Delta’s big SkyMiles changes now in effect (Photo: Jim Glab)
AIRLINES
Big mileage switch starts. On January 1, Delta became the first of the Big Three U.S. legacy airlines to transform the basis of earnings in its loyalty plan from distance flown to money spent. Under the new regime, non-elite SkyMiles members will get five miles per dollar spent on air fare, Silver Medallions earn seven miles per dollar, Golds get eight, Platinums nine and Diamonds 11. Delta has an online comparison calculator so you can figure how much a given flight would earn in the old vs. new structures. United will put the same spending-based structure in place for MileagePlus members starting March 1. (American/US Airways for now is sticking with the traditional mileage scheme, although during 2015 it has new mileage bonuses based on fare class, elite status and distance flown.) Some observers say the change to spending-based programs is a logical development following the hotel industry’s lead, but others see it as the latest step in a class warfare where airlines disproportionately cater to big spenders at the expense everyone else. Readers: Have you run any numbers to see if you’ll be better off under the new criteria vs. the old? What did you find?
Etihad mess. Etihad, which launched San Francisco-Abu Dhabi nonstops using Jet Airways B777s in November, took a big hit over the weekend when fog struck in Abu Dhabi. SFO-bound flight 183 had started its taxi toward take off when the flight was halted due to foggy conditions. Passengers ended up stuck on the tarmac for about 12 hours with no opportunities to get off the plane– and lots of bickering between passengers and flight crews according to various reports. After that ordeal, passengers endured the 16-hour flight to SFO. Luckily, the only damage from this incident is frayed nerves on the part of travelers and a big black eye for an airline just getting started in SFO. Regrettably, an elderly passenger on a Dusseldorf-bound flight facing a similar delay died. Since US rules (or fines and compensation) for such delays do not apply foreign airlines operating overseas, it will be up to Eithad to determine how it will compensate passengers and repair its image. Stay tuned….
Alaska lifts bag fee temporarily. All members of Alaska Airlines’ Mileage Plan who fly on the carrier during January will get a break from the carrier’s $25 fee for a first checked bag during that month. If you booked a January flight at an earlier date and your Mileage Plan number is in the reservation, the fee waiver will kick in automatically during check-in. What’s the purpose of the month-long fee waiver? “To encourage new and existing members to experience the benefits of Alaska’s award-winning frequent flier program,” the company said. For details, go to www.alaskaair.com/FirstBagFree.
Routes: Virgin, American, Spirit. Virgin America Airlines has kicked off new seasonal daily flights between New York JFK and Ft. Lauderdale … American reportedly plans to revive American Eagle service between Cleveland and New York LaGuardia on March 29, with three ERJ-140 flights a day — the same day United plans to trim its CLE-LGA schedule from eight daily roundtrips to six … Spirit Airlines is growing in southern California; it will launch daily San Diego-Denver service January 6, Los Angeles-Cleveland flights April 16 and a daily LAX-Denver roundtrip on the same date.
Meeting room at Phoenix Marriott Mesa Hotel (Photo: Marriott)
HOTELS
Marriott explains Mi-Fi blocking. Remember a few months ago when Marriott was slapped with a $600,000 fine by the FCC after its Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville was caught blocking the personal Wi-Fi mobile hotspots (also known as Mi-Fi) that some guests were using at meetings there? Marriott and the American Hotel and Lodging Association are asking the FCC for a ruling that such blockages do not violate federal rules, and last week Marriott sought to clarify its position on the issue. Marriott said it will never block guests’ Mi-Fi signals in guestrooms or lobbies — in fact, it encourages such activity. Instead, it only wants to block “rogue and imposter Wi-Fi hotspots used in our meeting and conference spaces that pose a security threat to meeting or conference attendees or cause interference to the conference guest wireless network.” (But if you read through the AHLA/Marriott petition to the FCC, it doesn’t say anything about limiting hotels’ Mi-Fi blockage authority only to meeting rooms.) Meanwhile, Google and Microsoft, along with other respondents, have jumped into the debate, urging the FCC to continue barring hotels from imposing any restrictions on Mi-Fi hotspots. Do you ever use your own Wi-Fi hotspot in a hotel? Will this be unnecessary as the big chains roll out free standard Wi-Fi at all their hotels? Post comments below.
Hilton, Marriott cancellation policies start. Just a reminder: January 1 was the effective date for new policies and Hilton and Marriott that require guests who won’t show up to cancel their booking no later than the day before their expected arrival. Otherwise, they’ll forfeit the cost of a night’s stay. (Some say the purpose is to stop guests from looking for better rates on last-minute booking sites.) We haven’t seen other major lodging groups match the policies yet, and if too many guests book away from Hilton and Marriott in favor of more lenient cancellation rules, the new policies might not last. Do cancellation policies affect your choice of hotels? Add comments below.
Resolve to get more out of your good credit score in 2015 with a new credit card! Here are our picks for the two best all-around cards— Both currently offer 40,000 mile sign up bonuses!
