Posted by Marshall Jackson on November 29, 2008 under Credit Cards | 
In my third installment on the most popular search terms that bring readers to this blog, I’d like to discuss the American Express Platinum Card. Particularly, I’d like to write about why this card can still be a good deal for the frequent traveler, even though American Express recently dropped the domestic 2 for 1 companion travel benefit.
First things first, the Amex Platinum Card is going to cost you $450 dollars per year. Now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s talk about why this card is worth the money. For me, the number one benefit of this card is airline lounge access on the day of travel. This benefit offers the cardholder and up to two guests access to the lounges of American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines when you present your Platinum card, a government issued I.D. and a boarding pass for travel on the airline’s lounge you are trying to enter. In other words, if you want to enter an American Admirals Club, you need an American Airlines boarding pass for travel that day. If you’ve read the blog before, you know that I highly recommend that frequent travelers join the lounge program of the airline they fly most. For me, that’s American and Delta. If I were to join the lounge of both airlines, I would be out over $700 dollars in annual fees. With the Amex Platinum card, I have access to both lounges for the price of the card’s annual fee. That’s a good deal for me.
Another benefit of the card is the Fine Hotels and Resorts (FHR) program. FHR offers exclusive benefits including room upgrades, free breakfasts, and individual amenities that are unique to each hotel. To receive FHR benefits, you must book your hotel through Platinum Travel Service (PTS), a full-service travel agency available to Amex Platinum cardholders. I have used this benefit a few times with decent results. PTS can provide the full range of services you would expect from a travel agent, however I admittedly use my own local agent when I am booking a trip that I feel requires the use of agent services. Therefore, I cannot comment on the usefulness of PTS as your regular travel agent.
While Amex has discontinued the domestic 2 for 1 travel program, the international program remains in place. When booking a qualifying first or business class ticket, you are eligible for a complimentary ticket in the same class of service for a companion. There are no limits on the number of times you can utilize this benefit as there were in the now discontinued domestic 2 for 1 program. Other benefits I’ve found useful are elite level privileges in several car rental company programs including Hertz and Avis. Additionally, Amex Platinum cardholders are eligible for Gold membership in the Starwood Preferred Guest program.
There are a number of other benefits, including those that are fairly standard across most American Express Cards. I’ve only scratched the surface with this post. You can review full details about the Platinum Card by clicking here.
I have had nothing but overwhelmingly positive experiences with American Express dating back to my very first card in 1989 while in college. However, I have to write briefly about some of the news items surrounding American Express. There have been widespread reports of American Express reducing the charging ability of customers that appear to be “good customers” based upon charging habits or charging items in areas that American Express has modeled to be higher risk. Just this week, a thread appeared on FlyerTalk indicating that American Express was imposing spending limits on many cardholders with “no pre-set limit” cards like the Platinum Card. I can’t comment beyond what I’ve written as I have not experienced any of these problems, and have my fingers crossed that I won’t. For what it’s worth, I am blessed with employment that is about as stable as one can find in this country and an above average income. Furthermore, I rarely carry balances on my other credit cards, and have a history of on-time payments with a credit score close to 800. That said, it appears from some of the press reports and internet postings that cardholders with similar circumstances have had their charging ability curtailed. You’ll have to do your own research and formulate your own opinions. I’ve found a teriffic source of information on the subject of credit at creditmattersblog.com. Check it out. In the meantime, keep reading. I hope this information is helpful.
Posted by Marshall Jackson on under Royal Caribbean |
In the second installment of posts about the top three search subjects here at MJ On Travel, I’d like to talk about the subject of cruising on Royal Caribbean. It should be no secret that I like to cruise. Since my first cruise in early 2004, Deandra and I have taken several more cruises, averaging a little over two per year. Royal Caribbean is our cruise line of choice, and in this post I’ll talk about a few reasons why.
Cruising is a fantastic value for your vacation dollar. Frankly, I think they’re an unbeatable value, and yes, I know your average all-inclusive resort covers your bar bill, unlike most cruises. One thing tilts the value meter in favor of cruising in my opinion, and that’s the fact that you are visiting several exciting new foreign locales in one trip, and only unpacking once. Try that at Sandals.
First off, I’ll admit here, that we have only cruised with Royal Caribbean and Celebrity (which is owned by Royal Caribbean). It’s not that we are afraid of new things, and truth be told, we’d love to try someone else, and will at some point. But until then, Royal Caribbean does a fantastic job of offering just enough incentive to its repeat customers to keep them (and us) coming back.
Crown & Anchor
Their past customer club, the Crown & Anchor Society offers a number of enticing benefits to encourage repeat business. You are eligible to join after completion of your first cruise, and the program work in some ways like elite qualification in a frequent flyer program. You start at the Gold Level and from there rise to Platinum, Diamond and Diamond Plus based on the number of cruise credits you earn. You earn one credit for each cruise, with the ability to earn an additional credit for certain cabin categories (suites) and for cruises of 12 nights or longer.
