SPG expands cash+points redemptions to Category 7 properties

The cash+points redemption option is, in many cases, one of the best value propositions available in the Starwood Preferred Guest program. One of its limitations historically was that the top hotels in the brand – Category 7 properties – were not available for this redemption option. That treasure chest is opening up, however, with a limited number of Category 7 hotels now available for cash+points redemptions.

The rates are not at all cheap: a room will run 15,000 points + $275 per night. Also, the program can still have black-out dates on these awards while regular room redemptions have none. Finally, it is only certain hotels which are participating (see the list below). Still, it is nice to see that there are more redemption options opening up.

Then again, comparing to the regular room rate redemptions – 30-35,000 points for a Cat 7 normally – this seems to be a bit like the airlines offering last seat availability for double points or more. In other words, no big deal if you’re sitting on a huge stash anyways but doing it with an eye towards a good deal seems a bit askew in most cases. Then again, when looking at Category 7 properties a great deal is rarely the expectation.

Participating hotels currently include:

  • Cervo Hotel ,Costa Smeralda Resort
  • The Chatwal, New York City
  • The Gritti Palace, Venice
  • Hotel President Wilson Geneva
  • The St. Regis Aspen Resort
  • The St. Regis Bahia Beach, Puerto Rico
  • The St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort
  • The St. Regis Bali Resort
  • The St. Regis Florence
  • The St. Regis Mardavall Mallorca Resort
  • The St. Regis New York
  • W South Beach
  • W Paris- Opera

US Airways offers up double miles to/from DCA

Double award miles are now available for all customers traveling to or from Washington’s National Airport on US Airways through September 30, 2012. The promotion applies only to tickets purchased between July 7 and August 5th and only to trips which originate or terminate at DCA; connecting itineraries do not earn the bonus. All passengers crediting flights to Dividend Miles are eligible; there is no registration required.

The promotion is the kick-off event for “30 Days of DCA,” a marketing effort surrounding the company’s increased operations from the airport following their slot-swap deal with Delta. More promotions are expected in the coming days; we’re looking forward to what they might offer.

Here’s the fine print from the promo:

Terms & Conditions

Customers must book July 7 – August 5 for travel July 7 – September 30, 2012 to earn double miles on itineraries starting or ending at Reagan National Airport (DCA). Customers with itineraries connecting through Reagan National Airport (DCA) are not eligible for bonus miles. Any itinerary with a Reagan National Airport (DCA) arrival followed by a Reagan National Airport (DCA) departure the same day is considered a connection. Miles do not count toward Preferred status. US Airways will award miles one to two weeks after travel has been completed. All Dividend Miles terms and conditions apply.

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Earn 50% bonus miles on US Airways Transfers

Following up on last month’s much more awesome 100% bonus on buying Dividend Miles, US Airways has announced their July bonus for miles. Members can earn up to 50% bonus miles, depending on how many they choose to gift to another member:

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At the 50,000 level you will earn 25K bonus points in the recipient’s account. The transfer rate is $10/1000 so those 25K points will cost you $500 or 2 cents per mile. Not the best value in the world, but certainly easier than making a bunch of mileage runs.

Enjoy!

American Airlines announces earning rates for WestJet flights

Back in October 2010 American Airlines and WestJet teamed up on interline service, allowing for easier connections and ticketing options for passengers. That deal allowed for transfers only at the Canadian connection points between the carriers and didn’t cover frequent flyer reciprocity. Well, now it does.

American Airlines announced earning rates today for flights on WestJet metal:

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These points do NOT qualify towards elite status.

There are at least four fare buckets – R, S, J and U – which are excluded from earnings. I’m guessing one or two of those might be for award seats but it seems unlikely all four are.

So, like always, keep an eye on the fare classes when booking, but also look to earn with a new partner.

Last chance to register for the SPG Nice Choice summer promotion

Time is running out to register for the summer 2012 promotion from Starwood Preferred Guest. SPG members have to choose by June 30 what bonus they want to earn for their stays this summer. The promotion is entertaining in its flexibility and complexity. Plus it is annoying that you have to guess in advance what your best earning option is and cannot change once locked in. Still, it is a promo which means more points so that doesn’t suck.

First up, figure out which three month period this summer you want to earn the bonuses in. Then figure out if you want points, free nights at category 1-5 hotels, elite stay credits or discount coupons. Then figure out which of the 2-4 options in that category are best for you.

Yeah, it is annoyingly complicated.

The free nights or discounted redemption options don’t make a ton of sense from a value proposition. Neither do the discount coupons or the elites nights. That leaves the bonus points as the only reasonable earning option from where I’m sitting.

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If you only ever stay at Sheraton-branded properties and you’re staying fewer than 15 nights over the three months than the last option probably makes sense. If you have more than 15 nights then the 3x option is definitely the way to go. Otherwise, the double promo is probably the best way to max out.

