View from the Wing‘s bottom line: “only sometimes-insufferable.”

Working hard to become only occasionally insufferable.  Let me know how I’m doing, progressing towards that goal…!

And the winners are…

Chosen at random by Random.org from amongst the comments left during the contest period…

“Dick Simard”

“Sully”

I’ll be in touch with you both to arrange receipt of the 2 free Hyatt Place nights and 2 months of personal assistant services.  Congratulations!

Meanwhile, stay tuned because I’m going to give away another prize package exclusively on Twitter.  Be sure to follow @garyleff.

Update: Hyatt Place is also giving away two months of personal assistant services from TaskUs.com here (hat tip: Hotel Checkin).

You’re going to be reading about this one on many of the BoardingArea blogs.

BoardingArea and the American Express Premier Rewards Gold Card are sponsoring a giveaway — a trip for two to Australia’s Gold Coast including air and seven nights hotel (all mileage-earning), meals even, and cash and gift cards as a kick-in to cover taxes on a trip that’s otherwise valued at over $10,000.

Each of 20 participating BoardingArea blogs will be able to select one reader for the final drawing. By reading several of the blogs you have more chances to win and by being selected on one of the blogs you have about a 1 in 20 chance of winning the grand prize.

The contest is only open to those 18 years of age and older and to US residents only, not to our friendly Canadians or to residents of U.S. Territories.

Here’s how you enter. Leave a comment to this post answering the question:

What’s your top tip for travelers who want to earn and use their loyalty points?

I will select at random a tip from among those that meets, in my sole discretion, a minimum standard of usefulness.

In other words, your tip doesn’t have to be the single greatest one ever. It just has to be useful or thoughtful to some. I don’t want blank entries here, or “I’m in!” as a comment, that won’t get you an entry. But anyone with a reasonable tip about something they’ve found useful in earning or burning points gets you an entry.

And I don’t want to get into the game of selecting what’s the best, the winner from my blog will be selected at random (via random.org).

That winner will be selected based on comments received by noon eastern time on March 28. They’ll be forwarded to BoardingArea as one of ~ 20 finalists who will go on to be selected to win the trip!

More details on the contest can be found at contest page, along with a full list of the twenty or so participating blogs where you can leave similar tips and gain additional entries into the giveaway!

Questions? Shoot those over to me by email rather than in the comments to this post, the comments here are tips about earning and burning points in order to enter to win a truly amazing trip!

Surprisingly as of this writing there are only about half the entries as when I gave away a free Hilton hotel night.

And this giveaway is for a 2 night stay at any Hyatt Place hotel and as a throw-in Hyatt is also providing two months of personal assistant services. This should be huge. But I guess fewer entries just mean a better chance of winning for everyone who does enter.

As of now there’s about 500 entries. And there will be 2 winners. You can enter by leaving a comment in the official entry thread.

This is a public confession, of course. It runs contrary to all the advice I’ve ever given.

I flew paid business class and didn’t credit the flights to any frequent flyer program. But hear me out.

Now, with promotions I always tell people to sign up/register. Even if you don’t think you’re going to take part in the qualifying activity. Perhaps you’ll get re-routed on another airline during irregular operations, or connect in a city you hadn’t planned. Perhaps you’ll be forced to overnight somewhere, and while airline-provided hotel nights don’t generally earn points I’ve seen points credit anyway. It can’t hurt to be registered, I’ve seen too many people lose out on miles they would have received just because they didn’t register, thinking they wouldn’t have earned the bonus.

Granted, registration takes a few moments, but if it’s a promo I mention here on View from the Wing complete with link and all how many seconds does it take?

Well, the same advice should apply to frequent flyer programs generally, and even more so.

I hear people all the time, “Oh I didn’t bother signing up for their frequent flyer program, I don’t fly that much” or “… I never fly X airline.”

And usually either (a) it doesn’t matter whether they fly a particular airline a lot, accumulate the miles little by little and keep them from expiring and eventually they’ll be worth something, or (b) it’s possible to credit activity to a program that a person does participate in.

But.. Philippine Airlines domestic.. Mabuhay Miles.. I just couldn’t bring myself to do it! A first for me.

