Guest fountainhall Posted March 21, 2013 Posted March 21, 2013 Question: What does the number 14,000,000,000,000 represent?Answer: According to this month’s Business Traveller Magazine, the number of Frequent Flyer points awarded and not yet used!Conclusion: Getting FF award flights is not going to get any easier! Quote
TotallyOz Posted March 21, 2013 Posted March 21, 2013 This is a real PITA. You are right, things are getting harder and harder. But, there are ways to use them if you plan in advance or you have a lot of points. A friend just paid 180,000 points on AA to fly to Brazil. IMHO, insane. I normally use them to upgrade from a coach fare to Business Class but that is not cheap and the point of these programs is supposed to be fly for free from time to time. It is harder and harder to do as you suggest. Quote
Guest thaiworthy Posted March 21, 2013 Posted March 21, 2013 It is harder and harder to do as you suggest. That's because all you guys fly business class. You poor babies! Quote
Guest fountainhall Posted March 21, 2013 Posted March 21, 2013 I normally use them to upgrade from a coach fare to Business Class but that is not cheap . . . . . . and that's going to get even more expensive (in terms of miles) - at least ex-Europe and Asia where more and more airlines are introducing Premium Economy. It's usually really hard to jump a class and upgrade from basic Economy to Business on 4 class aircraft - or 3 classes where First has been ditched. And even if you are in the top tier of an airline's loyalty club, two class upgrades will become a rarity, I reckon! I'm now spending my fast depreciating mileage bank much more quickly than before. My view is that the top tier benefits will slowly be eroded even more. So loyalty club membership isn't going to be worth it if you have to pay quite a bit more for that airline's tickets - e.g. BA. I was talking to a very nice guy in Hong Kong who works for one of the Intercontinental Hotel Group hotels. They've just revamped their frequent guest programme to try to ensure that benefits are more in line with the actual cash spent. He told me that further revamping will be in the works in future! Quote
TotallyOz Posted March 21, 2013 Posted March 21, 2013 I was talking to a very nice guy in Hong Kong who works for one of the Intercontinental Hotel Group hotels. They've just revamped their frequent guest programme to try to ensure that benefits are more in line with the actual cash spent. He told me that further revamping will be in the works in future! Yes, in previous years for IHC you needed 5 different stays at any Intercontinental branded hotel and 50 nights total. This year you had to stay at least 20 nights in Intercontinental Hotels plus the 50 nights and in at least 3 different Intercons. The difference is big and many didn't make the requirement. I did make Royal Platinum this year but the cost of the program is getting too expensive to be worth it IMHO. I do get upgraded to 1 bedroom suites, free minibars, and tons of privileges but it is getting to the point where the money I spend with them just isn't worth it. I like Delta's new program with Sheraton / Starwoods. If you are Platinum with Delta, they give you the same perks as Platinum with Starwoods Hotels. Nice. Quote
Guest anonone Posted March 22, 2013 Posted March 22, 2013 I haven't been too impressed with IHC. Not enough stays at Intercontinentals to really see the benefit, I guess. I have been with Marriott for a long time, mostly due to corporate travel. I don't think there is a town in the USA without a Marriott brand of some type in it. I had a great experience last year when BF and I stayed at Marriott Pattaya on points. We were treated very well, and it was easy to bring an occasional guest to the room during the day, as it is connected to the mall. As for airlines, I feel pretty fortunate there are so many ways to earn miles in the US. Credit card spend and sign up bonus is becoming just as important as actually being on the plane. I don't use my miles for upgrades though. Doesn't seem like a great deal, at least with the programs with which I am familiar. I like to spend the miles on First Class redemptions, especially on some of the better airlines. I have had great luck with last minute awards this way, for a quick spur of the moment visit. Easy to get right back to work when you travel in First.... It helps to be very familiar with all the available routes and benefits of the different programs...and of course be flexible with travel dates. The times when you are pegged to specific dates are when you have problems using the miles. Quote
