An integrated loyalty program travel plan provides numerous opportunities to use airline miles and hotel points for travel savings. The knowledge of equivalent exchange values for points and miles between loyalty programs allows the traveler to save money on travel. This loyalty traveler is always looking for a good exchange of hotel points and airline…
American Airlines Platinum Challenge and Low Winter Fares
Help! My Airline Status Is Falling and I Need a Boost Up Travel is the quickest way to earn elite status, loads of miles and points, and upgrades for flights and hotels. I was called up to the United First Class cabin, minutes before takeoff, on a crowded flight home from Denver last week. I…
Better Late Than Never — SPG 50% Off Redemption
This SPG platinum-lite member (I requalified for platinum status through “Stays Count Double” promotion) returned home from a Colorado trip to find an invitation in my mailbox. “Sample the world. For half the Starpoints.” The 50% off a Category 1-5 hotel stay is appreciated, but the timing is rather late. I have to make a…
Rocky Mountain Wired Less in Colorado
Hyatt Regency, Denver – lobby “Now his life is full of wonder but his heart still knows some fear Of a simple thing he cannot comprehend Why they try to tear the mountains down to bring in a couple more More people, more scars upon the land” -John Denver Pim and Colorado aligned for a…
The Super-Affluent Don’t Do Super-WalMart
Laurence Geller listed some interesting data points in a blog from Jan 18, 2008. His piece discusses the widening divide between Generations X and Y mass consumers and the truly “super-affluent”. In 2006, the affluent spent on average $2,400 on hotels and resorts, while the super-affluent spent $61,200. He argues new brands will proliferate as…
Nickel and Dimed! US Airways Ch-ch-changes!
Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes (Turn and face the strain) Ch-ch-Changes Oh, look out you rock ‘n rollers -david bowie My post on Monday, Feb 11 with advice to a friend on getting an award ticket with US Airways is already outdated. US Airways has announced a couple of changes to the Dividend Miles program. 1. Flight Segments will…
Major hotel loyalty program brands on Conde Nast Traveler 2008 Hotel Gold List
The Conde Nast Traveler Gold List describes itself as the “Best Places to Stay in the World, selected by readers of Conde Nast Traveler.” Loyalty Traveler has examined a subgroup from this list to determine the hotels which also are part of major hotel loyalty programs. These hotels have the attribute of being available using…
Hotel Points Exchange Rate Theory
Hotel Points Exchange Rate Theory A common question is “How much are hotel points worth?” A frequent guest wants a variety of strategies for reducing the cost of a hotel stay. Your choices are dictated primarily by the investment of time you are willing to make to find the best deal. Traveling with a big…
Starwood Le Meridien Brand Free Nights Promotion
Le Meridien San Francisco, center and to left of pyramid TransAmerica building. This hotel was formerly a Park Hyatt. I was looking back at the Le Meridien Journey for free nights promotion running from December 1, 2007 through March 31, 2008. I drafted a piece December 13th and from this draft developed a piece for…
The Disadvantage of Marriott Rewards
What do I think of Marriott Hotels and Marriott Rewards? – There are 250 Marriott brand hotels in California. They are everywhere and I really liked the hotels I have visited and stayed in. Comfortable rooms and generally lots of seating in the lobby for people to hang out is a common feature. Having said…