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Welcome to this week’s Frequent Miler week in review around the web, where we recap the news you can use from around the Internet.
When Stacking Goes Wrong: The Danger of Percentages & Framing a Problem
We talk a lot around here about stacking deals — but not all stacks are created equally. Earlier this week, there was a great Office Max / Office Depot gift card deal. In the discussion about maximizing the deal, there was some light discussion about whether the $100 GC or the $200 GC was a better deal. Sirthea at Doctor of Credit writes an excellent analysis as to which option was clearly better and why — and it’s a useful analysis to read for anyone looking to maximize office supply store deals.
Do Not Transfer Virgin America Elevate Points to Alaska Airlines Yet
We’ve talked quite a bit about the merger between SPG and Marriott. Specifically, since their loyalty programs are merging but not yet merged, there can be a lot of value found in moving points back and forth between the two programs. Alaska’s merger with Virgin America has also enabled the moving of points — but only in one direction (Virgin to Alaska — not the other way). Rocky at Travel Codex reviews why you should not transfer your points until you need them for an award in order to increase your flexibility. I transferred Starpoints to Virgin America for a nights and flights redemption on the final day of SPG’s partnership with Virgin (back in January). The reason I did so was to take advantage of the outsized value in transferring the Virgin points to Alaska. However, I have not transferred those points to Alaska yet — and Rocky explains exactly why.
Hyatt Awarding ‘Secret’ Free Nights as Part of New World of Hyatt Program
I would love to love Hyatt. I certainly intended to while working towards Diamond Globalist status last year — going out of my way to stay at a Hyatt Place 20 miles away rather than the Hilton near my destination because that’s all that Hyatt has in so many cities. I thought that the thing I liked least about the new World of Hyatt was that in the vast majority of their properties, my loyalty doesn’t earn much that isn’t provided regardless of loyalty. But I was wrong — Gary covers the thing that I would hate the most about the new World of Hyatt if I were actively trying to re-qualify. How can you ask so much of your most loyal guests (going out of their way to find a Hyatt, settling for Places/Houses when there’s a better option — and doing those things 20% of the nights in a year) and then not even tell them when their loyalty has earned them a reward? Color me disappointed in Hyatt.
8 American Airlines Award Booking Tips & Tricks!
I know that not all readers are advanced award ticket bookers. If you are relatively new to redeeming your miles for awards, AcCounting Your Points has a very nice primer/reminder of the basics and advantages of booking AA awards.
BREAKING: Another NO NOTICE Delta SkyMiles award devaluation (with partners this time) #KeepDescending!
Speaking of award booking……unfortunately, Delta has done it again — a stealthy devaluation this week that could cause some annoyance for those partner awards (Delta awards are as yet unaffected) — though it seems that adding a Delta segment may help you keep historical pricing — for now. Rene’s got the scoop.
That’s it for this week around the web — check back soon for a reminder on your last chance at several lucrative deals this week!
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