Darren Booth, from Frequently Flying (and now CNBC too!), sent me note yesterday to let me know about a press release that he came across from Research Now about a new partnership with the American Airlines AAdvantage program.

I almost missed the announcement (thank you Darren!), and when I did read it, I didn’t immediately recognize Research Now.   After a little Googling, I realized that I did (sort of) know of them, and that they’re the parent organization for e-Rewards, the invitation only market research firm that offers frequent flyer miles in return for participating in surveys.

This is from the press release:

Research Now, the leading global online sampling and data collection company, today announced it has entered into an agreement with American Airlines, providing AAdvantage members with a unique opportunity to earn American Airlines AAdvantage miles.

Starting in May, AAdvantage members who accept American’s invitation to join Research Now’s “By-Invitation-Only” market research panel can earn AAdvantage miles in exchange for valuable time spent participating in online surveys.

Basically, you take surveys and get paid in e-Reward dollars which you can exchange for AAdvantage Miles:

$25 Level = 500 AAdvantage miles
$50 Level = 1,000 AAdvantage miles
$100 Level = 2,000 AAdvantage miles

I’m not sure how you get an invitation, and almost missed mine, but I happend to look in my Gmail SPAM folder last night and found this invite:

Enroll in the e-Rewards Opinion Panel for a chance to win 250,000 American Airlines AAdvantage miles.

• As a member of e-Rewards, you can earn AAdvantage miles just for participating in surveys selected to match your interests

• Plus, earn 250 AAdvantage bonus miles when you enroll, complete your profile and take your first survey within 3 months

Enrolling is quick, your privacy is guaranteed and there’s no cost to participate.

This is definitely a targeted offer. From the terms and conditions:

To enter the Sweepstakes, click on the link in the invitation inviting entry into the Sweepstakes to be redirected to the Sweepstakes website.

So keep an eye on your inbox for an invite.

If you want to learn more about e-Rewards, check out Gary’s post over at View from the Wing.  He wrote an excellent overview of e-Rewards and of some of the other survey-for-miles websites.

You can also find info here on the e-Rewards AAdvantage page, and here in the FAQ section.

Business ExtrAA is the American Airlines rewards program for small business, and there are two new promotions worth mentioning:

Earn Up To Triple Business ExtrAA Points

For U.S. domestic non-stop travel between New York and select cities, register using promotion code APR12NYCBONUS by June 30, 2012 and travel between May 1 and June 30, 2012 to earn:

• Triple points for travel on First Class, Business Class or Main Cabin Full fares
• Double points for travel on Other Main Cabin fares

Travel between New York and these cities:

Atlanta
Austin
Baltimore
Boston
Charlotte
Chicago
Cincinnati
Cleveland
Columbus
Dallas/Fort Worth
Detroit
Indianapolis
Las Vegas
Los Angeles
Miami
Minneapolis
Nashville
Norfolk VA
Orlando
Pittsburgh
Raleigh Durham
San Diego
San Francisco
San Juan
Seattle
St Louis
Tampa
Washington DC.

Points are earned at a rate of 2 points per $10 spent on travel and round-trip domestic awards are available for 2,000 points. (Something to note – until recently, flights origination out of DFW and Miami earned points at half the rate – only 1 point for every $10.  As of April 1, flights originating from both airports earn 2 points/$10).

Registration is required before travel. Go here to sign up or for complete details.

National Small Business Week

The U.S. Small Business Administration proclaimed May 20-26 as National Small Business Week. American Airlines appreciates all that small businesses do for the U.S., promoting innovation, job creation, and economic competitiveness.

To celebrate, we will offer your company a one-time bonus of 300 Business ExtrAA points if you fly anywhere on American Airlines between May 20, 2012, and May 26, 2012.

Sign up here using promo code NSB300BONUS.  Registration is required before you travel.

Just a short post this morning to tell you about a big summer promotion from Hyatt:

More Stays Means 5X More Miles And Even More Rewards

Make your next stay with Hyatt even more rewarding. Earn 4X more American Airlines AAdvantage miles after your 2nd and 3rd eligible stay and 5X more AAdvantage miles after your 4th through 11th eligible stay, at any participating Hyatt hotels from May 1– August 31, 2012.