Some of the benefits include onboard discount booklets for use in venues as varied as the onboard gift shops to match play discounts in the casino. The higher your level in the Crown & Anchor program, the better the deals to be found in the booklet. As Crown & Anchor Diamond members we receive, among other things, priority check-in and access to the Concierge Lounge on ships that have them. The Concierge Lounge is one of our favorite benefits. Continental breakfast is served in the mornings and snacks and complimentary alcholic beverages are served in the evening hours. Additionally, the Concierge can assist you in making reservations at specialty restaurants on board, and generally help you with anything you need while on board without having to stand in line at the Guest Services desk. On the largest ships, the Concierge Lounge is exclusively for the use of suite guests and a separate Diamond Club lounge is availabe for Diamond and Diamond Plus Crown & Anchor members. You can review summaries of the benefits provided for each level here.
Innovative Ships
Admittedly, this is nothing but my opinion, but I believe that Royal Caribbean designs and builds some of the most beautiful and definitely the most innovative cruise ships at sea. If one look at the biggest cruise ship ever doesn’t convince you, I don’t know what will. Big may be beautiful, but we like the Radiance Class of ships best. These are beautiful ships designed with lots of glass, including glass elevators that face the sea. They are large enough to offer specialty restaurants, multiple amenities and more spacious staterooms, but are small enough to explore easily and are Royal Caribbean’s largest ships that are capable of transiting the Panama Canal. While our next cruise is on Liberty of the Seas, a Freedom Class ship and the world’s largest until Oasis sets sail, we love the slightly smaller but classy Radiance Class ships.
All of Royal Caribbean’s ships offer multiple activities such as rock climbing walls and fantastic workout facilities to keep you in shape while cruising. If you’re into spa visits, you won’t be disappointed on Royal Caribbean either.
Consistent Service
Royal Caribbean has a trademarked name for its service, they call it Gold Anchor Service (sm). I just call it consistently good. Royal Caribbean can experience service problems just like any other organization, and we have encountered some staff that are better than others. But we have always had reasonably good service, whether in the dining room, our stateroom, or bar. If you are expecting airline style customer service onboard your Royal Caribbean cruise, you are in for a pleasant surprise. Almost 100 percent of the time, every Royal Caribbean employee we have encountered has been eager to please and helpful. Our most recent cruise, honeymooning on Grandeur of the Seas, was probably the best collection of service experiences we’ve had onboard any Royal Caribbean ship. And I promise to post a full review of this cruise very soon.
These are just a few reasons why we choose Royal Caribbean above other cruise lines. Royal Caribbean has been a pretty consistent search term for readers of this blog recently. I hope this introduction is helpful. I’m going to post a few links to other helpful cruise information below:
Majesty of the Seas cruise review
Cruise Critic Royal Caribbean Message Board
Cruise Critic Homepage
New to cruising page on Royal Caribbean’s website
Posted by Marshall Jackson on November 27, 2008 under Delta Air Lines |
As I wrote earlier, I’m going to offer some insight into the subjects that are most interesting to those who arrive at MJ on Travel through a search engine. This weekend, I’ll be writing on the three most common search terms starting with the subject of Medallion Qualification Miles (MQM’s) in Delta Air Lines SkyMiles program.
This subject has rocketed to the top of reader curiosity recently. This is more than likely a result of the rapidly approaching year end when SkyMiles members are looking to top off their accounts and ensure that they earn, maintain or achieve the next level of SkyMiles Medallion elite status. I know this is a concern of mine as I will be dropping from Silver Medallion this year, and I’m none too pleased about it. But I’m hoping for a better year next year. At least I have AAdvantage Platinum to soften the blow, but I’d rather have elite status on both of my airlines, not just one.
In any event, there are some things you can do (besides fly more) in the remaining weeks of 2008 to top off your MQM’s and fly in style next year, or get a headstart on your MQM balance for next year. If you’re really in need of some MQM’s, I recommend that you consider obtaining one of the SkyMiles credit card options from American Express that offer MQM’s as a benefit. You’ll get the biggest boost from the Delta Reserve Card from American Express. This card comes with a hefty annual fee ($450), but you’ll also get 10,000 MQM’s after your first purchase using the card. Trust me, that’s money well spent if those 10,000 MQM’s mean the difference between Medallion status or unwashed mass status. The card offers other benefits, including Crown Room Club access which can almost justify the fee.
If you can get by on fewer MQM’s, the SkyMiles Platinum Card from American Express is a good, not to mention more economical option with an annual fee of $150 dollars. With your first purchase you will receive 20,000 bonus SkyMiles, 5,000 of which are MQM’s. This is an excellent deal if your close to your next Medallion threshold. Both cards offer various mileage bonuses and benefits, the details of which you can review on the American Express website at the links provided.
