Today we’ll take a look back at the year and talk about what loyalty programs have done to us instead of for us. This is for the loyalty grinches!
Main Event: The 2024 Bonvoyed Awards
Giant Mailbag
(01:07) – Revisiting a question we’d answered previously about whether or not several domestic flights a month would be enough for earning status.
(06:18) – One reader has some information to share about the Atlantis property they booked now (before their Caesar’s Diamond status disappears) for a stay in the future…
Read more about booking the Atlantis hotel here.
Crazy Thing “Fipple Header”
(10:12) – Flying Blue: Sends emails saying “Congratulations you are now a Flying Blue Ultimate member”
(11:44) – IHG: Purchase EQPs. 120K price: $640, no… $800, no… $1000, back to $640…
(16:27) – Nick flies to Mexico but doesn’t leave the airport
(21:12) – Greg and Nick forgot about Bilt
Find our podcast episode about the upcoming Alaska Premium card here.
(23:42) – Preferred Hotels: Greg’s ongoing Preferred Hotel booking saga
Awards, Points, and More
(29:48) – AA: Can now use miles to book Hawaiian flights from mainland US
(31:39) – Aviator Silver companion cert ain’t all that
Read our Aviator Silver companion cert first impressions here.
(38:14) – Hilton Aspire resort credit-eligible hotel list un-shrinks
(39:40) – Marriott Upgrade Awards now clear five days out (again)
(43:27) – Southwest: assigned seating
Read about Southwest’s upcoming assigned seating here.
Main Event: 2024 Bonvoyed Awards
(46:31) – 2023 Bonvoyed Awards Recap…
2024 Dis-Loyalty Nominees…
(51:38) – Chase & Capital One priority pass drops restaurants
(55:56) – Virgin goes dynamic
(59:08) – Virgin devalues Delta One to Europe
(1:02:36) – Wyndham Vacasa devaluation
(1:06:19) – BA & Qatar raise prices for short-haul partner awards (AA, Alaska)
(1:09:54) – Etihad nerfs award cancelations and point expirations
(1:15:43) – Bilt reduces Rent Day earnings to 1K bonus points
(1:18:50) – Wyndham Biz kills free cruises
(1:21:20) – Hyatt integrates Mr & Mrs Smith
(1:23:14) – Final picks
Question of the Week
(1:30:20) – Why are there so many pop-up ads on your site?
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Music Credit – “Ocean Deep” by Annie Yoder
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This past week, I had a problem similar to Greg’s with Capital One Travel and the annual travel credit. I booked a room for a client at a Hilton property. When they went to check, although the room was “prepaid” via Capital One, the virtual card on the reservation did not work. The hotel took another credit card at check-in and charged that card. We ended up paying for the same room twice. So far, neither the hotel nor Capital One has been able to help resolve this.
Good episode as always, Greg and Nick! I agree that Hyatt probably deserves the 2024 Bonvoyed award. However, I think there were a few disloyal candidates that also should have been in the running:
Ink Train slowing is worse than Amex Family Rules, but Ink Train is like Voldemort… we’re not supposed to talk about it.
Ink train is a bummer for churners but is more niche – need to stay under 5/24, far less lucrative if you don’t have a P2, and I would say is more for those advanced in the game. AMEX family rules were so bad because they penalize those newer to credit card rewards right out of the gate for a misstep and impact almost everyone.
The 2025 United Elite qualifications are 10,000 PQP + 30 PQF or 12,000 PQP. 2024 was 8,000 PQP + 24 PQF