is undeniable that plaintiff claims he has and continues to suffer an injury based upon his lost benefits,” Leinenweber wrote. “At this stage of the litigation, the court finds it plausible that defendants had a contract with Million Miler members which differed from the contract they had with other Mileage Plus members.” So while United claims they a right to change the terms of conditions of their program, the argument here is that there are additional and separate commitments that were made to million milers. It’s unclear to say the least whether this suit will prevail on the merits, or even ultimately get to trial (now that United has failed to get the whole…
Up to 30% Bonus on Purchased Hyatt Gold Passport Points
Hyatt is offering a bonus of 10% – 30% on points purchases through February 6. The more points you purchase the higher the bonus. 1000 – 9000 points gets a 10% bonus. Buying 9000 points means you receive 9900 points at a cost of 2.18 cents apiece. 10,000 – 29,000 points gets a 20% bonus. Buying 29,000 points means you receive 34,800 points at a cost of 2 cents apiece. 30,000 – 40,000 points gets you a 30% bonus. Buying 40,000 points means you receive 52,000 points at a cost of 1.846 cents apiece. Hyatt Gold Passport allows a maximum purchase of 40,000 points per year. I value Hyatt points at 1.5 cents apiece. I would not do this on a speculative basis. If you were going to buy some points to top off towards an…
It’s a Great Time to Use Delta Miles for Travel on Virgin Australia
I consider using Delta miles for travel on Virgin Australia to be the absolute best use of Skypesos. Delta even allows online booking for Virgin Australia awards and has stopped collecting fuel surcharges when redeeming for that carrier. While Delta miles tend to be the toughest to use of any major carrier, award availability tends to be quite bad. They don’t permit one-way awards for half the cost of roundtrip (neither does US Airways). Their agents are clueless, their award booking website offers limited partners and is generally quite broken. International first class awards aren’t allowed. And yet ironically the miles are better for travel between the U.S. and Australia — one of the toughest frequent flyer awards there is — than anyone else’s. And that’s not just because they will let you go the…
Malaysia Airlines Joins Oneworld Tomorrow – And New Oneworld Top Tier Alliance Benefits
Malaysia Airlines Joins oneworld Tomorrow Malaysia Airlines joins oneworld February 1. That’s not news, since it was long ago announced and is proceeding based on recently expected schedules. (It was originally set to join in late 2012, so even the first deadline was only missed by a wee bit.) It’s a great addition for folks using American miles in the U.S. — oneworld is light on Asian partners, this expands South Asian reach, plus it’s another option to Asia from the U.S. (Los Angeles – TaipeiTokyo – Kuala Lumpur). And they offer a great premium product. Hey, their satellite terminal first class in Kuala Lumpur even has lobster on the buffet. While American’s standard partner award rules will not permit travel from the US to Malaysia via Europe, or to destinations like India via Malaysia,…
Where the Award Seats Are: Summer Travel to Europe via Brussels
Star Alliance remains the best program if you want to get to Europe or Asia in business class on points, largely because they have the most carriers with the most routes, and of course neither United nor US Airways adds fuel surcharges to awards on any of their partners. LufthansaFlyer wrote this morning that Brussels Airlines has announced 5 times weekly service between Washington Dulles and Brussels beginning June 18. Lucky discussed this morning his recent business class flight on Brussels. They have a new flat business class seat, though Lucky finds it a bit narrow especially at the feet. Flight times: Washington Dulles – Brussels, 10:35pm – 12:10pm+1, SN516 (Sun/Tues/Thurs/Fri/Sat) Brussels – Washington Dulles, 5:30pm – 8:15pm, SN515 (Sun/Tues/Thurs/Fri/Sat) Since I happen to be based in DC this was exciting news. I figured I…
