Nicholas Kralev echos my major concern about a United-Continental merger in his Washington Times column this week: Starnet blocking. United is the only Star Alliance carrier known to block otherwise available partner “award” seats. When Continental joined the 26-member group in October, it not only vowed not to filter other airlines’ inventory, but it also helped make United’s blocking more transparent by showing actual availability on its website, though it doesn’t have all Star carriers yet. But will a merged United-Continental continue to block partner award seats that are being offered, more often than not falsely blaming the partner for not offering the seats? Indeed, Continental specifically promised not to block partner award seats — a practice engaged in only by United and no other Star airline — and to have a ‘realistic’ award chart…
Hyatt Points Sale @ ~ 1 Cent Apiece on Tuesday
On May 3, American Express’ Discover America Daily Getaways offered Starwood Starpoints for purchase at 1.45 cents apiece. The offer was snapped up and gone in minutes. On May 11, Hyatt points will be on sale. There will be: (100) 24,000 Gold Passport points for $225 (35) 30,000 GP points for $300 (15) 36,000 GP points for $375 (15) 69,000 GP points for $700 There’s a maximum of one of each package per purchase. These will be available at 10am Eastern on Tuesday and likely to go very quickly.
New Delta American Express Promo and Benefit: 100% Bonus on Mileage Purchases and First Checked Bag Free
MilesQuest points to a Delta offer for 100% bonus on purchased miles when you use a Delta Skymiles American Express card to make the purchase by June 30. One Mile at a Time says that the 1.4 cent per point purchase price under the promo is worthwhile if you’re topping off for a Singapore Airlines award before the May 15 deadline. But otherwise it’s hard to endorse such a purchase. And in related news, half a dozen people have emailed me about the ‘news’ that Delta American Express cardholders would receive a first bag fee waiver beginning June 1. This is hardly a big deal, it’s becoming a common co-branded credit card benefit, something that Continental already offers for its Mastercard holders for instance. The card isn’t free, if you spend money on it you’re…
My Newest (and Best?) Giveaway Yet? Actual Money Courtesy of Bing Travel!
Bing travel wants to get your (and my) attention. I’ll admit, I hadn’t paid them much mind before, I’m used to searching with ITA Software and with Kayak, booking directly through an airline site or with Expedia or Orbitz if need be. I often find that Orbitz is good for putting together complex multi-carrier itienraries, and depending on the carrier they may be updating inventory at a lag from other sites, so Expedia or Orbitz might be cheaper on any given itinerary on occasion. So I was surprised to find that Bing seemed very much in the tradition of Kayak, the site I’ve recommended most often to non-experts for search for travel. Very good to know! So how did they get my attention and now yours? They’ve laid out their summer travel forecast and have…
US Airways Reduces International Award Travel Change and Redeposit Fees
According to the Dividend Miles Member Guide, the fee for award ticket changes and for ticket cancellation/mileage redeposit is $150. Up until a few days ago it was a stratospheric $250 per passenger on international itineraries ($150 domestic). This change brings US Airways in line with American and United. It’s still not inexpensive, but it’s a meaningful reduction of $100 per passenger, without explanation or fanfare. I’ll take it!
Starwood Free Night Promo Now Also Includes 1000 American Airlines Mile Bonuis for Each Sheraton Stay
Starwood’s free weekend night every three stays promo, which runs through July 31, just got a little bit better. CaroL just let me know that they are stacking that with 1000 bonus American Airlines miles for each Sheraton stay. (Even if you’ve already registered for Starwood’s free night offer, you need to register again if you also want the American miles – this link asks for your American Airlines frequent flyer number.) So if you’re making one-night stays, this offer could be quite valuable, and certainly more valuable than last summer when Starwood partnered with Northwest and Delta.
Reminder – Last Chance to Grab Singapore Airlines Premium Seats with Your Delta Skypesos Approaching
The Delta – Singapore Airlines partnership ends May 15. Singapore Airlines awards, despite the roughly $500 fuel surcharge/taxes one might expect on a first class redemption, remain the single most lucrative use of Delta Skypesos there is.. for another dozen or so days. If you don’t get in on this deal to burn your remaining Delta miles, here’s my advice on the best uses for Skymiles and even how to find available premium cabin award seats and book them online.
Manila to Macau via Cathay Pacific First Class and Turbojet Ferry: a continuation of “Cathay & British Airways First Class, Philippines and Macau, a Presidential Suite, and the Fat Duck Restaurant”
We arrived at the Manila airport and had to show printed e-ticket itineraries to enter, and then had to go through security screening of our checked and hand baggage as well. Once you’ve entered there’s a sign saying not to exit. We walked up to the Cathay Pacific checkin desk, and they helped us right away, but our checkin was confusing. I handed them not just our itinerary and passports, but also our receipt for the Turbojet ferry from Hong Kong International Airport to Macau Ferry Terminal. I asked them to check our bags through to Macau, and the agent had never heard of such a thing and couldn’t figure out how to do it. After much plugging away he called over his supervisor who fiddled for awhile and got on the phone but finally…
25,000 Priority Club Points for New DirectTV Service
From MilesQuest: Priority Club has sweetened their offer of points for signing up with Directv from 15,000 to 25,000 and up to 50% off for the first year. The deadline is May 31, 2010. I took advantage of this deal back when it was a 15,000 point offer. I had a bear of a time getting the points though as there was not a spot to enter in my Priority Club number during sign-up. This probably has been fixed by now but I would recommend printing the offer and your final confirmation page as backup. Contra MilesQuest, I read the terms and conditions as saying the offer is valid through July 14. I also don’t see a 15,000 point offer, only a 25,000 point offer. Points post 6-8 weeks after your account has been open…
Marriott’s New Free Internet Elite Benefit Gets a Little Bit Better
Back in March 7 Marriott announced a limited free internet benefit for Gold and Platinum elites to start May 7: only in the U.S. (excluding Hawaii and US territories) and Canada. Yesterday they announced on Flyertalk that the benefit will be extended to Hawaii, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. Not Europe, Asia, etc. It’s progress. It doesn’t match Hyatt’s worldwide offering for all elites or Starwood’s worldwide offering for Platinum elites. But it’s progress. And they’ve also annonced free local calls in the US and Canada for anyone that doesn’t own a cell phone for Golds and Platinums.
