There is a thread on FlyerTalk (you can access it here) about an email that American Airlines has sent to some of the elite members today that may indicate the ending of AA’s soft landing policy:

“Can you believe we’re almost halfway through 2013? Hopefully you’re on track to achieve your goal of elite status qualification for 2014. To check how many elite qualifying points, miles and segments you’ve earned thus far, simply log in to your account.

Previously, based on your prior year status, you benefited from an exception to receive a higher level of elite status than you actually earned. Next year, regardless of your current status, your elite status for the next membership year will be based on your elite qualifying activity in 2013.

We invite you to achieve the highest level you can to earn the greatest benefits. You can also find details about qualifying for elite status here

Currently, regardless of your elite qualifying flight activity, your AAdvantage program status could only drop by one level i.e. from Executive Platinum to Platinum or from Platinum to Gold, even if you didn’t reach the Platinum or Gold requirements.

American Airlines has offered matches to Executive Platinum status for United 1K’s and Delta Diamonds, and has also sent out number of targeted offers for various status levels in the past 12 months.

Once the pending merger with US Airways is approved, this will lead to greater number of elites and maybe AA wants to cull the numbers down a bit.

Conclusion

This “soft landing” has never been a published benefit of the program, but American Airlines has done it for years and it has become an unofficial one for sure.

I didn’t receive this email from American, although I matched to Executive Platinum status last year based on my 1K with United, due to my lifetime Platinum status with the airline.

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The InterContinental Hotels Group’s (IHG) Best Rate Guarantee (BRG) has soon been around for two years and the terms and conditions of this program have changed several times along the way (I probably should do a new write up about this program soon).

It is relatively easy way to score free hotels nights, if you know the rules and have some time to spend. The beauty of the program is that you can get entirely free stay, if your stay is for one night and you can get the BRG applied to it.

First you make the reservation and then contact the IHG BRG’s team either by filling out the web form or by calling the phone number for this department.

The BRG team will verify your claim (call can take 20 to 30 minutes) and tell you on the spot, whether they have approved it or not.

If your claims is approved, the BRG department then contacts the property and request them to change the reservation to a complimentary stay . Usually, it might say something like “HOUSE COMP” as the rate type, if you check your reservation once the BRG has been processed.

What if the property disagrees with the IHG BRG department?

This is when the fun starts. You will receive an email like the one below from the BRG department:

Basically, the IHG will do the reimbursement by a check or bank wire, because the hotel is not willing to comply with the BRG program and adjust the night to a complimentary one.

I am not sure, how long getting the reimbursement will really take, but the 4 to 6 weeks sounds very familiar with all kind of rebates etc.

Conclusion

The set up of this IHG BRG program is weird. Their office in the Philippines can approve/disapprove the claims. In a case of successful claim, they need to contact the actual hotel in question and make them to adjust the rate to include the free night (and possibly lower rate for consecutive paid nights if stay is more than one night).

Of course, the IHG will eventually get the money from the property for the claims that they pay on their behalf, but this is not the most customer friendly way of handling these.

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Sofitel has launched their 40% off private sale for bookings made between May 21 and May 27 for stays between June 27 and September 4, 2013.

Accor Advantage Plus members get additional 10% discount (total of 46%) for stays in Asia Pacific region. You can access Accor’s general web page for this offer here and Advantage Plus member one here.

Download (PDF, 217KB)

Note that there are some minimums and exclusions for this sale and Sofitel has issued a PDF about them:

Remember that you can collect cashback for all your Accor bookings. You can read my article about getting cashback for Accor stays here.

Conclusion

Sofitel hotels are always excluded from the usual flash sales that Accor has, but they have one or two Sofitel ones throughout the year.

If you are planning to stay at Sofitel hotel this summer, you should have look at this 40% off offer.

Here are the terms and conditions of this offer:

Guests booking Sofitel Exclusive Sales confirm they have read and accept the following conditions:
Offer is subject to availability at participating hotels and is valid for bookings made on http://www.sofitel.com/gb/advantageplus-exclusive-sales/index.shtml for Accor Advantage Plus members between 21/05/2013 and 27/05/2013, for stays between 27/06/2013 and 04/09/2013 inclusive.

