Delta sees itself as a highly valuable marketing platform, they even engaged magazine online ad sales gurus to figure out how to monetize their Delta.com platform. And they’ve tried to do deals with hotel chains where they envision themselves as an online travel agency like Orbitz and Expedia, seeking to take large commissions for the bookings they send to lodging chains. The big deal they did this year was with Starwood, the introduction of Crossover Rewards that allows reciprocal entry-level elite recognition for the elites of the other program and also ‘double dipping’ points earning between the two programs in a fairly modest way. Starwood and Delta essentially entered into a ‘best friends’ agreement to share customers and reward each others’ customers. The extent to which the benefits are modest, though, I was fairly curious…
MegaDO Charter Experience Goes On Sale at 2pm Eastern Today!
Last week I outlined the upcoming Star Mega DO (as well as explained what a ‘Mega DO’ charter trip is). Frequent flyers from all over come together, charter a plane, and do inside tours with travel-related companies. This one will be a flight charter originating in Toronto, flying to Tucson, and then to San Francisco and will feature programs with Air Canada, United, an Air Force base behind-the-scenes visit, and the Rimowa luggage factory. Tickets go on sale at 2pm Eastern. The event will be held October 22-25. Full program details are here (at frequent flyer community Milepoint.com). Prices are: Coach: $999 Economy Plus: $1299 Tommy Class (middle seat blocked): $1799 (was sold out, but equipment change opens up 4 seats) Tommy Class Emergency Exit (middle seat blocked): $1999 (was sold out, but equipment change…
Register Now for Hilton’s 3rd Quarter Promotion
Hilton’s third quarter promotion is Triple Your Trip — Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights earn triple points from July 9 through September 30. Monday through Thursday stays earn double points. You should register for the promotion even if you don’t anticipate staying at a Hilton property between July 9 and September 30. That’s because if you do wind up unexpectedly or last minute with a Hilton stay, you’ll probably forget to go back and register. It’s easiest just to click the link and enter your HHonors number and be done with it. The promotion isn’t lucrative enough that you should be shifting any stays towards Hilton, especially after this year’s devaluation of HHonors points. The bonus more or less just makes up for how much less Hilton points are worth than a few months ago…
Best Airline Complaint Letter Ever Gets the Worst Response Ever
A complaint letter written to Caribbean airline LIAT went viral a couple of weeks ago when it was publicized by Sir Richard Branson of Virgin. I didn’t write about it at the time because it wasn’t that funny, even if it was being touted as the greatest complaint letter ever. Sadly, the story goes from mildly amusing to just plain said. Here’s the letter, then I will explain. Dear LIAT, May I say how considerate it is of you to enable your passengers such an in-depth and thorough tour of the Caribbean. Most other airlines I have travelled on would simply wish to take me from point A to B in rather a hurry. I was intrigued that we were allowed to stop at not a lowly one or two but a magnificent six airports…
Video: How to Score the Best Hotel Upgrades
I got a lot of great feedback on the videos that Conde’ Nast Travel posted with my advice on the best time to book award travel, the best hotel perks for business travelers, and the best first class rewards. I don’t have video production skills, and don’t figure that most readers actually want to look at me. But videos are a popular way to convey information, and many of you find it useful to listen to advice and not just read it. So while I’ve written up my advice on how to score the best hotel upgrades, and redeeming hotel pooints for upgrades, I thought I’d also share a video that I recorded last year on getting hotel upgrades. Production quality isn’t as strong as the Conde’ Nast videos. But I think Sean Colahan did…
Why International Mileage Upgrades are So Expensive and Hard to Get — And What a Better Strategy Would Be
A couple of reader questions about upgrades. JC said, Hi there! Love the insights you share. I know award ticketing requires of me a lot of foresight and planning, but what would really make a difference on my end is how to most efficiently book award tickets/upgrades on the web. And Joy asked, For Star Alliance or Oneworld, what’s the cheapest way to upgrade an Economy flight booked into a cheap fare class (like K or L)? It seems quite expensive on United, for instance, because you have to pay some $300 in addition to the miles you use. Can you do it with a partner airline’s miles for cheaper? Conventional wisdom has always said that the best way to use miles was confirmed international upgrades to business class (buying a coach ticket, using miles…
Instant Free Top Tier Status with Accor Hotels (and Status Match Options)
Instant Platinum (top tier) status in the Accor Hotels loyalty program comes around with some frequency, usually the signup link doesn’t stay active long — sometimes days, sometimes just hours. Here’s a current offer for instant Platinum status. (HT: This Milepoint thread and Milepoint member Simon) 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 in one and having top tier status can’t hurt. Platinum status usually requires 60 nights or 25,000 points earned. It offers double points and at Sofitel, Pullman and MGallery hotels a complimentary drink and…
300 Free La Quinta Points
Sign up for the points here. As I explained last time, The videos are about 20 seconds long. Then you’ll be asked whether your trip is for business or pleasure, where in the state you are interested in, and whether kids will be along. That decision tree generates a longer 3-minute video to watch. The idea is you’re supposed to watch a video first and then get taken to a page where you enter your account information for the points. I’ve never stayed at a La Quinta. From having read Lamar Muse’s excellent autobiography about his years as Southwest Airlines’ founding President, I recall the story of the La Quinta chain (its founder was a Southwest board member). Apparently the name derives from the founder’s search for the cheapest furnishings possible. They had a Southwestern…
The Class Struggle in the Skies is More Illusion than Reality
The New York Times carried a piece this weekend called Class Struggle in the Sky where the author argued that in airworld, the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. The film Jerry Maguire did a much better job framing the issue, when Renee Zellweger’s character looks forward from the coach cabin and up to where Tom Cruise is sitting and tells her son, First class, that’s what’s wrong. It used to be a better meal, now it’s a better life. There’s no doubt that the man walking past me yesterday in the back, muttering to his family how great it would be if he had one of the bigger seats up front, shared this view. And that he was asked to use the lavatory “in his ticketed cabin” felt to him…
600 United Miles for Taking One (Arduous!) Survey
I woke up to an email this morning from United offering 600 miles for joining ‘Opinion Miles Club’ and completing one survey. You give your name, email address, mileage number and gender. Then you go to your email to confirm. Then they want your date of birth, home address, whether you rent or own your home, your occupation, your education level, income, and race. They also want to know who you’re employed by and how much you make. After completing registration they had another screening survey for me to take before they’d let me take a survey for miles. They wanted to know if I’m gay or wear glasses, and what purchasing decisions I make at work. You’ll need to decide if that’s too much information, too invasive, and for that matter how honest you…
