Hilton's Fall 2012 promo: 1000 bonus points most nights

The oft discussed, rumored and debated Hilton HHonors promotion for Q4 2012 is out and open for registration. Unfortunately for most business travelers, however, the promo will likely not be particularly lucrative. Members can earn 1000 bonus points for stays on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday or Monday nights. Tuesday and Wednesday night stays will not earn bonus points. The program runs from November 1 – December 31, 2012 and registration is required. As always, there is a list of hotels not participating which is worth reviewing.

The promo is decent enough, I suppose, but blocking out mid-week nights definitely will put a damper on plans for customers with a more typical work travel schedule. I can understand the company’s motivations in trying to drive business to lower demand days though I can also understand many customers not being too excited by the offer.

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Double MileagePlus miles to Mexico

United Airlines is now matching the American Airlines promo for double miles on flights to Mexico until November 13, 2012. The AA deal started just over a month ago and United was a bit slow on the draw to catch up. Plus the United version is limited to only the first eight (8) trips south of the border while the AA version has no limits. And the United version requires that the ticket be purchased after October 10th, the day the promo launched; tickets purchased prior will not earn the bonus per the T&C.

Qualifying routes are:

  • Aguascalientes (AGU) – Houston
  • León/Guanajuato (BJX) – Houston, Los Angeles
  • Chihuahua (CUU) – Houston
  • Guadalajara (GDL) – Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco
  • Mexico City (MEX) – Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark, San Francisco, Washington, DC
  • Morelia (MLM) – Houston
  • Monterrey (MTY) – Houston
  • Querétaro (QRO) – Houston
  • Torreón (TRC) – Houston
  • San Luis Potosi (SLP) – Houston
  • Veracruz (VER) – Houston
  • Cancún (CUN) – Chicago, Cleveland, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark, San Francisco, Washington, DC
  • Cozumel (CZM) – Houston
  • Mazatlán (MZT) – Houston
  • Puerto Vallarta (PVR) – Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark, San Francisco
  • San José Del Cabo (SJD) – Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark, San Francisco
  • Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo (ZIH) – Houston

Registration is required

Hat tip to Brendan for noticing the new promo on the UA site.

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Earn 50% bonus on Club Carlson points purchases

Club Carlson, the brand behind Radisson Blu, Radisson, Park Plaza and other hotel chains, is offering a 50% bonus on purchased points through November 10, 2012. Each member can purchase up to 40,000 points annually (60,000 with this bonus) and the rate is $7/1,000 ($7/1,500 with bonus).

With cash+points redemptions starting at 5,000 points and straight room redemptions starting at 9,000 points there are definitely some value redemptions to be found with this deal. That said, don’t think that you’re going to necessarily be getting a room in a Radisson Blu at a great rate, even with the discount. The relatively low max purchase amount and the high redemption rates for the nicer brands (many are 38,000 or more points/night) means that this promo is probably better suited to lower category redemptions than not. Still, take a look at their hotel categories and see if a property works for you. Might be worth buying up a few.

Bonus United or Delta or Southwest miles for Marriott gift card purchases

Both United Airlines and Delta (And Southwest, too!) are offering bonus miles when you purchase Marriott gift cards. Gift cards can be used like cash at more than 3,700 locations in the Marriott family. This promo offers a pretty good way to double dip on collection points in the two programs.

The promotions are slightly different so it is worth looking at the details to figure which is best (though no reason you cannot do both if you want).

For United the deal is valid from October 15 – November 26, 2012. It maxes out at 5,000 MileagePlus points earnt and the earn rates are:

  • 500 MileagePlus Miles with a $150 Marriott Gift Card purchase
  • 1,000 MileagePlus Miles with a $250 Marriott Gift Card purchase
  • 2,000 MileagePlus Miles with a $400 Marriott Gift Card purchase

To get the full 5,000 bonus points will require buying $1,050 in cards.

For Delta the deal is valid from October 19 – December 15, 2012. The earning rates are not nearly as good as what United is offering but the max number which can be earnt in 10,000 rather than 5,000. Here’s the earn rates for Delta:

    • 200 Delta SkyMiles with a $100 Marriott Gift Card purchase
    • 500 Delta SkyMiles with a $250 Marriott Gift Card purchase
    • 2,000 Delta SkyMiles with a $1,000 Marriott Gift Card purchase

That’s a $5,000 spend on cards to max out the deal.

