(EXPIRED) Return of the Marriott Platinum status challenge
Last night, Greg wrote about the updated program terms for Marriott Rewards (See: Marriott publishes the new rules re: point transfers, suite upgrades, etc.. (finally!)), and there were some positives for Platinum elites: from...
Marriott publishes the new rules re: point transfers, suite upgrades, etc.. (finally!)
The Marriott SPG merger continues to be a disaster. Many promised capabilities of the new program simply don't work. Want to apply a travel certificate to a Starwood property? Good luck. Want to book...
Toward Delta Elite Status: Short on qualifying dollars (MQDs). What to do…
If you are short on Medallion Qualification Dollars towards Delta elite status, here's an easy solution. Or, if you'd like a good way to earn Delta Elite Status year after year, here's what to do...
Virgin Atlantic transfers to IHG no longer count towards status
Transfers of points from one loyalty hotel or airline loyalty program to another are usually a bad deal -- indeed what makes SPG points or Marriott Travel Packages standout values is the fact that...
(EXPIRED) Easy status with Small Luxury Hotels of the World (Hyatt partner)
Hyatt announced this week that they will have a partnership with Small Luxury Hotels of the World that will enable you to earn and use Hyatt Points at these properties, though there will be no reciprocal...
A mileage run…on Southwest?
I am not a mileage runner. Most of my travel is award travel, and most often in business class, so the idea of paying to fly somewhere and back for no reason other than...
Marriott Choice Benefits revealed
We've known for a while now that the new combined Marriott and SPG program (to take effect August 18th) was going to adopt SPG-style Choice Benefit awards for members who achieve elite status through...
Last minute checklist for the Marriott SPG transition
It's coming soon... In August, Marriott, SPG, and Ritz will combine their separate rewards programs into a single unified program. We don't yet know when exactly in August this will happen, but if there...
Easy Hyatt Globalist status: Move to Tulsa for a month
With the recent launch of the new World of Hyatt Credit Card, it's finally become possible to manufacture top-tier Hyatt Globalist status through spend. By stacking a couple of current promotions, it gets even "easier". I...
Don’t be blinded by loyalty and burn a pile of money: shop around
A couple of months ago, I put together a resource page on hotel chain Best Rate Guarantees. I recently had occasion to put one of these to use, and the savings were pretty sweet. I wish...
Did the Marriott SPG Merger meet my 2015 demands?
When the Marriott merger with Starwood was first announced in 2015, SPG loyalists were irate. While they loved Starwood, they loved to hate Marriott. So, I published a list of suggestions (demands, perhaps), that...
New details on Marriott & Ritz cards: no more elite credit per $3K spend,...
Chase has confirmed details about the Chase Ritz-Carlton and Chase Marriott Business cards, as well as details on how the new free night awards will work. Most of the key pieces are things we expected, though...
Hilton’s sleight of hand: watch your cancellation deadline
Stephen recently wrote about Marriott's Sleight of Hand in how they presented their new award chart changes (See: Marriott's Sleight of Hand: Category Changes Worse Than Advertised). Hilton recently nearly pulled a fast one...
Sending the Marriott and SPG cards off into the sunset
Over the past couple of years, when someone would ask me for advice on hotel credit cards, I would almost unequivocally say that one shouldn't get a hotel credit card to use it (for spend...
