Airline/Hotel Loyalty Programs

[Omaha 680]

Not good for the consumer.

You aren't kidding.

[Omaha 680]

Marriott is acquiring SPG.

http://news.yahoo.com/starwood-hotel...6--sector.html

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc on Friday said a $13 billion cash offer from China's Anbang Insurance Group Co was superior to one from Marriott International Inc , setting the stage for the largest ever deal by a Chinese company in the United States.

The operator of Sheraton and Westin hotels said the Chinese insurer's offer beat Marriott's previously agreed cash and stock offer by nearly 15 percent, and that it planned to scrap the proposed deal with the rival hotel chain.

[old_gregg]

huh. wonder if this means the point devaluation won't happen.

[Omaha 680]

huh. wonder if this means the point devaluation won't happen.

That's what I'm hoping. Definitely a better chance than if the Marriott deal went through.

[Katy Lied]

I just want to say that on my new Garmin sports watch (Forerunner 235), I can input my loyalty card bar codes and display them on my watch face. Plane tickets etc. Now I dont have to carry any loyalty cards. Whee!

[Surfah]

I just want to say that on my new Garmin sports watch (Forerunner 235), I can input my loyalty card bar codes and display them on my watch face. Plane tickets etc. Now I dont have to carry any loyalty cards. Whee!

Uh, why didn't you just use one of a number of phone apps that allows you to do this? I use Stocard for all of this.

[Walter Sobchak]

Uh, why didn't you just use one of a number of phone apps that allows you to do this? I use Stocard for all of this.

The first person that buys one of these Garmin watches without telling everyone about it will be the first.

[LiveCoug]

I'm considering this SPG rewards card but I just got the amex blue and am in the middle of spending their required amount to get their 300 dollar credit offer. Sigh.

I'm sure I can spend enough on both to get both rewards. Sigh again.

[creekster]

Uh, why didn't you just use one of a number of phone apps that allows you to do this? I use Stocard for all of this.

Yup. Easy. You can also just put the info in your contacts.

[Katy Lied]

Because I dont walk around all the time with my phone, but I walk around all the time with my watch on. I'm old school that way. Very useful at the gym. Now I need to put my credit card on my watch.

[Walter Sobchak]

Your Michaels loyalty card is useful at the gym? How far did you run today BTW?

[old_gregg]

I'm considering this SPG rewards card but I just got the amex blue and am in the middle of spending their required amount to get their 300 dollar credit offer. Sigh.

I'm sure I can spend enough on both to get both rewards. Sigh again.

35k spg points are worth ~3x the amex blue offer. even if you have to miss the minimum spend on the blue, it's worth it to get it the spg card.

[cowboy]

Delta just started an new little perk that I participated in the other night. At selected airports, they look through the passenger list for upper tier passengers who have tight connections on the other side of the airport. They then select a passenger and pick them up right off the plane, take them out the door down to the tarmac, and give them a ride in a Porsche across the tarmac to their next gate. I don't know if the additional loyalty will justify two full-time employees doing that all day, but I have to admit it was really cool.

[old_gregg]

Delta just started an new little perk that I participated in the other night. At selected airports, they look through the passenger list for upper tier passengers who have tight connections on the other side of the airport. They then select a passenger and pick them up right off the plane, take them out the door down to the tarmac, and give them a ride in a Porsche across the tarmac to their next gate. I don't know if the additional loyalty will justify two full-time employees doing that all day, but I have to admit it was really cool.

they've done that for a long time at katl. not sure about other airports though.

[old_gregg]

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-st...-idUSKCN0WN13N