Grabbed from Flyertalk, where credit is given to SlickDeals.net, the following coupons are available on Orbitz for discounting hotel stays: $50 off 3 nights: 50AFFORB [Exp. 12/31] $60 off 3 nights: VISAVIP [Exp. 8/15] $75 off 4 nights: 4ODWR75 [book by 12/31, travel by 2/15/09] $100 off 5 nights: EQUALITY100 [book by 08/31, travel by 11/15] 20% off:7DAYSALE3 [for travel by 10/31] $200 off 5 Night stay in Hawaii: ORBHI200 [Exp 8/7] Tips on combining codes: These codes are not “stackable”. But if you wanted to do a longer trip such as a 7 day trip, do two separate transactions. For days 1-3 use code VISAVIP for $60 off 3 nights. Then for days 4-7 use code 4ODWR75 for $75 off 4 nights. VISAVIP+4ODWR75 = $135 off 7 nights Say you wanted to a 10…
The Nickels, Dimes, and $50s just keep on comin’: American Increases Mileage Upgrade Cash Co-Pay
As discussed in advance at Traveling Better.com, and now officially released by the airline, American is increasing mileage upgrade award copays by $50 effective October 1. As part of this change, even domestic non-Hawaii mileage upgrade awards now have a $50 co-pay. The change doesn’t apply to 500-mile upgrades (“stickers”). Just the confirmed mileage awards. This makes the electronic “VIP” upgrades given to Executive Platinum 100,000 mile flyers even more relatively valuable, since those don’t incur and cash co-pay. These VIP upgrades are also awarded to non-US AAdvantage members crossing the 1,000,000 miles earned threshold in their account (US members receive 500 mile upgrades confirmable at the standard upgrade window). And they’re given to all members crossing the 2,000,000 mile threshold. Personally I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop on my program of choice,…
Northwest Visa with 20,000 Mile Bonus and Fee Waived for a Year
On Sunday I posted about the Northwest Visa and their 25,000 signup bonus miles offer. Turns out they’re also now offering a no fee the first year version with 20,000 signup bonus miles (in both versions, the bonus triggers after $500 in spend on the card).
4 Southwest Rapid Rewards Credits for New Members
Through September 30, Southwest is offering 4 Rapid Rewards credits for new members signing up via a La Quinta hotels promotion. The founer of La Quinta was an original Southwest board member. Reading Lamar Muse’s autobiography years ago, I seem to recall that the chain got its name because the founder went looking for the cheapest furnishings available. Those had a Southwest motif, thus the need for a Spanish name. Just don’t look it up in the Urban Dictionary. (Hat tip to Frugal Travel Guy.)
Northwest Visa – Get it While You Still Can
The Northwest Visa Signature offers 25,000 miles after $500 in purchases (the Platinum card offers 20,500). The annual fee is hefty — $90.00 for the Visa Signature or $55 for the Visa Platinum. But the miles are easy and it’s nearly your last shot before Northwest Worldperks folds into Delta Skymiles. It’s a 25,000 mile opportunity you won’t have again, a bonus opportunity in addition to the Delta co-branded Amex offerings.
US Airways Mastercard Now 25,000 Miles for First Use
The US Airways Mastercard offer is currently up to 25,000 miles. The offer changes occasionally, this time no annual fee waiver (or 50% bonus on spend). But it’s as rich a first-use bonus as you get, and there’s no minimum spend requirement to get it. Plus the card comes with a club pass and $99 companion ticket that’s actually usable in my experience. Well worth the $79 annual fee in my view. And there are reports that it’s churnable. This on top of the 25,000 mile offer for the Bank of America Visa and 25,000 mile offer for the Juniper Bank US Airways Business Mastercard. Now, all come with fees, but that’s 75,000 miles for three credit cards none of which have a minimum spend requirement. And since you can churn Bank of America as…
Double Miles for Delta Mileage Purchases (First-time Buyers Only)
Delta is offering double miles on mileage purchases through August 30th for first-time buyers. So if you buy 10,000 miles, you get 20,000. That brings down the effective cost of purchasing miles from 3 cents apiece to 1.5 cents. I haven’t ever purchased Delta miles before, so I’m eligible for the bonus, but 1.5 cents is still more cash than I’d part with to acquire Skymiles. Still, if you need to top off an account for an award this could be just the ticket. Presumably folks that have purchased miles in the past will be receiving a promo to buy miles again in the near future, since the offer says Already a Buy Miles customer? Then make sure that you have added an email address in your account profile so you don’t miss out on…
United (re-)introducing Star Alliance Upgrades?
Inside Flyer ran an interview in its August issue with Michael Schutzbank, the Director of Loyalty for Star Alliance. The news? Mr. Schutzbank says that United Mileage Plus members will soon (again) be able to use their miles for upgrades on participating Star Alliance airlines. We have made some major enhancements and we believe we have fixed the problems we had with UA, and we are currently testing the system. If it works satisfactorily, I expect UA Mileage Plus members to be able to upgrade in the next six to eight weeks. This was a feature of the Mileage Plus program and then pulled ‘due to technical difficulties’ and sure the technical challenges are great but at least half of Star Alliance airlines managed to make it work… Once re-implemented, it’ll take close to full…
Half-Priced OpenSkies Mileage Redemption
British Airways is offering half-priced redemption on OpenSkies between New York-JFK and Paris-Orly for awards booked by August 22 for travel through October 15. It’s 50,000 British Airways Miles round-trip business class or 37,500 BA Miles round-trip in Prem+. If you’re like me, you get your BA miles by transferring Diners Club points during 50% transfer bonus periods, which equates to 25,000 Club Rewards points ultimately scoring a business-like product (Prem+) for transatlantic travel. That’s what happens when you start a new airline and loads are understandably light. So I’ll be looking at whether a weekend in Paris makes sense (I didn’t manage to arrange my schedule for the inaugural flights, alas). In order to get the discounted pricing you need to book at ba.com and choose JFK and ORY airports.
Fight for Your Right to Party (with a free cup of coffee)
Starting today US Airways is charging for non-alcoholic drinks. For most people. Those that get confrontational, flight attendants are allowed to give those passengers their drink for free. Just don’t get too confrontational or they may have law enforcement meet your plane on arrival.
