Mar
21
2006
Yahoo! Mail is taking requests to beta test its new offerings.
Northwest lies about the advantages of charging for premium coach seats.
Mar
21
2006
Last week I mentioned that I didn’t think Northwest’s move to charge for ‘premium’ seats in coach (which, outside of exit rows, aren’t in any way actually better) was a big deal. For infrequent flyers it’s neutral or a positive, the opportunity to access seats — though not meaningfully better — otherwise were mostly available to Northwest elites. For frequent flyers it’s more or less a non-issue: if you’re regularly flying Northwest and spending much time at all in coach you should be changing airlines. The only positive Northwest has is its domestic upgrade program, which isn’t just complimentary but also something they regularly deliver on. Still, charging elites for something they used to get for free (without even anything new offered up in return) is never a good thing. But what really irks me…
If it was almost any other hotel chain I’d so be there..
(Ok, not any other chain, Radisson wouldn’t count!) Best Western is awarding lifetime Diamond status to everyone who stays 60 nights in 2006. (Via The Global Traveller.)
Free $5 Starbucks Card
Mar
20
2006
HP is offering a $5 Starbucks card for customizing your profile with them. You don’t even have to sign up for spam. Starbucks card offers rarely come, but it’s about 15 seconds of work…
Le Meridien Now a Part of Starwood Preferred Guest
After some stops, starts, and glitches over the weekend it looks the like Le Meridien properties have gone live on the Starwood website and most are now listed as award redemption options as well. The integration is official, and Starwood elite members should now expect to have their status benefits honored across participating properties in the chain. (Notably absent are the Parker Meridien properties in New York and Palm Springs, which didn’t participate in the old Moments program either — as well as about ten other properties.)
Hotel Discount Codes
Orbitz is offering $50 Off hotel bookings of 3 or more nights. Discount code is 831750. It’s valid for stays through April 30th but the booking must be made by March 22. This presumably applies only to OrbitzSaver prepaid hotel deals. Meanwhile, Travelocity is offering $10 off “Good Buy” hotels with code HTL10. This can be used even on a single night stay, but can only be used once per Travelocity account (except for Travelocity VIPs who can use it an unlimited number of times). Flyertalk member CalItalian reported these discounts and noted, regarding the $50 Orbitz coupon, Best deals I found were weeknights in Reno or Laughlin, NV. 3*, 3 night stay with coupon for $25 to $28 plus tax.
Northwest Elite Status for Asia Residents
Mar
19
2006
Northwest is again explicitly targeting Asia-Pacific frequent flyers with offers of an elite status match. Details are rather scarce on the website, certainly they’ll match up to Gold (mid-tier) but I wonder whether they’ll go to Platinum since they’re looking for any possible incremental revenue while in bankruptcy. Presumably matched status will last through the end of the year. No information is provided on what documentation is required of your existing status levels.In all likelihood this will operate in a similar manner as when they offered it in 2005, detailed discussion of which can be found at Flyertalk.com.
Travel items you can’t live without
Alex Tabarrok notes his favorite items for travel: an inexpensive noise-cancelling headset, a Paul Frederick non-iron dress shirt, and his Kodak DX7590 digital camera. Allow me to suggest a wireless pocket router. Too many hotels have wired high-speed internet. I don’t always want to sit at the desk to work (especially frustrating at resort properties with balconies overlooking the ocean!). Or sometimes my wife travels with me and we’d both like to be online. This is the one I’ve been using, about $40 + shipping after $10 rebate. Second, power converters. Magellan’s has a nice website that’ll figure out for you just want converters and adapters you need, wherever in the world you’re traveling (I was shocked to find them accurate for Rwanda!). And don’t forget that clicking on the link to Magellan’s at ebates.com…
Netflix Signup Bonus
Mar
18
2006
Via Free Frequent Flyer Miles (actually, I got the email myself several days ago and then promptly forgot), you can get 4000 United bonus miles for signing up for Netflix. (Registration required.)It’s 2000 miles after your first month (minimum cost $9.95) and 2000 more miles for paying with a United Visa (which you can get free the first year and 20,000 bonus miles).
200 Free Northwest Miles
Mar
17
2006
Check out the quick Northwest Worldperks 101 and take the quiz (you really can’t fail) and earn 100 miles plus you’ll be registered to earn 2,000 miles when flying within 90 days. At the end of the quiz you have the option to move on to Worldperks 102 for another 100 miles plus you’ll be registered for 1,000 miles when making 2 qualifying purchases within 60 days.The 200 miles for the quizzes post instantly.
