February 11, 2011
Last month, I talked about ”What should u do when u change your mind after book a NON refundable hotel”. MISTAKE do happen!
I made two reservations back to back stay at a hotel in New Zealand last month, First 2 nights were prepaid. I knew I will go the trip, so no problem for me to book this kind of rate. Just three days ago, I checked my flight schedule again and all of sudden realized, my flight arrives the next day even though it was only a 5-6 hours flight. Most time,we know there will be date change for long haul travel due to crossing international date line, but I never thought my 5-6 hour flight from PPT-AKL would also cross the date line!!!!
Then I tried to contact hotel directly to modify the non changeable reservation to one day later and also explained the mistake. The hotel changed right the way!!
Check your schedule carefully and don’t hesitate to contact the hotel when mistake happens!
Posted by Troy under General Frequent Flyer Advice, Hilton |
January 27, 2011
View from the wing talked about award from US to OZ/NZ, Tahiti and Maldive, I want to add a little bit my own advice.
The easiest program to go to OZ/NZ are CO/US because both programs allow routing via Asia and Thai airways have plenty of seats to these areas.
AA is a little bit limited because of routing on Qantas or Air Tahiti or Air Pacific via Nadi, seats are limited。 however, if you want to pay some extra miles, you can use AA one world redemption, which can be route via Asia, but award are distance based
Delta also permits routing via Asia, have you thought about using China Southern, china Eastern, China Airline, Malaysia airline, also Air Tahiti routing via NRT to PPT, Tahiti? let’s ignore Korean Air because you can not find 2 seats in business class across Pacific at same time, Delta blocks the seat(like *net blocking)
As for Maldive, Male, the easiest way to get there is to Sri Lanka, Colombo, then buy a cheap ticket to Male, Colombo is partner Central Asia for most programs. Personally, I don’t think Male is worth a trip all the way from US.
Posted by Troy under American Airlines, Award redemption, Continental Airline, Delta, General Frequent Flyer Advice, United Airlines, US airways |
January 9, 2011
We all change our minds sometimes, we also make mistake such as booking wrong date, wrong hotel wrong rate plan etc, but you book a non refundable rate because it’s usually cheaper than standard rate. What should you do to keep the loss minimum when that happen?
First of all, Marriott nonrefundable rate has 24 hours cancellation policy, it’s not exactly 24hours, it’s before midnight of the next day after your booking. I think it gives you enough time to change your mind. Just like most US airlines, which you can cancel or at least change the reservation for free within first 24 hours of booking.
Other than that, most hotels are really non refundable the moment u click confirm. However, if you change your mind within first 24 hours, there are still ways to do it.
First, contact central reservation line, tell them you made a mistake, they may do a favor for you. If you just make wrong date or wrong hotel, it will be even easier, most likely they will change the reservation for you.
Second, if the reservation line is not able to solve the issue, try to contact hotel reservation department directly or a manager on duty and explain what happen. Most time, hotel manager or reservation agent is willing to help, because keeping a guest happy is more important than one or two nights revenue.
Please keep in mind, the reservation agent or hotel staff is doing you a favor, so ask them nicely and don’t get upset with them. If none of them can help you, lesson learned and move on.
Think again before you click confirm because these people may not like to do you a favor over and over again.
Posted by Troy under General Frequent Flyer Advice, Marriott |
November 29, 2010
I have talked about here and here on these Credit cards, in short, Fidelity AMEX earns you 2 Air Canada points per dollar. I got asked few times on how to do the transfer, it is a little bit confusing, here is detailed step
1 After you get the card, call Customer service to turn off auto deposit into Fideltiy function
2 go to BOA worldpoints website, use your acct number, last name and Zip to log in(Please note: they have pretty bad website, they always tell you acct number is incorrect, don’t worry, just come back another time)
3 After logging in, click travel, then you will see on right “Partner Travel Options“, Air Canada, then proceed
This card should be considered as one of the best card out there, for every 60K spending , you will get a first class ticket to Asia. There is no limit on number of points you can earn
Posted by Troy under General Frequent Flyer Advice, Other Airline Reward Programs |
September 27, 2010
United was my first mileage program that gave me Elite status on any airline, also the first program I got top elite status(excluding GS) on any airline, it was hard to say good bye to them, but after I re evaluate everything, I decided to give up.
