I usually don’t blog my average domestic stays, or even my average international ones, but when I snap a few photos and since I write more for myself than my readers much of the time (sorry!) sometimes I feel like it’s worth posting only to remind myself. I admit, I frequently search my own blog for links and offers. That’s one of the reasons I started the blog way back in 2002, as a way of memorializing the things I had learned about travel so that I could refer back to them later. So here I am, writing about of all things the Hyatt Regency Baltimore. This was my first US Airways hit, as I mentioned yesterday. The one-night stay would have earned less than 1000 Hyatt Gold Passport points, so I wasn’t really giving…
Chicago Frequent Flyer Seminar Over 80% Full
The event begins the evening of Friday, October 28 with some optional events, is in full swing on Saturday the 29th, and wraps up Sunday afternoon. Last year sold out. Over 400 people have registered, there are fewer than 100 spots left. Speakers include Lucky a.k.a. Ben from One Mile at a Time, Brian a.k.a The Points Guy from.. The Points Guy, Rick a.k.a. ingy the Frugal Travel Guy, plus beaubo — the guy who once hired Thai rice farmers to mileage run in the Golden Triangle — and Randy Petersen, the famous Pudding Guy and also United’s Captain Denny Flanagan. My talk on booking frequent flyer awards is completely full. Discussion and full details on the event can be found here. And here’s the page to register. If you can make it to Chicago…
My Strategy for 100,000 Bonus Miles in the US Airways Grand Slam Promo
Last month I outlined the US Airways Grand Slam promotion which began this past week. It’s come around each of the past couple of years, so lots of experience with it, every year they tweak the rules just a little bit but it still remains rather lucrative. But basic gist is bonus miles for transactions with various partners, starting at 3000 bonus miles for 4 partners and going all the way up to 110,000 bonus miles for 40 partners if you’re also a US Airways elite. And three of the milestones along the way even let you earn elite qualifying miles, too. The hard thing is this — US Airways can often be acquired so cheaply, by straight up buying them, that it often doesn’t seem like it’s worth a lot of effort to earn…
Conrad Koh Samui Available on Point Stretchers Through November 30
Earlier in the week I wrote about my plans to redeem Hilton HHonors points for the Conrad Koh Samui (and switching up the reservation to score a two-bedroom ocean villa at the Conrad Koh Samui Residences). Undoubtedly the property is one of the better reward values in the Hilton HHonors portfolio. When I first booked it, the hotel was category 6 (40,000 points per night, discounted on a 5-night elite multi-night stay award to 32,000 points per night). Then — even before the hotel opened — it was upgraded to category 7 (50,000 points per night, discounted on a 5-night elite multi-night stay award to 40,000 points per night). That’s for a $600 – $900 standalone villa with private pool overlooking the Gulf. Unwind in a stunning Oceanview Pool Villa, with 65 sqm of indoor…
What Program You Should Use Depends on the Destinations You Want to Redeem For
One of the most frequent questions I get is, “Whose miles are really the best? I have a hard time using my miles and need to switch programs.” Or a common variation is, “I really should change credit cards, what credit card should I get to have the best chance of redeeming awards?” And there isn’t one true answer. There are some rough overall rules, but the best program for you depends on the award you want to redeem (and also the number of passengers, the class of service, willingness to take additional connections for better availability, requirements for inflight product, etc). Since I found myself offering this insight to someone this morning, I thought I’d share it more broadly — there are rough and ready rules about best program based on where in the…
25,000 Delta Miles for $500 Skymall Purchase Through September 18
Skymall is offering 25,000 Delta miles for a purchase of $500 or more (not including tax, shipping) made by September 18. I admit, I could be tempted with this camera. Though the garden giraffe always seems like such an amusing idea on long flights when my laptop battery dies and I’ve already seen the movie… (Via Darcie, an editor of Inside Flyer, in this Milepoint thread.)
How Expensive Can Delta Mileage Awards Possibly Get?
Delta miles are called SkyPesos for a reason. Sure, I coined the phrase, but it stuck. Because they’re worth less than other major mileage currencies. Sure, there are uses, Air France business class to Europe is reasonably available from some gateways. And so are business class seats on V Australia, especially Los Angeles – Brisbane (though Delta adds fuel surcharges to the awards). But the hardest thing about using Delta Skymiles awards on these partners can often be the domestic segments on Delta getting to the international gateway. Delta tends to be the stingiest with award availability. And when they do release seats, it tends to be quite close to departure (but don’t count on trading your ‘high’ award of a lower priced one at the last minute, there are no changes whatsoever within 72…
Extreme Hotel Award Redemption, and Rescuing Reservations from Oblivion
I have reward redemptions coming up at two of the most interesting point value offerings out there from any chain. No, I’m not talking about the Le Meridien Chiang Rai, which was reduced to a category 2 property in Starwood Preferred Guest six months back — and that was one of my absolute favorite properties when I visited there two years ago. (I can’t say my experience — under a previous general manager, and with a nearly empty hotel — will be repeatable, but it was outstanding.) I’m talking instead about the Park Hyatt Maldives and about the Conrad Koh Samui. The Park Hyatt Maldives is the very top award category in Hyatt Gold Passport, and yet it’s still a value. With rates hovering around $1000 for an entry-level room, the property doesn’t take any…
5000 Free American AIrlines Miles
I legitimately have a business, or several, but I seem to recall it was iffy at best back when I signed up for American’s Business ExtrAA program. I seem to recall signing up for all of the small business programs way back when, they’re a way to double dip on rewards when flying (you earn miles and also credits in these programs) and if you’re someone who books a lot of travel for others you can credit their flights to your small business rewards account. Of course the overall idea is that everyone at a business credits their flights to one account, and the business encourages everyone to use the airline. It’s for small businesses, a rather automated system to encourage business loyalty for companies that don’t rise to the level of travel spend to…
Star Mega DO Wrapup and a Fabulous Fundraising Dinner on Saturday Night
I spent the past weekend in Denver for the close of the Star Mega DO, landing minutes ahead of the charter flight. My job was to get everyone onto buses while another group went immediately over to United’s training center for flight simulator time. Once everyone had their checked bags, it was out to the taxi/limo booth to have our buses called from the waiting pen, got everyone on, and then I was on my way over to the Avis for my rental car. One of the funniest moments for me of the trip was as I was arriving on the Avis lot, my cell phone rang. Tommy, the event organizer, asked… Tommy:Have you left the lot yet? Me: No, what’s up? Tommy: What kind of car do they have for you? Me: Cadillac, why?…
