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The Most (and Least) Generous Frequent Flyer Programs

Posted by Tim Winship on May 17, 2012

For the past three years, industry consulting company IdeaWorks has conducted a study of the availability of award seats from the world's top airline frequent flyer programs.

The findings of this year's study have just been released. As in their previous studies, the researchers attempted to make award bookings on the airlines' own websites, for two travelers, on 280 different dates, at the restricted award levels. Specifically, the results reflect "6,680 booking queries made by the IdeaWorks Company at the websites of 23 frequent flyer programs during March 2012. Travel dates spanned June through October 2012, with top routes for each carrier checked to assess reward seat availability."

For the U.S./Canadian airline programs included, the results are as follows:

Award Booking Success Rate (change from 2011)

1. Southwest - 100% (+0.7 points)
2 (tie). AirTran - 87.1% (+40.0 points)
2 (tie). United - 87.1% (+15.7 points)
3. JetBlue - 86.4% (+7.1 points)
4. Air Canada - 78.6 (-3.5 points)
5. Alaska - 59.3% (-5 points)
6. American - 45.7% (-17.2 points)
7. US Airways - 33.6% (+7.9 points)
8. Delta - 27.1% (no change)

Last Minute Bookings

In addition to the above, the researchers reality-tested the conventional wisdom that airlines make more award seats available close to a flight's departure date. They test-booked awards for travel within 14 days of departure on American, Delta, United, and US Airways.

Compared to booking further in advance, the success rates for booking closer to the departure date changed as follows:

American improved from 45.7 percent to 65.0 percent.
Delta fell from 27.1 percent to 25.0 percent.
United improved from 87.1 percent to 87.5 percent.
US Airways improved from 33.6 percent to 42.5 percent.

So, unless you're trying to redeem Delta miles, there may indeed be an advantage in booking within 14 days.

Has the Elephant Left the Room?

Looking at the results for all 30 programs represented, the researchers were heartened by the findings.

Frequent flyer programs have been slowly but surely improving member rewards. Nine airlines scored above 80% for 2012, which is much improved from five airlines above 80% in 2010, the first year of the survey. Airlines are also improving alternate reward options. More and more now provide the ability to redeem miles or points for hotel stays, car rentals, and a growing array of merchandise and unique travel experiences. This trend is clearly good for everybody -- frequent fliers, airlines, and their stockholders.

Members of U.S. programs are likely to be less impressed with the industry's progress.

Although there has been some improvement in the results, it's been modest at best. Of the top four U.S. airline programs, three still show award-booking success rates below 50 percent. And while some airlines do indeed offer alternatives to flight awards, they tend to be of subpar value.

Award availability remains the elephant in the room of frequent flyer programs.

Reader Reality Check

How do IdeaWorks' results compare with your personal experience in booking airline awards?

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Club Carlson Announces 2012 Award Changes

Posted by Tim Winship on May 16, 2012

In what can best be described as peculiar timing, the Club Carlson program has announced its award price changes for 2012 just as its very generous bonus promotion gets underway.

My first thought -- understandably, given the history of such moves -- was that the good-news promotion was likely a ploy to distract attention from the bad-news price increases.

It turns out, however, that the negative adjustments -- hotels upgraded to higher-priced award tiers -- are mostly offset by positive changes -- other properties downgraded to less expensive award tiers.

Of the 1,077 hotels covered by the Club Carlson program, around 270 hotels will be recategorized from May 31, with 142 being moved into higher (more expensive) categories and 128 moved into lower (less expensive) categories. So 25 percent of the program's hotels will be affected, with more or less equal numbers going up and down in price.

As always with such changes, advance notice means there's an opportunity to make the best of the price changes. So if you have upcoming award stays, review the list of hotels with changing award prices and, if a hotel on your itinerary is changing, proceed as follows:

If your stay is at a hotel whose price will increase, book the stay at the current lower rate, before May 31.
If your stay is at a hotel whose price will decrease, wait until the new lower rate takes effect on May 31 to book the stay.

