"Up Front" Blog Entries

Following are some of Tim's recent blog posts:

• United Adds Hotels, Rental Cars as Mileage Awards
  Mileage Plus members can now redeem their United miles for hotel stays and car rentals. The new option raises the question of award value: How much are miles worth?
• New Marriott Members Get Free Night After Second Stay
  New Marriott Rewards members can partake of two promotions, earning both a free night and bonus points after two stays.
• Is New Hyatt Promotion 'The Next Big Thing'?
  The latest Hyatt offer is another solid hotel promotion, amid a slew of solid offers from other hotel chains.
• Get Me Off This Plane, Now!
  There's plenty of momentum behind passenger rights legislation that would force airlines to release passengers in the event of tarmac delays. Finally!

The FrequentFlier Forum - Hot Topics

As always, there's plenty of activity on the FrequentFlier Forum.

In the "Hotel Programs" Forum, Gary Steiger's "500 easy Priority Club points" thread is among the most active -- mostly other readers thanking Gary for the link. But eggted posted a concern: "Not to be a downer, but when I clicked on the link, I noticed it ended in .uk and seemed to have a very odd URL. Is there any way to tell that this is an actual promotion and not some elaborate scheme for getting your member #?" A valid question. But without a username, password, or other information to cross-reference with the membership number, there's really nothing anyone could do with a stolen number, is there?

Also in the "Hotel Programs" Forum, DJHerm shares details and a link to a triple-points offer for elite members of the Choice Privileges program.

Questions, answers, opinions? Post them to the Forum!

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Up to Quadruple Points for Best Western Stays

Through November 24, members of Best Western Rewards program will earn double points for two qualified nights, triple points for three nights, and quadruple points for four nights. Stays must be charged to a MasterCard to qualify. Nights need not be consecutive to count toward the bonuses.

In addition, there's a 250-point bonus for booking stays on bestwestern.com, earnable twice for a maximum of 500 points.

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Country Inns Offers Free Night After Two (Three?)

Between October 1 and November 30, travelers who stay two nights at participating Country Inns will earn a free night for use on a subsequent stay of two or more nights completed between December 15, 2009, and February 28, 2010.

To qualify, stays must be booked using the "FREESTAY" promotional rate. Registration is required.

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Get a Free Night at Omni Hotels

Through December 31, customers at participating Omni hotels will receive one free night after two paid nights at "Fall Back and Relax" rates, or after three paid nights at Omni resort properties.

Free nights linked to so-called "special" rates should always be viewed with some skepticism. Has the hotel company simply raised the rate to cover the cost of the extra night? Is it really a good deal?

In attempting to answer those questions for the rate in question, I test-booked a variety of dates at the Los Angeles Omni. In all cases, the "Fall Back" rate was the same as the "Best Available Rate," according to the hotel's own website. That admittedly limited sample suggests that this is a solid deal, but I'd still suggest checking the best rate before committing to this or any "special" rate.

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Fly Virgin Atlantic to Earn an Amex Reward Card

Through November 30, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club members with U.S. mailing addresses can earn an American Express reward card when flying on full-fare tickets between the U.S. and London.

Passengers flying in Upper Class (J or D) will receive a $150 reward card each way; premium economy (W) passengers will receive a $75 reward card; and economy class (Y) passengers will receive a $25 card.

To be clear: Discounted fares -- including tickets booked in Z, R, G, S, H, K, U, B, L, M, Q, V, X, N, T, or E booking classes -- do not qualify.

Registration is required.

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Deal Alert from SmarterTravel.com

1) American Sale Fares From $88

American's latest domestic sale takes flight to many popular destinations including Las Vegas, Miami, New York City, and Orlando. Fares start at $88 round-trip, and travel is valid through late January. Note that the dates around the end-of-year holidays are not available for travel.

Travel is valid through January 27, 2010. Book tickets at least 10 days in advance.

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2) Domestic Sale Fares on Frontier From $44 Each Way

With over 1,000 routes on sale and strikingly low prices, Frontier's latest sale is an eye-catcher. Prices start at $44 one-way or $88 round-trip, and travel is valid through spring 2010.

Travel is valid Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays through March 10, 2010. Book by October 7.

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Win a Trip for 2 to London

Enter Lucky Magazine's "Lucky Breaks" sweepstakes by November 2 for a chance to win a trip for two to London, including air, three nights at the Sofitel London St. James Hotel including breakfast, spa treatments, and a Selfridges & Co. gift card worth $1,000.

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[Visit FrequentFlier.com for more travel sweepstakes.]

Feedback from the Frontlines of Travel

We welcome reader feedback on issues related to travel generally and frequent flyer programs in particular. Please use this link to submit comments.

More Expired United Miles

"For your correspondent who complained about the United loss, please tell him I had a similar experience with United and lost 103,000 miles.

"In my case I had carefully flown an Austrian Airlines flight within the 18 months and presented my United card, but due to work overload had never checked they were properly credited. When I realized the omission I started the claim process. United told me they had passed it to Austrian and I would hear from them. I never did, though I waited months. So I went back to United. They looked again and told me I was correct that Austrian had not contacted me but that my Austrian ticket did not qualify for miles so the wiping of my account still stood. I had told United - and it was the truth - that I preferred to fly Star Alliance and was about to register for a United Visa card, but that if my balance was reduced to 0 I would go with another alliance's card, where I already had enough miles to make it worthwhile. No reaction. No one at United even told me I could 'buy them back.'

"So I lost the miles and I no longer fly Star Alliance. I don't hold out much hope of mercy from United for your correspondent!" [SMV]

Delta Downgraded

"I can only full heartedly agree with Gaetano [in last week's newsletter] about the constant downgrade that has been going on since Delta took over NWA to become the New 'Premier' airline.

"It is sad to see what we have to give up for the one new great feature 'roll-over elite miles.' Because of this new really great looking feature Delta has downgraded the Silver elite status to the point that I wonder that maybe it is time to look for the cheapest flight and throw loyalty overboard.

"Delta is very good at sneaking in fee hikes and benefit losses. The free standby feature is now gone for Silver elite members and the fee jumped from $25 to $50. Weird I never got an e-mail about that.

"I just also saw that now there is only one free bag allowed for international travel to Europe, when did this happen? And the second bag fee is $50, wow .... okay the other American companies do the same but wow. Also weight limits shrunk on this one to 50 lbs from 70 lbs, guess we have to make sure we don't hurt the employees. At least Silver Elite members still have this perk.

"And what happened to drinks on flights to Europe? Beer and wine is all that is left there unless you like to fork over $7 a shot.

"Yeah 'Premier' alright I guess if you want to fly and be treated 'Premier' you sure do not have to look at an American-based airline any more, go Asian and you will be a King again." [Reginald M. - MI]

How do you spell S-H-E-L-L G-A-M-E?

"To be fair, for a long time now if my only option is between United or staying home, it's a 50/50 shot at best for United.

"That said, United's 'Premier Travel' option takes a page from communications providers where 'bundling' of extra fees into a package price is supposed to be a 'deal.' 'How would you like your punishment dished out?' would be more honest.

"Dressing up a pig, it's still a pig. Same with nickel-and-dimeing the air traveler." [Ed N.]

Aloha, American

"Since American Airlines would not let me use my mileage to upgrade to first class on a trip to Hawaii, I took all my mileage, 180,000, and transferred it to Hilton HHonors. At least I know I will be able to use that for rooms anywhere I go, and now am not stuck using one airline. I can find better bargains than American, like Southwest." [VD]

Until next week...