To participate in this offer you have to be a Hyatt Gold Passport member. Just follow these instructions:

• Register on this page or by calling 1-800-30-HYATT (provide promotion code AA12S)

• Stay at any Hyatt hotel between May 1- August 31, 2012

• Book an Eligible Rate during each stay

• Ask to earn AAdvantage miles for your stay, provide your Hyatt Gold Passport number and AAdvantage number when you check in.

Go here for complete details or to read the terms and conditions.

Photo: Hyatt at Night – Mumbai
Credit: Mark Hillary on Flickr

I was looking through the most recent American Way magazine and found an offer from Bose that’s better than the one you’ll find at AA.com.  The website displays the usual 2 AAdvantage miles for every $1 spent on a Bose purchase.

Here’s the better offer I found  in the back of the current American Way. 

Earn 1200 American Airlines AAdvantage miles with the purchase of Bose QuietComfort 15 Acoustic Noise Cancelling headphones.

Whether you’re mid-flight, at work or relaxing at home, QuietComfort 15 headphones reduce the noise around you—so you’ll enjoy music and movies with fewer distractions.

 The Bose QC15 headphone does a remarkable job keeping out unwanted noise, and they’re great for music and movies.

They’re also great for sleeping. One of my favorite uses is to connect the headphones to my iPad, and then launch my favorite sleep app, Sleep from Red Hammer Software.  

The headphones seal out the world, and the sounds soothe me to sleep.   Only the scent of a chocolate chip cookie being baked on board can wake me.  

(By the way, you’ll find a list of some other sleep aid Apps here.)

But back to the Bose promo:  According to the Magazine ad, the 1,200 Bonus AAdvantage Miles offer expires June 30.  Go here to read the fine print or to place your order.

It’s back (though I’m not sure that it ever went away) but Netflix is offering a new 2,500 AAdvantage Miles promotion to new customers.

Watch TV episodes & movies and earn AAdvantage miles!

• Bonus offer! Earn 2500 American Airlines AAdvantage miles when you become a paying member of Netflix.
• Instantly watch TV episodes & movies streaming over the Internet right on your TV.
• Plus, you can also watch instantly on your computer too!

Offer Terms and Conditions:

• Offer is valid to new Netflix subscribers only.
• Current and previous members are ineligible.
• One redemption per household.
• Miles will be awarded for a new paid subscription only and require, at time of sign up, linking directly from this page and entering a valid American Airlines AAdvantage number.
• Please allow 8-10 weeks for mileage postings.
• Purchase or redemption of gift subscriptions is not eligible to earn miles.

If you’re already a Netflix customer, here’s something that you might enjoy. It’s CNBC’s original Inside American Airlines: A Week In The Life documentary series.  

It aired in 2006 and it just became available for streaming.  Obviously much has changed in six years, but operationally it’s still much the same and it’s fascinating to watch.

Go here to preview Inside American Airlines: A Week In The Life.  Go here to sign up for the Netflix offer.

I was at the Admirals Club the other day and noticed a countertop advertising stand with a 4X AAdvantage Miles offer from Avis.  You won’t find mention of it on AA’s website or at Avis.com, and it’s marketed as an “Exclusive Offer for Admirals Club Members” but nowhere in the terms and conditions does it mention that a membership is required.  

Here are the details:

• Now through August 31, 2012, American Airlines AAdvantage members can earn quadruple AAdvantage miles on rentals of 1 or more days at participating airport locations in the U.S. and Canada.

• Use coupon # MUAA063 and provide your AAdvantage number at the time of reservation or at the rental counter to earn your AAdvantage bonus miles. Quadruple AAdvantage miles are calculated using your AAdvantage base miles multiplied by four for every day you rent with Avis.

• This offer is in addition to your everyday savings of up to 25% when you use AWD # K817170.