Reader Reality Check

How do changes in award prices such as these affect your relationship to your travel loyalty program? Do you consider the changes major downgrades or just minor irritants?

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Register Now for Big Club Carlson Hotel Bonuses

Posted by Tim Winship on May 15, 2012

There's been plenty of buzz about this offer in the run-up to its start. For good reason.

Club Carlson, the loyalty program for the Regent, Radisson, Radisson Blu, Radisson Edwardian, Park Plaza, Country Inns & Suites, and Park Inn hotels, wants to raise its profile. And to do so, it's offering generous bonuses for stays at three of its brands.

Offers Details

The promotion has three separate but combinable parts:

Radisson, Radisson Blu

After registering and watching a promotional video, Club Carlson members will earn 50,000 bonus points after an eligible stay at a Radisson or Radisson Blu hotel between May 15 and July 15.

Limited to the first 100,000 registrants.

Country Inns & Suites

After registering and watching a promotional video, Club Carlson members will earn 44,000 bonus points after an eligible stay at a Country Inns & Suites hotel between May 15 and July 15.

Limited to the first 35,000 registrants.

Park Inn

After registering and watching a promotional video, Club Carlson members will earn 44,000 bonus points after an eligible stay at a Park Inn hotel beginning May 22. The end date has yet to be published, but it's likely to be either July 15 or July 22.

Limited to the first 20,000 registrants. (Registration begins on May 22.)

The offers are combinable, so there's the possibility of earning 138,000 bonus points by making a qualifying stay with each of the three featured hotel brands.

Book the stays on the hotel's own websites to earn an extra 1,000 points per booking.

Deal or No Deal

Each of the three offers presents the chance to earn enough points for a free night after a one-night stay. 'Nuf said.

If there's even a remote chance you'll be able to participate, take a moment to register for the Radisson and Country Inns offers now, before the limits are reached, and for the Park Inn offer after May 22.

Reader Reality Check

Are you a partisan of any of the Club Carlson hotel brands? If not, might this promotion make a difference?

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Win a Trip for 2 to Pebble Beach or Las Vegas

Posted by Tim Winship on May 14, 2012

Enter Mobil 1's "Ultimate Car Weekend" sweepstakes by June 30 for a chance to win one of two grand prizes: a trip for two to Pebble Beach, CA, to attend the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, including air, three nights' hotel accommodations, event tickets, and a $1,500 gift card; or a trip for two to Las Vegas to attend the 2012 SEMA show, including air, four nights' hotel accommodations, and a $1,500 gift card.

To participate, register your contact information, choose which prize you're entering to win, and click "Submit." Done!

Time required to enter: less than a minute.

The Fine Print

Sweepstakes is open to legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia who are at least 18 years old at the time of entry.
Limit: One entry per person.
Approximate Retail Value ("ARV") of each grand prize: $5,000.

Somebody has to win, right? Might as well be you.

Want to get away for free? Check out Tim Winship's picks of the best current travel rewards sweepstakes.

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More Free Nights for Marriott Credit Card Holders

Posted by Tim Winship on May 14, 2012

Many of the value-add offers linked to travel rewards credit cards turn out to be more marketing hype than substance.

This one, from Marriott, is an exception to that rule.

Offers Details

Through December 31, Marriott Rewards members who hold a Marriott Rewards credit card will receive three additional free nights when redeeming 140,000 points for a four-night award stay at the Wailea Beach Marriott Resort & Spa, plus a $100 credit toward purchases made at the hotel's Kumu Bar & Grill.

To take advantage of this offer, you must book with Marriott by phone at 1-877-855-2467.

Deal or No Deal

Marriott Rewards members normally receive one extra free night when booking an award stay of four or more nights, so the real added value for holders of the Marriott co-branded credit card is two extra nights.

But that's two additional nights at a deluxe property, in an idyllic locale. And unlike some snooze-you-lose offers, this promotion gives you plenty of time to work the stay into your schedule. The $100 dining credit doesn't hurt either.

