Upgrade: Travel Better notes the irony in United’s expected $500 million loss from speculating on oil prices. Weren’t they among the ones telling us — just two months ago — that speculation was evil, the source of high fuel prices, and shouldn’t be permitted? All the while they were, umm, speculating. Badly. Now we know they were really just asking Congress to save them from themselves.
Singapore Ups Mileage Requirements for Unrestricted Awards
The Global Traveller outlines the new Singapore Airlines ‘Full’ Awards and compares it to other airline offerings. Although full awards still don’t permit redemption for first class (suiites) on the A380, a first class roundtrip from Australia to Europe can run as much as 1,558,000 miles for last seat availability. On the plus side, Singapore is introducing one-way awards for 50% of the roundtrip mileage, down from the current 70%.
Starwood’s 4th Quarter Bonus
Starwood’s 4th quarter promotion rolled out today, and it’s a winner. Lots of different points-earning options for different types of travelers, and instead of targeting the offers to make members stretch to earn anything they let you choose which one you want (but you get to choose once and you have to stick to it!). Registration is required before earning towards the promotion. Lucky bullets the options. Two stays earns you 2,000 bonus Starpoints Four nights earns you 2,000 bonus Starpoints Four stays earns you a free weekend night Six stays earns you 9,000 bonus Starpoints 12 nights earns you 9,000 bonus Starpoints Four nights earns you a US$25 Amazon.com gift card Eight nights earns you a free weekend night Double your Starpoints with no earning limit Two stays earns you a US$25 Amazon.com gift…
The Pluses and Minuses of Accruing Delta Miles for Singapore Redemptions
Regarding my post yesterday on the 20% bonus for transfers from American Express Membership Rewards to Delta (after my comment earlier in the day about using Delta miles for Singapore Airlines redemptions), lucky comments that the 20% bonus makes an F award on SQ <120K miles, which is cheaper than UA. Also, it seems like DL has much better SQ availability….. I do wonder what’s going on in reports of better Delta availability for Singapore redemptions compared to what’s offered to Star Alliance partners. I’m not entirely convinced yet that this is real, and I wouldn’t want to get stuck with Delta miles. It seems to me there are (3) downsides to building up a Delta Skymiles account for Singapore redemption: Taxes and fees are much higher using DL miles. Reports of as high as…
20% Bonus on American Express Transfers to Delta
Delta is promoting a 20% bonus on American Express Membership Rewards transfers through October 17th. Registration is required before initating the transfer. 20% certainly isn’t enough to lure me into Delta transfers that I wouldn’t otherwise be making, I’d rather preserve the flexibility of my Amex points and they are far more value when transferred into other programs (such as ANA and Air Canada). Still, if you’re transferring to Delta anyway this is worth knowing about. Unfortunately, the bonus can’t be used immediately for booking travel. Rather, you’ll still need to make your full transfers necessary to redeem an award, and the bonus will post after the end of the promotion period.
500 Delta Miles for Auto Insurance Quote
Ameriprise offers 500 Delta Skymiles for an auto insurance quote. The miles tend to post quickly, and some reports are you can do this every six months. The key in my mind is not to enter your social security number when requesting the quote. It’s optoinal on the form, and I’d just assume not have the inquiry show on my credit file (in truth it won’t appear as a request for credit, but 500 miles aren’t worth enough for me to mess with my credit report in any dimension). Here’s the current Flyertalk discussion. Incidentally, I also signed up for Skymiles Shopping, which Frugal Travel Guy assures will yield 250 points despite no mention of the miles on the Skymiles Shopping page. They are promoting signups, have sent out emails which ostensibly aren’t targeted, but…
Alitalia on the Brink
When the posturing in labor relations turns so ugly and public that management makes statements that will scare away customers, things are truly an intractable mess. Such is Alitalia, where the company says they don’t have enough money for fuel and will have to start flight cancellations on Monday. Foreign suitors are making noises about pulling their offer to infuse cash because the unions won’t agree to contract concessions. The Prime Minister says he won’t let the flag carrier fail, despite E.U. laws Italy has already violated in subsidizing the airline… Will Alitalia rise from the ashes once more? It’s one of the few companies to which I’d just assume say good riddance, I still resent them from cancelling all the miles from their ‘old’ frequent flyer program and starting anew. Still, it’s hard enough…
Another Baldness Offer
If you didn’t have a hair loss procedure done just for the miles you might be in luck — if you find yourself in New Zealand, the national airline has another lucrative offer: they’ll pay to advertise on bald heads. Air New Zealand said it wants 70 recruits to stand in lines in three airports — while wearing temporary tattoos on the back of their heads so the displays can be seen by people lining up behind them. The airline would pay 1,000 New Zealand dollars ($660) for each walking billboard, a company official said. The tattoos will promote a new system that is meant to reduce check-in waiting times.
10% Off American
American Airlines is offering 10% off within the 48 continental United States and Mexico for travel through October 31. Thanks to reader Patrick for the tip.
Airtran introduces new elite benefits
Via High Anxiety, Airtran is actually improving elite benefits — granted, they’re introducing some pretty basic benefits that should have been there in the first place, but it’s improvement nonetheless. And I’m personally fortunate that I took advantage of a temporary status match program they offered about 5 years ago — since at least up to this point elite status, once gained, is permanent…. Specifically, the new benefits are: Complimentary space available upgrades for elite members and a companion, at the gate 40 minutes prior to departure. Priority standby Reciprocal elite benefits on Frontier A dedicated elite phone number, we’ll see if it’s staffed with dedicated agents or if calls just get priority in the queue.