The standard Avis earning rate is 50 AAdvantage Miles per day, so with this promotion you’ll earn 200 miles each rental day.  From the terms and conditions:

• Quadruple American Airlines AAdvantage miles valid on a qualifying rental of one or more consecutive days at participating Avis airport locations in the U.S. and Canada.
• Offer of quadruple AAdvantage miles is valid on daily and weekend rentals.
• Mention coupon MUAA063 to get this offer.
• Quadruple AAdvantage miles equal 200 AAdvantage miles per rental day.
• Offer valid on all car groups.
• An advance reservation is required.
• Offer may not be used with any other coupon, promotion or offer except your AWD discount.
• The savings of up to 25% applies to the time-and-mileage charges only.
• Use AWD K817170 to receive this discount.
• Taxes, concession recovery fees, vehicle license recovery fee, customer facility charges ($10/contract in CA) and fuel charges are extra.
• Optional items such as LDW ($35.99/day or less) and other surcharges may apply and are extra.
• Offer is subject to vehicle availability at the time of rental and may not be available on some rates at some times, including some online rates at Avis.com.
• Car rental return restrictions may apply.
• Offer subject to change without notice.
• Holiday and other blackout periods may apply.
• Renter must meet Avis age, driver and credit requirements. Minimum rental age may vary by location. An additional daily surcharge may apply for renters under 25 years old.
• Rental must begin by August 31, 2012.

There’s another offer from Avis of 1,500 AAdvantage Miles for a 3 day rental, which is a better deal if you’re renting for 3 to 7 days.  Single, 2 day, and 8 day rentals will be better off with the 4X miles.

Go here for complete details.

In case you missed it, a shameless plug from yesterday’s post:

Earlier this month, American launched a new Facebook promotion: share your favorite AAdvantage tip for a chance to win 5,000 miles. If you haven’t entered yet, hurry – the deadline to submit your entry is approaching:

Want the scoop on the best ways to maximize your AAdvantage membership? Read these top tips submitted by AAdvantage members like you! Got a tip to share?  Submit your tip now through 5/1 and you’ll be entered for a chance to win 5,000 AAdvantage miles. On or around 5/23, we’ll select our 10 favorite tips to win.

There’s even a blogger component to the promotion: five bloggers (including me) were asked to offer their favorite AAdvantage tip.

Here are the details: the blogger with the tip that gets the most votes will win 5,000 AAdvantage Miles for themselves and 5,000 AAdvantage miles to give away in a reader contest of some kind (for the record, if I win I’ll donate my 5,000 miles to AA’s Miles for Kids program).

I’m flattered that I was asked to take part in a promotion with The Frugal Travel Guy, The Weekly Flyer from Points, Miles & Martinis, Mommy Points, and Matt Long at Landlopers, so this is pretty exciting to me.

There are lots of good suggestions on the AAdvantage Facebook pages, so go read them, submit your own AAdvantage tip, and vote for your favorite expert advice (look for the “Expert Tips” tab)!

You can earn double AAdvantage miles between LAX and nine destinations:

Participating Airlines: American Airlines and American Eagle

Award: Double Miles

Offer: Earn double AAdvantage miles for travel on select nonstop flights on American Airlines or American Eagle between Los Angeles and:

Denver, CO
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Fresno, CA
Nashville, TN
Phoenix, AZ
Reno, NV
San Diego, CA
Sacramento, CA
Toronto, Canada

Offer Dates: Travel between April 16, 2012 and June 30, 2012

Promotion Code: WCDBL

Registration is required before you travel. Go here to sign up or for more details.

Hertz hasn’t had many bonus AAdvantage promotions this year, but the few that they have offered have been pretty generous. Now they’ve just introduced a new bonus that’s better than anything they offered last year:

Hertz – Earn Quadruple Miles and Save Up To 35 Percent

Award: 4x Miles

Dates: Now through September 30, 2012

Discount/CDP/Club Code: 217692
Promotional Coupon (PC): 169676

Offer: Earn 4x the miles per $1 spent (instead of the usual 1 mile per $1 spent) plus, save up to 35% when you rent any vehicle for one of more days in the US, Puerto Rico, Canada, Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, and United Kingdom through September 30, 2012.

Go here for complete details of this promotion.

I’ve always been a big fan of Hertz, they usually have the best rental and return locations, their customer service people are friendly and helpful, and if you have Hertz Gold Plus status, they make it easy and quick to go from being dropped off by the shuttle bus to driving yourself through exit gate.

