Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Mar 26 Update: Priority Club to become IHG Rewards Club, Emirates adding reward ticket fuel surcharge, 4x Flying Club Miles for Hilton UK Stays

Coming off of a quiet start to the week, the second day brings us more in both the news and bonus offer departments!

News, Tips & Tricks


InterContinental Hotels Group has announced that they are changing the name of their loyalty program from Priority Club (ironically the 30th anniversary of Priority Club is this year) to IHG Rewards Club. There aren't a lot of details yet on the new program but the announcement page has put out a couple of teasers of what you can expect from the new IHG Rewards Club program:
1. Free Internet worldwide for all members in 2014 but starts early for Gold and Platinum elite members in July 2013. A nice new benefit especially when 2014 hits for the non-elites. While most of IHG's lower end brands (HI, HI Express) offer free Internet, its the higher end brands like InterContinental where you can really get dinged. So it makes sense to join the program even just for the free Internet if you will have IHG stays in 2014

2. Fast Track to elite status when you stay in two or more IHG brands. No details on this yet. In the past it used to be quite easy to earn status with Priority Club as all points earned counted towards status but that changed earlier this year and this is probably why this new feature will come into play.

3. Like SPG and Hilton , IHG Rewards Nights will now count towards Elite Membership status

4. Like Marriott, nights earned beyond your highest elite level will count towards Platinum Elite status in the following year.

The new program will become live in July and once more details are released I will pass these along to you. I know many Rewards Canada readers are big time Priority Club players so I'd love hear your initial thoughts on the change!



Emirates
will begin adding a fuel surcharge to Skywards rewards tickets as of March 31. They will give the option to their members to pay for the fuel surcharges with cash or miles. Emirates claims that due the volatility of fuel price they can no longer absorb this cost on reward tickets.


Travel Deals
Have an upcoming trip to Scandinavia? Scandic Hotels is offering their Scandic Frequent Guest members a 25% discount on weekend stays at over 150 Scandic hotels in Scandinavia and Europe. The offer is valid Fridays - Sundays until 30 April 2013. Book by 7 April. Full details

Bonus Offers
American AAdvantage
- OFFER EXTENDED 2,000 Business ExtrAA Points when you enroll your business in BusinessExtrAA and reach $3,000 in eligible spend by June 30, 2013 plus earn 5,000 AAdvantage bonus miles by flying on American Airlines. More... Until Jun 30, 13

InterContinental Hotels Group Priority Club
- 5,000 points per award night - Priority Club Point Breaks Redeem only 5,000 points for stays at select hotels Worldwide. Offer and participating hotels are subject to change at any time, valid for stays thru Jun 30, 13. More...

Starwood Preferred Guest
- 5,000 Bonus Starpoints + $50 Daily Credit + Breakfast for stays of 14 or more nights at the Sheraton Maldives. Full Moon Resort & Spa More... Until Dec 23, 13

Stash Hotel Rewards
- Triple Stash Rewards Points for stays in a King Guest Room at the SeaCrest OceanFront Hotel Pismo Beach. More... Until Apr 30, 13
- Double Stash Rewards Points for Sunday-Thursday stays at the Portland Regency Hotel & Spa. More... Until Apr 30, 13
- Triple Stash Rewards Points for stays at The Commons Hotel Minneapolis. More... Until Apr 30, 13
- 1,000 Bonus Stash Rewards Points PER NIGHT for stays at The Benjamin New York. More... Until May 31, 13
- Double Stash Rewards Points for stays of 2+ nights at the Williamsburg Hospitality House. More... Until Apr 30, 13

TAP Portugal Victoria
- Double Victoria Miles on rentals of 3 or more days at participating Hertz locations Worldwide. More... Until Apr 30, 13

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
- 1,500 Bonus Flying Club Miles when you join Virgin Atlantic's Flying Club and fly on any of Virgin Atlantic Little Red flights between London Heathrow and Aberdeen, Edinburgh or Manchester. More... Mar 31 - Jun 30, 13
- Quadruple Flying Club Miles for every stay in a participating hotel from the Hilton HHonors portfolio in London and throughout Scotland. More... Mar 31 - Jun 30, 13

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