The new Amtrak Visa is now up and running, offering 8000 bonus points with first purchase and no annual fee. Since it’s a Chase card, it may be churnable (Thus far, only the United card seems to disallow signing up over and over to pocket multiple bonuses). Now, I still recommend the Starwood American Express as the best all-purpose credit card. And specific charges warrant some special-case cards. But as far as truly no annual fee cards go, this one isn’t bad… although I don’t trust the underlying Amtrak Guest Rewards loyalty program, given its history of making changes without any notice whatsoever — miles used to be transferrable to outside programs without a cap and United used to be a transfer partner, for instance. Both changes were made without notice. And an increase in…
Purchase TACA Miles at 1.25 cents apiece
Through October 1, TACA is selling miles in its Distancia program at half-off. Normally 2.5 cents a mile, they’re selling at 1.25 cents a mile. Minimum purchase required: 1,000 Miles If you wish to buy more than 32,000 Miles, Please make another transaction. You can make as many transactions as you like. *Prices do NOT include local taxes There appears to be no limit to the amount of miles you can buy. However, it also appears that the website hasn’t been updated yet to allow purchase of the miles at the discounted price. I imagine that will be fixed shortly. TACA partners with both United and Iberia, however it appears as though redemptions on those carriers can only be done in coach (making miles purchase less of a good deal). You can fly non-stop from…
Best Western Signup Bonus Extended
The Best Western signup bonus I blogged about in May has been extended — signup by October 6th and receive 1000 bonus points with your first stay. Based on the card graphic on the signup page it looks like you may also receive Gold Elite status at signup.
Diners Club Transfer Bonuses
Diners Club is offering a 50% bonus on transfers to Midwest Miles between October 1 and November 30. They’re also promoting a less exciting Delta transfer bonus between October 1 and December 31 — 10% on transfers from 20,000 to 39,000 points and 25% on transfers of 40,000 or more. Meanwhile, the 50% Frontier transfer bonus still runs through October 31 and discounted Hawaiian Airlines redemption runs through December 1.
Bought an iPhone? Get the recent price drop refunded to you!
Tyler wants early adopters of the iPhone to stop complaining that the price dropped after they purchased.. I agree, stop complaining and get your credit card to refund the difference. There are all kinds of benefits hidden in premium credit cards, most of which consumers never take advantage of. Does your card come with concierge service (lower end ones are often outsourced to VIPdesk, mid-tier services to Circles, etc.)? Price drop protection? Extended warranties? Plenty of reasons to buy with a credit card rather than a debit card, especially when you know the benefits. Oh, and after getting the price difference back you are still eligible for your $100 certificate from Apple…
Northwest EUA Detail
Sep
09
2007
As a result of some prodding on Flyertalk, Northwest has added a more detailed page on how their complimentary domestic upgrade system works.Nothing really new here for the already well-informed, but a good step forward nonetheless.
Starwood Amex Fee Going Up
For years the Starwood American Express has had no annual fee the first year and $30 after that. They’ve now upped the post-first year fee to $45. I’ve just been billed my $30 fee in August, so I’m good for at least a year. And I don’t yet know whether existing cardmembers are being grandfathered in at the old amount or will be pushed up to $45 with their next renewal. (My guess is the latter, I just haven’t checked yet.) Still, the annual fee is lower than most reasonable points-earning cards, which frequently range from $60 – $85. So this is hardly reason to cancel. Presumably Amex realizes this. Meanwhile the Starwood American Express small business card is still first-year free and $30 thereafter. While this too may go up, perhaps they’ve left the…
Lufthansa Enrollment Bonus
Sep
08
2007
Lufthansa is offering 2000 bonus points for new members who enroll in Miles & More and accrue 3000 miles by June 30. (Thanks to Free Frequent Flyer Miles for the heads up.)
Soon to be the best hotel in LA?
Kitty Bean Yancey reports that Ali Kasikci — who created an avalanche of rumors when he announced his departure as General Manager of the Peninsula Beverly Hills — will become the General Manager at the new Montage Beverly Hills (scheduled to open Fall 2008, my hunch is it’ll be a bit later). The Montage in Laguna Beach is already arguably the best resort in California, even the United States. So the company knows what it’s doing. And Kasikci ran the best hotel in Los Angeles for year. With a clean design slate there’s a tremendous potential here. There may be some opening jitters, of course, but this is a man and a company that I’d bet on.
Why don’t airports offer better amenities?
Tyler Cowen wants to know why airports don’t offer showers and other amenities (presumably for a fee) to ease the travel experience. He links to Megan McArdle’s answer (high cost of space) and offers his own (“Airports will sell goods which are complements” the attention of the wealty, “which is otherwise so hard to get.” although why isn’t advertising on planes even more prevalent such as on overhead bins?). Some of Tyler’s commenters have already pointed out, though, that desireable facilities often do exist. Take showers, for instance. Many airport lounges around the world provide them, as a benefit for very frequent flying or with paid membership. Several of these lounges also allow access by the day. The facilities offered, however, are not standard and airlines don’t do a particularly good job differentiating their product…
