In this Frequent Miler Week in Review, we have a juicy rumor on the demise of the SPG website and a list of awards that you should book before they’re gone. While most people will tell you that the $49 IHG card is a great deal, see below for a counterpoint. Those posts and more to follow — read on for this week’s recap.
[RUMOR] SPG Website Going Down on August 1st?
This is a rumor at best, but maybe not so far fetched — will the SPG website disappear as of 8/1/18? It’s far from impossible and the latest reminder that SPG is living on borrowed time, so it makes a lot of sense to pick up Starpoints while you can as the combined program will happen sooner or later.
No, you shouldn’t rush to sign up for IHG’s crappy credit card
Resort Fees Stink! Here’s a Secret to Ease the Pain of Paying Them!
Apart from the hotel executives and shareholders among us, we all hate resort fees. Million Mile Secrets offers a tip to get something more in return for your fee. I don’t necessarily think that this tip will pay off consistently, but I nonetheless support the effort to express dissatisfaction with the fees at every opportunity in the (probably unrealistic) hopes of these fees eventually being eradictated. Ultimately, I think the only things that would cause these fees to disappear are either legislative necessity or a big enough hit in the pocketbook that hotels feel a need to change. This probably won’t quite do the latter, but I’m all for trying.
5 awards that are ripe for devaluation
While we’re not really earn-and-burn types (see: The earn and burn fallacy. Shall we give hoarding and cherry picking a try instead?), the truth is that devluations constantly happen. In this point at Points With a Crew, Ian Snyder looks at some sweet spots that he predicts will devalue next. Regardless of whether or not these awards actually devalue, the post is a great reminder to keep looking out for new programs from which to extract value. There are constantly sweet spots hiding in plain sight, and it pays to look for them.
That’s it for this week around the web. Check back soon for this week’s last chance deals.
Want to learn more about miles and points? Subscribe to email updates or check out our podcast on your favorite podcast platform.
I quit reading Free quent a long time ago on account of unrelenting negativity . Always has something to be unhappy about . I recommend you do not read and do not refer to his articles henceforth .
OMG asking for compensation at EVERY check-out is a surefire way to get banned from a program. What is MMS thinking?
Why kill the SPG website before killing the points and loyalty program? Doesn’t make sense. It’d be silly to bother creating a second points accounting system for SPG points and SPG status earning. Here’s how it’ll happen:
1. Announce an end to the SPG program. Explain 2018 (or CURRENT YEAR) will be the last year to EARN SPG status (which will last through 2019 into early 2020)- it’d be very poor form to pull out the rug sooner on guests trying to earn status now.
2. Explain that beginning in 2019, SPG stays will count for Marriott status. Tweak Marriott status requirements if needed.
3. Announce a final date to redeem SPG points for SPG stays After this, points on linked accounts will transition. Announce SPG hotels new Marriott categories. Non-linked accounts will have six months after this date to link a Marriott account, after which time points will be forfeited (or automatically sent to a Marriott account)
4. Well AFTER the remaining accounts have transferred over you redirect SPG.com to Marriott
The blog post bashing the current IHG Rewards Card should be enshrined in blog lore as a fantastic example of remarkable stupidity and truly blinkered thinking.
Strongly agree, that guy is blaming IHG FN because of he has to use it at a very expensive travel place to get the maximum value ?! What an axxxhole!