Loyalty

Hyatt Diamond Challenge update

I completed my Hyatt Diamond Challenge (also known as the Elite Tier Offer) earlier this year.  At that time, after enrolling in the Offer you had 60 days to stay 12 nights at Hyatt properties to gain Diamond status through February 2016.  It seems that there may be a Hyatt Diamond … Read more

Changes in Alaska Mileage accrual with Partner Airlines

KLM - Royal Dutch Airlines | McDonnell Douglas MD-11 | PH-KCA | "Amy Johnson" | Toronto Pearson Street Festival

In just a few days, there have been some big changes in Alaska mileage accrual with partner airlines.  It’s all bad news unless you are paying for premium classes.  The changes (so far) are on British, Air France, and KLM.  Earning was also drastically reduced on Delta earlier this year.

For all three airlines (BA/AF/KL) you now only earn 25% of actual miles flown for the lowest fares.  The most expensive Economy tickets do still earn you actual miles flown.  You also still earn bonus miles based on your status with Alaska, but those bonuses are based on earned (not actual flown) miles and do not count towards elite status.  A few of the fare classes that formerly earned zero miles now do earn you miles, so that is one positive change I suppose.

The scene is much better in the top tier tickets.  

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Benefits of Hyatt Diamond Status

I have posted various posts about my process getting the Hyatt Diamond Challenge and what it cost me.  But why would I invest my time and money to get Diamond status?  This post will focus on the benefits of Hyatt Diamond status.

Earning Diamond Status:  If you are not participating in a Diamond Challenge (or Elite Tier offer), or you are trying to keep your status beyond the first year, you must have either:

  • 25 separate stays at Hyatt properties or
  • 50 total nights within one calendar year

So technically you could just stay 25 nights and get Diamond (assuming none of those nights were consecutive), or you could just have one stay and get Diamond (assuming your one stay was for nearly 2 months…).

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5,000 Free Alaska Airlines Miles for Self-Tag Online

Here is an easy way to get 5,000 free Alaska Airlines miles just by printing out your baggage tag at home.

EDIT: The promotion is over.  If you would like to sign up for an Alaska Airlines Visa card you can get 25,000 miles upon approval.  LINK Full disclosure: if you are approved I also get a bonus of 2,500 miles. You may also be able to find an offer with a $100 credit by starting to purchase a ticket at Alaska’s website and then looking for a credit card sign up link before payment.

If you have status with Alaska or American you can check a bag for free.  So even if you normally carry on a bag, this makes it worth your time to check it!  This deal is good from today (April 20, 2015) through October 20, 2015.  You get 1,000 miles for each flight, up to a total of 5,000 miles during this promo.

You can even request a free tag holder here:  http://www.alaskaair.com/content/travel-info/baggage/self-tag-express.aspx

Note that you DO need to have a Mileage Plan number and it must be attached to your reservation.  Here are the full details of the offer:

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Mileage Run Dubai in First Class on British Airways

Last week there was some buzz over a (possible) mistake fare from Dubai (DXB) to Austin, Texas (AUS) on British Airways and partner airlines, all in First Class.

I use the term “mileage run” in the title of this post, but really it is hardly a milage run for two reasons:

  1. It was $1500 and
  2. It was only one way

Mileage runs are usually cheaper (this one, for me at least, worked out to be 7.4 cents per mile).  And having a one way from the middle east is not super helpful.

I learned about the deal while in Disneyland with my nephew and other family members and only had my iPad available to work on the itinerary.  I booked through the devil OTA because by the time I was ready to pull the trigger, BA.com had already caught the mistake fare and removed it (but Expedia was still live).  I wanted to make sure that all my segments were in First Class (some BA flights from LHR to US cities do not have a First Class, only Business).  My ticket has been confirmed and I even was able to choose my seat.  Others in the Flyer Talk forum have not been as lucky, no clue why mine ticketed while others have not yet.

Here is why I decided to book this deal:  

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Hyatt Stay More Play More + Quick Qualifying Elite Trial + 20% Points Back: 3 Promotions

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:

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Free Rental Car Status through MasterCard

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:

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Mileage Run Beijing in Business Class

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.

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Hyatt Diamond Challenge 2015

 

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.

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Mileage Run Istanbul

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:

I was intrigued so I booked.  Here is why:

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Alaska Airlines Spring Award Sale now live

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).  

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M life Explained – Las Vegas

Welcome to SingleFlyer.com!  Your source for news about Las Vegas and other relevant travel info.  Be sure to subscribe to my email updates and follow me on Twitter.   MASSIVE UPDATE: As of February 1, 2022, M life will now be known as MGM Rewards.  I will be updating this … Read more

First Mileage Run: From Seattle to DC

Mileage run.  This is a term that travel hobbyists use frequently that I did not know the full definition of until last week.  I know can count myself a member of the elite (or crazy…) who partake in the infamous mileage run!  This is the account of my first mileage run.

A mileage run (or MR if you are hip to the lingo) is when you book a flight just for the loyalty points you earn with the airline (or hotel for that matter).  Usually this is done when you find an extremely low fare on an airline you like to earn status with.

Living in Seattle, my airline of choice is Alaska.  I have been MVP for the past few years, but this year I am aiming for MVP Gold.  The benefits of MVP Gold are extensive; most important to me are upgrades to first class and ability to change a flight with no penalty.  You must earn 40,000 “elite qualifying miles” (or EQMs), which usually means actual miles flown.  Miles you earn through using your Alaska Airlines Visa Card, for example, do not count towards elite status.

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Double Miles – Alaska Airlines

I have benefited from Alaska Airlines promos in the past that offer double miles for certain routes from Seattle.  However, the email I received today has more routes eligible than in the past.

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