The mistake rate at the Crowne Plaza Venice East that I posted about last weekend is being honored. Supposedly 228 people booked 1400 room nights, and the hotel claims it stands to lose $129,000. It won’t really cost them that at all. In fact, my best guess is $10,000. (1) Many of the nights won’t be consumed. (2) Most nights the hotel won’t be sold out. Now, if I were on the other end of this deail I would agree to honor the rate but add a stiff cancellation penalty for any booking cancelled after a week or so. In other words, I’d do it in a way that would shake loose any rooms at this rate that definitely won’t be used, or might not be used. Otherwise folks can keep their reservations and never…
Basics of Scoring Hotel Deals on Priceline
David Rowell has a new four part piece on the basics of Priceline, very good read if you aren’t already an expert. I’ve linked to some good explanations in the past (e.g. here, here, and here and those are probably worth reviewing as well. Hit the comments if you have any questions and I’ll do my best to answer. And don’t forget to earn a 3% rebate on your Priceline bookings.
British Airways Added as a Membership Rewards Transfer Partner
Lucky brings us the news that British Airways is now a U.S. American Express Membership Rewards transfer partner. He sees this as good to the extent more options are good. I see this as huge. Admittedly, as he points out, their award chart is often expensive. Furthermore they tack on some hefty fuel surcharges to awards (a business class roundtrip award to Europe via Heathrow cost me about $325 last year). Nevertheless, BA is a better option than Iberia or Mexicana for redeeming oneworld awards. BA offers one-way awards. American Airlines members can’t redeem for BA flights to and from the U.S. So this opens up a world of possibilities for many of us, since I’ve found British Airways to offer exceptionally good award availability especially from the East Coast of the U.S. And they…
Cancelling Orbitz’s Shady Travel Insurance
Ever since the major booking sites that are separate from individual airlines dropped their booking fees, and with the airline sites not generally offering bonus mile booking bonuses any longer, I’ve found it attractive to use those sites. Previously I had found it useful to book elsewhere anyway, and certainly when booking for others, because on the whole I’ve found them much more user firendly and much less cumbersome from search to purchase. Plus in many cases you can earn mileage bonuses or cash back on your purchases. Fatwallet offers 1.4% (occasionally higher) on Expedia purchases. Combine that with no booking fees, an easy to use interface, the ability to save plenty of traveler profiles and mix and match carriers, I’ve been a frequent customer. Orbitz has historically been better at finding low fare combinations…
Free Virgin Atlantic Silver Status
Virgin Alantic is offering new members instant silver status plus they promise 2500 bonus points for joining and a fast track to Gold. (Via Frugal Travel Guy,)
1000 Bonus Starpoints Per Stay
Starwood is offering 1000 bonus points per stay (a few properties cheap out at only 500 bonus points) through November 30 at most North American and Latin American properties. Registration required.
Mistake Rate: Crowne Plaza Venice East – 2 Nights for a Euro
Book exactly two nights at the Crowne Plaza Venice East (not 1 night, not 3 nights, you get the idea) and it’ll come out to just a euro. It’s prepaid, non-refundable, but since it’s only a single Euro for the two nights I wouldn’t worry too much about it ! I can’t get the terms and conditions page to come up. Probably fine to book multiple reservations back-to-back in order to get more than 2 days (4, 6, 8 days…). But if you want to be safe, and know who you will be traveling with, then book one reservation in your own name, one in the other person’s, and then if you want more than 4 nights you can alternate again on the third reservation. Funny, the offer page (“2-for-1 Monsters vs. Aliens”) says that…
Advances in Medical Science, Swine Flu Edition
How to prevent swine flu. Further discussion here.
Free US Airways Silver Status for 90 Days
You must Register by August 31. You’ll be upgraded to Silver Preferred within 14 days, though folks report it happens much more quickly. And the status lasts for 90 days once upgraded. US Airways normally charges $200 for this offer. Naturally, this only works for people who don’t already have status (or how could the status be upgraded to Silver?). It also doesn’t work for anyone that has received a trial status since May 1, 2007. And under current rules you can only enroll in a trial status program once every 24 months. If you fly 7,500 miles or 10 segments during the trial period then status will be extended through February, 2010. In the meantime, you’ll get priority check-in and boarding, waived baggage fees, and some chance of uprgrades.
Alitalia Status Match Offer
Via Frequent Flyer Bonuses, Alitalia is offering a status match program through October 31. Status lasts through the end of the year and details are here. In addition to a status match, you get 20,000 bonus miles after reaching 20,000 qualifying miles. And they’re throwing in reduced elite requalification criteria: 10,000 qualifying miles for the initial tier, 25,000 for mid-tier, and 40,000 for top-tier. If you aren’t already a member but are looking to take advantage of this promo, check out their member-get-member offer and find a buddy to refer you.