If you don’t have Hertz Gold Status, here’s your chance to get it for at not cost:

Go Gold for Free — No $60 Membership Fee Through June 30, 2012!

Stop waiting in lines and filling out paperwork and start earning points for free rentals. With our Hertz Gold service and Hertz Gold Plus Rewards, booking a car has never been easier or more rewarding.

Speedier Service: No more waiting at the counter. Just pick up your keys and go!

More Value: Get special offers and more value. Your spouse will no longer pay an additional driver fee and you will enjoy discounts on child seats and more

More rewarding: Earn one Hertz Gold Plus Rewards™ point for every qualifying dollar* spent plus bonuses.

Quicker pickup: See your name in lights! Find your name on the Gold Board and locate your car in a snap

Faster return: Just fill out a slip. Leave the car, and you’re off. It’s that easy.

Mobile Gold Alerts: Know which car you’ll be driving and where it’s parked the minute it’s assigned.

Offer expires June 30. Go here to sign up for Hertz Gold Plus Status or to review the complete terms and conditions.

Photo credit: San Diego Hertz Airport Shuttle – view from the floor

Credit: (Guerrilla Futures | Jason Tester) on Flickr

The new documentary Jiro Dreams of Sushi by David Gelb is about 86 year old master sushi chef Jiro Ono and his Michelin 3 star rated restaurant Sukiyabashi Jiro in Tokyo. It’s a wonderful film and Mr. Ono represents many of the qualities I most admire about Tokyo and Japan: he’s dedicated and disciplined, meticulous and witty.

Here’s a clip.

If you’ve been to Japan, seeing the film will make you want to go back. And if you haven’t been, then watching it may make you want to go.

If you need some extra incentive to visit Tokyo, between now and May 31, you’ll save 25,000 AAdvantage Miles when you redeem an award to Japan or many other Asian destinations:

Participating Airlines:  American Airlines and Japan Airlines

Award Special:  Book a round-trip Economy Class award ticket between North America** and Asia with 40,000 American Airlines AAdvantage miles (taxes and fees apply up to $271†).

Offer Dates:  Book your travel starting March 29, 2012 and travel between April 6, 2012 and May 31, 2012

Offer:  AAdvantage members can claim a round-trip Economy Class award for 40,000 AAdvantage miles (taxes/fees apply up to $271) for travel on American Airlines or Japan Airlines between North America and Asia.

To book your award travel on American Airlines or Japan Airlines flights, contact American Airlines AAdvantage Reservations or call 1-800-882-8880. An award service charge applies to AAdvantage award reservations ticketed by our reservations office, Travel Centers or airport agents.

These are MileSAAver Awards, so if you’re looking for availability, look for MileSAAver (T) inventory. Ticketing can’t be done online, you’ll have to call customer service to get the reduced rate.  Go here for full details.

Back in December oneworld member Cathay Pacific opened a new First and Business Class lounge in San Francisco’s international terminal.

The lounge is built with the finest quality Carrara white marble & “China Black” granite, with warm bamboo wood finishes and panoramic windows offering an abundance of natural light. The reception wall is made of Venetian glass tiles by Fabbian of Italy, and backlit, to create a sparkling abstract impression of bamboo, whilst ensuring a consistent look and feel to the airline’s flagship lounges at Hong Kong International Airport.

To enable passengers to relax, there is comfortable lounge seating, including the innovative Cathay Solus Chair. Handcrafted by Poltrona Frau in Italy, the unique and popular Cathay Solus Chair is a specially built unit designed for our single customers offering a space to eat, work and relax.

There’s even a noodle bar offering freshly prepared Dan Dan noodles and won ton soup.

Here’s a video tour that was posted to YouTube last week.

To access the lounges, you’ll have to be traveling on Cathay Pacific in First or Business Class, or have oneworld Sapphire or above status, and through the end of April if you check in with foursquare you’ll get a free gift and a chance to win an upgrade:

We’re taking “check-in” to a whole new level in San Francisco! From now until April 30, passengers can check-in on Foursquare at Cathay Pacific’s First and Business Class Lounge at SFO to receive an exclusive gift and enter for a chance to win an upgrade on your next flight.

For more info, you can follow the details on Cathay Pacific’s Facebook page.