I disagree with Gary Leff at View from the Wing calling the Wyndham Rewards category changes a ‘bloodbath’ devaluation of points on March 14.  For most  Wyndham Rewards members used to redeeming points for hotels in the U.S., the changes will mostly be no big deal.

The changes are more severe for Canada and international hotels where hundreds of hotels will rise by 50% or more in points cost, but the vast majority of Wyndham Rewards 7,000+ hotels are located in the USA and these Ramada, Days Inn, Howard Johnson, Super 8, Microtel, Travelodge and other brand hotels in the states do not look like that many will increase in points cost for award nights.

Wyndham Rewards posted in the comments section on View from the Wing and Loyalty Traveler to share their posting of pdf files showing the hotels increasing and decreasing in award tier on March 14.

Wyndham Rewards pdf for hotels increasing award tier.

Wyndham Rewards pdf for hotels decreasing award tier.

Their word choice could have been better.

View a list of properties with increasing point levels or decreasing point levels right here!

Looking over the pdf files reveals that most hotel awards for U.S. properties are only increasing or decreasing in award tier with the shift from seven categories introduced in mid-2012 to eight categories in effect march 14, 2013. The amount of points for most hotels is actually not increasing or decreasing.

Wyndham Rewards is not doing itself a favor by saying thousands of hotels are increasing points level when the points required for an award night are not changing with the new tier system March 14.

Despite the Wyndham Rewards pdf showing thousands of hotels increasing in award tier, the impact is nil for many of these hotels.

Tier 2 to Tier 3 = 10,000 points for hotel award night (no points increase).

Tier 3 to Tier 4 = 14,000 points for hotel award night (no points increase).

Tier 4 to Tier 5 = 16,000 points for hotel award night (no points increase).

Read More…

Wyndham Rewards seems to not have thought through its restructured seven tier award categories last month. The program now plans to change to eight award tiers March 14 in what looks to be a global realignment of hotel awards.

Free Nights Just Got Faster

Get a free night faster than ever before. Starting March 14, 2013, we are introducing our lowest point level ever and lowering other tiers so you can experience a free night faster!

• Our lowest tier is decreasing from 6,000 to 5,500 points!
• We are adding a new 8,000 point tier between 5,500 and 10,000 points so you can stay at hotels for FREE more quickly
• Our highest point tier will be 30,000 points. The 35,000 and 45,000 point tiers are being eliminated.
• Properties within the current point level may move into different point levels. This means that point levels for individual hotels may increase or decrease beginning March 14. You’ll be able to see the new point levels on March 14.*

Wyndham Rewards

• Tier 1 = 5,500 points
• Tier 2 = 8,000 points
• Tier 3 = 10,000 points
• Tier 4 = 14,000 points
• Tier 5 = 16,000 points
• Tier 6 = 20,000 points
• Tier 7 = 25,000 points
• Tier 8 = 30,000 points

Read More…

Turkish Airlines and Saudia Airlines partner with Wyndham Rewards.

The value for Americans and other Wyndham Rewards members with the expansion of Wyndham Rewards to other countries is new international airline partners.

Wyndham Rewards has the highest exchange rate of any hotel loyalty program for points-to-miles transfers.

1,000 Wyndham Rewards points exchange to 400 miles in most miles-based frequent flyer programs. All hotel brands in Wyndham Rewards earn 10 points per USD$1, except the extended stay brand Hawthorn Suites earn 5 points per USD$1. This means every $1 spent at Wyndham earns 4 airline miles. That is a great rebate.

Read More…

800 rooms for 8 nights at Super 8 motels for $8.88/night (beginning 8pm Eastern USA time zone each night)

Wyndham Rewards member Super 8 Motel has a Super 888 Promotion special offer rate going on for another 7 nights.  The deal is each night, beginning at 8:00pm EDT,  800 rooms at Super 8 motels in the USA and Canada will be sold for a room rate of $8.88/night.

Terms:

·         Promotion runs each night at 8pm EDT for 8 nights from 8/8 through 8/15

·         First 800 guests to make a reservation can get an $8.88 per night rate.

·         Stay must occur within period from August 8-December 30, 2008.

·         Limit of one room and one night per person.

·         Rate valid at all participating Super 8 motels in USA and Canada.

·         Being logged into your Wyndham Rewards account will pre-populate personal information and expedite reservation confirmation, thus increasing your chances for the $8.88 / night room rate.

Last night, August 8^th, was the first night of the special $8.88 offer.  This thread on FlyerTalk reports of being stuck with an interminable yellow screen with “Is 8 your luck number?  Find out in just a moment…”, and by 8:10 pm the message “We’re sorry, but all 800 rooms for $8.88 allocated for tonight’s sale have been reserved.”  Others actually worked through the screens to make reservations and enter credit card information.  And after 20 to 30 minutes on the website, and waiting for confirmation, received a message that rooms were sold out.

Two FlyerTalkers reported getting the $8.88 room rate and the secret is “luck”.  It appears you need to be logged in to your Wyndham Rewards account, have a motel lined up and ready and be lucky in the first few seconds. 

The promotion begs the question – “If FlyerTalkers can’t get these deals, then how many people are actually trying to book the 800 rooms at 8:00pm EDT?”  Don’t fret.  It is just one night at a Super 8 on the line.

Contestants – warm your mouse fingers.  Ready?