Earn JetBlue TrueBlue Points On Vrbo Bookings

August 13, 2024 at 12:09 EDT By Spencer Howard

Upgraded Points: "Paisly is JetBlue‘s travel booking portal, which offers rental cars, hotels, activities, and vacation home rentals. Normally, you’ll earn 1 JetBlue TrueBlue point per dollar spent here."

"Paisly now offers bookings on over 850,000 Vrbo properties, letting you earn TrueBlue points and tiles on your reservations. You’ll also save 10% on 1-week rentals and 15% when renting for a month."

Card Spotlight: Marriott Bonvoy Bevy Amex

August 9, 2024 at 12:07 EDT By Spencer Howard

The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy is Amex's entry level Marriott card, but it has more of a mid-tier annual fee.

Sign-Up Bonus

  • 155,000 Marriott Bonvoy points if you spend $5,000 in 6 months

Bonus Categories

  • 6x at Marriott hotels
  • 4x at restaurants and grocery stores (up to $15,000 per calendar year)
  • 2x on other spend

Benefits

  • Earn 1,000 bonus Marriott points per stay
  • Complimentary Gold Elite status
  • Spend $15,000 in a calendar year to earn a free night award worth up to 50,000 points which can be topped off with an additional 15,000 points
  • 15 elite nights per year

Annual Fee

  • $250

More info here

Card Spotlight: Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex

August 9, 2024 at 11:38 EDT By Spencer Howard

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant is American Express' premium Marriott card and it comes with a price tag to match.

Sign-Up Bonus

  • 185,000 Marriott Bonvoy points if you spend $6,000 in 6 months

Bonus Categories

  • 6x at Marriott hotels
  • 3x on dining and flights
  • 2x on other spend

Benefits

  • Complimentary Platinum Elite status
  • Select a Choice Rewards benefit if you spend $60,000 in a calendar year
  • $25 monthly restaurant credit
  • Annual free night award worth up to 85,000 points which you can top off with an additional 15,000 points
  • 25 elite nights per year
  • Priority Pass Select membership
  • Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit every 4 years

Annual Fee

  • $650

More info here

Hyatt Offers Some Elites Status With American Airlines

August 6, 2024 at 17:32 EDT By Spencer Howard

View From The Wing: "Hyatt is aggressively offering temporary status to members with American Airlines status with an opportunity to keep and even upgrade status to top tier through February 2026."

"As in past years, American Airlines is doing the same with Hyatt elites. In their announcement, Hyatt flagged that there was an American AAdvantage offer to World of Hyatt elites of temporary AAdvantage status but details offered were scarce, “select AAdvantage® members who have linked their World of Hyatt and AAdvantage® accounts may see an exclusive offer in the promotions tab within their AAdvantage® account on aa.com.”"

United Devalues Anytime Premium Cabin Award Rates

August 2, 2024 at 12:29 EDT By Spencer Howard

Live And Let's Fly: "United Airlines has increased the pricing floor of its premium cabin “anytime” awards from 155K to 200K one-way to Europe or 220K to South America, as United continues to quietly raise redemption rates. There are some exceptions."

"United Airlines can repeat the mantra all day long that no award chart means there are no devaluations, but that is simply not the case for any MileagePlus member who closely monitors award pricing trends. Indeed, there are “price floors” that are observed across multiple dates and times, providing a baseline for evaluation. Yes, these prices are not guaranteed and the wise frequent flyer does not stash miles in United MileagePlus."

Singapore Airlines London Heathrow Lounge Reopens

August 1, 2024 at 11:45 EDT By Spencer Howard

The Mile Lion: "Singapore Airlines has reopened its SilverKris Lounge at London Heathrow Airport following a six-month-long renovation."

"This continues the trend of upgrading the airlines’ overseas SilverKris Lounges."

If you're flying out of Heathrow's Terminal 2 on a Star Alliance carrier, you'll now have another lounge option. This could be a good option if you're flying back to the US or to another European destination after visiting London.

Don't Sleep On Upgrade Offers If You Book An Economy Ticket

July 31, 2024 at 10:42 EDT By Spencer Howard

View From The Wing: "Twenty years ago front cabins domestically were about full with about 10% paid fares. Delta was first to drive sales of domestic first class up over 70% using a variety of pricing tactics including small dollar upgrades. That’s the biggest reason upgrades have been so hard to come by for elite frequent flyers. Your loyalty isn’t worth $59 to your preferred airline – even if you’re spending $20,000 or more per year with them."

"One reasonable strategy is to just lean into discounted first class buy up offers. Pay for coach, even if you want first. Then wait for an upgrade offer. If you don’t get one, cancel the ticket and as long as you didn’t buy a basic economy fare just use the flight credit to buy the first class seat you wanted. But you’ll often wind up sitting up front for much less."

Should More Airline Credit Cards Offer Extra Award Space?

July 30, 2024 at 20:21 EDT By Spencer Howard

God Save The Points: "In the UK, British Airways struck a deal with Amex where cardholders receive enhanced seat availability when they look to redeem an earned companion voucher through the credit card, which can either cover the points for a second person, or be used to halve the number of points needed for one."

"How much more? On a recent trip to New York, my search went from four seats available all day across – like one scattered across all flights for a standard searcher — to more than 4 seats on most British Airways flights all day, giving me more like 40 seats to choose from. On some dates it was the difference in no seats at all, and many seats."

Hyatt Announces First Property In Belize

July 30, 2024 at 20:14 EDT By Spencer Howard

Hyatt: "Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE:H) in collaboration with Maya Rio Development announced today plans for the first Hyatt-branded hotel in Belize with The Placencia Resort, which is entering the Hyatt portfolio as an affiliated hotel before joining the Destination by Hyatt brand and World of Hyatt loyalty program late next year. Nestled south of Mexico, east of Guatemala, and next to the Caribbean Sea, The Placencia Resort is located on the Placencia Peninsula, a verdant, 13-mile long beach in southern Belize near the largest barrier reef in the western hemisphere."

"By late 2025, The Placencia Resort is expected to offer 90 reimagined guestrooms, suites and beachfront villas following a $10 million dollar renovation including an enhanced arrival experience with playfully refined public areas. Shortly after, guests can expect a new dynamic three-meal restaurant, indoor/outdoor event space perfect for social gatherings, an overwater signature restaurant and bar, and a refreshed pool and pool bar experience."

Do Hyatt's Recent Expansion Efforts Pose Risk For Loyal Customers?

July 29, 2024 at 10:17 EDT By Spencer Howard

View From The Wing notes that Hyatt has been franchising more and more to grow their footprint in the last few years. This means Hyatt isn't managing the properties itself. Instead, hotel owners are hiring hotel management companies to run the show.

As we've seen at Marriott and Hilton properties, this often leads to service standards not being met and properties failing to deliver on promised elite status benefits. VFTW notes that Hyatt has traditionally been a more high-end brand than either of those and falling short on service standards poses a risk for Hyatt.

"The trick is offering more than a place to sleep, eat and shower – it’s offering guests an overall experience, helping them tell stories not just about their stays but about themselves, and making their lives fuller when they’re away. That’s also why cutbacks on things like housekeeping make no sense at the premium end, while some guests say ‘I re-use towels at home’ or ‘I don’t make my bed every day’ that misses the point. This is all part of the experience that is more than the sum of each feature, that guests will pay more for and why they choose a premium property over a short-term rental."

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