United’s Unlimited Domestic Upgrade program has launched, and went into effect today.

The most common question being asked is, “What happened to my 500-mile upgrade certificates?”

For elites, those all went poof. General members and Premier Associates (“3P”‘s) keep theirs and can still use them as before, through the end of their validity date. No more electronic 500-mile upgrade certificates are being sold.

Elites who back in 2007 registered to continue having their 500 mile upgrade certificates converted to miles upon expiration should still see that happen — in a week or so. Certs have gone poof, miles not yet in account, indication is that they will be, but of course only for those who (a) registered to continue to receive the miles on expirattion of the upgrade certains and (b) who have remained elite Mileage Plus members continuously since that time.

When the 500-mile upgrades were paper, you could mail them in on expiration for 250 miles. Then when they went electronic, expiring 500 mile ugprades were worth 500 miles in the Mileage Plus program, and converted automatically. United announced that they were pulling this benefit and elites revolted — imagine an Australia-based elite member with virtually no opportunity to use their 500 mile upgrades but earning perhaps 40 per year. Eliminating the benefit would have cost them 20,000 frequent flyer miles per year, a real kick in the guts. So United said that those who were unhappy with the change and who knew about the offer could register. Those who didn’t, and whose e-500s are expiring now, don’t receive anything.

I really do think that with United’s “p.s.” service flights between New York-JFK and San Francisco/Los Angeles not eligible for unlimited domestic upgrades, that they should have allowed electronic 500-milers to continue so that elites could at least continue to use those on p.s. flights.

Soon United elites and Continental elites will have upgrade reciprocity (with United Premier Executives trumping Continental Golds on both airlines!). That means that United elites will have a chance (albeit a remote one!) of upgrading automatically from Newark – Los Angeles/San Francisco on Continental… but not JFK-Los Angeles/San Francisco on United. Surreal. (Of course, United elites will be able to upgrade on United flights in and out of Newark.)

One other minor item — since the upgrades are automatic, with no request necessary, if you don’t want the upgrade then you have to contact United reservations to have them cancel the request.

Also, remember that while these are referred to as Unlimited Domestic Upgrades they’re actually ‘Region 1‘ upgrades, so Mexico/Canada/Carribean/Central America are eligible.

For United elites flying in the next few days, how is the Unlimited Domestic Upgrade program working for you?

Quick survey – all of the above, redeem online any time, all of the above. Boom.

This is sure giveaway season!

If you haven’t already entered to win one of two 2-night Hyatt Place stays and personal assistant services for two months, just leave a comment here.

I recently teased an upcoming high-end laptop bag giveaway and another Hyatt Place free-night giveaway via Twitter (you’ll want to follow @garyleff).

But here’s a really great one, first mentioned a week ago: a trip for two to Australia’s Gold Coast including air and seven nights hotel (all mileage-earning), meals even, and cash and gift cards as a kick-in to cover taxes on a trip that’s otherwise valued at over $10,000.

Entries in this contest are only about three days away. Beginning on March 22 there will be several BoardingArea bloggers participating in this giveaway. Each blog will be able to select one reader for the final drawing. There are about 20 participating blogs, I believe, so by reading several of the blogs you have more chances to win and by being selected on one of the blogs you have about a 1 in 20 chance of winning.

Here’s the part I’m not particularly keen on — the contest will only be open to those 18 years of age and older and to US residents only, not even open to our friendly Canadians or to residents of U.S. Territories (but then does the US really need to maintain its hegemony over the Northern Marianas?).

Since the contest is being sponsored by American Express and their Premier Rewards Gold card (a great card for folks who buy plenty of airline tickets, since those purchases earn triple miles), they’re all into the legal niceties of such things. Their prize money, their lawyers, there ya go.

Official entry threads will be coming March 22. I’ll keep you up to date here, and also on the threads where you can enter on other blogs as well. Meanwhile, the contest website is up if you want an additional head start on the details.

Now, one bit of full disclosure, and a reason why I really hope that my blog readers win: I’m told that the blogger whose reader wins the prize will receive an iPad.

