I enrolled in the Hyatt Stay More Play More (link) promotion back in January. The Hyatt Stay More Play more is a promo that gives you a targeted offer based on your Hyatt Gold Passport account. I don’t know how they decide who gets which offer, but according to FlyerTalk people are able to get offers from 2,000 points after the next stay to 65,000 points after 25 nights. I received the highest end offer:
A little known benefit of a credit card you may already own is free rental car status through MasterCard World Elite. For example, my Barclaycard Arrival + MasterCard is World Elite. If you have a MasterCard (and most people d0), check the front or the back of the card for the “World Elite” title under the logo. Common airline credit cards that are World Elite include Hawaiian, American, and Virgin.
Once you have identified you MasterCard Elite, the easiest way to enroll is to call 1-855-802-1387 from the US. Currently the offers are for Avis, National, and Sixt. So what do you get with the rental car status? Here is a handy chart that shows you the benefits:
I was alerted to an amazing business class fare from Washington DC to Beijing by OneMileataTime. In the rule of travel hobbyists, I booked immediately and knew I could sort out details later. I couldn’t pass by a mileage run in business class.
I am glad that I booked quickly because the fare was gone in less than an hour. Read more to find out additional details.
Note: As of June 1, 2015, the Hyatt Diamond Challenge 2015 has been updated. Diamond status is now good through February 2017. Reports are also in that you can directly contact Hyatt Gold Passport at 1-800-228-3360 to enroll in the Elite Tier Offer. Read more here.
I first signed up for Hyatt Gold Passport last summer after I learned about their relationship with Mlife. Since I was a Gold Mlife member I received Platinum status with Hyatt’s loyalty program. I had signed up for hotel loyalty programs before, but with the purpose of earning miles on Alaska Airlines for my stays. In 9 months I have accrued 20,000 points with HGP through my stays at Mlife hotels in Vegas and Hyatt hotels.
The benefits of Platinum HGP status are minimal; it was devalued even more last month when all guests were given free wifi. Reports over at Flyer Talk have some people being offered a Hyatt Diamond Challenge (also known as the Hyatt Gold Passport Elite Tier offer) with 12 nights in 60 days. Some said the offer was targeted only to those with a high number of stays in 2014 while others said they were able to enroll in the challenge by contacting the property of their upcoming stay.
I have four booked reservations between now and June so I emailed the two properties that had an email posted on their website.
Mileage run Istanbul…via Houston and Paris.
Last night I couldn’t sleep and was checking out some of my favorite people I follow on Twitter. I came across this tweet:
#Airfare Deal: [AF] Houston – Istanbul, Turkey. $702 r/t. Details: http://t.co/xIvbUjegnh $travel PREMIUM ECONOMY FARE! via @FareDealAlert
— The Flight Deal (@TheFlightDeal) March 11, 2015
I was intrigued so I booked. Here is why:
Readers of my website know that I am a loyal Alaska Air passenger, so I was excited to see the Alaska Airlines Spring Award Sale today. A big part of my loyalty to AS is not choice but the fact that 51% of all flights in and out of my local airport (SEA) are on Alaska. Delta is gaining on Alaska, but only accounts for 14% of all flights.
Alaska just announced their Spring Award Sale for Mileage Plan members. You can score some great flights for 5,000 miles (+$2.50). For example, you can fly SEA>SFO roundtrip for 10,000 miles (+$5.00).