Register before June 30 here: https://www.spgpromos.com/nicechoice/.

Happy earning.

Get 500 free United points from Visa

Who doesn’t like free points, right?? I find it hard to get motivated for 50 or 100 freebies, but for 500 I’m usually willing to at least click the link and see what’s involved. In this case it isn’t a particularly new promo, but we haven’t shared it here yet and it is still valid, so…

Visa and United Airlines have teamed up to start offering “mobile offers” to MileagePlus members. You register your phone number and they start sending you SMS messages with deals. They will send up to 3 messages per week and, from what I’m reading, only when you actually use the Visa card which is associated with the registration.

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Seems like a decent enough deal. Registration is open into October, so no real rush right now, but the points are there for the taking…

Registration is required. Go here to sign up.

Grab 100 free AAdvantage points

American Airlines is giving away 100 AAdvantage points to members with a FaceBook account who are willing to “like” the company and then sign up for the More Miles. More Smiles. promotion.

Beyond the 100 free points (useful for keeping your account active, if nothing else, you also can win one of the giveaways of additional miles as the promo realizes milestones in the number of participants. The number of miles awarded for each draw will also adjust, up to 100K points. Full rules here as it really isn’t worth trying to explain it more.

Not a bad promo for a couple seconds worth of clicking. Just make sure you set the promo to show timeline posts to only you rather than everyone if you are into that sort of thing.

Triple points coming from Hilton this summer

I received a “sneak peek” email from Hilton this morning, advertising their summer earning promotion and offering me the ability to sign up today. Here are the details as they presented them:

Being a Hilton HHonors™ member is now more rewarding than ever. Because with this sneak peek at the Triple Your Trip promotion, you can get to your next getaway three times faster. Simply sign up and stay by September 30, 2012, to earn Triple HHonors Points for Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights starting July 1, 2012. And earn Double HHonors Points for Monday through Thursday nights at participating hotels and resorts. Take advantage of this special preview today. Because whether you’re earning double points on business or triple points on a weekend away, you can always count on HHonors to get you to your next getaway faster.

In other words, triple points on weekend nights and double points the rest of the week. Not too shabby. Members must enroll to get the promotion; the sign-up link is here: https://www.hiltonhhonors.com/Quarterlypages/2012/Q3/landing.aspx.

The bad news is that there are a whole bunch of hotels which are not participating. Given that the promo period is during the Olympics I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised that all the London properties are opting out. That doesn’t explain the scores of hotels across the rest of the globe opting out, but such is life.

Overall, a pretty good promo with reasonably few strings attached. Enjoy!

Free Neverlost from Hertz

Hertz is offering up their GPS navigation system for free with a coupon code valid for rentals through August 31, 2012. The code appears to be valid only once per customer. Or maybe it is only valid once at all and the first person to use it from this post wins. But I don’t think that is the case.

I’m usually skeptical of coupon codes like this because they seem to have a habit of messing with the underlying base fare to give you something for “free” as part of the deal. In this case, however, I ran a few tests and the code doesn’t seem to be changing the regular rental rates.

Anywho, the coupon code is PC# 172443.

Here’s the fine print:

Terms & Conditions: Offer valid for intended recipient only through August 31, 2012. Discount is a one-time use. Advance reservations are required. Modifying your reservation may result in a change in your rate and/or invalidate this offer. Blackout periods may apply. The free value is deducted from the NeverLost rental fee charged and is redeemable at participating locations in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico subject to NeverLost-equipped vehicle availability. This offer has no cash value, may not be used with Pre-Pay Rates, Tour Rates, Insurance Replacement Rates or Hourly Rates and cannot be combined with any other certificate, voucher, offer or promotion. Hertz age, driver, credit and qualifying rate requirements for the renting location apply and the car must be returned to that location. Taxes, tax reimbursement, age differential charges, fees and optional service charges, such as refueling, are not included and are not subject to discount. Discounts in local currency on redemption.

US Airways brings back half-price points

Want to fly long-haul premium class on the cheap? US Airways is looking to help you out with that once again. The airline is offering a 100% bonus on purchased Dividend Miles for the month of June, making them price out at 1.75 cents each. This makes a things like a business class ticket between the US and Europe at around $2000 ($1750 for the 100,000 points and then taxes/fees on the actual booking).

US Airways points are often considered reasonably valuable because of their membership in the Star Alliance network and their reasonable award chart. And with their regular deals like this one to sell the points outright at a reasonable price, the offering is all that much more appealing.

I am a tiny bit hesitant on the deal because of their efforts to acquire or merge with American Airlines and the potential impact that could have on the loyalty program, but I also know that such processes are slow and anything that would change on that front is not likely to happen in the immediate future. So if you’ve got an idea on using the points in the next few months probably no reason to balk at the deal.

Check out the US Airways partner award chart to see how many points you’ll need and then go book an award. You know you want to.

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