Usually I give away the extra benefits offered my way for participating in contests, e.g. the Hyatt Place folks offered me a free two-night stay and personal assistant services in addition to a prize to give away to readers. Instead, I converted it into an extra giveaway for y’all.

If I win the iPad, on the other hand… Well, then perhaps I get something back for everything I try to do for you, my wonderful readers.

Via One Mile at a Time, Air Canada’s Aeroplan is offering a 1500 mile bonus for transferring hotel points into at least 10,000 Aeroplan miles.

Registration for the offer is required and the offer is valid through April 30.

I wouldn’t make a transfer just to take advantage of this bonus, in general I find maintaining the flexibility of points to be hugely valuable. But if you’re considering or even potentially might transfer miles into Aeroplan, you should certainly register.

And Aeroplan is in general a great place to accumulate points (though you need activity in your account at least once a year to keep it active, and all points expire if unused after seven years). Their award chart pricing is good, they don’t block partner award availability as Star Alliance member United does, and their routing rules are great (eg US to South Asia via the Atlantic or Pacific or cross one ocean in each direction plus you get two stopovers rather than just one).

The April issue of Conde Nast Traveler has a good bit on frequent flyer miles. I haven’t seen the physical issue yet, it’s not particularly available in my current secure undisclosed location, but 10 articles are currently up on their website (my guess it that’s about half the issue that normally winds up online).

So far the two pieces of interest are How to Maximize Your Miles and a related sidebar on the pluses and minuses of various North American airline mileage programs plus American Express Membership Rewards and Starwood Preferred Guest for their ability to transfer points to a wide variety of airlines.

In the mileage advice piece, Randy Petersen and I are interviewed extensively for advice. Pick your program wisely so that it meets your destination needs at a good mileage price, with a program that offers good award availability. The best mileage program may not belong to the carrier with the biggest presence at your home airport. Consider earning flexible points where you can transfer to an airline later. Be sure to check partner awards and be creative in your routings.

In the sidebar, I manage to point out United’s Starnet blocking and the limits of Delta Skymiles. I point out “[l]imited premium-class award availability internationally,” suggest crediting to Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan when flying Delta, and offer this faint praise as the program’s best feature: “Decent availability of coach award tickets.”

I think that Aeroplan, Continental, and US Airways come out the best in the sidebar. And that using American miles to fly British Airways from Canada, Mexico, and the Carribean is good advice (since the miles can’t currently be used to fly between the US and London on BA). As well that the Alaska Airlines $99 companion certificate from Bank of America is a good tip as well.

Check out the two pieces, and I’ll be interested to see if the article they were considering comparing paid award booking assistance services winds up in the magazine’s current issue or not.

American is offering 250 miles for registering with their online mileage mall and opting in to receive email special offers.

Offer expires March 31.

Amtrak is offering bonuses for train travel in March, April, and May:

Earn double points on qualifying Amtrak travel from March 22 – May 7, 2010 and earn triple points on qualifying Amtrak travel from May 8 – May 29, 2010.

Registration is required using code 32210

(Hat tip Dan R.)

Via TM Travel World, Goldpoints Plus has a redemption sale offering 50% off the points required for stays at

participating Regent Hotels & Resorts, Radisson Hotels & Resorts, Radisson Blu Hotels & Resorts, Radisson Edwardian Hotels, and Park Plaza Hotels & Resorts

In addition, there’s a 25% discount at “participating Country Inns & Suites By Carlson and Park Inn hotels.”

This is valid for stays between April 1, 2010 and May 31, 2010.

Now, I don’t have a ton of Goldpoints, and I generally consider their progam to be the weakest (plus I’m not a fan of most Radisson properties), though the program has recently increased the value of points. But this could be a good opportunity to use any stray points, and there’s a free silver status promo that’s still live and which many have used. Plus that gets you “Our World, Your Lounge” benefits in Europe, Middle East, and Africa: elite members are welcome any time in any hotel for a free coffee, tea or hot chocolate for two people and to use free wireless internet.

Taken straight from One Mile at a Time:

For a limited time United is offering their Door-to-Door baggage service for $25. That’s the same price as actually checking the first bag, and cheaper than checking the second bag (for those of you that are stuck paying bag fees).

