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One Mile At A Time: "Frontier Airlines is launching service to New York Kennedy, and is returning to Newark. The airline is seemingly doing this with one goal — serving San Juan, with two daily flights from each airport. These are already very crowded and competitive markets, with fairly low fares. I’m curious to see if Frontier can make these routes work, or if this is an experiment that lasts for a few months."
Thrifty Traveler: "It’s an annual ritual for Hyatt, but that doesn’t mean it feels good. In all, 183 hotels are changing award categories: 137 properties are moving up to a higher category and therefore will require more World of Hyatt points (or transferrable Chase points) to book a free night while just 46 properties are moving down – requiring fewer points to book a free night stay."
Property Highlights
IHG One Rewards has a new promo in which you can earn 2,000 bonus IHG points for every two nights you stay. You need to register before earning bonus points. Stays between April 1 and May 31, 2024 will be eligible.
Some Important Terms
Direct link to register and full T&C
Points Wire Note:
IHG Luxury & Lifestyle bookings should qualify so you can get extra perks at luxury and lifestyle properties plus earn bonus points. You can use our self-serve portal to book many luxury IHG properties.
IHG Luxury & Lifestyle benefits can include daily breakfast for 2, a room upgrade (if available), $100 property credit, guaranteed late 2pm checkout. Benefits vary by property, but you can expect luxury properties such as Intercontinental≤ Regent, and Kimpton (outside the US) to have better benefits than Kimpton (in the US) and Hotel Indigo.
Marriott announced a new partnership between Marriott Bonvoy and BetMGM. You will be able to earn Marriott Bonvoy points via the BetMGM app.
"Marriott Bonvoy, Marriott International's award-winning travel program, and BetMGM, a leading sports betting and iGaming operator, today launched an unprecedented rewards collaboration in the online sports betting and iGaming industry, giving fans an extra stake in the game."
"Players in licensed states can link their Marriott Bonvoy and BetMGM accounts and earn BetMGM Rewards points when they wager using the BetMGM sports betting app or play at the award-winning online casino. They can then exchange BetMGM Rewards points for Marriott Bonvoy points, up to 100,000 points annually, which they can then use to redeem extraordinary experiences, including future free nights with Marriott Bonvoy's more than 30 hotel brands and 10,000 destinations globally."
JetBlue is cutting a third of its routes from Los Angeles, several routes from Fort Lauderdale, New York (JFK) to Detroit, and Tampa to Aguadilla. Additionally, they're cutting all flights to Bogota, Lima, Kansas City, and Quito.
View From The Wing had this to say: "Their West Coast operation performs poorly. It was logical to cut. JetBlue needs to build back Boston. They’ve allowed Delta to grow as they focused on New York during the time of their American Airlines partnership. They should clearly re-engage American Airlines on a partnership, pull back from the West Coast, and focus on the Northeast – a return to their roots."
Hilton Impresario often runs third or fourth night free promos at many of its properties. Fortunately, many of these offers have been extended through March 2025.
If you know how Impresario works, you can go ahead and book here.
Hilton Impresario Brands
Only three brands can be booked via Impresario:
Hilton Impresario Benefits
What Rate Does Impresario Book?
Hilton Impresario books the Flexible Rate. The third and fourth night free promo is based off of the Flexible Rate. Impresario does not book member rates and/or advance purchase rates.
Do You Earn Hilton Points?
Yes. In fact, you earn double Hilton points.
Do You Earn Hilton Elite Nights?
Yes
View From The Wing: "Alaska Airlines elite frequent flyers are eligible for upgrades when flying American Airlines. The two carriers have a much tighter relationship through their ‘West Coast Alliance’ than just as oneworld airline partners."
"There’s now even a new improvement to the reciprocal upgrade benefit. Alaska Airlines passengers flying on American are now eligible for upgrades even when buying American’s basic economy fares."
View From The Wing: "American Airlines has long been willing to transfer your miles to a loved one. It’s been on an exception basis, and at times in the past there’s been a nominal processing fee to handle it."
"The ability to transfer American Airlines miles at death is now official, and even online, all part of the carrier’s move towards making every interaction possible digital. This is available under Contact American / AAdvantage Account Service there’s an option for 'Deceased Member’s Account.'"
You can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Air France-KLM Flying Blue and receive a 25% bonus. To transfer bonus runs through April 30, 2024. In most cases, the transfer should process instantly, but it is possible to have Flying Blue put an award ticket on hold while you transfer points.
Generally, I wouldn't recommend transferring points speculatively.
Virgin Atlantic has launched a 50% off award ticket promo for flight to/from the US. To take advantage of this promo, you must book by March 20, 2024 and travel by June 30, 2024.
Unfortunately, this promo only applies to flights operated by Virgin Atlantic so you can expect some steep carrier-imposed surcharges to result in high taxes/fees. Don't forget, if you start your itinerary from London, you'll also be on the hook for the UK's Air Passenger Duty (APD) fee which is over $200 on a premium cabin ticket.
Points Wire Note:
While the promo only applies to flights on Virgin Atlantic, you can actually start your journey to the US from Amsterdam on KLM or Paris on Air France. The KLM or Air France flights won't be discounted, but the Virgin Atlantic flights will be and you can avoid the UK's APD fee.
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