I’m sitting at the Bellagio in Vegas, and while it’s certainly an impressive physical plant it isn’t really a ‘nice’ hotel. Every request takes probably 45 minutes or more to fulfill. (I wanted more towels, so I was sure to pull out my phone while I was down at the pool to call the hotel so that there would be towels in the room when I went up later… there weren’t, but fortunately housekeeping turned up within 20 minutes of my returning to the room.) Turndown service is inconsistent. Housekeeping is inconsistent. The lobby is a madhouse. Valet parking can take a couple minutes or 30. But that’s really a function of Vegas more generally. There are a few better service-oriented options. Certainly Skylofts at MGM Grand would provide better service (I haven’t stayed there…
Elite Security Lines Finally at Washington-Dulles!
I haven’t been through Dulles recently, so this email from United (which came this morning, despite forward-looking reference to July 18) was news to me:We are delighted to inform you that beginning July 18, 2006, Washington Dulles will offer two new security checkpoints exclusively for our First, Business and elite travelers, their families or travel companions. With the shorter lines and wait times, getting through security will be quicker and easier for you. Also for your convenience, one elite lane will be available on the east side of the terminal near the United® ticket counter. A second elite lane will be located on the west side of the terminal. Whichever lane you use, we ask that you please be prepared to show your Mileage Plus® card.
Starwood Won’t Devalue its Award Chart After All!
I broke the news back in May that Starwood was considering devaluing its award chart 25%. I don’t know the internal discussions or reasons why, perhaps because of the outcry that followed on Flyertalk or perhaps for entirely different reasons unknown, but apparently the devaluation has been called off — at least for now. Starwood Lurker posted the following on Flyertalk this afternoon: Just as an FYI, the word that I got from on high today was that there won’t be a devaluation of 25%. As far as it stands now, there will not be any major changes to the program’s award chart in the near future. Good news, or so it seems!
The TSA Protecting Us From Terrorist 4 Year Olds
This about sums up the TSA’s security watch list: “It is essentially comprised of individuals who are a threat to aviation security,” said Andrea McCauley, spokeswoman for the TSA. … A four-year-old tearfully told airport agents in Houston earlier this year he didn’t want to be on any list, he wanted to fly to see his grandma.
20,000 Miles for a Northwest Visa
Jul
22
2006
I may have mentioned this before, but I don’t think so. Via Free Frequent Flyer Miles, Northwest’s co-branded Visa product is matching the standard signup incentives offered by United and American — 20,000 miles with first purchase (though US Bank won’t waive the fee for the first year like Chase and Citibank will). Still, if you’re going to sign up for a Northwest Visa this looks like the best offer.
Deals and Miles for Cell Phones
United has been emailing out news of its new mileage for cell phone service partnership, Mileage Plus Wireless. The deals aren’t bad, they’re certainly better than what it seems you’ll get direct from the cell phone provider (either online or in-store), and you earn miles to boot. However, even with the miles the offers aren’t up to par with some of the independent websites out there such as Amazon, LetsTalk.com, and WireFly.com. I’m not a cell phone expert to be sure, but I’m moving and my new place really only gets reasonable reception with Cingular. I’ve been with SprintPCS for 10 years but their coverage is spotty in my area, and they don’t offer a Blackberry (my preference over the Treo). So I checked out Amazon and their offers were good enough, but they don’t…
A bit of news from Marriott
Jul
19
2006
Following on Westin’s move, Marriott announced today that it is going smoke-free in all of the Company’s lodging brands in the United States and Canada will become 100 percent smoke-free, beginning in September. So they’ve taken an idea pioneered elsewhere but expanded it beyond what its competitors are already offering — smokefree not just in a single brand but across brands. Bad for smokers, perhaps, and those renting rooms to throw parties (!) but good for most travelers whose worst nightmare is getting checked into a smoking room. Update: HotelChatter has more: At first, this sounds a little more drastic than it is since 90 percent Marriott’s guest rooms were already non-smoking. But the hotel chain goes one step further banning smoking from public spaces that includes restaurants, bars, meeting rooms and employee work areas.…
Avis Automatic Upgrades for Preferred Select Members
Avis’ first level of status (above just regular ‘preferred’ service that anyone can sign up for is Preferred Select. This entitles you to a one-car class upgrade, and the status can be obtained from frequent renting or by having an American Express Platinum card (the expensive one, not the cashback or Delta or Starwood co-branded card that’s also called Platinum). Some great tips on how Avis assigns car rental upgrades were posted on Flyertalk this morning, particularly interesting location fleet size can vary from airport to airport. from a low of 700 to a high of well over 10,000. the larger the airport, the better the upgrade possibilites. …when your name is on the board and you get to your car and theres no contract, 90% of the time its cause another customer misread the…
United Introduces Star Alliance Upgrades
Jul
19
2006
United has introduced Star Alliance upgrade awards — upgrades on most of their Star Alliance partners confirmed by redeeming miles. These has been available on other Star Alliance carriers for several months, United has just introduced them, but it’s notable that only Star Alliance offers this quite so broadly.United miles can be used for upgrades on ANA, Asiana, Austrian, LOT, Lufthansa, TAP Portugal and Thai Airways. (United miles could previously be used for upgrades on Lufthansa, but those were space available rather than confirmed.) Currently there are no upgrade options for other Star carriers such as Singapore, Air Canada, bmi, Swiss, Spanair, SAS, South African Airways, etc. Hopefully they’ll come in the future. Unfortunately you need to be buying nearly a full fare ticket in order to use this option. Y and B coach fares…
Which Programs Permit Negative Account Balances?
A Flyertalk member reports that they were short points for redeeming a Priority Club hotel reward. This person called and asked if they could go negative in their account, since they were really close, and the agent just gave them a 1000 point bonus to make up the difference. No cost, and better than buying the points for $12.50. Another member says they were allowed to go into the red in their Priority Club account. Starwood definitely bonuses people the few points they’re short an award, though the last time I queried this was a couple years ago. American has told me that if you’re within 500 miles of an award they’ll let you book it. I’m not an expert on the Lufthansa program, but I recall that Lufthansa Senator members are (or were?) allowed…
