elite benefits

Tag Archives for elite benefits.

Complete Guide To The New IHG Elite Program: Confirmed Suites, Lounge Access, And Breakfast

by Gary Leff on April 13, 2022

Apr 13 2022

IHG Rewards is now IHG One Rewards with a whole new set of elite benefits to go with the introduction of a new top elite tier, Diamond. I spoke with IHG’s Senior Vice President of Global Loyalty and Partnerships, Heather Balsley, both about the vision for the changes and the to get into the weeds about how new benefits will work.

In theory new elite benefits are better than Hilton’s, and some guests will prefer them over Marriott’s, but how valuable they are depends on the properties members stay at and how well those hotels deliver on promises.

This Marriott Hotel Charges Elite Members A Cash Co-Pay For Their Free Breakfast

by Gary Leff on March 26, 2022

Mar 26 2022

Gratuity is part of the cost of breakfast so for a breakfast to be considered complimentary guests must not be expected to pay cash out of pocket when they eat it. But the Delta Hotel Daytona Beach Oceanfront has figured out a way to charge elite guests a cash co-pay for their ‘free’ breakfast.

Extra Legroom Seats Are Now An Elite Benefit Of American-JetBlue Alliance

by Gary Leff on March 23, 2022

Mar 23 2022

American Airlines and JetBlue introduced reciprocal elite benefits this past fall. The major omission was reciprocal access to extra legroom seats, largely a function of JetBlue not even offering those to their own elite members.

However JetBlue has been rethinking its elite benefits and now both JetBlue and American elites gain access to extra legroom seats on both airlines along with additional new benefits.

Marriott Elite Breakfast Doesn’t Have To Include Coffee, That’ll Be Extra For Juice Too Ms. Titanium Elite

by Gary Leff on March 6, 2022

Mar 06 2022

Your ‘free breakfast’ as a Marriott Platinum, Titanium, or Ambassador member is allowed to come off of a special limited menu. And it does not even have to include juice or coffee.

And here’s the important context. Hotels can get away with virtually anything at Marriott, and hotels in this particular ownership group usually try.

Marriott Choice Benefits Have To Be Claimed By Friday – But What If Your 2021 Stays Haven’t Posted Yet?

by Gary Leff on January 6, 2022

Jan 06 2022

If you earned Platinum (50 night) or Titanium (75 night) elite status with Marriott in 2021 you only have until January 7th to make your ‘choice benefit selections. If you miss the deadline, you miss out on benefits like suite upgrade priority and free nights.

A reader shares they have a missing stay from December 27 that would push them over the threshold to earn Titanium. And Marriott won’t take a missing stay submission for that until January 10.

American Airlines-JetBlue Elite Benefits Are Live Today, Mileage Redemption Starts Next Month

by Gary Leff on October 13, 2021

Oct 13 2021

The partnership between American Airlines and JetBlue started allowing each program’s members to earn miles and elite qualifying credit on each other’s flights back in the spring, and they announced that recognition of elite benefits across the two airlines would begin in the fall.

Elite benefits are here – today – and award redemption starts next month. Here are the details.

Elite Benefits Coming To The American-JetBlue Partnership This Fall

by Gary Leff on July 20, 2021

Jul 20 2021

American Airlines and JetBlue launched their ‘Northeast Alliance’ early in 2021.

Until now there haven’t been elite benefits recognized between the two airlines, and there’s no redeeming miles for each others’ flights. Elite benefits, though, will begin this fall.

The Elite Status Of American AAdvantage Platinum Pro Members Gets Upgraded June 30

by Gary Leff on June 28, 2021

Jun 28 2021

Back in December American Airlines announced that their Platinum Pro members would become oneworld emeralds. That will go into effect June 30. There are a couple of wrinkles to know about.

Marriott Tells Hotels To Start Honoring Elite Breakfast Again July 1

by Gary Leff on June 15, 2021

Jun 15 2021

Marriott hotels were allowed to close down their club lounges and restaurants during the pandemic. Even where they re-opened restaurants they might not honor elite breakfast, claiming that they weren’t fully staffed or hadn’t fully re-opened.

The elite brown bag breakfast of apple or banana and granola was born. In some cases a credit was offered towards breakfast in the restaurant instead of covering the meal entirely. That “flexibility” ends July 1.

Double Dipping Status and Mileage-Earning Benefits With the JetBlue-American Partnership

by Gary Leff on May 28, 2021

May 28 2021

With the introduction of the ability for American frequent flyers to earn miles and elite status flying JetBlue, and vice versa I’ve gotten several questions about the relationship centering around taking advantage of both programs at once.