Roundup: Articles From Around the Web
Here are some posts from around the web that I thought you may find interesting. Let me know if there is anything good I missed. Email me anything awesome that you find, or write, at Mark@milestomemories.com.
Articles
Spirit Airlines Dramatically Drops Price of Checked Bags and Carry-ons Purchased at Gate – Le Chic Geek
This is good to see since $100 was outrageous. It is still more than it should be but at least in the realm of reasonable now. Spirit does have a method behind their madness though, I did really enjoy their boarding procedure. Here are some tips you need to know before flying them and how you can save $40 every time you fly them.
The World’s 25 Best Cities for Fine Dining – Travel Pulse
I know there are a lot of foodies out there in the travel hobby so I thought you may enjoy this one. Do you agree with the list?
Drinking on Delta Flights Just Got More Expensive – Danny the Deal Guru
Delta has been in the news for all the wrong reasons lately. They are “updating their boarding procedure” with like 27 zones now. They also introduced basic economy bookings with Skymiles. And now increasing the price of my beer!?! If you plan ahead you can fight them at their own game. I sometimes purchase drink vouchers on eBay before a flight to save a little bit of money.
[Rumor] Changes To IHG Ambassador Program – February 1st, 2019 – Doctor of Credit
These would be some big negatives if they actually come out. Why give 1 breakfast – are people supposed to be solo travelers? Removing the free mini bar is a big hit too although I am sure people cleared it out just because they could.
Remember that if you stay at IHG owned Kimpton hotels to use the secret code for extra freebies.
Jamaican hotel apologizes to British couple for life-sized dummy tribute of their dead son – Secret Flying
This is so bizarre. I really have no words.
Conclusion
Which article did you find most interesting? Remember to let me know of anything you come across that you want added into the next edition at Mark@milestomemories.com.
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Cat’s outta the bag here:
https://loyaltylobby.com/2018/12/12/ihg-rewards-club-intercontinental-royal-ambassador-ambassador-program-changes-coming-in-2019/?omhide=true
Rick is right. This is an upgrade (albeit small) since Ambassadors currently don’t get a free breakfast at all. Also, the raid-the-mini bar benefit is only for ROYAL Ambassadors, so a small subset of all Ambassadors.
My bad for some reason I thought Ambassadors already get breakfast. Good to know on the Royal Ambassadors part as well thanks Scott.
Platinum Ambassadors have also wished to get free breakfast since the AMB Program was initiated. If it wasn’t for the fact that my renewal was only $150 this year, I wouldn’t have bothered. The status really isn’t worth that much to me but I believe breakfast for Ambassador and spouse would make this program significantly more valuable in my mind.
Still some questions about changes to the (rumored) IHG Ambassador Program. As an Ambassador, I have never received free breakfast, so anything would be better than nothing. I hope they don’t plan on doing like Marriott, offering a breakfast sandwich heated up in the microwave as their breakfast offering. It’s hard to believe that I-C would be so cheap to provide breakfast to the Ambassador and not the spouse. That leaves a bad taste in my mouth, no pun intended. Hope it works out for the best, as we are staying at the I-C Resort, Phu Quoc, Vietnam, in March using points and free fourth night during our 8-day stay. Breakfast for two during the stay would be nice, and I believe they do have a lounge. If all true about one breakfast and not two, it seems a second Ambassador membership, costing $200 would have a payback of what, 6-8 nights/year? Last, would the second AMB membership for a couple also require Platinum status?
Thanks for the insight Rick. I am not sure on that last question but I will try to do some digging for you.
Rick I did a little reading and it looks like you don’t need any status to purchase Ambassador status. If your wife doesn’t currently have any status with IHG she would be automatically given Gold status when staying at non Intercontinental IHG brands. She would get all the same Ambassador perks as you do though if she signed up.
I am not sure how the free breakfast would work if you have two people staying in one room with status though. Would they give it to both people or just the person who the room is booked under? I would wait to see before doing anything.
A bit of improvement in the program would be great when you consider other hotel reward programs always seem to be cutting benefits through stratification, nickel and diming and devaluation of elite benefits. While I’m not a Royal AMB, it kinda sucks that mini bar privileges are being dismantled. With the AMEX Hilton Aspire (premium) card, I’m getting Diamond status, free breakfast for two, lounge access where lounges exist and more. So is IHG possibly moving toward a more premium Ambassador offering with breakfast and perhaps more? If so, would IHG and Chase get together to come out with a luxury or premium card that offers benefits on par with Hilton for an annual card fee of $450 or would that cannibalize or complement Chase Sapphire?
I could see Hyatt coming out with something like the Aspire but I don’t see it from IHG. They just don’t have the system set up to support it imo.