Back when airlines were fighting against a potential ‘Passengers Bill of Rights’ out of Congress (it seems like eons ago, airlines were seen as too profitable and distanced, much as oil companies were a couple years ago, there’s always a villian-of-the-moment) they introduced their own action plans, giving them the argument that legislation was thus unnecessary. United’s version of this was their customer commitment, mostly vacuous statements but there were a series of policies which were useful to customers. They did allow (and still allow) reservations made with them to be cancelled within 24 hours of booking for a full refund, and now also offer a ‘hold’ feature on their website. My hazy memory says that airline pricing was a big issue at the time, United promised to quote the lowest available fare when queried…
Continental Gets On Board With Double Elite Qualifying Miles
Continental is now offering double elite qualifying miles as well (registration required). Like the United and American offers, this one applies to travel through June 15. Unlike those offers, the terms and conditions do not require you to actually have purchased the ticket during the promo period. So it would appear that tickets purchased prior to today, but flown March 20 through June 15, will all count towards double elite qualifying miles. No need to cancel and re-book, eating applicable change fees! So… who’s next? (Thanks to D.R. for the pointer.)
Priority Club’s Annoying Habit of Improperly Denying Points Credit for Stays
One Mile at a Time had to fight for his Priority Club points to post from a recent stay at the InterContinental Grand Stanford in Hong Kong. Priority Club initially refused to credit the points, which didn’t post on their own, even though the booking was made on their own website. They explained, Unfortunately, the room rate paid during the stay in question was deeply discounted and is ineligible for credit to your account. We have provided the link for Priority Club Rewards’ Terms and Conditions below: They also explained that eligible in-hotel spend might earn points, and encouraged Lucky to send his bill in ordetr to credit those points. However, if you have incurred other charges during your stay , you may forward your itemized invoice to us in JPEG or PDF format so…
US Travel Spend Dropped 22% (annualized) in the 4th Quarter
Anyone who has been watching travel costs and deep discount deals recently, in the US for example in New York and Vegas, knows this anecdotally — but US travel spend fell at a 22% annualized rate in 4Q08. Ouch. But great for bargain hunting. It seems like, as far as deals go (and it’s a great time to Priceline!), it’s 2002 all over again! No surprise that United and American are offering a double elite qualifying miles promo through mid-June. There will certainly be more bonus promos to come.
Up to 5000 Delta Miles on Avis Rentals
Via Frugal Travel Guy, Avis is offering bonus Delta miles at airport locations through December 31, as follows: Rent for 3 days and receive 2,500 bonus SkyMiles. Use coupon number MUAA132. Rent for 4 days or more and receive 5,000 bonus SkyMiles. Use coupon number MUAA133. It appears that these coupon codes will generate the promised bonus miles, and that they are compatible with whatever standard discount (“AWD”) codes one normally uses, though I can imagine that some discounts you’d find online could in practice void the bonus is those codes normally exclude mileage earning. That’s important, because the offer does also include a ‘discount code’ that promises 25% off rates, though in my experience these codes don’t usually deliver as promised, and sometimes yield rates that are more expensive that what I normally find…
United Matches American, Offers Double Elite Qualifying Miles Through June 15
United’s offer naturally requires registration. Register prior to completing travel. The offer applies to tickets booked from the start of the registration period only, so tickets purchased between now and June 15 for travel during that same period will count.
Waived Underage Driver Fees from Hertz
Hertz is offering Free #1 Gold status (their entry-level status which is frequently available fee-waived) and through this particular promotion, using CDP number 1826991, age fees for renters 21 to 24 years old are waived.
Resort Fee Run Amok
Resort fees are one of my pet peeves, they are part of the room rate that hotels don’t disclose in advance. This is especially annoying on Priceline where resort fees that may apply aren’t included because you don’t know what hotel you’re getting in advance and thus can’t choose to pick a hotel without a fee. Once you’re prepaid you learn about the fee and your booking is nonrefundable, so you’re stuck paying hte resort fee or forfeiting your prepaid reservation. The only solution is to be savvy, know where a resort fee could apply, and choose to avoid Priceline if the resort fee makes a difference. Some hotels at least try to keep up the pretense that the fee ‘buys you something’ such as parking or free internet or ‘use of the pool’. But…
Up to 50% Off on Starwood Reservations Prepaid by March 23
Starwood is offering up to 50% off prepaid bookings made by March 23 for stays through September 7. Details will vary by hotel. Some have a maximum four night stay, others especially resorts a maximum seven night stay. Not all hotels participate, and various restrictions apply at those who do, such as only Thursday – Saturday arrivals at some predominantly business hotels. Moreover, the rate under this offer will not always be the best possible rate — definitely best to price out hotels on their own and then under this offer and compare. Still it will represent a good savings at many properties when eligible.
Double Elite Qualifying Miles on American Through June 15
American is offering double elite qualifying miles through June 15. Registration is required. The offer only applies to tickets both purchased and flown between March 18 and June 15, and only on American flights — no codeshare or partner flights count. Registration prior to the end of the promo period will cause all qualifying travel during the promo period to generate the double elite qualifying miles. Update: The link stopped working after I originally posted it. New link, fixed above. Meanwhile the terms and conditions of the offer now require registration prior to travel, rather than prior to the end of the promo period. So that’s a minor change since yesterday.
