Written by Sebastian Powell @ LoyaltyLobby
One of the hardest choices for every frequent traveler and member of loyalty programs is when to use their cherished currency and cash in the points for a free hotel night or flight. While the average traveler redeems randomly whenever he sees opportunity, those who look after their points with eagle eyes watch out for[…]
Category: mileage redemption
Hyatt’s New Loyalty Program Debuts on March 1
Written by Tim Winship @ SmarterTravel
On March 1, Hyatt’s Gold Passport program will become World of Hyatt. Whether the change amounts to the introduction of a wholly new program or just a revamp of the existing program is more a matter of semantics than of substance. However how choose to look at it, though, the program is changing. And, according […]
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Read MoreFLASH SALE: Discounted Delta Award Flights to/from Los Angeles
Written by Tim Winship @ SmarterTravel
Fly between Los Angeles and selected other cities for as few as 5,000 Delta miles each way in coach, 9,500 miles each way in Comfort+. That’s the gist of Delta’s latest flash sale on SkyMiles award travel. It is indeed a flash sale. As in: 48 hours only. As in: Book by 11:59 p.m. EST […]
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Read MoreRecap: The Week’s Biggest Travel Stories and Best Deals
Written by Tim Winship @ SmarterTravel
Following is our regular summary of the latest travel news and best frequent traveler promotions reviewed during the past week. If it was a good deal—or a notably bad deal—from an airline, hotel, or car rental loyalty program, you can read all about it here, and plan your travel accordingly. New Spirit Carry-On Restrictions: A […]
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Read MoreHilton Enhances the Honors (sic) Program
Written by Tim Winship @ SmarterTravel
Hilton’s durable HHonors program has a new name: Honors. The second “H,” which stood for Hilton, was deemed unnecessary and apparently caused confusion when it came to pronouncing the program’s name. More substantively, the program is being upgraded with four new features. Points & Money Hilton is hardly the first company to allow members of […]
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Read MoreBook Award Stays at 131 InterCon Hotels for 5,000 Points a Night
Written by Tim Winship @ SmarterTravel
IHG Rewards Club, the loyalty program of the InterContinental Hotels Group, today released its latest list of PointBreaks hotels that will be available for booking for just 5,000 IHG Rewards points per night. Offer Details Beginning on January 30, IHG Rewards members can book award nights for 5,000 points at 131 participating hotels, for stays […]
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Read MoreSave 15% on InterContinental Points & Cash Hotel Stays
Written by Tim Winship @ SmarterTravel
As do most hotel loyalty programs, InterContinental Hotels Group’s IHG Rewards Club allows members to combine rewards points and cash to pay for their stays. For a limited time, there’s a 15 percent discount on the cash part of the Points & Cash price, making decent deals good ones, and good deals even better. Offer […]
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Read MoreNew Study Crowns Delta’s Mileage Program the ‘Best.’ Really?
Written by Tim Winship @ SmarterTravel
The main problem with most best-loyalty-program studies is their underlying assumption that there’s a one-size-fits-all solution to the problem. Wrong! There is no single best program for everyone. What there is is a best program for you, given your goals and travel patterns and spending behavior. As it did with its Best Hotel Rewards Program […]
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Read MoreRecap: The Week’s Biggest Travel Stories and Best Deals
Written by Tim Winship @ SmarterTravel
Following is our regular summary of the latest travel news and best frequent traveler promotions reviewed during the past week. If it was a good deal—or a notably bad deal—from an airline, hotel, or car rental loyalty program, you can read all about it here, and plan your travel accordingly. Is It Time to Put […]
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Read MoreDelta Domestic Award Discounts – Book by January 13
Written by Tim Winship @ SmarterTravel
Delta award discounts are becoming so frequent, if not exactly regular, that SkyMiles members may be left wondering which are the “normal” prices: the discounted rates, or the non-discounted rates. With the almost certain prospect of more award sales to come, it certainly makes ponying up the normal award price seem like an unnecessary extravagance. […]
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Read MoreEarn Triple Miles for All British Airways Flights
Written by Tim Winship @ SmarterTravel
Bonus miles always trump non-bonus miles. But even triple miles don’t make British Airways a shoo-in for your next overseas flight. Offer Details Between January 5 and March 31, members of British Airways’ Executive Club can earn triple miles (or Avios, as they’re referred to by British Airways) for up to eight flight segments throughout […]
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Read MoreInterContinental Ups Award Prices at Almost 500 Hotels
Written by Tim Winship @ SmarterTravel
Award-price adjustments are a fact of life for participants in hotel loyalty programs. And the annual announcements of such changes are rarely good news. Inevitably, it seems, more award prices increase than decrease, resulting in a net devaluation of program members’ points. The latest from InterContinental’s IHG Rewards Club is a case in point. This […]
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Read MoreAlaska Air, Delta to Cut Ties. Who’s the Biggest Loser?
