Here are five reader questions from the past week that I have decided to reply to publicly. You can always email me, leave a note or private message on Facebook, or Tweet me with your questions.
Note that I can shorten the emails and edit them for clarity. I always remove the personal information of both the reader and front line employees. If there are managers involved, I may leave their names intact, however.
Deb’s Question About United Award Surcharge When Redeeming Using SAS Miles
The problem here is that it is up to the SAS what fuel surcharges they collect on awards. They have decided to waive these for awards issued on SAS flights (trying gently keep you on their own metal), but collects (and likely keeps them as well) for partner airline awards.
Mark’s Question Where To Credit Cheap United First Class Fare
Need some advise. Where should I park my miles from the BOS-ICN first class deal. I’m traveling in April and have no status on UA. Hate to waste the potential for having bonuses since they will be on $$/miles program by then. Any help is greatly appreciated.
The reader’s route is 16,299 miles. Aegean’s Miles&Bonus requires 48,000 elite qualifying miles without having to take any of their own flights (only 24,000 if 4 Aegean flights) for Star Alliance Gold status. United’s first class fare earns 300% so this would yield 48,897 miles & Star Alliance Gold status. If the reader doesn’t have Star Alliance Gold status yet, that’s where I would park the miles.
READER QUESTION: Reader Questions: Royal Ambassador Qualification Requirement, How To Get Best Hilton Rate & United Flight Cancellation
Rob’s Question About Into The Nights Award Nights Usage
I just wondered if you or anyone else had consumed one of their free nights as part of the ‘Into the nights’ promotion for IHG. If so, has (and should) this post as a reward night (and count for elite status) or just be called something else. I stayed at the beginning of February and there is no record in my account of the stay having taken place. I would have expected at least a line on my statement stating there had been activity but there is nothing.
They should have posted as a regular consumed award stay. Weird that there is nothing on your account. I would contact IHG Rewards Club customer service and ask them to post it for you.
Kathleen’s Question About Getting AAdvantage Miles For Iberia Issued Award Tickets
I bought two business class tickets on Iberia using Avios. Can I get AAdvantage miles from the trip?
You may get lucky if there are any disruptions during your travel and the operating carrier needs to rebook you. Then there is a chance that the flight would post as qualifying to AA, as long as the operating airline is AA’s partner.
ConradFan’s Question About Hilton Paddington’s Executive Lounges
The Hilton London Paddington has added a new set of rooms adjacent to the property. These are intended to be a select set of rooms and also come with an executive lounge. There are now two lounges at the hotel but as a Diamond I only be access to the original lounge.
The Hilton terms state ” If you are an HHonors guest with Diamond status, you and up to one additional registered guest in the same room will always enjoy complimentary access to the Executive Floor Lounge, even if you do not receive a room upgrade to the Executive Floor.”
So far have not been upgraded to those rooms and have not had access to this lounge.
Is this a Hilton ploy to devalue elite status? (I also noticed they took away alcoholic spirits from the original lounge recently in the same hotel).
I have not had this issue with Hilton but something similar with SPG. Hotel may have two lounges and they designate one as a club lounge (where Platinum members have access to) and a separate one that is designated as a Towers lounge (no access for Platinum members).
There is similar issue with the Rome Cavalieri. They have some very basic lounge for Gold and Diamond members while keeping their true lounge (somehow I got access there on my one visit to this property) off the limits.
Not offering alcoholic beverages during evening happy hours is just cheap. I would leave a nasty note on TripAdvisor and/or after the stay survey that you may received from Hilton. Some hotels are really cutting corners regardless of the rates they charge.
Conclusion
Keep the emails and messages coming. I will have these READER QUESTION pieces at least once a week (sometimes more often) and try to cover issues that would help LoyaltyLobby readers.
