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News and notes from around the interweb:
- $35 off a hotel stay: Join Orbitz Rewards and you’ll get a $10 credit instantly credited to your account. It stacks with $25 for being referred by an existing member (the $25 code is emailed to you in about 24 hours, and the $10 credit must be used within 60 days). This is my referral link, feel free to leave yours in the comments. (HT: Heels First Travel)
- Avis launched their new rewards program. It has revenue-based earning, but as yet the redemption chart is secret.
- Frequent Miler has fun finding extreme savings using the 4th night free hotel benefit of the Citi Prestige card. When your fourth night corresponds with the Superbowl, the Computer Electronics Show, or the Cannes Film Festival the value skyrockets. Savings can reach over $1000 for that fourth night. 🙂
- On July 1 Qantas eliminated fuel surcharges on travel originating in Australia (and adjusted fares upward to compensate). During the several hours that it was July 1 in Australia but still June 30 in the US you could buy Qantas flights at the lower June pricing but without fuel surcharges.
Dan’s Deals points out that the elimination of fuel surcharges on Qantas flights originating in Australia means that those same itineraries no longer incur fuel surcharges when redeeming British Airways Avios. BA’s awards get expensive for long haul, especially in premium cabins, but without fuel surcharges economy values are reasonable.
- Convert IHG Rewards Club ‘Into the Nights’ Free Night Certificates to 50,000 points
- A blog reader’s Huffington Post piece on his family trip to Israel. Miles and points aren’t just the goal, they’re a means to make meaningful travels possible.
- The new Berlin airport – opening delayed 5 years from its original 2012 – is looking for private investors.
I need to buy a ticket to reach my gateway city for a partner flight. Do I need to purchase the ticket first, then ask the reservation person to link my bought ticket with an international award ticket (to get my bags passed on) or can I have the same person who sets up my award ticket also sell me a round-trip positioning flight to the gateway city? I want to avoid having to check my bags twice before leaving the U.S. Also, what’s the best source for info on available award flights on TAM and LAN?
@Frank – you don’t need to link your reservations to through check them, if you are flying on airlines that will interline bags on separate tickets you just show up at the counter with both itineraries.