Written by Tim Winship @ SmarterTravel
Ever since Delta began ramping up operations in Seattle, Alaska Airlines’ hometown and main flight hub, the relationship between the two airlines has been disintegrating. And there was plenty to disintegrate. The carriers were long-time partners in each other’s frequent-flyer programs, and they code-shared on a host of flights. They were, in the industry vernacular, […]
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Read MoreA New ‘Best Hotel Program’ List Might Surprise You
Written by Tim Winship @ SmarterTravel
In case you were wondering, the best hotel loyalty program is Choice Privileges. That’s according to USA Today’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards. The nominees were picked by USA Today editors and a panel of travel writers, and the winners were then chosen by popular vote, by readers. Here’s their list of the 10 best […]
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Read MoreFlash Sale: Delta Award Tickets to Asia
Written by Tim Winship @ SmarterTravel
As is becoming an almost monthly occurrence, Delta has announced a 48-hour flash sale on award travel. Last month’s sale was for flights within the U.S.; this time, it’s for flights to Asia. Offer Details Through December 14 (11:59 p.m. EST), SkyMiles members can book award travel between the U.S. and select destinations in Asia […]
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Read MoreThe Best Hotel Program? It Depends
Written by Tim Winship @ SmarterTravel
The main problem with most best-loyalty-program studies is their underlying assumption that there’s a one-size-fits-all solution to the problem. There is no single best program for everyone. What there is is a best program for you, given your goals and travel patterns and spending behavior. A new Best Hotel Rewards Program study from WalletHub is […]
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Read MoreRecap: The Week’s Biggest Stories and Best Deals
Written by Tim Winship @ SmarterTravel
Following is our regular summary of the latest travel news and best frequent traveler promotions reviewed during the past week. If it was a good deal—or a notably bad deal—from an airline, hotel, or car rental loyalty program, you can read all about it here, and plan your travel accordingly. If Thanksgiving Was Any Indication, […]
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Read MoreFrom Best Western: a $10 Gift Card After Every Stay
Written by Tim Winship @ SmarterTravel
Best Western’s promotional offers tend to be underwhelming. This one is no exception. Offer Details Through January 29, 2017, Best Western Rewards members can earn a $10 Best Western gift card after every qualifying stay. Stays booked through an online travel agency or tour operator are not eligible. Registration is required. Deal or No Deal […]
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Read MoreInterContinental’s Cyber Week Sale – Up to 30% Off Hotel Stays
Written by Tim Winship @ SmarterTravel
It’s the week after Thanksgiving, and if my email inbox is any indication, the world is awash in limited-time sales. Which means my Delete key is getting quite a workout. Snooze-you-lose travel sales (flash sales, Black Friday sales, Cyber Monday sales, and so on) are bad marketing and a consumer disservice. A one-day sale on […]
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Read MoreDelta Raises 2017 Lounge Membership Prices by 10%
Written by Tim Winship @ SmarterTravel
Airport lounge memberships are a luxury that most can afford but very few can actually justify. If you don’t fly at least semi-regularly, it just doesn’t make financial sense to spend almost $500 for an annual lounge pass. A $50 day pass, maybe. But even that’s a stretch. Don’t expect lounge access to get any […]
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