In all, this is a very attractive offer. If you have 140,000 Rewards points, a Marriott credit card, and a week's worth of vacation time, it's definitely worth considering.

Reader Reality Check

Can you say Aloha?

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Got Klout? Welcome to the Cathay Pacific Lounge!

Posted by Tim Winship on May 10, 2012

It's not easy to gain entry to an international airline's airport lounge. Typically you'll have to show a first- or business-class boarding pass, or elite-level frequent flyer program credentials.

But at least for one carrier's lounge at one U.S. airport, proving you are a cyber-influencer will get you past the front desk.

First, the lounge in question: Cathay Pacific's first- and business-class lounge at San Francisco International Airport (promotional video here).

Through July 31, you can take advantage of the lounge's showers and free all-you-can-eat noodle bar by showing that you have a Klout score of 40 or above.

Klout? It's an online service that purports to measure the social media influence of anyone with an online presence. According to the company: "Our friendships and professional connections have moved online, making influence measurable for the first time in history. When you recommend, share, and create content you impact others. Your Klout Score measures that influence on a scale of 1 to 100."

If this is of interest, you'll first have to visit Klout and link your social media accounts (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.). That will allow Klout to measure your online footprint. Assuming you score at least 40, you would next download the mobile Klout app to your smartphone. Then, when checking in at the lounge, show the receptionist your score and you're in.

Restricted as it is to one lounge at one airport, this offer is obviously of very limited value. It is more interesting as a harbinger of similar deals to come. Or as a heads up. Because tying together access and "clout" does raise questions.

Assume you're a first-class Cathay Pacific ticketholder. You paid $12,190 for your San Francisco - Hong Kong ticket. Would you be happy finding yourself standing in line to use the shower behind someone who was in the lounge on the strength of his online presence?

It's a Brave New World ... but not necessarily a better one.

Reader Reality Check

Are deals like this one worth pursuing? Are they fair?

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One Month Left for British Airways 100,000-Mile Credit Card Bonus

Posted by Tim Winship on May 09, 2012

Lucrative credit card bonuses come and go, typically with no advance notice. One day the sign-up bonus is eye-popping, the next it's just ho-hum.

That's certainly been the case with one of the most generous credit card promotions ever, for the Chase-issued British Airways Visa Signature card.

Although it began with no notice, we at least now know when it will end. It has been confirmed that the current version of the offer will end on June 7, probably to be replaced by the previous 50,000-Avios bonus.

Here's what's on offer for the time being:

50,000 bonus Avios after the first purchase charged to the card
Another 25,000 bonus Avios after charging $10,000 to the card within the first year
An additional 25,000 bonus Avios after charging a total of $20,000 within the first year

Card Details

Annual fee: $95
Annual percentage rate: variable, Prime Rate plus 11.99 percent, currently 15.24 percent
Cardholders earn 2.5 Executive Club miles for every $1 spent on British Airways purchases, 1.25 miles for every $1 spent on other purchases.
Cardholders receive a free companion award ticket every year they charge $30,000 to the card.
Smart chip technology, so the card can be used for chip-based purchases in Europe.
No foreign transaction fees

The Executive Club Caveat

As always when discussing British Airways' Executive Club program, the issue of sky-high fuel surcharges on award tickets must be raised.

While it's possible to get solid value by redeeming Avios for flights on British Airways' partner airlines, it does require extra work to circumvent the most noxious fees.

Reader Reality Check

If you're an Executive Club member, how have you made good use of your Avios?

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Membership Rewards to Lose Another Transfer Partner

Posted by Tim Winship on May 08, 2012

Beginning on July 1, American Express Membership Rewards members will have one fewer option for transferring their points. InterContinental's Priority Club Rewards is withdrawing from the program.

If this were an isolated incident, it could be written off as just another incremental change in the ever-shifting alliance landscape of loyalty programs. But this loss is just the latest in a series of partner defections from Membership Rewards, including Southwest, Continental, and US Airways.

