Monthly Archives

Monthly Archives for May 2005.

Cathay Pacific Visa for Canadians

cathaypacificairline
May 24 2005

Canadians can get a Cathay Pacific Visa Platinum card from RBC Bank. The annual fee is stiff at CA$150, but the card earns 1 AsiaMile per Canadian dollar spent — pretty good earning — on top of the 5000 AsiaMiles with first purchase. The AsiaMiles program permits upgrading on British Airways and American in addition to Cathay Pacific, and some of its awards are incredible values. 60,000 AsiaMiles buys you a business class award of less than 5000 miles each way. That would yield a British Airways ticket from the U.S. East Coast to most destinations in Europe. American charges 50,000 miles in coach for that. AsiaMiles is my program of choice for transferring eBay Anything Points, by the way, since 1 eBay point yields slightly more than 1 AsiaMile.

Continue Reading »

Gulf Air Offers Triple Miles Promo

gulf air
May 24 2005

Gulf Air is offering triple miles through June 15 on several routesThe offer is valid for Economy Class travel from Abu Dhabi or Dubai to: Bahrain, Beirut, Frankfurt, Kuwait, London and Paris; from Bahrain to: Abu Dhabi, Beirut, Dubai, Frankfurt, Kuwait, London and Paris; from Doha to: Bahrain, Beirut, Dubai, Frankfurt, Kuwait, London and Paris, and from Muscat to: Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Beirut, Dubai, Frankfurt, Kuwait, London and Paris between 16 May and 15 June 2005.

Continue Reading »

25% Off Starwood Award Redemption for Platinums — AGAIN

starwood
May 24 2005

In the middle of the month, Starwood ran a promotion offering 25% off hotel night award redemption for platinum members. They apparently had some bumps in notifying members (though readers of this blog were well-informed). As a result, they’ve extended the offer. Via Starwood Lurker on Flyertalk:[T]hrough midnight Eastern US time on Monday, May 30th, Platinum members can make their plans online at spg.com and then call the Platinum Concierge line to make use of the FRED redemption code for a 25% off savings. The same Terms and Conditions apply that were in effect previously. This is for award stays booked through Wednesday, August 31st only.

Continue Reading »

A Repository of Information You’ll Find on This Site and Elsewhere

american airlines
May 22 2005

QUICK PATHS TO STATUS American Airlines elite challenges, where you can earn status with only a little bit of flying. Delta Silver Status with a Single Flight Instant Hilton Gold status 2 United Red Carpet Club passes and Starwood Gold status for $10 ADVICE Myths and Reality Obtaining Airline Upgrades Upgrading at Hotels (by the way, here’s how to ask for the Presidential Suite). Whose Miles are the Most Valuable? Why you should spend all your miles now, and then earn more Dealing with Jetlag Best Mileage Earning Credit Cards How to find the best airfare deals How to find the best hotel deals Redeem your Priority Club points for the Presidential Suite at various Intercontinental hotels. HUMOR Tips for fighting terrorism You know you think about miles too much when… MILEAGE BONUSES 30 United…

Continue Reading »

I’m Such a Geek

visa
May 20 2005

This actually sounds like a fascinating way to spend a few daysCard Forum is the largest event in the card industry, with nearly 1,000 card issuers, banks and service providers converging at the Omni Orlando Resort for three information-packed days of educational sessions and networking that focused on loyalty and multi-channel marketing, stored value/pre-paid, and credit and debit.

Continue Reading »

Is the Qantas Award Cupboard Bare?

qantas
May 20 2005

Back in November I reported that Qantas had gutted its frequent flyer award chart, with awards increasing in price as much as 92% (Sydney to New York-JFK in First class was going up to 392,000 points)! It should come as no surprise that Qantas frequent flyer members reacted to this news by booking as many international awards as they possibly could before the new point requirements went into effect, and as a result there are reports of very limited award availability — that most of the international awards on Qantas have simply been snatched up. It’s difficult to know the real numbers without a systematic award search, but the theory itself seems plausible.

Continue Reading »

$0 Fare from UK to US

Ripped from the FareAlert email list A great way to start the weekend… $0 base fare + taxes on American Airlines from London Gatwick and Manchester to Cleveland. Valid for travel from August 22-31, 2005. Bookable on Expedia and possibly other sites as well. Valid ONLY from the UK to the USA, not the other way around. Please see http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=434800 for more information.

Continue Reading »