March 31, 2011
Some people may already know Hilton Q2 promotion, which equate next to nothing, 1000 bonus points per night. so if you are big spender, the bonus doesn’t help.
However, there are several other airlines bonus offer that are stackable with Q2 promotion
1 Triple Virgin Atlantic miles: Member who choose fixed miles will earn 1000 VS miles per stay(100 for Hampton Inn)+2000 bonus(200). I personally don’t like VS program very much, inability to combine partners and extremely high taxes, but if you want to top off VS miles, this is a good time. If you ever have a chance to fly PEK-LHR in business/first on Air China, it only costs you 63000 miles for business and 75,000 for first class, good luck on finding 2 seats
2 Triple Alitalia miles: Member who choose fixed miles will earn 600 AZ miles per stay(120 for Hampton inn)+1200 bonus miles(240). There are some good value in Alitalia program such as Middle East to USA only 80K in business class, but it’s not worth the effort to start from 0
3 5000 BA miles: This is a rumor, let see how it goes.
Posted by Troy under British Airways, Hilton, Other Airline Reward Programs |
March 31, 2011
register and stay 2 times btw Apr 15th- June 15th, you will earn 1 free and can be redeem at any Carlson hotels, max 1 free night can be earned.
In addition, their new program will have a higher level above Gold member-Concierge Elite, which requires 30 stays or 75 nights per year. However, their new program still doesn’t mention what the actual elites benefits are such as upgrade to what level? Just change name is not enough, you need to change content.
Posted by Troy under Club Carlson(Formally Carlson Hotels Gold Points Plus) |
March 28, 2011
Few weeks ago, United and Continental miles can be transferred btw each other without any fees, here are some of my suggestions on which program to use to issue awards.
Benefits of using continental miles to issue the award
1 CO doesn’t block certain partners redemption like United
2 Despite United revised their routing restriction on awards, continental still offers much more flexible routing rule for now
3 CO redemption permits mix of *A and non *A other than Eva, so if you want to enjoy *A with Virgin Atlantic CO is an option.
4 After award issued, CO doesn’t charge any fee(21 days prior to departure) to change the award as long as you keep same origin and destination, routing can be changed. With United, only flights and dates can be changed, routing must stay same.
Benefits of using United miles
1 one way award is permitted for half of R/T
2 no close in ticketing fee.
Personally, I think CO is a better choice because it gives you more flexibility than United, but if you are 1K, I think it’s better off with United.
Posted by Troy under Award redemption, Continental Airline, United Airlines |
March 25, 2011
Finally, just back from vacation and looks like I did not miss anything. No big deal or changes happened
will follow up with Trip report soon!!
Posted by Troy under Uncategorized |
March 18, 2011
This offer is valid for Ritz Carlton Rewards member only and must be member prior to March 14th, 2011
Enroll and stay btw March 15th to June 30th at any participating Ritz Carlton properties,
5 nights will get you $100 gift card
10 nights will get you $250 gift card
nights don’t have to be consecutive.
Posted by Troy under Other Deals and Promotions |
March 17, 2011
Lucky mentioned this offer, which you can get status match to up AF top status Platinum tier. you must include proof of membership in another customer loyalty program that includes the status name and validity period.
It can be any program on earth except SKYTEAM members
offer valid until March 31st, 2011
Air France have discounted redemption offer worldwide year round and award can be used for one way too, but they also charge high fuel taxes
They are also partner of membership rewards
Posted by Troy under Other Airline Reward Programs, Skyteam |
March 17, 2011
I first heard Tahiti, French Polynesia from this article, which also made me aware of mileage program. Many people went there for a special occasion, so did we. It’s our fifth year anniversary and we did not go anywhere(excluding Hong Kong) for vacation last year, so Tahiti, here we come.
Back in Sep, I mentioned how I redeemed Delta miles from China to Tahiti, but later, I modified the trip to PVG-NRT-PPT(destination)-AKL(stopover)-ICN-KIX(open jaw)-PVG, in this ticket, PVG-NRT//KIX-PVG was under separate awards. total 150K miles per person. I could be more creative with second ticket too, but we did not have too much time to spend on the road. Many people may already realize that AA miles from Asia 2 to South Pacific was 70K R/T, but routing can not be via Japan. Later I figured out how to get to PPT from PVG with 70K , but I decided to not to fly that route, which required overnight in one of connecting cities and in PPT too. There was also an option on Air New Zealand, but getting 2 business award seat from AKL-PPT was mission impossible. when I searched for entire next 330+ days, there were only 2 days had 2 seats. Anyway, 150K miles get me to see 3 cities, I am more than happy with value, consider getting Delta miles is by far easier than AA miles.