There are other opportunities to pad your MQM balance from time to time. Delta is currently running a double MQM promotion on its northeast shuttle routes. Registration is required, and you can do so by clicking here.
Delta runs similar promotions from time to time. If any readers are aware of other opportunities to increase your MQM balances aside from flying, please comment and share them with others. I hope this information is helpful in your quest for SkyMiles Medallion status.
Posted by Marshall Jackson on under Credit Cards, Delta Air Lines, Royal Caribbean |
Good morning and Happy Thanksgiving! Growing up, this was my second favorite holiday. Why? Because Thanksgiving Day was the day the Christmas tree went up, and that meant my favorite holiday wasn’t far away. I’ve always loved this time of year, and still do. But now that I’m a couple years older, I’m more into Christmas in shorts on a cruise ship than snow on Christmas Eve. Oh well, what’s a guy to do. Looks like it will be Christmas in North Carolina for me again this year.
In other news, I’m sure it comes as no surprise that I track visits to this site. I don’t collect the information, but I do review it. As such, I’m able to review the search terms readers use to find their way to the blog. Based on that, I’ll be posting over the long weekend on the three most popular search terms. I’m not sure if these are surprising or not, but they are interesting to me. The three most popular searches that wind up on this blog are:
- Earning Delta Air Lines Medallion Qualification Miles.
- Royal Caribbean cruises (especially searching for information on Majesty of the Seas)
- American Express Platinum Card benefits
So this weekend, I’ll be authoring separate posts on these three items. I hope they are informative and useful to you.
Happy Thanksgiving once again. Enjoy your day off, watch some football, drink some good wine (because life is too short for cheap wine) and oh yeah…eat.
Posted by Marshall Jackson on November 25, 2008 under Commentary / General Info |
The holiday season is upon us. For all it’s unnecessary drama, I love this time of year, and always have. If you’re like a lot of readers, you’ll be traveling sometime in the next month or two. My travel advice for the holiday season is really the same as it is any other day, check in early, fly early and be nice. That pretty much sums it up, but just in case, here are few tips in no certain order to help make your travels a little more tolerable.
1) Expect to be delayed. When it doesn’t happen, imagine how surprised you’ll be. Like an early visit from Santa Claus.
2) Accomplish every conceivable transaction with an airline online or at a kiosk. Buy your ticket online and check in online (via your computer or handheld device) at the first possible moment you can (24 hours prior to departure).
3) Pack a bottle of water and some kind of semi-preservable snack in your carry-on just in case. Buy food at the airport to take onboard if you want a meal inflight. Do not expect any meals onboard unless you are seated in a premium cabin, and don’t bet the farm that you’ll get one even then.
4) Once at the airport, check your bag at the kiosk, or better yet, learn how to pack and carry on ONE piece of luggage and a personal item. The famous “Deltalina” has a few tips on Delta’s blog. Here’s a link. If you do overpack or bring more luggage than normal, be prepared to pay whatever the airline charges for excess luggage. Review airline policies online prior to going to the airport. And remember to put those toiletries in a 1 quart clear plastic “zip lock” bag.
5) Once you get on the plane, stow your ONE carry on in the overhead and your personal item underneath the seat in front of you. Get out of the aisle so others may pass by. If you have some form of early boarding privilege through airline elite status, take advantage of it and acquire some overhead space near your seat.
6) If things go wrong, remain calm. If you are standing in a long line waiting to be rebooked, call the airline’s 800 number from your cell phone. You could possibly be rebooked by the time you get to talk to an agent. And if you must speak to an airline employee, remember that a little kindness goes a long way. Be pleasant even if they are not. If you are at odds about something with no possible solution in sight, ask for a supervisor or manager. Try not to get to that point.
Press reports indicate that travel will be down this holiday season. Don’t be fooled. Most of these reports focus on total numbers of travelers, and there will be fewer. But airlines have reduced the number of flights accordingly, meaning that your flight is just as likely to have a high load factor as it has in the past which translates into fewer available seats on all flights for reaccomodating passengers from problem flights. Be patient, try to fly early in the day and have a backup plan. I’d be willing to bet that you’ll have a teriffic holiday no matter what happens.
Posted by Marshall Jackson on November 24, 2008 under Delta Air Lines |
As it marches towards merging with NWA, Delta is considering the addition of segment qualification to its SkyMiles Medallion program. Currently, you can only qualify for SkyMiles Medallion status based on the number of Medallion Qualification Miles (MQM’s) you fly. This will be a good thing for short-haul Delta flyers such as myself.
You can read the latest speculation in this FlyerTalk thread.
Posted by Marshall Jackson on November 23, 2008 under Rewards Network, Southwest Airlines |
Southwest’s Rapid Rewards has finally teamed up with Rewards Network to offer Rapid Rewards credit for dining out at Rewards Network partner restaurants. You can sign up here.