The 40% reduction per night is calculated on the basis of the Premium rate (or the Best Flexible Rate for hotels that do not have the Premium Rate). An additional Accor Advantage Plus member’s benefit at 10% is applied for bookings of Sofitel in Asia Pacific (making a total discount of 46% off Premium Rate / Best Available Rate). This offer is for accommodation only.

The offer is for physical persons only and is limited to 7 rooms per booking. The offer does not apply for groups (more than 7 rooms). The offer cannot be combined with any other special offers or advantages. The pre-payment by credit card of the full amount of the stay will be debited at the time of reservation. The amount pre-paid is not reimbursable. Reservations can not be modified, canceled or exchanged.

Among participating hotels, some properties require a minimum stay of 3 or 7 nights. Moreover, some blackout dates apply. Click here to see the list of participating hotels and respective restrictions (minimum stay and blackout dates).

USA Today reported yesterday (read their piece here) that Marriott is going to announce today that the complimentary weekday continental breakfast in the United States and Canada is extended to include Saturday and Sunday as well starting on June 22, 2013.

Previously, the continental breakfast has been complimentary on hotel club lounge or in the restaurant, if the hotel doesn’t have lounge for Marriott Rewards Gold and Platinum members (including Ritz-Carlton Rewards Gold & Platinum).

This change only affects JW Marriott, Marriott, Renaissance, and Autograph Collection hotels in the United States and Canada. Outside of these two countries, the breakfast has been complimentary already 7 days a week.

Note that the breakfast is still not complimentary at Resorts (you don’t believe what hotels might be categorized as “resorts”) and at Courtyard hotels. There were 838 Courtyard hotels in North America as of December 31, 2013. Also, AC hotels in Europe don’t participate to the complimentary breakfast benefit and Ritz-Carlton hotels are excluded too.

USA Today also reported that, if you decline the breakfast in the morning, you can choose additional 750 Marriott Rewards points. It is unclear if this is per day or per stay. I would imagine the latter.

Conclusion

We should hear from Marriott later today about this enhanced benefit.

It is still annoying, however, that the breakfast is not complimentary to Gold and Platinum members at ALL Marriott affiliated hotels.

Considering that the Courtyards are excluded (more than quarter of Marriott’s total hotel portfolio), as are all the resorts categorized hotels, I believe that Marriott could have done the right thing and extended the breakfast benefit for these as well.

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Turkish Airlines is offering its new European destinations at 25% discount on the usual number of miles required for award trips between May 15 and October 31, 2013.

This discount offer applies not only to award tickets but also to companion tickets and upgrades. You can read more about this offer on Turkish’s website here.

The offer is valid for following cities:

DOMESTIC:
Isparta (20.05.2013)

EUROPE2:
Constanta (07.06.2013) , Vilnius(11.06.2013)

EUROPE 3:
Friedrichshafen (02.05.2013) , Santiago De Compostela (21.05.2013) , Malta (25.05.2013), Salzburg (28.05.2013), Marseille (04.06.2013), Tallinn (11.06.2013)

MIDDLE EAST:
Gassim (03.06.2013)

Conclusion

Turkish Airlines’ route network is very impressive in Europe and the number of destinations is ever growing. They usually have these award sales to celebrate new destinations.

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Here are the terms and conditions of this offer:

• Promotional award tickets shall be issued for travels between cities first flight dates and 31 October 2013 and travel must be completed between these dates. Campaign will include the award tickets which are issued as of  15 May 2013.

• The validity of the award tickets will be restricted by 31 October 2013 .

• This promotion is valid for all miles&smiles award tickets, companion tickets and upgrades .

• The promotion is valid for all turkish airlines capacity controlled and seat guaranteed all economy and busıness reservation classes. furthermore promotion is valid for comfort class on applicable destinations.

• The related promotion will be applied only for Turkish Airlines scheduled flights and anadolujet flights. Promotion is not permitted on codeshare flights (tk8000) and for the award tickets issued for the Star Alliance member airline flights

• Promotion will be applied for all flights from/to turkey and from/to abroad on the routes stated

• The routes within different award regions cannot be combined

• Return flight can be done from dıfferent cıtıes ın condıtıon wıthın the same award region

• All rebooking and reroutings can be applied within the same route, class and season until 31 October 2013. No changes is permitted for travels after 31 October 2013 . Mileage refund can be done within 1 year after the ticket issuance date. any mileage refunds, rebookings and re-routings are subject to penalty.