1 Mileage Program- United has one of the most expensive award chart AND the least flexible program on routing, carrier, change, and availability among all Major North America Programs. You can only route via one direct, no mixed of *A and Non *A, no change on *A award, no one way except UA only, open jaw or stopover and MOST IMPORTANTLY STARNET Blocking.
2 In flight product- United has the most uncomfortable first class seat, agree? No in flight power(exclude PS and some 767 first class), no internet except PS, no PTV like Delta or Continental. I agree they have flat bed cross ocean, but others too such as US air, CO, DL, AC
3 Systemwide Upgrade certificate for 1K, Lucky mentioned today on their W fare, which is the lowest booking code you can use SWU, they are just getting more and more and more expensive.
I like Continental airline a lot, they have very good program, new FLAT bed seat and In flight entertainment program just amazing, but next year, or maybe 2, CO will merge with UA, I have no idea how the program will turn out. due to my limited presence in the States for next few years or may be forever, I decided to quite both together.
As for Delta, I have to agree they have done many little things better than others, they have upgrade list under my trip section, so you know where you stand before departure. they have better domestic in flight product. In general Skymiles program is rip off, but did you notice they have the generous offer for bonus miles everywhere? Also, Their miles are not as bad as you though, it can get very creative.
For people who’s living in the hub cities, you don’t have choice, but for those don’t live around hubs, maybe you should think again such as AA, US, DL or AC.
To Clarify : I was not trying to compare UA with Delta only, I was trying to compare UA with all North America carriers.
Posted by Troy under American Airlines, Continental Airline, Delta, General Frequent Flyer Advice, Skyteam, Star Alliance, United Airlines, US airways |
September 22, 2010
Few months ago, I talked about Fidelity Amex card in here, basically, you earn 2%(2 points) for every dollar you spend, those are BOA world points, you can redeem them for travel or other rewards or direct deposit into Fidelity my smart cash account as cash. The card only carries 1% foreign transaction fee
Today, I went to the website again, found out a new redemption partner-Air Canada Aeroplan, you can now transfer you worldpoints into Aeroplan miles on 1:1 basis, that means you earn 2 miles per dollar charge to this credit card. 120K miles will get you First class to some Asia countries, one stopover+ one open jaw or 2 stopovers permitted
Air Canada Award Chart
If you just get a card, make sure to call the number on the back to TURN OFF auto deposit into Fidelity account function.
Posted by Troy under Award redemption, General Frequent Flyer Advice, Other Airline Reward Programs |
September 10, 2010
Sorry for lack of updates lately, I just moved back to China with my family together, still need some time to settle down.
Anyway, One more tip on infant ticket when adult traveling in Premium Cabin using miles, try to AVOID using mixed carriers unless these carriers have published fare for sale.
The reason is simple, if both airlines have no published R/T fare for sale, you will end up paying 10% of full business one way fare for the infant. In some cases, a one way business class fare costs same amount.
Posted by Troy under Award redemption, General Frequent Flyer Advice |
August 8, 2010
American Airline:
Before fly first segment: Free Date or time change or class of travel if original reservation was booked under higher class are permitted, all other changes such as carriers, routing, class of travel request award to be redeposited, therefore $150 change fees apply
After fly first segment: Same as Before
Fees waived if miles are pulled from Executive Platinum account
Continental Airlines
Before fly first segment: Date or time change or class of travel if original reservation was booked under higher class are permitted for $75 , all other changes such as carriers, routing, class of travel request award to redeposited, therefore $150 change fees apply
After fly first segment: Same as Before
Fees waived if miles are pulled from Platinum account
Delta:
Before fly first segment: Change in anything requires a fee $150, but no restrictions.
