From Casinos To Aircraft Cabins: Marriott And MGM Make Gambling With Miles — Even Inflight — Possible

Dec 14 2024

A decade ago, I spoke with some folks who were trying to enable gambling with frequent flyer miles. And back then what I told them was that no one would touch it because of reputational concerns. That was true at the time. Things have changed so dramatically!

Since it’s now possible to earn Marriott points gambling, the Overton window has shifted sufficiently that more programs may be open to the revenue possibilities of gambling using frequent flyer miles.

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No Upgrades, Thin Walls, And $400 Rates: Marriott’s The Alexandrian Epitomizes Bonvoy’s Biggest Failures

Dec 14 2024

Somehow rates here run from the mid-$200s to mid-$400s. There’s actually another Autograph Collection property just a few blocks away. You’d probably like the Morrison House much better.

Marriott CEO Jim Capuano once said, “When I die, they’ll put the net-rooms growth number on my tombstone.” Marriott will seemingly take a fee from any hotel, of any quality, diluting their brands in the process.

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Exclusive: Alaska Airlines’ New Premium Card Global Companion Award And Fee Waiver Details Revealed

airplane cabin
Dec 13 2024

Alaska Airlines announced this week that the move to a single loyalty program with Hawaiian Airlines will come this summer, and that they’ll also launch a premium credit card at that time.

Brett Catlin, Alaska’s Vice President of Loyalty, Alliances and Sales, shared some additional details about the card’s companion award certificate with me.

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American Express Adds Hilton Statement Credit Benefit To Business Platinum Card

hotel lobby
Dec 12 2024

I was approved for this card early in 2024 and now face a choice over whether it’s worth keeping. For now, this Hilton benefit is additive. I suspect it will be more valuable to me than benefits that we may lose – but split up quarterly, at $50 per quarter, requires somewhat regular business with Hilton to maximize and I’m not a Hilton regular. So I’ll have to factor the increased effort (compared to, for instance, making an online Dell purchase) into the equation.

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