Lobby of Aloft Denver Downtown Hotel (Photo: Starwood Hotels)
Starwood adds three Alofts. Are you a tech-minded Millennial? Then you’re the target market for Starwood Hotels’ trendy Aloft brand, and the company just opened three of them in key domestic business destinations. In Detroit, the historic David Whitney Building at One Park Avenue has been converted into a 136-room Aloft Hotel; another new Aloft has opened at 16th and Stout in the heart of downtown Denver; and the third has made its debut at Buffalo, N.Y.’s airport. Here’s our take on the Aloft near San Francisco International airport.
AIRPORTS
Free Wi-Fi coming to NYC airports. By the end of the first quarter of 2015, travelers in all terminals of the three major New York City-area airports should be able to enjoy 30 minutes of free Wi-Fi with no ads. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is working with Boingo Wireless to upgrade Wi-Fi technology at LaGuardia, JFK and Newark so that free high-speed 30-minute sessions can be offered in all of them. Currently, the amenity is in EWR’s Terminal C, LGA’s Central Terminal and JFK’s Terminal 4. For more time online, the system will offer hourly, daily or monthly fees.
In Case You Missed It…
- Here’s why San Francisco’s airport is prone to lengthy flight delays.
- Delta plans to redefine cabin/seating categories as of March 1.
>>Take a peek at what you may have missed on TravelSkills.com this week! <<
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The only thing that i don’t like at Marriot and mostly Hilton is the fact that they are charging for Wifi i mean you pay a dozen of money to stay there at least you deserve free wifi to your room !
Even the cheap hotels with under 25$ per night gives you free wifi,that’s ridiculous !
Maria K
CEO http://www.airlineticketsnow.com – The Cheapest Hotel Booking Site
I won’t let the new cancellation policies affect my choice of hotels … but I will watch all my upcoming reservations like a hawk! I ate nearly $300 several years ago because I forgot to cancel a room after rebooking elsewhere. Painful! I predict both Hilton and Marriott will allow their status people more latitude when it comes to cancelling.
As a Platinum for life member at Marriott, I have had hundreds of last minute (same day) changes in the last fifteen years that were either total cancellations or change in location (and many times from one chain to another). I never used last minute booking sites, so that reasoning doesn’t fly for me. If I am not going to be able to make a same day change or cancellation, I will either use discount websites or go to another chain.
And I though my wife and I were doing well by getting free miles via CC. You guys have this stuff down to a science…
http://www.prvacationhelpers.com
The Delta 2014/2015 mileage comparison calculator has either a serious bug in it or it is just plain deceptive on Delta’s part. Tokyo-Narita to Atlanta flights are over 6,000 miles one-way (regardless of calendar year) but the highest 2014 mileage I can get the calculator to show is 2,250* (with the * saying it is for a roundtrip???). If you are a new Delta customer, you probably couldn’t care less. If you are an exisiting Delta customer (like myself), you may be asking yourself what the point of customer loyalty is for when Delta pushes the dog-eat-dog mentality. Diamond Medallion doesn’t seem so Diamond anymore.
I understand the rationale behind the new cancellation policy at Marriott/Hilton but as all business travelers can attest, plans do change. I’d like to see a grace period, whereby if I book another stay within a certain time frame (3 months?) I can apply the amount of the cancellation charge to the new reservation. Frequent guests would not be punished only those looking for the cheapest stay at any hotel.
I realized that with United years ago. No longer have any loyalties to any airline. Just fly a lot of Southwest and JetBlue because they are nice and treat me like a human.
If a Delta Plantinum person that flies first class is complaining, what about us regular fliers on that business trip with a $400 round trip coach ticket. Earning miles will be as hard as getting into Baseball’s Hall of Fame.
Cash-value frequent flyer miles are income. I expect the IRS and California’s FTB to bring lawsuits demanding that the airlines collect flyer social security numbers and report cash-value frequent flyer miles on 1099s so they can be taxed.
As a Delta Platinum, I’m still failing to see the “benefit” of the new skymiles system. Last week I went from ATL to SEA for $817 on for a first class seat….still waiting for the miles to compute on the return (post Jan 1), but 1 way I earned 5453 regular skymiles. Delta’s comparison calculator told me I would have earned 2000 miles RT under the 2014 system, and 7353 miles RT under the 2015 system. A) its wrong, B) the calculator fails to take into account 2014 MED status. Free Upgrades are few and far between now that you can upgrade with cash or miles (at purchase or check-in), and I now question why I’m flying 100,000 miles for a free bag? Loyalty is supposed to be a two way street.
the new Hilton and Mariott cancellation policies are a bit extreme. Perhaps they should waive them for those with Gold status at Hilton or the equivilant at Mariott. Business travelers often have plans change at the last minute. May have to look into Hyatt.
Delta still flys from Roanoke to Atlanta but you say that’s not an option. So it looks like your stuck. US Air has non-stop flights from Philadelphia to Frankfurt and since US Air has flights from Roanoke to Philadelphia, that is an option.
Have no idea if you are doing this based on Frequent flyer programs, if you are US Air to Philly is the only game in town.
If it was me I would drive the three hours to Dulles and take a non-stop flight on Lufthansa and call it a day. Better service and better flight, US Air does fly Airbus 330s so it’s not terrible, but it’s still US Air.
