There are lots of mega sign-up bonuses on credit cards nowadays. Many of us won't even consider applying for a card unless it has at least a 50,000 point sign-up bonus.
Then on the other end of the spectrum you have credit card sign-up bonuses that are so bad that they're comical.
For example, in April I wrote about the sign-up bonus being offered by the Japan Airlines MasterCard, whereby they were offering a stuffed animal as a sign-up bonus... but only for the first 100 approved applicants!
In terms of equally amusing sign-up bonuses and promotions, ANA sent out an email to all Mileage Club members in the US today about their "Double Shopping Mile Campaign."
The post Why Do Japanese Airlines Have Such Bad Credit Cards? appeared first on One Mile at a Time.
Frequent Traveler University, Washington DC area December 5-7 On Sunday, Frequent Traveler University launched for December 5-7 in Northern Virginia — just outside of DC, and down the street from Washington’s National Airport. This will be the largest gathering ever of frequent flyers, held at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City. There are actually two events […]
The post Everyone at December FTU Gets Elite Status. FTU Advanced Sold Out, But Tickets Remain for the Main Sessions appeared first on View from the Wing.
Former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra was so bothered by the state of Thai food around the world that she raised the issue at a Cabinet meeting. She has since been deposed by a military coup but her work lives on. The Thai Delicious Committee was formed and it is rolling out a new robot that […]
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Through October 31, 2014, IHG Rewards Club is offering up to a 60% bonus on purchased points.
The cost to purchase points varies based on how many you purchase, as follows:
-- 1,000 – 10,000 points for $13.50 per 1,000 points
-- 11,000 – 25,000 points for $12.50 per 1,000 points
-- 26,000 – 60,000 points for $11.50 per 1,000 points
The post IHG Rewards Club Bonus On Purchased Points appeared first on One Mile at a Time.
I receive compensation for many links on this blog. You don’t have to use these links, but I am grateful to you if you do. American Express, Citibank, Chase, and other banks are advertising partners of this site. I do not write about all credit cards that are available — instead focusing on miles, points, […]
The post American Express Eliminating Threshold Bonus on Their Premier Rewards Gold Card… Next Year appeared first on View from the Wing.
Many travel related companies now offer incentives or promotions for booking travel using your smartphone.
-- Through November 16, Club Carlson will give you 3000 bonus points for booking via their app.
-- Ben reports that HotelUpgrade will get you special perks, including on corporate and AAA rates, but only if you book via their app.
-- Hilton and SPG often offer bonus points during their promotions for booking via the app.
-- National gives 75 bonus points towards their One Two Free promo
-- etc.
The reason for this requirement is fairly simple – these companies want to change your behavior. They want you to think of them and launch their app when you are making last minute plans from the road. It is a very lucrative market and they want to be a fingertip away. And they are willing to buy their way into your thought process.
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American Express will be eliminating the 15,000 point bonus on the American Express® Premier Rewards Gold Card as of 2015.
What are the implications here, and why is this a big deal?
BACKGROUND ON THE PREMIER REWARDS GOLD
I've had the American Express® Premier Rewards Gold Card for years. It's one of the first cards I ever applied for. Anecdotally it's fairly easy to be approved for, given that it's a charge card and not a credit card (meaning you have to pay off your balance in full each month, making it lower risk for the issuers than a credit card).
The post AmEx Eliminates Threshold Bonus On Best Membership Rewards Card appeared first on One Mile at a Time.
I receive compensation for many links on this blog. You don’t have to use these links, but I am grateful to you if you do. American Express, Citibank, Chase, and other banks are advertising partners of this site. I do not write about all credit cards that are available — instead focusing on miles, points, […]
The post Can You Get ANOTHER Chase Ink Card for the 70,000 Point Bonus? appeared first on View from the Wing.
One of the things I do appreciate about the behind-the-scenes folks at US Airways is that many of their decision-makers are effectively bean-counters. Intelligent bean-counters, if there is such a thing.
Operationally, the management team at US Airways has done a good job, and that's partly because they make decisions based on what they think makes the most financial sense.
So we've seen them sell miles at ridiculously cheap rates (because it was profitable), replace catering on short domestic routes with a snack basket (because it was profitable), and even outright sell you elite status (because it was profitable).
Apparently they've decided that last option no longer makes financial sense, as US Airways has eliminated the ability to purchase elite status through their Buy Up To Preferred program.
The post US Airways Stops Selling Status appeared first on One Mile at a Time.
There's no denying that Delta has been trailblazing the way for the US airline industry when it comes to frequent flyer programs. They were the first to introduce a revenue requirement for status, and are taking it a step further in 2015, by awarding redeemable miles based on how much you spend as opposed to how much you fly.
There are some positive changes to the program as well. For example, they'll begin allowing one-way award tickets for half the cost of a roundtrip starting in January. As someone that doesn't actually fly Delta but accrues their miles through other means, I'd actually say the new program may be a net positive.
American Express has just announced a change to the Membership Rewards program which I didn't see coming, however:
The post Delta SkyMiles Limiting Membership Rewards Points Transfers appeared first on One Mile at a Time.
This past week I had some meetings in Chicago prior to FTU Advanced, so decided to stay at the Park Hyatt Chicago.
I absolutely love Park Hyatt hotels, and was keen to check out what used to be their flagship property before they handed over that title to the Park Hyatt New York.
I stayed at the Park Hyatt for three nights, and the rate was $395 per night.
I booked through American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts, which came with the following benefits:
The post Review: Park Hyatt Chicago appeared first on One Mile at a Time.
American Express has announced limits on transferring points to Delta starting January 1. The squarely blame a broad policy change at Delta for this. Effective January 1, 2015 Delta is making a program-wide change limiting the number of points that can be transferred into a SkyMiles account from any partner loyalty program, including the Membership […]
The post Delta Limiting Points Transfers Into Skymiles Starting January 1 appeared first on View from the Wing.
