There is a new travel credit card in the market. Read on to learn more. Also, hotel companies are awarding big bonuses for upcoming stays. See which ones and where in the latest offerings in this week’s report.
Holiday Inn Club Vacations bonus points
If you have an upcoming stay at a Holiday Inn Club Vacations property, this is your lucky day. Or lucky season! Between March 1 and May 14, earn double points on stays at participating properties. Reservations must be made by April 16. Participating properties include Galveston, Texas; Gatlinburg, Tennessee; Orlando; Scottsdale, Arizona; and Williamsburg, Virginia among others.
Club Carlson ends weekend discount rates for elites
Club Carlson’s elite members are in for another disappointment as the latest devaluation to the program does away with the special rates afforded to elite members on weekends. While only offered in certain regions, the change is still a big devaluation for many members since it ends the half-off discount for multi-night weekend stays. The change was made with no notification to members.
Earn 20,000 Flying Blue points with Amex Offers
If you have an American Express card, be sure to check your Amex Offers to register for an Air France booking bonus. There is a current targeted bonus for cardmembers that are planning to spend more than $1,000 on an Air France flight, no matter what the cabin. Reservations must be made through the U.S. version of the Air France website before April 14, and members must register for the offer on the Amex website before making a reservation. This is on top of the 5x Membership Rewards points earned for booking an airline reservation with the card.
Double points for new Marriott Rewards members
If you are new to Marriott Rewards, there’s a double point offer that is worth taking advantage of this spring. Travelers visiting Marriott properties in the Caribbean and Latin America are eligible to take advantage of this promotion. Reservations should be made before May 31 for stays before December 22. New members that register before March 15 are eligible to earn double points for their first three stays before April 15.
Cathay Pacific launches new U.S. credit card
In a rare instance, a foreign airline has launched its own credit card in the United States. This can offer tremendous value to travelers looking to accrue Asia Miles instead of U.S.-based currencies. The Cathay Pacific Visa Signature card comes with a bonus of 25,000 miles after spending $2,500 within the first three months. There is an annual fee of $95, which is not waived, but there are bonuses for spending on dining and foreign purchases (the latter is a rare bonus category for credit cards). Plus, travelers can earn double miles on Pacific purchases.
Earn a bonus with American Airlines Vacations
There are two reasons why this could be a huge bonus. The first is the relatively unknown feature that flights booked through aavacations.com are awarded miles based upon distance flown under the old system rather than dollars spent. This is due to the fact that airfares are hidden given that the price is packaged in with a hotel stay. This can be especially lucrative for long-haul travel, but even those with shorter-haul plans can take advantage of the latest bonus offering 15,000 miles for a reservation between now and Feb. 22 for travel up until November 20.
Turkish Airlines lounge open for more people
You don’t have to be one of the privileged Star Alliance Gold members passing through Washington Dulles (even if just on a domestic itinerary) to take advantage of the newest lounge at IAD. Priority Pass members can now visit the coveted lounge to enjoy Do & Co dining and exceptional surroundings while awaiting their flight…even if that flight is not aboard Turkish Airlines.
United Polaris launches first official domestic flights
While it’s true the soft product for United Polaris has been flying since December, nothing can match the new, all-aisle access Polaris seats of the airline’s Boeing 777-300ER. The aircraft made its inaugural commercial flight with media on Feb. 13 between Chicago and San Francisco, and it will now be flying passengers between Newark and San Francisco with its flat-bed seats. Saver award space will cost 25,000 miles in each direction and will supplement the existing P.S. service offering. The full Polaris service will also be offered onboard. Beginning March 25, the first true international experience between San Francisco and Hong Kong will take flight. Once the airline takes more deliveries of the aircraft, it will serve more Asian destinations from SFO.