Of course you can always stoop down and fly United, they fly Roanoke to Chicago, or you can drive to Dulles. They fly to multiple cities in Germany may be better options for you.
In my estimation not having to fly a little plane from Roanoke is the best option, better to drive the three hours than take the three hours to transfer to a little plane to Roanoke.
Like many people who were finishing off their holiday season travel on January 4, 2015, a reality check showed that I was lucky to merely endure a three hour delay at Chicago-O’Hare and Montreal-Trudeau today. One guy that I talked to suffered a five beer, three Sunday NFL games delay during the day as a non-status flier (and he was not unhappy; his house burned down in early December, he was staying at his parents, and he has travel insurance). Always look at the bright side … here’s a new year’s message from Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield:
http://abc7chicago.com/society/the-world-isnt-all-that-bad-astronaut-argues-in-uplifting-video/454182/
@Salvatore Johnson this off topic. sort of. would like to talk with you about airlines etc. I live in Roanoke and because Delta no longer flies into Roanoke from DTW, I have spent more time than I need to trying to find the best way to get to ROA from Germany this Aug. Have miles in Delta and USAIR, and a few in AA. Flying into ATL is not an option. Any ideas? Thanks Alex
We are coming into a new era in Frequent Flyer programs.
They were started as a way of showing loyalty and to stay in one plan.
For years you tried to accumulate as many miles as possible in one place to get better awards.
But over the years the airlines have now changed the way the programs run. It’s no longer earning miles by flying one airline, you now have to use that airlines credit card to get more miles and it’s diluted the program. So by having so many ways of earning mileage the airlines are now stuck with trillions of unused frequent flyer points.
So in the last five to seven years it seems that these programs have now been downgraded in a manner that if you just fly one airline it just doesn’t cut it, unless you are one of the privilege few that has a company fly you first class or buy expensive tickets.
So in 2016 those loyal folks that fly with either Delta or United will see that just flying a lot on that airline will get you squat. I fly about 60,000 miles a year, in past years they would all be with United. But that airline has really taken a bite in lower services while charging high fees and frankly I enjoy flying Southwest and JetBlue more. I use to fly between two and three times a year to Europe, most of those on United but I will say this I now fly to London on Virgin, much better airlines and when I fly to the middle east have found Emirates Air to be the best airline period.
So I have had to struggle to fly 25,000 miles on United, so that I can get that one free bag a flight. Living in Northern Virginia I find myself with no choice but United, but frankly with this new scheme I don’t know if I will go out of my way to get the 25,000 miles. I find all of these cutbacks and I am no longer talking about the new way miles will be determined, I think that they have raised the bar on upgrading, specially to Europe that I find myself making a decision, do I fly an airlines that I hate like United or fly more on the Southwest, JetBlue’s and Virgins which cater more to flyers. It’s now to the point that I fly and pay Virgin for business class to Europe and don’t mind it.
United spends too much time trying to figure out how to gauge people more for flights with added fees and constantly screwing all of us by devaluing their frequent flyer program.
In the past five years United hasn’t done one nice thing for me, even to the point of when I got screwed up on a flight and they gave me vouchers those vouchers for 20% off my flight the fine print had it so watered down was almost meaningless. (Flight to Europe the 20% was only on cost of ticket with is only half the cost of a ticket).
So to answer your question and I can’t say for Delta since I haven’t flown that airlines in close to ten years, United has seriously made their program less attractive to the point that I go others instead.
I think Alaska is starting to realize as they expand into Southwest’s territory how smart it might be to ditch bag fees now that fuel prices are declining and there are more marginal passengers that they can attract to become customers.
It would also be a huge blow against Delta which can’t really abandon bag fees now as a revenue stream.
In a couple of days I’ll be embarking on a flight from Sydney to New Orleans via Los Angeles for my annual archaeology meeting. Now this is a pricey flight as it’s typically well over $3,000 to fly from Australia in January, during the summer holidays. Normally a Sydney-US flight runs around $1500.
As a Platinum Medallion I’ll earn about 28,000 miles under the new program (and I’ll be earning about half that for any other US flights I take this year). By comparison, I earned about 38,000 miles for a trip to Austin, Texas in November.
I’m not thrilled with the new program, but honestly what bothers me the most is that I just don’t trust Delta to stick by its customers. It seems like every year there’s another “improvement” which lessens the value of Medallion loyalty. What’s next? My guess is they’ll cut gratis elite Medallion lounge access on international flights…
I tried the calculator and it gave the same mileage figures under the old system no matter what destination I put in: 1250 miles. Even for transcontinental flights.
I have Wi-Fi hotspot included in my mobile plan and use it all the time in hotels. It’s reliable and free and I want to continue to ber able to do so. Please.
You shouldn’t use ‘Mi-Fi’ as a generic term for a Wi-Fi hotspot device (or a tethered cell phone). It’s a brand name for devices from Novatel, but there are dozens of other devices capable of doing the same thing. Don’t ‘Xerox’/’Kleenex’ their trademark 🙂