• One open jaw and one stopover ıs permıtted eıther on the outbound or on the return segment.

• Tickets can not be issued open.

• The general conditions applied in miles&smiles award tickets are also applicable for award tickets issued in this campaign.

• Taxes must be paid while ticketing

Seems that Hyatt is trying to spice up the on property benefits of Hyatt Gold Passport members that stay a lot (30+ nights) at Hyatt House properties by introducing Very Important Resident (VIR) program.

Very Important Residents (from Hyatt’s press release)

Guests staying a total of 30 nights or more at HYATT house earn status as a Very Important Resident. House Hosts at each property will go above and beyond to make sure VIRs enjoy an easy transition from home to hotel. VIRs will enjoy:

Personalized service: From learning guests’ personal preferences to building a relationship with them during their stay, each property is committed to making guests feel like they’re right at home.

·  Pick-Your-Suite:  Guests will have the opportunity to pick their own suite from available rooms in their room type at the time of their arrival.

· VIR Key Card:  Each key card will reflect guests’ VIR status so that hotel staff can quickly recognize a VIR guest and provide them with above and beyond personalized service.

· VIR Tour: A personalized hotel tour from hotel management staff.

·  “Favorites” Folio:  A place to make note of guests’ likes, dislikes and special requests so HYATT house can personalize their stay in every way, every time.

· Grocery Shopping Service: By providing a grocery list to the House Host, the staff will stock guests’ refrigerators and kitchens with their favorite food items before their arrival or for when they come home.

· Grub Stub: Redeem for a $10 food and beverage credit from the H BAR or the Guest Market.

· Scrub Stub: This voucher can be redeemed for one washer and dryer cycle.

· VIP Welcome Amenity: Guests can select an amenity of their choice to be waiting for them when they arrive.

If we look at the concrete benefits that you get stay after stay, the additions are really the $10 F&B credit, voucher for washer & dryer and the VIP welcome amenity. I hope that this VIP welcome amenity is not in lieu of the Diamond Amenity points.

Conclusion

Most of these extended stay chains such as Residence Inn have been offering grocery shopping service, but this has been during your stay. I could see having the fridge filled your choice of food and beverage items from the day of arrival to be a welcomed change.

It is always good, when chains are offering more benefits for their most frequent guests.

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Hilton HHonors has a new promotion for Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles members. You can earn 10,000 bonus miles for four weekend nights between May 15 and August 31, 2013. You need to register for this offer before your stay and you can do it here.

You need to choose Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles, as your Hilton HHonors Double Dip fixed airline partner. You will earn the usual 500 base miles per stay.

Once you have stayed the required four weekend nights during the promotional period, you will receive 10,000 bonus miles. You can earn this bonus only once.

You can read more about Hilton HHonors Double Dip options here.

Conclusion

This is a very good bonus miles offer for those that collect Miles&Smiles miles and stay at Hilton family of hotels during the promotional period.

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Here are the terms and conditions of this offer:

To be eligible for this offer, you must (1) be a member of Hilton HHonors; (2) select Turkish Airlines as your preferred Double Dip® Points & Miles™ Partner in your Hilton HHonors account profile, (3) select Points and Fixed Miles as your Double Dip Earning Style within your HHonors profile; (4) register online before June 30, 2013 at www.HHonors.com/milesandsmilesweekend prior to completing your stay; and (5) complete an eligible weekend night stay at any participating hotel or resort within the Hilton HHonors portfolio of brands from May 15, 2013 through August 31, 2013 (“Promotional Period”).

Bonus Miles&Smiles Mileage (Fixed Miles Members only): Earn 500 base miles per stay during the Promotional Period. In addition, earn a one-time 10, 000 bonus miles on completion of four “weekend nights” during the Promotional Period. A “weekend night” is defined as Friday, Saturday or Sunday nights for purposes of this offer. A maximum of 10.000 bonus miles can be claimed during the Promotional Period. Additional bonus miles will not be awarded regardless of completion of additional qualifying weekend nights during the Promotional Period.

Allow up to six weeks after qualification, and after promotion has ended, for miles to be credited to your account. Miles&Smiles miles accrued and awards issued are subject to Miles&Smiles Terms and Conditions Hilton HHonors™ membership, earning of Points & Miles™ and redemption of points are subject to HHonors Terms and Conditions.

