I get press releases all day long from travel providers, and 99% of the time I spare you, my readers, from having to hear about them. They usually read something like, “New survey research discovers that X% of travelers say they want to get away for Y holiday, and Z is a great place to [Book Your Travel Online / Stay for a Romantic-Exciting-Fun Time / Waste Large Amounts …  Read More →

I’ve got a major first class award redemption coming up, one that’ll definitely be worth a report here, involving some of the better carriers in the world and some amazing hotel rooms, not to mention a very famous restaurant. But I couldn’t start the award out of my home city, and so I’ve booked a separate ticket to connect up…  Read More →

Via Lucky : You can earn 300 Priority Club points by completing this quick survey . The points post instantly. The answers are all obvious. This is their program, they’re going to say it’s good, so you can earn points from ‘all of the above’ and your benefits are ‘all of the above.’ They’re not going to advertise other brands, so theirs are ‘all of the above.’ They have lots of hotels. The only... 

In April, Hyatt announced free internet for all elites . Two weeks ago Starwood announced free internet for Platinums (not Golds), and that benefit started March 1. Now Marriott joins the party with free internet for Gold and Platinum members (not Silvers), although the benefit will only apply in the U.S. (excluding Hawaii and US territories) and Canada. That’s the most limited benefit of the three programs. It will begin May 7. Hilton, of... 

Straight from Free Frequent Flyer Miles : 100 easy miles are offered for learning about the benefits of the Energy Plus/Continental Airlines partnership by April 30, 2010. Use promo code 57077. 100 easy miles are offered for reading about earning miles for paying your energy bills on your Continental Airlines credit or debit card by April 30, 2010. Use promo code 57078.  Read More →

Aren’t you proud of me? I called them Rewards Network in the title, I’m breaking my habit of referring to them as iDine — finally. It took me long enough to stop calling them Transmedia . Their United Airlines co-branded mileage earning for dining program is offering a 1000 mile bonus for spending $25 or more on qualifying dines within 30 days of registering. (Via Free Frequent Flyer  Read More →

Speaking of laptop bags , coupon code SCENE25 is good for 25% off at eBags. (HT: Dan’s Deals .) The AAdvantage Shopping Mall offers 7 American miles per dollar at eBags . Not certain that the SCENE25 will work with mileage earning, though I suspect it will. And the AAdvantage Mall website lists a 25% off one item offer for St. Patrick’s Day. Coupon code for that offer is COMJSTPAT , and to  Read More →

The internet is sure a crazy place. I reviewed the Tom Bihn Checkpoint Flyer , which I much like. One of the arguments for the bag I’ve seen made online is that it’s made in the USA. I explained that while I think the bag is great, this wasn’t one of the compelling reasons for me. That generated some real vitriol. One of the commenters here on…  Read More →

Cranky Flier , in his BNet column , takes issue with some of the Small Community Air Service Development Program grant winners. The federal government takes grant applications from small communities to spend in a variety of ways promoting air service. Tunica, Mississippi — 40 miles from Memphis — got $500,000 to subsidize bringing gamblers to town four times a week via Atlanta on Airtran. Rockford, Illinois’ airport — which... 

I had a very nice conversation this afternoon with Chris Holdren, Senior Vice President for the Starwood Preferred Guest program. He reached out to me after my post on SPG’s decision not to adjust hotel categories for 2010 — which I called a “stealth devaluation” (and which was picked up USA Today ’s excellent Barbara De Lollis). My original argument was basically that a hotel’s category…  Read More →

Frugal Travel Guy reports that there is now a 50 boxes per household limit on the purchase of Native American $1 coins (which come with free shipping, of course).  Read More →

Seriously . The 62-year-old Ogletree, you see, was headed to Las Vegas on December 30 when he stopped at a pizza place in the Houston airport. Upon departing the food court in Terminal C, Ogletree somehow forgot to take his “expensive black leather coat,” an XL Polo model (with a fashionable plaid lining) worth $800. Not surprisingly, the coat subsequently disappeared. Now Ogletree is threatening to sue the City of Houston, Continental... 

Grey Roberge details his experiences booking a Star Alliance first class award through Aeroplan. Regular readers of my blog know that I’m a big fan of the Aeroplan program, and in particular their first class award from the US to South Asia (as far south as Singapore) for 120,000 miles — which allows you to transit the Atlantic or Pacific (or one ocean each direction) and to stopover twice in addition to your destination. And I rather... 

Frugal Travel Guy outlines the Delta Team competition for bonus miles. Find a team captain with an address in Michigan, Minnesota, Tennessee or Washington state. Additional team members can reside anywhere. And up to 4 people can participate as a team. Then the total Delta miles flown by the team through May 31 on tickets paid for with an American Express card determines the number of bonus miles earned by each member of the team. 2500 total miles... 

Hilton Point Stretchers — which more or less disappeared last year — are back. Point Stretchers offer 40% off of standard redemption pricing, though historically some participating hotels would offer only a smattering of dates… like two weeks for the whole year. But it’s still worth checking and the website to do so is up . Though currently the only hotel they’re displaying availability for is the Hilton Garden Inn Allentown...