Here's how things stand today:

Airline Partners

AeroMexico
Air Canada
Alitalia
ANA
British Airways
Delta
El Al
KLM/Air France
Frontier
Hawaiian
Iberia
JetBlue
Singapore
Virgin America
Virgin Atlantic

Hotel Partners

Best Western
Choice
Hilton
Jumeirah
InterContinental (through June 30)
Starwood

The Membership Rewards Alternative

While Membership Rewards can still boast good numbers, the real-world utility of its partnerships -- especially for U.S.-based flyers -- has eroded considerably.

What makes this story interesting is the shift in travel rewards cards dominance, from American Express to Chase. Because even as Membership Rewards has been shedding some of the partners most important to U.S. members, Chase has been bulking up on partners in its Ultimate Rewards program, available to holders of Freedom, Sapphire, and Ink credit cards. The current lineup:

Airline Partners

British Airways
Korean
Southwest
United

Hotel Partners

InterContinental
Hyatt
Marriott

What Ultimate Rewards lacks in sheer numbers it makes up for with heavy hitters like Southwest and United.

The "Ultimate" Rewards Program

For U.S. travelers looking for transfer options when redeeming their credit and charge card points, the choice between the American Express and Chase programs is already a tough one. In terms of the programs that matter the most, to the most people, it's a toss-up.

On July 1, there will be yet another reason to choose Chase's Ultimate Rewards.

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Win a 14-Day Trip for Two to Turkey

Posted by Tim Winship on May 07, 2012

Enter Friendly Planet's "Win the World" sweepstakes by May 31 for a chance to win a 14-day trip for two to Turkey, including air from New York, most breakfasts and dinners, hotel accommodations, and tours.

To participate, first "Like" the Friendly Planet Facebook page; then click "Enter Sweepstakes" and complete the entry form; lastly, check "I have read and agree to the Official Rules" and click "Submit." Done!

Time required to enter: less than a minute.

The Fine Print

Sweepstakes is open to legal residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia, and Canada who are at least 21 years old at the time of entry.
Limit: One direct entry per person; unlimited additional entries for each valid referral.
Approximate Retail Value ("ARV") of the grand prize: $5,554.

Somebody has to win, right? Might as well be you.

Want to get away for free? Check out our picks of the best current travel rewards sweepstakes.

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Earn Delta Miles for Debit Card Purchases

Posted by Tim Winship on May 07, 2012

With all the eye-popping sign-up offers for travel rewards credit cards, the disappearance of mileage-generating debit cards has gone mostly unnoticed.

The demise of debit-card miles is at least in part a result of the Dodd-Frank bill that caps the amount card issuers can charge for debit card transactions. With their profits crimped, there was simply no overhead to support the marketing costs associated with issuing frequent flyer miles.

But at least one bank is not only issuing mileage debit cards, but is promoting the cards with generous sign-up bonuses as well.

New SunTrust Bank customers who open a checking account linked to a Delta SkyMiles World Check Card by June 30 can earn up to 30,000 bonus Delta miles.

Card Details

Annual fee: $75
Monthly fee: $12 if checking account balance falls below $3,000
Earning: one mile per $1 in PIN Point of Sale and signature-based purchases and two miles per $1 in direct Delta purchases
Enrollment bonus: 15,000 Delta miles for opening a new checking account with a recurring direct deposit by September 30
First purchase bonus: 15,000 Delta miles after first non-PIN purchase by July 31
Delta SkyMiles World Check cards issued by SunTrust Banks are available in AL, AR, FL, GA, MD, MS, NC, SC, TN, WV, VA, and Washington, D.C.

Deal or No Deal

The fees are offputting, especially the monthly fee for accounts that don't meet the minimum balance requirement.

But for those who maintain the requisite balance and use a debit card enough to earn significant numbers off miles, this is definitely an option to consider if you live in one of the states where SunTrust does business.

There's also a sign-up bonus available for debit cards linked to business checking accounts: 25,000 miles after the first purchase made by July 31.

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