Hilton HHonors has had MVP fast track offer for Gold status for quite a few years. This offer was suddenly retired earlier this year, but it has now returned. LoyaltyLobby reader send me an email about this development.

Edit: There may be some problems with this promotion, as it doesn’t seems to allow you to register an existing account. You can always take advantage of the Carlson-Wagonlit offer here, if this one doesn’t work for you.

You can sign up for the MVP Gold fast track here. All you need to do is to either open a new account using the link or log in using your current Hilton HHonors credentials and have this offer associated with your account.

You can also contact Hilton HHonors customer service by phone (not advisable) and request them to sign you up for MVPF promotion.

Hilton HHonors Gold usually requires either 20 stays, 40 nights or 75,000 base points within calendar year. You only need four stays within 90 days after registering for this offer to get the Gold status and it will be valid all the way to 2015.

Hilton HHonors Gold is the best mid level hotel status. You will get bonus points, complimentary internet access and breakfast and/or lounge access.

Conclusion

This is a very good offer for worthy Hilton HHonors Gold status. There is similar offer for Carlson Wagonlit clients that you can access here.

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Here are the terms and conditions of this offer:

Member must be affiliated with sports group or event. Member must complete four qualifying stays within 90 days of registration or enrollment. Offer available only to MVP Members and is not transferable. If applicable, booking must be made through designated online booking tool. Once a member reaches Gold status, the Member may keep such status for the calendar year in which the Gold status was earned and the subsequent calendar year. Full details of Gold Member status will be mailed to the member upon attaining the tier level. This offer may be terminated without notice. In-Room High-Speed Internet Access, Fitness Center / Health Club Access, In-Room Movie and Bottled Water benefits may not be complimentary at properties with a resort charge. All Hilton HHonors terms and conditions apply. Hilton HHonors™ membership, earning of Points & Miles and redemption of Points are subject to HHonors Terms and Conditions. Gold status benefits are subject to availability and vary by brand. For more information, please visit HHonors.com/Gold. ©2013 Hilton Worldwide.

Best Western has a new promotion for 6600 bonus points for staying two nights at any Best Western hotel I select states between April 15 and June 30, 2013. You need to register for this offer prior to your stay and you can do it here.

The two nights don’t have to be consecutive or at the same hotel, but they need to be in Arizona, California, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma or Texas.

The offer code of this promotion is RTE66B.

Conclusion

If you have Best Western stays coming during the promotional period in the states that qualify for this offer, you should register for this offer and collect the bonus points.

Terms and conditions of this offer:

Enrollment into Best Western Rewards® and registration into the promotion required prior to the first stay. Complete 2 qualified nights (nights do not need to be consecutive) between April 15 and June 30, 2013 at any Best Western branded hotel in Arizona, California, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas and earn 6600 bonus points. Maximum number of bonus points that can be earned is 6600 during promotion period. *A “qualified night” is defined as one night stay at a Best Western® hotel at a rate eligible for Best Western Rewards points or partner/airline rewards. Other restrictions may apply. Offer not valid with any other promotion or discount. Offer subject to change and/or cancellation without notice. All Best Western Rewards program rules apply. See bestwesternrewards.com or bestwesternall.com/Route66 for additional program terms. Each Best Western® branded hotel is independently owned and operated. Best Western and the Best Western marks are service marks or registered service marks of Best Western International, Inc. ©2013 Best Western International, Inc. All rights reserved.

Andaz Maui is set to open on September 15 and the have an offer for stays between the opening date and December 20, 2013

There are two offers:

Stay for 4 nights and get 2 nights free (6 nights total) + $75 resort credit

Stay for 5 nights and get 2 nights free (7 nights total) + $150 resort credit

You need to use promotional code WAILEA, when executing the search on Hyatt.com.

This will bring up this Diamond Direct-offer that seems to be tied to the Hyatt Daily Rate. The rate rules clearly spell out the offer details.

Hyatt’s website is too dumb to show the correct price, when you make the reservation. The price shown is for the entire 6 day period and the two free nights are not factored in. Note that there is a 21 day cancellation period for this property.

Conclusion

This offer is essentially 33% discount on stays of 6 nights during slow/shoulder season. It is interesting to see, what the rates will be once the property is fully functional and open.

Often hoteliers are overly optimistic about the rates that the property can get (i.e. Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur) and the rates come down once the reality hits.

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