Last week I mentioned coverage of Frequent Traveler University at CNNgo. CNN coverage is likely the reason that the few remaining spots for the upcoming Los Angeles (November 30 – December 2) event sold out. Tommy Danielsen announced that though the event had sold out of the original 250 spots available, more space was added and so another 100 tickets have been made available. We sold out late last week, but were successful in getting a larger ballroom at the Sheraton LAX adding 100 more seats. We’re not planning on adding even more seats as we really liked the interaction we had with the audience at the last FTU and I feel that a maximum of 350 participants is the perfect size for us. So if you’re planning on attending, please purchase your seat soon…
40% Transfer Bonus from American Express to British Airways Through September 27
American Express Membership Rewards is offering a 40% bonus on transfers to British Airways through September 27. Regular readers know that I’m not a fan of the changes made to the British Airways program back in November. In fact, in anticipation of those changes my Burn, Avios, Burn trip last Thanksgiving to Thailand was partially funded by taking advantage of British Airways transfer bonuses ‘before it was too late’. But of course British Airways does remain a useful and strategic partner of American Express Membership Rewards. Though there are fuel surcharges added to award tickets whenever a paid ticket would include those (you avoid fuel surcharges when flying to South America, US domestic, and a few other markets). And though the cost of awards are charged separately for each segment. There are some real values…
Cool History of the World (in Travel) Infographic
In the movie Airplane II the history of the world is summed up thusly: Steve McCroskey: Jacobs, I want to know absolutely everything that’s happened up till now. Jacobs: Well, let’s see. First the earth cooled. And then the dinosaurs came, but they got too big and fat, so they all died and they turned into oil. And then the Arabs came and they bought Mercedes Benzes. And Prince Charles started wearing all of Lady Di’s clothes. I couldn’t believe it. (I haven’t seen the movie in years but seem to recall it as ‘underwear’ rather than clothes.) Then of course there’s Mel Brooks’ History of the World. One of the Greatest. Films. Ever. Now Conde Nast Traveler offers us their short history of the world interactive infographic In 23 Astonishing Graphics, 126 Mind-Bending Facts,…
Bits ‘n Pieces for August 27, 2012
News, opinion, and minor notes from around the interweb: Via the Points Guy, American Express Membership Rewards is offering a 30% bonus on points transfers to Virgin America through September 2. Transferring to Virgin America is almost never a good idea, poor value per Amex point, and this bonus doesn’t change that calculation. This is really only useful is moving over a small number of points to top off towards a specific award level. According to this Milepoint discussion, Avis has removed blackout dates for redeeming AvisFirst two-day free rental day certificates. Via Merginal Revolution, another reason that Singapore fascinates me, garages in the sky that allow you to keep your car next to your living room in a high rise condo (subscription required). Hertz has made a deal to acquire Dollar and Thrifty car…
25% Bonus on American AAdvantage Purchased Miles through August 31
American is offering progressively greater discounts for larger points purchases, up to 25% off for a 40,000 mile purchase, expiring August 31. This is still 2.3 cents per mile all-in even with 25% off for 40,000 miles purchased, more than I would pay speculatively for miles but decent for topping off an account for a specific award level and especially with a particular award in mind. American allows award holds for 5 days, and points will post within a couple of days. So you can hold the award you want and then buy points you may need. The offer is in line with the recent trend towards short-term mileage purchase discounts and bonuses, but isn’t as rewarding as the beginning of April offer of a 30% bonus combined with a 15% discount that amounted to…
Hilton HHonors Launches New Online Shopping Portal
Just Another Points Traveler blogged this afternoon that Hilton HHonors had gotten out of the online shopping portal business (click through a program’s ‘online mall’ to the merchant you are going to buy from in order to earn points). She reported this based on an e-mail from the company which ran the old HHonors shopping portal, Hilton HHonors Earnings Mall has been discontinued, but your online shopping benefits don’t have to! To continue enjoying the savings and rewards of Earnings Mall, simply register for OO.com. It turns out, though, that there still is a shopping portal that lets you earn Hilton HHonors points for your online purchases. HHonors just isn’t working with that partner any longer. And the email simply came from the vendor that used to run the old shopping portal, trying to solicit…
Only One Week Left for Starwood American Express 30,000 Point Bonus
As a limited time offer through September 4th American Express will give you a similar number of points as the signup bonus on each of their personal and small business co-branded American Express cards. 10,000 bonus points after first purchase 20,000 more points after $5000 in spend within 6 months No fee the first year ($65 thereafter, which is lower than most airline co-branded cards This card has been top of my wallet since 2001, I signed up with no bonus at all, and there has never been an offer of more points than this though they have made this offer two times in the past. (In 2006 at the same time they brought out their small business card they bumped the signup bonus offer to 10,000 points. The standard bonus had been 4000 points,…
Walgreens Launching Loyalty Program
When United and Continental merged, then-head of United’s Mileage Plus loyalty program Graham Atkinson was forced out. He landed at Walgreen’s, and everyone has been expecting the rollout of a loyalty program for the drugstore chain. Now that’s exactly what’s happening. There will be points-earning opportunities for purchases, prescriptions, getting shots, and “participating in a walking program.” The more points you earn, the more existing points will be worth. Their goal is “tens of millions of sign-ups before the end of the year.” The program launches in September and there’s no word yet on whether points redemption availability will entail Starnet blocking when each quarter’s demand exceeds budget…
Luxury Hotels Shouldn’t Offer Packages Keyed Off the Occupy Movement
With a $349+ room rate, the occupy tie-in doesn’t count as ‘clever’. From my in-box this morning: The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte’s “Re-Occupy Charlotte” Post-DNC Package Announced For Immediate Release THE RITZ-CARLTON, CHARLOTTE INTRODUCES RE-OCCUPY CHARLOTTE September Weekend Package Will Usher In the City’s Post-Convention Return to Normal CHARLOTTE, N.C. – August 27, 2012 – When the convention crowds depart Charlotte on September 7, local residents will be able to reclaim their beloved city, enjoying the late-summer beauty for which Charlotte has become renowned. To celebrate this return to bliss, The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte has introduced Re-Occupy Charlotte, a special weekend package which is valid between the end of the Democratic National Convention and September 30, 2012. Re-Occupy Charlotte offers a luxury weekend in “The Queen City,” with the package available to guests from any and all states, be they red, blue…
Why I Don’t Like Credit Card Chip and PIN Technology
When I was in high school in Central California, I was on the debate team and we traveled out of town frequently. The most common destination was Bakersfield. Our team always stayed in a motel off the freeway called the “California Inn.” There weren’t individual soaps in the bathroom. Instead, there was a wall-mounted dispenser with liquid soap that was called “EuroBath.” And sixteen year-old me thought that was special stuff! It’s from Europe! There’s this strange US fetish about Europe, not in all circles of course but in many. Anything that happens there is better, more cultured, more advanced. That’s not just about bath products, it applies even to credit cards. Europe has moved to “chip and pin” technology where (1) the cards have a chip in them that contains their identifying data and…