After fly first segment: Same as Before
Fees waived is miles are pulled from Platinum and Diamond
United Airline:
Before fly first segment: Free Date or time or class of travel change if original reservation was booked under higher class are permitted, all other changes such as carriers, routing, class of travel request award to be redeposited, therefore $150 change fees apply
After fly first segment: Free Date or time or class of travel change if original reservation was booked under higher class are permitted if the rest segments are on United only. Free routing change permitted for 1K if on United only. No change is permitted on *A carriers. However, there is a exception, change is permitted if change from *A carriers to United flight for $150, this fee is not waived even if you are 1K member.
change fees waived for if miles are pulled from 1K member and change before fly first segment or United only
US Airways
Before fly first segment: All change requires $150 fees, However, member people have reported they sometimes don’t charge for time or date or time or class of travel change if original reservation was booked under higher class , all other changes such as carriers, routing, class of travel request award to be redeposited, therefore $150 change fees apply. Change only permitted if it’s on US
After fly first segment: Change only permuted if it’s on US with a fee, no change is permitted on *A travel.
Fees are waived if miles are pulled from Chairman accounts.
Please note once thing: If your original trip does not have a stopover, but new trip has a stopover even if everything else remains same, this is considered as routing change, change fee will apply. However, change from a trip with stopover to without stopover, change fee doesn’t apply
Posted by Troy under American Airlines, Award redemption, Continental Airline, Delta, General Frequent Flyer Advice, United Airlines, US airways |
July 27, 2010
UA and AA offered this kind of discounted award redemption as a promotion in earlier 2008, 15000 miles for flights shorter than 750 miles. Since then, it’s never been offered again.
Now UA brings it back with more restrictions and shorter distance 700 miles for 17500 miles as a promotion. I consider it can be a good value because some short haul flights are very expensive even in coach class. Also, I am sure we all have no problem sitting in coach for a 700 miles flight.
Similar idea applies to award redemption for intra Europe flights, most intra Europe flights are short distance, but they are not cheap. 25,000 miles for a coach seat within Europe is a good value(obviously depends on where u go), not to mention most flights’ business class is just a economy class seat with mid seat blocked.
Any, here is the term for the promotion:
purchase by August 31, 2010 and fly before January 7, 2011
Reduced-mile offer applies on flights operated by United or United Express that are 700 or fewer miles from origin to destination within the continental U.S. and between the continental U.S. and Canada. Only awards in economy class are available at the reduced rate
A roundtrip Saver Award is reduced to 17,500 miles and a One-Way Saver Award is reduced to 8,750 miles
A roundtrip Miles & Money Award is reduced to 7,000 miles plus cash*
You must purchase your ticket a minimum of seven days before your first flight
Posted by Troy under General Frequent Flyer Advice, United Airlines |
July 27, 2010
If Gary is the person who have redeemed the most number of award tickets, I am probably the person who spent the most unpaid time on loyalty programs– at least 5-6 hour per day.
I am sure some of you may be surprised, what do I do each day for some many hours? For me, in addition to read the blog I mentioned in previous posts, I read every flyertalk forum that I have miles with once per day, but still, that won’t take too long. The most time consuming are account management and trip arrangement for total 12 people including me and my wife and all intermediate family members. Those involves too many airlines and hotels booking for both paid and award, not to mention the entire trip planning. Like my parents want to go Europe and Japan in next 6 months on 2 separate trips, so I need to set everything up including award ticket, hotel, trip planning, local Chinese speaking guide hire in case I will not be there with them.
So now you guys know how “busy” I am everyday now. 
Posted by Troy under General Frequent Flyer Advice |
July 26, 2010
ed asked me in comment section”where to spend 10 minutes per day looking for deals?”
Here is my suggestions:
Gary’s blog, Lucky’s blog, Loyalty Traveler, my blog and Dans deals are enough for deals hunting, trust me, when there is a great deal around, you will find them from one of these blogs.
Posted by Troy under General Frequent Flyer Advice |