For Southwest the deal is valid until November 30, 2012. The earn rates are possibly best here, though it depends on if you have use for the points. Here are the rates:

  • 1,200 Rapid Rewards® Points for each $100 Marriott Gift Card purchase
  • 3,000 Rapid Rewards® Points for each $250 Marriott Gift Card purchase
  • 6,000 Rapid Rewards® Points for each $500 Marriott Gift Card purchase

The maximum earn with Southwest is 12,000 points so that’s $1000 in spending.

Some folks have suggested clicking in through the Chase Ultimate Rewards online mall or other, similar shopping portals to further maximize earning on this deal. When I look it seems to be different sites/links and the promo isn’t available through the online portals so that may or may not work.

I don’t have any Marriott stays coming up and I don’t anticipate getting much value from the deal personally. That said, it is a pretty good promo if you’re a Marriott person and like the MileagePlus or SkyMiles points, too.

Ramada/Wyndham $1000 gift cards giveaway

I’m only mildly disappointed that I’m discovering this contest in week 5 having missed the initial drawings. The good news is that there are still 10 weeks left for a chance to win a $1000 gift card from Ramada/Wyndham. If you’ve already got a Wyndham Rewards account then you can use those credentials to enter. If not, you can enroll or just use your name/address as an entry. Either way, you’re included in all subsequent drawings once you sign up so don’t hesitate. Enter once and you’re in the pool for all future drawings.

Register here.

American Airlines' October buy miles promo: up to 25% bonus

The October promo from American Airlines for buying miles is out. Once again a sliding scale of bonus miles depending on how many you purchase. And, once again, not a particularly great deal. The max bonus is 25% this month:

image

And unlike last time there was a 25% promo this one doesn’t cut the cost, it just increases the earn.

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Double miles to Dubai on United Airlines

Headed to Dubai between now and March 31, 2013? United Airlines is offering up to double miles on their Dulles-Dubai route. Registration is required.

Like most United promos the deal only applies to newly purchased tickets. This one also is restricted to US residents and trips originating in the USA. Connecting itineraries are eligible but only the Dulles-Dubai sector gets the bonus. Also notable is that only full fare (B or higher) tickets get the 100% bonus miles. Lower fares only get 50% bonus. Open-jaw and government fares are also excluded from the earning promo.

Time to start tracking DXB fares and see if there isn’t a mileage run to be had there.

United joins the huge bonus miles to London party

United Airlines is following on the heels of British Airways and American Airlines, offering up big bonus miles opportunities for customers paying full fare to London. The UA offer is a bit less generous than the others but still follows the same basic scheme. First qualifying flight nets 15K bonus points. The second nets 35K. Each additional is worth 50K bonus points. Registration is required.

About those restrictions, though:

  • Only valid to London, not all of Europe like BA/AA
  • Valid only on newly purchased tickets
  • Valid only on UA marketed and UA operated flights, not the ATI partners

Not a horrible deal if you’ve got someone buying you full fare flights or if you can find some holiday sale fares. But definitely not quite as good as the AA/BA deals.

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Hilton offers a double double dip promo

Hilton has a new promotion out for Q4 2012 targeting guest in the Latin America and Caribbean regions, as well as some US properties. Guest who choose to “double dip” with both HH points and airline miles in Aeromexico, American Airlines, Avianca/TACA, Multiplus or United (includes Copa) can earn double airline miles, either from variable or fixed rate earnings. The list of participating hotels is somewhat meager but if you normally credit to one of those airlines anyways then no reason to skip the registration. It might come in handy.

A quick 500 HHonors points

Almost not worth the effort for only 500 points, but the effort is minimal enough that it doesn’t suck too much. Go to the Hampton FaceBook page, like it and watch a video. Get 500 points a few weeks later. The promo ends 12 October 2012.

There’s also a similar promo from DoubleTree and TopGuest. Some folks have reported trouble getting credit from both.

Good luck.

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