The United site says this service is normally $79 or $99 (or depending on where on the page you look, normally $149). You’re without your bags longer, but it’s a decent deal, and you don’t have to do the schlepping. Not bad.

As I described several days back, Hyatt is offering two of my readers a 2-night stay at any Hyatt Place and two months of personal assistant services from TaskUs.com.

This is the official entry thread. Regular readers know that Hyatt Gold Passport is a loyalty program that’s come a long way over the last year and currently offers one of the very best top tier experiences, and they’re promoting their limited service Hyatt Place brand as a great work-life balance. My own view is ‘more hotel properties is better’ even if Gold Passport Diamond status doesn’t get you as far at Hyatt Place as say at a Park Hyatt — but the less expensive hotels are a great way to requalify for status and earn Faster Free Nights credits when that promo is being offered.

To enter, just leave a comment in this thread! Any comment will do. One entry per person, please.

The contest will run through noon Eastern time on Monday, March 22. And two commenters will be selected at random as the winner. I’ll be traveling when the contest closes but it shouldn’t take long for me to announce who has won.

You have a pretty great shot of winning. I don’t have all that many readers, actually. And everyone can only enter once. So each entry’s odds are pretty darn good. Plus it’s easy to enter, you just have to leave a comment in this thread and make sure you’ve registered with a valid email address when leaving that comment so I can contact you if you win.

Here’s how the contest works. Everyone is welcome to enter the contest once. If you would like to win the free nights and personal assistant services, leave a comment in this official entry thread. You need to register to leave comments if you haven’t already, and in order to win need to use a valid email address so that I can provide your email address to Hyatt’s PR rep to contact you if you win.

While no doubt there are ways to circumvent the one entry per person rule, and some of those approaches might slip by my watchful eye, I’m going to ask eveyrone to simply honor my request. One entry per person, just leave a comment in the official entry thread post that you’d like the night.

Then after the conclusion of the contest I will use a random number generator to come up with the winning comment in the official entry post. And as long as that entry appears to be a unique entry (not duplicated by an additional entry), I’ll provide winner emails to Hyatt’s represenative to get in touch.

This is a giveaway, and the spirit is a generous one, I don’t want a lot of rules here. I ‘reserve the right’ to interpret the rules however makes the most sense to me, to determine if and when a winner is indeed eligible, and at what point a winner has abandoned their prize by not replying to my email that they’ve won. Those and all other interpretations are at my sole discreiton, I don’t want complaints or to be sued because I want to give away a free hotel night. Thank you for understanding!

And thanks in this, of course, go to Hyatt Hotels and Hyatt Place which made the giveaway to y’all possible!

(Separately, I understand there will be another giveaway run by Hyatt Place directly, a ‘second chance’ if you will — and I’ll let folks know when that website is up. But the best chance of winning will clearly be here on this blog!)

I have a British Airways flight coming up during the impending British Airways flight attendant strike.

So here’s my thinking. British Airways says their full (very small) operation at London City Airport will proceed unaffected, that all their long-haul flights at Gatwick (far fewer than at Heathrow) will operate, and that they will operate ‘many’ long-haul flights at Heathrow.

I’m supposed to fly from Heathrow. But I’ve got a good shot of making the flight out. Here’s why: I’m on a route with two flights a day, I’m flying the (1) later afternoon flight (2) operated by the larger aircraft. So I figure they’d tend to want to operate the larger aircraft and all other things equal the later flight would be easier to operate. And in fact, in the first days of the planned strike the flight is scheduled to go.

But I’m also no fool. I want to fly my originally scheduled flight, for one thing I’ve never flown British Airways First Class (never better than Club World). And I want to fly even though they’re planning a diminished service — no hot meals — because their stand-in flight attendants won’t have had the health/sanitation training for hot meal service. But it’s still easier to take this flight than not.

And as the strike becomes more and more real, transatlantic inventory ex-London becomes tighter and tighter.

So I want my backup plans in place sooner rather than later, I can’t wait until the day of flight to see for sure whether my flight will go. But I don’t want to tie up cash either. It’s a great example where frequent flyer miles are a lovely thing to have.

