A week ago I posted that Delta planned to implement minimum stay requirements on award tickets booked at the ‘low’ (aka standard) level within 21 days of departure. The change was posted on their website as coming in August. A reliable source, who knows much more about these things than I do, emailed to let me know that the change had been pulled from Delta.com. And indeed, it’s gone off the page. I do not yet know if (1) they’ve reconsidered the decision after bad publicity, (2) it was just posted before they had intended to roll out the change, or perhasp (3) the change is being pushed back because the IT systems weren’t ready to implement it. This isn’t the first time that information has disappeared into a memory hole on the Delta site.…
The Advantages and Disadvantages of the Three Airline Alliances, or the Wall Street Journal Covers United Starnet Blocking
Scott McCartney‘s “Middle Seat” column in the Wall Street Journal today focuses on the benefits of alliances. The action, as Scott rightly notes, is all in upgrades, lounge access, and mileage accrual and redemption. He points out that oneworld top tier elites have access to first class lounges, not just business lounges, but that oneworld doesn’t currently offer an alliance upgrade product. And he offers my take on award redemption: “There’s little question that Star Alliance is the best for award redemption,” said Gary Leff, the member-elected president of FlyerTalk.com. “They’re the biggest alliance and in general their award availability is the best.” This then keyed off a discussion of United’s insidious practice of ‘starnet blocking’ — telling customers that award seats which its partners are offering are not available when they do not want…
US Airways Fast Track Towards Higher Elite Status Levels
Ben at One Mile at a Time points to a new US Airways promotion, “Hop, Skip, and Jump for Preferred Status“. And unbelievaby, no registration is required. The promotion offers the possibility of making Chairmans Preferred status from scratch in as little as 16 segments. But they’re not really mileage-runable. Book and travel between July 7 and October 10, and flights to, from, or between any of 8 “regions” as well as flights on the US Airways Shuttle and flights on one of 11 new routes each count as a promotion credit. Four credits will bump you a status level. Eight credits will bump you two status levels. Twelve credits, three levels. And Sixteen credits, four levels. So a Silver Preferred member who flies an East Coast flight, a West Coast flight, takes a Shuttle…
New TSA Mobile App – Introducing “My TSA”
I wish this was a witty programmer’s joke. But no, since it’s at TSA.gov I assume it’s real — though it’s almost hard to imagine that it is. “My TSA” gives you 24/7 access to information that passengers frequently request from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). “My TSA” provides a tool to find out if an item is allowed in your carry-on or checked baggage, information on ID requirements and liquids rules, tips for packing and dressing to speed through security, and real-time operating status for U.S. airports from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Gee, really? An app to tell you what is allowed in checked baggage? Real-time waits at security would actually be useful. But since this is from TSA, you know that it won’t be useful. Wait times are reported by fellow travelers.…
Special Cash & Points Deal at Le Parker Meridien Palm Springs
Loyalty Traveler flags a deal at the Parker Meridien Palm Springs: Le Parker Meridien Palm Springs has a limited time Cash & Points offer for this category 5 hotel reducing the cash portion from $90 to $15 per night for weekday stays or $30 per night for weekends from July 6 through September 2, 2010. You must call 866-912-1169 to book this offer. Sure it’s the off season, but I don’t recall a hotel ever reducing the cash component of a cash and points award.
The Best All-time Mileage Promotions
Reader abcx asked in the comments [W]ill you write a post detailing the best promos since you’ve been doing this? I only got into this world big-time last year thanks to the US TIB promo. Of course, I know about the Pudding Guy, but I’m curious what other great promotions I’ve missed. A year ago I wrote a post detailing just that! Top 10 Miles/Points Program Deals of Times Past 10. Free status offers for Marriott Gold, Avis Presidents Club (still active…), Virgin Silver, Hilton Gold, Starwood Gold, Continental Silver just for becoming an AT&T customer. 9. Class of Service Bonuses on Upgrades (Earn more bonus miles on United than it took to upgrade US-Hawaii, the upgrade more than paid for itself). 8. 1-800-Flowers 100 miles per dollar with Delta. On December 30, 2003 1-800-Flowers…
Frugal Travel Guy Handbook Now in Paperback (Recommended)
Last week I recommended the Frugal Travel Guy Handbook as a good introduction to miles, points, and discount travel deals. Not a book for the expert, but certainly good for those new to the obsession or wanting to figure out the basics of traveling very well for very little. I got several questions by email and also on Twitter about whether it was available in other formats. As of last week, it was only available for Kindle. Well, I pinged the author who let me know that as of today it’s available as a paperback, and for only $8.97 no less (only $1.98 more than the Kindle e-book!). So definitely worth giving it a go at that price. And while I’m on the subject of recommending books, this weekend I’m reading Somewhere More Holy: Stories…
American Announces Double Qualifying Miles and Triple Redeemable Miles through the End of the Year for 4 Cities
Matthew blogs that American has matched Delta’s hefty bonuses out of St. Louis, Raleigh, Pittsburgh, and Nashville. Here’s the offer, courtesy of Matthew with links to register: Double EQMs and Triple RDMs from RDU, STL, PIT, and BNA The offer runs through December 31st and trips must originate and terminate in the same city, which must be one of the four listed above. You’ll need to separately register for each city you want to earn bonuses from. Flyertalk’s Wanaflyforless suggests a way to leverage these bonuses for nearly 12,000 qualifying miles per day at a cost of $386+tax.
Free Executive Status with National Car Rental
National is offering Executive Status in their Emerald Club as a complimentary benefit to American Express Platinum cardmembers. I happen to have the card, but the link alone is sufficient, they didn’t even request the Platinum card number anywhere during the enrollment process which suggests that the offer could likely be used by anyone. If you’re not already an Emerald Club member the offer provides free signup. And if you are it’ll provide the status upgrade. Emerald Status members earn a free rental day for every six credits instead of seven, and choose a car from the Executive Selection rather than the standard Emerald Aisle, and when reserving a higher class of car than midsize pay for one car class below what was reserved. (The Avis Presidents Club offer for Continental Presidential Plus Mastercard holders…
Hilton 3rd Quarter Bonus: Double Points or Double Miles
Between July 7 and September 30, Hilton HHonors is offering your choice of double miles or double points. You have to choose which one you want, and you have to register for that offer. Double points applies to base points only. If you’re choosing double miles, your earning style of course needs to be set to earn miles — either points and variable miles or points and fixed miles. As a general matter I choose to earn points and fixed miles, and use British Midland as my double dip partner — 1000 miles per day up to 3 days per stay. I’d be happy earning 6000 bmi miles on a 3 night stay. Not nearly as lucrative an offer as the recently-ended Hyatt Big Welcome Back (aka Faster Free Nights) of a free night for…
