Finishing 2016 miles & points to-dos
2016 is almost over. As I prepared for holiday travel, I surveyed the miles & points related things to do to see what tasks I had to jam in before the new year. For...
How to buy elite status with points
Most hotel chains and airlines have loyalty programs that award loyal customers with elite status. Top tier (or near top tier) status usually comes with many desirable perks such as upgrades, gifts, and more. ...
Pushing the envelope on earning Delta elite status through spend
Delta is the only major airline that makes it possible to achieve top tier status through credit card spend alone. It's not easy to do, but it is possible. Over the past several years,...
You now have Marriott elite status. Here’s what to do next…
Thanks partially to the Marriott SPG merger, meaningful Marriott status (Gold or higher) is easy to get. Simply sign up for an Amex Platinum card (personal or business) and enroll in the SPG Gold...
5 things I hate about World of Hyatt
Last week Hyatt unveiled their new loyalty program slated to begin March 1 2017: World of Hyatt. Yesterday, I listed the "5 things I love about the World of Hyatt." But, it's not all...
5 things I love about the World of Hyatt
Last week Hyatt unveiled their new loyalty program slated to begin March 1 2017: World of Hyatt. You've probably already read posts boohooing the changes, but lost in that noise are some big improvements...
Bet You Didn’t Know: Two Quirks in the Hyatt Changeover That Might Be Mattress...
By Julian, author of Devil’s Advocate...
Yesterday's reveal of the new "World of Hyatt" elite status program lit up the points and miles community, with tons of speculation about winners and losers. I'm sure Greg the Frequent Miler will...
End of Year Delta Elite Status Grab
Every year around this time people ask about strategies for earning Delta elite status. What are the best ways to earn the final elite qualifying miles needed for the next level of status?
Background
Delta refers...
Marriott SPG sweet opportunities I missed in round 1
The Marriott SPG merger has recently opened up a wealth of new opportunities such as the ability to transfer points between programs (1 Starwood point = 3 Marriott points), and the ability to match...
(Expired) Up to 70K signup bonus for Delta Amex cards!
Through 11/9/2016 Delta Gold and Platinum credit cards have increased public signup bonuses:
(Expired) Delta Platinum Personal 70,000 miles + 10K MQMs + $100: Earn 70,000 miles and 10K MQMs after $3K spend in...
Finally SPG Platinum, and my St. Regis dilemma
For my family's annual post-xmas-but-before-school-resumes trip I was planning Cape Town, South Africa (previously discussed here and here). That trip fell through. We had intended to visit a friend who lives in Cape Town...
Marriott SPG 4 New Shortcuts to Platinum Elite Status
The Marriott SPG merger has opened up a wealth of new opportunities. Program members who link their accounts get instantly matched to their highest status level:
Marriott Gold = SPG Gold
Marriott Platinum =...
Marriott SPG Complete Guide to Sweet Opportunities
Thanks to the Marriott Starwood merger, it is now possible to link your Marriott Rewards and SPG (Starwood Preferred Guest) accounts. By linking accounts you can now do the following:
Match Status: Marriott Gold...
How to get some SPG Platinum benefits without status
SPG Platinum benefits include a killer feature not found in any other major hotel chain program: “An upgrade to best available room at check-in — including a Standard Suite.” When a guest with Platinum...