Both United and American offer one-way awards, and last seat availability for a mileage premium. So I grabbed an award ticket for double the miles — I believe the first time in my life that I’ve done so — and I’ll hope I don’t have to use it. If my British Airways flight goes, I’ll take it and I’ll cancel the award and redeposit the miles. If my BA flight cancels, I’m protected.

Musings of the Global Traveller discusses an offer that’s been fleshed out on Flyertalk: using an offer from Lufthansa Private Jet of 50,000 miles (which count towards status and HON Circle) per international segment that lasts through early June.

You need to get a group together to make the costs work out, but it’s a ‘cheap’ way to earn the incredible HON Circle status level in style.

HON Circle status perks include access to the fabulous Lufthansa First Class Terminal and Lounges, Senator status for partner, 6 upgrade e-vouchers, frequent op-ups, guaranteed seat availability and improved award availability (eg additional award seats on Lufthansa and Swiss plus all Miles & More customers can benefit from premium cabin awards on Singapore Airlines 77W and A380 aircraft) which will come in handy given the number of miles HON runners will have accumulated.

Perhaps the most attractive feature for some Flyer Talkers is that qualifying now for HON Circle status gives HON Circle status until February 2013 and Senator status until February 2015.

Plus, it’s a mileage run on a private jet. Pretty sweet, though not inexpensive.

He thinks it’s rather mediocre but he’s wrong, it’s much, much worse.

The SATA flight was delayed, the place is packed, barely a seat. At least they’ve decided to pre-print the codes they give you to access the internet. But you have to actually track down a staff member to get you one. The line waiting for codes became several people deep.

They had tomato bisque warming in a pot with a big sign declaring, “Made Fresh Today!” Perhaps that’s even true, given that today began 23 hours and 15 minutes ago. There’s dim sum, but I get orders of magnitude better in the frozen foods section of my Asian grocer. Otherwise there’s a coffee machine, self-serve alcohol, and a limited selection refrigerator. And not nearly enough seating.

It felt like the C7 Red Carpet Club at Washington-Dulles at 5pm just as the transatlantic flights are all about to depart. Except with soup.

I sure wish they kept the British Airways lounge next door open for the Cathay flight.

Already mentioned, a chance for a trip to Australia… a two-night Hyatt Place stay… well, there will also be a high-end laptop bag/briefcase coming down the pike as well. Stay tuned!

And I’ve just learned that I may have another set of Hyatt nights to give away on Twitter, more in the coming days, follow @garyleff!

Regular readers of this blog know that I’m a huge fan of the Hyatt Gold Passport program. Over the last year they’ve really stepped it up a notch.

First, they matched Starwood (and Hilton) on award redemption by making all standard rooms redeemable with points.

Then, they punched up their elite benefits, as the first to offer free internet to all elites and by offering not just catch as catch can suite upgrades based on availability at checkin but four confirmed at booking suite upgrades a year for diamonds. That way Hyatt’s top tier elites can choose to have suites when it matters most to them, not when they show up and get lucky. (One of the most frequent complaints from hotel loyalty program elites is getting the big room on their own business stays but having a hard time getting upgrades on vacation with their spouse.)

Currently Hyatt has the best top tier elite level of any major program. Intercontinental Royal Ambassador is also pretty great, but there are only so many Intercontinental properties.

But even Hyatt is limited in scope compared to Marriot, Hilton, and even Starwood. So anything that brings more properties into the fold is welcome, for both earning and burning points and to make it easier to requalify for status. About five years ago Hyatt acquired the Amerisuites chain and branded them Hyatt Place, and have been building a limited-service line to compete with Hilton Garden Inn and Marriott Courtyard. Personally I love expansion at the top end the most, but more options are always a boon.

Hyatt is promoting their Hyatt Place brand as a great work-life balance product, and giving away free stays and personal assistant services from TaskUs.com.

And they contacted me to offer to let me give away a two night Hyatt Place stay and two months of personal assistant services to two lucky readers. (They’re also going to give me a couple of Hyatt Place nights as well.)

Shortly I will open a contest entry thread. Good luck!