Just few days after we left Shanghai, Japan had earthquake, despite Osaka was not affected, our family asked us to change the trip by calling me everyday. Eventually, I changed the ticket today by going back to China from New Zealand directly.
Now it’s hotel part. Actually, it was quite easy to decide because the only chain with reasonable redemption rate is Hilton. Initially, I redeemed 4 nights for hilton bora Bora using Amex AXON7 award for 145,000 points, but later the hotel was on the point stretcher list, so I changed to 5 nights for total 150K. Then for Hilton Moorea, I redeemed 6 nights VIP award for total 225,000 points with one more extra night at 50,000 points since I didn”t want to spent a day in Tahiti. we were going there for “once in a lifetime” experience, so a basic room was not enough for us, I did some research for pre paid upgrade to Overwater Bugalow with hotels, it turned out the lowest price for low season, diamond member was 10000 xpf(appox 110 USD) tax included for Bora Bora. I contacted amelie.albertin at hilton-borabora.pf, Assistant Front Desk Manager for that price. Due to inflation, the price had gone up to 11,000 xpf per night to Deluxe over water bungalow, I took the offer. The reason I mentioned Diamond because that price was based on upgrade from the next category above redemption room for diamond.
For Moorea, I also sent them emails, but respond was slow, eventually, they replied me with a price of 20000 XPF per night+tax, paid 5, get 1 free. I countered back with a better price, but never received a respond. When I checked in at hotel, I did get a much better price, I will talk about it later.
For New Zealand, it was easy decision too. Since it’s just a short side trip, I picked Hilton Lake Taupo. Last month, I mentioned how I mistakenly booked the wrong date, but the hotel did me a favor.
Finally, it came to inter Island flight, I initially searched PPT-BOB-MOZ-PPT, then it came out 540 per person on expedia.com, but the flight with better time from BOB-MOZ actually connecting via PPT, so I changed my search to PPT-BOB R/T then PPT-MOZ R/T, the price came out $480 total, so basically, I sit on the exact same plane with lower price if I break the search into 2 R/T . I redeemed my last 100K Thank you points for these flights. Due to schedule change for my return MOZ-PPT flight, I had to cancel the round trip for this segment and bought a one way, return by ferry.
The trip was wonderful and trip will come up soon!!!!
Posted by Troy under 2011 Trip, American Airlines, Delta, Hilton, Oceania |
March 16, 2011
After Delta changed award chart, United and Continental will change too.
The biggest change is North Asia to South Asia business class increase by 50%, from 30K R/T to 45KR/T and Guam, Palau and Micronesia is zoned to Oceania(they changed 3 times in a year from South Asia to North Asia to Oceania),it hurts me, but it still far better than Delta because of prior notice.
In addition, there are several decreases too, for more detail on changes involves North America, you can read Gary’s post
Posted by Troy under Continental Airline, United Airlines |
March 14, 2011
According to this FT thread, you can now book LH award flights using United miles on united.com. I think United.com will be able to search all *A partners eventually.
Posted by Troy under United Airlines |
March 13, 2011
sign up here, you will get instant BMI silver status for a year. However, According to Gary, United and Continental changed checked bag policy, *A Silver is no longer getting second checked bag free.
United airline Elites will only give 25%/100% elite bonus miles on all US, CO, selected LH and AC fares, no status bonus given on other *A flights, but BMI silver elites get 25% bonus on all *A mile earning fare.
Posted by Troy under BMI Diamond Club |
March 12, 2011
I heard Japan had earthquake and tsunami yesterday, but since I am 5000+ miles away from Japan, I do not think it would affect me in any way. Around 5:40 am in the morning, the room phone rang, I did not picked up as I thought it was just a miss dialed call, but it just kept ringing and ringing. I finally picked up and was told that local authority had issued tsunami warning and everyone had to evacuate to the hill, where the SPA was located.
I only took our passport, wallet, camera and laptop, but I saw some people had their carry on luggage. The distance was far and had to climb uphill, but we were lucky enough to hop a golf cart. The hotel provided water, juice and coffee while we were waiting for updated information. No one showed nervous, people talked to each other about their plan for the day and so on.
In the end, everyone enjoyed a beautiful morning view of Bora Bora and backed to their room around 7:30am.
Posted by Troy under 2011 Trip, Oceania |
