Via Colloquey, Smith & Wesson is launching a loyalty program to enhance the “gun ownership experience.” There’s not much in the way of rewards. It’s pretty heavy on just knowing their customers and marketing to them. But it’s still cool. I suppose the rewards are in part limited by a sense of taste or caution. Any marketers nightmare would stem from offering free bullets or rewards based on frequency of successful shootings of course.
For those who like getting nothing back from their spending
There’s always the Hello Kitty Debit Card which launches in a couple weeks.
Hyatt’s Faster Free Nights Returns Quickly
Hyatt’s outstanding Faster Free Nights promotion, which just ended September 30, is set to return November 1. For every two stays between November 1 and February 28, 2005 which are paid for with a Mastercard, you’ll earn a free night that can be redeemed from December 1, 2004 through April 30, 2005.No doubt that registration will be required, as it has been in the past – although the registration page is not yet available at Hyatt’s Gold Passport site.
1200 Free Membership Rewards Points
Earn 400 American Express Membership Rewards points each month you log in three times or more to the small business dashboard, October through December for a possible 1200 points. Only primary cardholders on business accounts enrolled in Membership Rewards can take advantage of this offer.
Buy.com coupons
All expire October 31, 2004. All specify for ‘new customers’ unless otherwise noted (so perhaps open a new account if you already have one). $10 off $175 $10 off $150 on computers $5 off $50 on electronics $5 off $50 on software $10 off $100 on bags, toys, sports, cellular phones $5 off $50 on books, music, movies, and games (doesn’t specify new customers only) $15 off $200 on computers, software, home networking, and digital cameras (doesn’t specify new customers only)
Delta Amex
Via Free Frequent Flyer Miles, there’s a new link to apply for the Delta American Express free the first year with 10,000 bonus miles for first purchase.
Flying Panopticon
Julian Sanchez is creeped out by American Airlines’ “We Know Why You Fly” ad campaign.
Dreading Next Year on United
While most commentators aren’t worried about United cutting back domestic flights next year and focusing on growing their international presence. They aren’t dropping cities from their route network, at least in the current announcement. But I’m still concerned because their plans project a 28.5% increase in the number of regional jets that United will operate next year. That’s huge. Only a few of those jets — CR7s operated by Mesa — have first class seats. More regional jets are in and of themselves a cutback in elite benefits, because it means fewer planes and fewer flights where it’s possible to upgrade. Egads.
Unsolicited Nickle’s Worth of Free Advice to Starwood’s New CEO
Starwood has a new Chief Executive Officer, fresh from Coca Cola. If I were walking into that hotel chain, there are several things I’d do — though admittedly I’m no hotel genius or I’d be getting paid a lot more. Starwood differentiates itself with outstanding high-end properties, it’s important to keep those in the fold. They’ve been losing too many to other chains lately, such as Manele Bay and the Lodge at Koele in Hawaii. Starwood’s biggest unfilled hole is in broad coverage. The Four Points chain is a dump. There are some very good properties (such as at the Los Angeles Airport and in Sydney) but on the whole they’re completely inconsistent and so the branding doesn’t work. I have confidence in a Hilton Garden Inn. I can stay in one anywhere. But I…
Difficulties redeeming United premium class awards
United has gotten very difficult for redeeming saver award seats in premium cabins, at least on the routes I check. I scanned a full four months and didn’t see a single Los Angeles-Sydney or San Francisco-Sydney flight with two seats available as award tickets in first class. Only about 3 flights that had a single award seat up front. Exception is in the 3-5 days before flight, when availability seems to open up. This was never a problem in the period from 2000 – 2002. I suspect it’s a combination of fewer seats allocated, trying to hold back space for revenue tickets and even coach upgrades (of which I found plenty) along with more demand for awards given United’s financial difficulties and the fears about loss of miles that customers face. It is interesting that…
