The April issue of Conde Nast Traveler has a good bit on frequent flyer miles. I haven’t seen the physical issue yet, it’s not particularly available in my current secure undisclosed location, but 10 articles are currently up on their website (my guess it that’s about half the issue that normally winds up online). So far the two pieces of interest are How to Maximize Your Miles and a related sidebar on the pluses and minuses of various North American airline mileage programs plus American Express Membership Rewards and Starwood Preferred Guest for their ability to transfer points to a wide variety of airlines. In the mileage advice piece, Randy Petersen and I are interviewed extensively for advice. Pick your program wisely so that it meets your destination needs at a good mileage price, with…
250 Free American Airlines Miles
American is offering 250 miles for registering with their online mileage mall and opting in to receive email special offers. Offer expires March 31.
Amtrak Double and Triple Points
Amtrak is offering bonuses for train travel in March, April, and May: Earn double points on qualifying Amtrak travel from March 22 – May 7, 2010 and earn triple points on qualifying Amtrak travel from May 8 – May 29, 2010. Registration is required using code 32210 (Hat tip Dan R.)
50% Off Free Night Redemptions at Radisson
Via TM Travel World, Goldpoints Plus has a redemption sale offering 50% off the points required for stays at participating Regent Hotels & Resorts, Radisson Hotels & Resorts, Radisson Blu Hotels & Resorts, Radisson Edwardian Hotels, and Park Plaza Hotels & Resorts In addition, there’s a 25% discount at “participating Country Inns & Suites By Carlson and Park Inn hotels.” This is valid for stays between April 1, 2010 and May 31, 2010. Now, I don’t have a ton of Goldpoints, and I generally consider their progam to be the weakest (plus I’m not a fan of most Radisson properties), though the program has recently increased the value of points. But this could be a good opportunity to use any stray points, and there’s a free silver status promo that’s still live and which many…
United Door-to-Door Baggage Delivery for only $25
Taken straight from One Mile at a Time: For a limited time United is offering their Door-to-Door baggage service for $25. That’s the same price as actually checking the first bag, and cheaper than checking the second bag (for those of you that are stuck paying bag fees). The United site says this service is normally $79 or $99 (or depending on where on the page you look, normally $149). You’re without your bags longer, but it’s a decent deal, and you don’t have to do the schlepping. Not bad.
Official Entry Thread: 2 Lucky Winners Get a 2-Night Stay at Any Hyatt Place Hotel + Personal Assistant Services
As I described several days back, Hyatt is offering two of my readers a 2-night stay at any Hyatt Place and two months of personal assistant services from TaskUs.com. This is the official entry thread. Regular readers know that Hyatt Gold Passport is a loyalty program that’s come a long way over the last year and currently offers one of the very best top tier experiences, and they’re promoting their limited service Hyatt Place brand as a great work-life balance. My own view is ‘more hotel properties is better’ even if Gold Passport Diamond status doesn’t get you as far at Hyatt Place as say at a Park Hyatt — but the less expensive hotels are a great way to requalify for status and earn Faster Free Nights credits when that promo is being offered. To…
Planning to Fly from London During the British Airways Flight Attendant Strike
I have a British Airways flight coming up during the impending British Airways flight attendant strike. So here’s my thinking. British Airways says their full (very small) operation at London City Airport will proceed unaffected, that all their long-haul flights at Gatwick (far fewer than at Heathrow) will operate, and that they will operate ‘many’ long-haul flights at Heathrow. I’m supposed to fly from Heathrow. But I’ve got a good shot of making the flight out. Here’s why: I’m on a route with two flights a day, I’m flying the (1) later afternoon flight (2) operated by the larger aircraft. So I figure they’d tend to want to operate the larger aircraft and all other things equal the later flight would be easier to operate. And in fact, in the first days of the planned…
Mileage Run… On a Private Jet
Musings of the Global Traveller discusses an offer that’s been fleshed out on Flyertalk: using an offer from Lufthansa Private Jet of 50,000 miles (which count towards status and HON Circle) per international segment that lasts through early June. You need to get a group together to make the costs work out, but it’s a ‘cheap’ way to earn the incredible HON Circle status level in style. HON Circle status perks include access to the fabulous Lufthansa First Class Terminal and Lounges, Senator status for partner, 6 upgrade e-vouchers, frequent op-ups, guaranteed seat availability and improved award availability (eg additional award seats on Lufthansa and Swiss plus all Miles & More customers can benefit from premium cabin awards on Singapore Airlines 77W and A380 aircraft) which will come in handy given the number of miles…
The KLM Lounge in Toronto Isn’t As Bad As Lucky Said
He thinks it’s rather mediocre but he’s wrong, it’s much, much worse. The SATA flight was delayed, the place is packed, barely a seat. At least they’ve decided to pre-print the codes they give you to access the internet. But you have to actually track down a staff member to get you one. The line waiting for codes became several people deep. They had tomato bisque warming in a pot with a big sign declaring, “Made Fresh Today!” Perhaps that’s even true, given that today began 23 hours and 15 minutes ago. There’s dim sum, but I get orders of magnitude better in the frozen foods section of my Asian grocer. Otherwise there’s a coffee machine, self-serve alcohol, and a limited selection refrigerator. And not nearly enough seating. It felt like the C7 Red Carpet…
Believe It Or Not, I have Yet Another Free Giveaway in the Queue
Already mentioned, a chance for a trip to Australia… a two-night Hyatt Place stay… well, there will also be a high-end laptop bag/briefcase coming down the pike as well. Stay tuned! And I’ve just learned that I may have another set of Hyatt nights to give away on Twitter, more in the coming days, follow @garyleff!