Introduction Positioning flights to San Francisco, Sheraton Fisherman’s Wharf, and Some Dim Sum for the Day Cathay’s New San Francisco Lounge Cathay Pacific First Class, San Francisco – Hong Kong The Wing and Cathay Pacific First Class, Hong Kong – Singapore A Grand Suite at the Grand Hyatt Singapore Eating in Singapore Dinner at Waku Ghin, Marina Bay Sands Singapore Airlines Business Class: Singapore – Male Transfer to the Park Hyatt Hadahaa, Maldives Park Hyatt Maldives – Part I Park Hyatt Maldives – Part II Park Hyatt Maldives – Part III Maldivian, Kaadehdhoo – Male Singapore Airlines Business Class, Male – Singapore Cathay Pacific Business Class, Singapore – Hong Kong Conrad Hong Kong Cathay Pacific First Class, Hong Kong – Chicago American’s Chicago Flagship Lounge and the Final Journey Home We caught a cab from…
Frequent Traveler University Saturday Schedule Published
Frequent Traveler University is being held at the Sheraton Meadowlands on April 27 and 28, following the Thursday evening Freddie Awards and the Friday Randy Petersen Travel Executive Summit. The Saturday schedule will feature Randy Petersen, The Points Guy, Mommy Points, Daraius of Million Mile Secrets, legendary frequent flyer Steve Belkin (“beaubo” – known for hiring disabled rice farmers to fly in and out of the Golden Triangle area of Thailand for the miles, among other exploits), and Tommy Danielsen Milepoint co-founder and organizer of the MegaDOs. I’m also speaking in three slots as well. Your organizer is, as ever, Milepoint co-founder Pizzaman. 9:00am – 915am: Welcome, Tommy Danielsen 9:15am – 10:30am: Resolved: that Delta Skymiles Offer Superior Value. A Debate Between Brian Kelly (Affirmative) and Gary Leff (Negative) Alternate session: Introduction to miles &…
Alaska Airlines ISN’T Adding Restrictions to its Visa Companion Certificate
Yesterday in the comments on the blog, eponymous coward (whom I seem to remember is responsible for originating the line that “US Airways is the official consolidator for Star Alliance premium cabin fares”) noted that the Bank of America website now listed their Alaska Airlines co-branded Visa as offering a $99+tax companion certificate valid for coach travel. This issue raised quite a bit of concern on Milepoint. The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature companion certificate benefit is one of the real values in all of travel — every year cardholders get to take a companion along on any paid fare for $99 plus tax (it used to be $50, alas). The key element here is that the companion ticket books into whatever fare class the paid ticket is booked in. There are no fare restrictions. There…
Maximizing Miles in the Maldives: Cathay First, Eating in Singapore, and a Park Hyatt Water Villa – Dinner at Waku Ghin, Marina Bay Sands
Introduction Positioning flights to San Francisco, Sheraton Fisherman’s Wharf, and Some Dim Sum for the Day Cathay’s New San Francisco Lounge Cathay Pacific First Class, San Francisco – Hong Kong The Wing and Cathay Pacific First Class, Hong Kong – Singapore A Grand Suite at the Grand Hyatt Singapore Eating in Singapore Dinner at Waku Ghin, Marina Bay Sands Singapore Airlines Business Class: Singapore – Male Transfer to the Park Hyatt Hadahaa, Maldives Park Hyatt Maldives – Part I Park Hyatt Maldives – Part II Park Hyatt Maldives – Part III Maldivian, Kaadehdhoo – Male Singapore Airlines Business Class, Male – Singapore Cathay Pacific Business Class, Singapore – Hong Kong Conrad Hong Kong Cathay Pacific First Class, Hong Kong – Chicago American’s Chicago Flagship Lounge and the Final Journey Home I ate at Waku Ghin…
Useful TSA Infographic
Infographics aren’t always 100% fair, but here’s a great one that does a pretty good job summing up the value generated by the TSA, compared to its cost. It’s a bit long, so I won’t reproduce it here, but do check it out.
How to Get Through to United on the Phone Quickly
United hold times are still interminable, especially for non-elites. Continental hold times were always longer than United’s. Combine that with the chaos that’s ensued from the integration of United and Continental computer systems last weekend and United agents – despite training – still being unfamiliar with their new system, and you’ve had some pretty impressive waits. Rick emailed for help. IMPOSSIBLE to reach an agent. I’ve tried 3 times with a cumulative hold time of over 6 hours. Do you have insight on a phone number that might work? Or what to do? ( Per the website info, they carried over 4 of my international reservations dropping the second leg of each!) I suggested calling United reservations in Australia, which if memory serves is answered in Singapore. You can try other international call centers as…
50% Bonus on Transferring Hotel Points to US Airways
US Airways is offering a 50% bonus on points transferred in from hotel programs through March 31. Miles have to actually post to your US Airways account with a transfer date by March 31, and the 50% bonus is supposed to take 6-8 weeks to post. The obvious way to leverage this is with Starwood points, 20,000 points normally yield 25,000 miles but with this offer would yield 37,500 miles. 65,000 Starpoints would get you 120,000 miles — enough for a first class award from the US to North Asia (as far as Hong Kong. Or business class to Singapore, such as on the Newark – Singapore non-stop on Singapore Airlines. Participating hotel programs are Best Western, Choice, Hilton, Starwood, Club Carlson, Hyatt, Marriott, Priority Club, Wyndham, and La Quinta. Update: Ben notes that the…
Free Hilton HHonors Gold Status Still Available
Back on December 22, I flagged an offer for free Gold status with Hilton HHonors through May 2013. That offer, believe it or not, appears to still be alive. As Rob writes in the comments to an update post I had made on the offer: As of 10 Mar 2012, still worked for me! Thanks!!! As Tamas said, register or change your Hhonors account to Australia, use the code above, then once you get the congrats screen simply change back to your real country. The ‘code above’ refers to 442394 or 411945. Gold status, of course, gets some modest upgrades, continental breakfast, free internet, and discounted multi-night redemption stays.
Hyatt Excludes More Hotels from Confirmed Suite Upgrade Benefit
The single best benefit in all of hotel loyalty is, to me, Hyatt Gold Passport’s confirmed suite upgrades. Diamond members, four times a year, get to confirm at booking a suite on any paid stay booked on a Gold Passport-eligible rate. This way there’s no more hoping nervously at the check-in desk, it allows members to get the benefit they want most when they most want it. On a one-night business stay at a city hotel, on your own, odds are you don’t care about the suite … although occasionally you may plan to gather a group to plot, strategize, or just have some cocktails in which case the suite matters. But most of the time you’ll want it traveling with family, ,perhaps at a resort, and you can plan your hotel stay accordingly —…
American Announces 2012 Elite Threshold Rewards
American AAdvantage elite members who register are eligible to earn additional rewards for flying more than the minimum necessary to re-qualify for their current elite level. Golds who hit 40,000 get to pick one of 15,000 miles, 4 500 mile upgrades, 2 club passes, or a 10% off discount code. Platinums who hit 75,000 get to pick one of 25,000 miles, 8 500 mile upgrades, 4 club passes, a 15% off discount code, or gift Gold status to someone else. Executive Platinums who hit 125,000 get to pick two of 35,000 miles, 2 systemwide upgrades (eVIPs), a club membership, a 20% off discount code, or gift Gold status to someone else. The Executive Platinum perks are really huge — 70,000 miles or 4 systemwide upgrades or gifting gold membership and receiving a free lounge membership,…