Like Rapid Rewards itself, Rapid Rewards Dining will work a little differently than the other airline dining programs. You will receive .25 Rapid Rewards credits for your first $25 dollars spent at participating restaurants and .25 credits for each $100 dollars thereafter. There is currently no “VIP” level allowing you to earn additional credits. You are either “active” or “inactive.”
I’ll probably continue to concentrate my dining spend in American’s program for now, but this is a nice new option for earning extra Rapid Rewards credits for doing something we all do, dine out.
Posted by Marshall Jackson on under Commentary / General Info, Delta Air Lines, Starwood Preferred Guest |
It’s good to be home. As much as I love to travel, it’s always nice to come home. My week in Atlanta was successful. I will not post a full review of the W Midtown Atlanta as I’ve reviewed the hotel previously, and really don’t have anything to add to that other than what I posted earlier this week. The trip concluded on a high note as my SkyMiles Medallion upgrade cleared early on Friday morning. This might be my last trip to Atlanta this year. However, I’ll be back there in early January, and staying at the W Atlanta Buckhead. Yea! A new hotel to review.
Getting to Atlanta won’t be nearly as comfortable next year as I’ll be losing my SkyMiles Silver Medallion status. I’ve experienced quite favorable upgrade percentages on my trips this year. Probably north of 80 percent successful even as a Silver Medallion. I’ve chosen my flights wisely, and favor the Boeing 757’s with at least 20 first class seats if at all possible. So the program has worked well for me in that regard. Unfortunately, my work in Atlanta started a little later in the year than I’d planned so I’ve had far fewer opportunities to earn Medallion Qualifying Miles than I needed to have a prayer of keeping status. Hopefully, I’ll be able to earn it back in a reasonable amount of time next year. Time and travel will tell!
In other news, unless things change, I’ll be making trips to Dallas and Albuquerque between now and the Christmas holiday, so I’ll have some new experiences to post about.
Going forward, I should be able to post far more frequently now that life is returning to normal after our fabulous wedding. Perhaps I’ll post a picture or two soon. I’m expecting to make a regular weekly post on Saturday mornings with regular posts during the week with travel news that pops up from time to time. I’ll soon have some exciting new changes to announce about the blog. All with the goal of making time you spend reading more valuable to you.
Posted by Marshall Jackson on November 18, 2008 under Starwood Preferred Guest |
Hello from Atlanta. I’m on day two of my five day stay at the W Atlanta Midtown. Things are going fine so far. A couple of minor annoyances that I’ll write about later, but certainly nothing to complain about.
Check in took a bit longer than usual on Monday. I seemed to arrive in the middle of rush hour as there were five guests waiting to check in when I joined the line, and a few more that quickly followed me. I’ve never had to wait for front desk assistance at this hotel, however I did note that the lobby seemed to be more crowded than usual with the bar really hopping with people. Once I reached the front of the line I was met by a friendly agent who completed my check in swiftly and pleasantly. Gee-whiz note: she asked me if I’d ever been to the hotel before? I really thought check-in staff had access to this kind of information automatically. At Hilton, if I’m visiting a hotel for a repeat stay, I’m almost always greeted with a “thank you for returning.” I’d think Starwood and W could manage the same thing. That’s a “nit-noid” issue if there ever were one, but still something I wonder about as a frequent conoisseur of various elements of customer service.
In any event, I was off to my 17th floor “Wonderful Room” in short order. The room is typical W with trendy furnishings, lots of connectivity options, a really comfortable bed and in the case of this particular W, a nice view of downtown Atlanta. However, it was a tad smaller than the “Spectacular Room” I received during my last stay at this hotel.
A couple of observations so far. I returned to my room this afternoon to find a pillow case ensconced among the clothing which I had left in my rolling suitcase. No biggie, but I certainly might’ve left the hotel with a new pillow case had I not been unpacking all of my belongings today. And one minor annoyance: the ice bucket was not emptied from last night. Not earth-shattering but this is something I expect to find at your average interstate motel, not at a W.
All in all, so far so good. If a forgotten pillow case and an unemptied ice bucket are the two worst things that happen this week, I think I can safely say I’ve had a successful week of work.
Posted by Marshall Jackson on November 11, 2008 under Royal Caribbean, Starwood Preferred Guest |
Back to work and back on the road. I’m off to Atlanta for a one-week business trip next week. I’ll be flying Delta Air Lines and once again, staying at the W Atlanta Midtown. I’d be dishonest if I said that I hadn’t rather still be cruising, but I guess it’s high time to get back in the swing of things. And I can think of far worse ways to kick off a business trip than a stay at any W Hotel!!
I should resume a normal posting schedule by this weekend. And intend to post a review of our Grandeur of the Seas cruise next week.
