Other Hotel Programs - Meridien Moments??

I have just enrolled in the Moments program after a stay in Munich but I do not know if this is a very worthwhile program esp given the few Meridien's in North America? What is your experience.

Moments is a terrible programme. You need to spend US$3.00 to get 1 moments point. (One night in London at the very ordinary, unspecial, touristy Grosvenor on a weeknight costs 2200 points which equals $6600 in spending... a total rip off when compared to other hotel programmes.) The Gold "elite" level affords very little recognition at the hotels, at best maybe a bottle of mineral water and two chocolates. Probably the worst programme to which I belong. A pity they scrapped the Carte Noire programme, which was so much better. The good thing about Le Meridien is that many of them are part of Leading Hotels group, so I get much better treatment and upgrades when presenting my invitation-only Leaders Club card.

I think Leaders Club card is not by invitation only - although that's what they try to pretend... go on the website and put down a list of 5 LHW properties you've stayed at and you'll receive the card automatically - at least , worked for me and a friend of mine.

The Le Merdidien program is pretty terrible. Still as a member I was able to after 2 short business stays have enough points for a free night in Dublin. (Only 800 points and will save me about 200 Euro). I also use my LHW membership for the upgrades.
A bit of advice, never use 300 points for the one night upgrade it is not worth it.

I have not noticed a decline in the Leaders Club program but they now seem to be giving it away. I heard you can now buy into it with a Travelocity Preferred membership. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

I liked it better when it was invite only!

I'm currently staying at a Meridien property. I was planning on opening a Moments account, as over several nights the value of those points (4 nights @$200+/night) would exceed the paltry 500 miles AA would give me. Moreover, if I am reading the program rules correctly, 50% of my Moments points could be converted to AA on a 1:5 basis, thereby giving me approximately the same number of AA miles plus retaining residual Moments points.

However, after reading the reviews of the Moments program here I am reconsidering my plans (particularly given the uncertain financial status of Le Meridien itself). I do not have a regular hotel affinity program, instead choosing what is most convenient for my needs and budget (though I always check Starwood and, secondarily, Marriott). I will likely stay at this Le Meridien property again, and given my experience here I will certainly consider other Meridien properties in the future (assuming Meridien is maintained as a brand). The hotel where I am currently staying is also a member of LHW, but I understand that accumulating "credit" towards membership in its recognition program is not exclusive of mileage accumulation.

Should I put the miles into Moments, or just resign myself to the 500 miles I can get from AA? Is there another program that might be a better compromise than AA (i.e. it appears that BA will give 250 miles/night, but BA miles are of lesser value to me)?

Thanks.

For a basic overview see the second table (http://www.e-traveller.net/fgp/toptier01.php). Le Méridien Moments is rather poor (= earning and benefits) compared to other programmes.

Another possibility to Join the Leader's Club: stay at five different properties and apply on their website by filling outtheir application form (http://www.lhw.com/leaders_club/become_member.asp). Be aware that Leaders Club is a loyality programme "only", so you can't earn points (but you could earn points with airline programmes if applicable). You can only get the benefits if you make your reservation via The Leading Hotels Reservations network. Some properties may give you the benefits also for priceline stays or booked on other sales channels. You can't count on that though.

see LHW Q&A (http://www.lhw.com/leaders_club/information.asp)
Q: Do I still get my Leaders Club benefits if I don’t place my reservation through The Leading Hotels of the World?

A: Leaders Club benefits are only applied to reservations made through The Leading Hotels of the World reservation network. While hotels may be able to honor benefits at the time of check-in, preferences will not be available and the stay will not be accrued toward future eligibility. Always indicate your membership number when you make your reservation in order to receive your benefits.

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Pictures from hotel stays (http://www.e-traveller.net/lh738/triprep/hotel.php)
Basic Hotel stays/nights/points calculator (http://www.e-traveller.net/fgp/fgp01calc.php)
Short overview: KLM FD, LH M&M (http://www.e-traveller.net/ffp/kl01.php)

Is it possible to get the 500 miles from AA for a meridien stay as well as the Moments points?
Nowhere on the AA.com site (http://www.aa.com/apps/AAdvantage/ViewMileageProgramsPartnerDetail.jhtml?fileName=le Meridien.xml&repositoryName=AAdvantagePartnersContentRepository&repositoryId=12100231&itemDescriptor=AAdvantagePartnersContent) does it say otherwise and I can't find anything contrary to this in the Moments guide.

Is it possible to get the 500 miles from AA for a meridien stay as well as the Moments points?
Nowhere on the AA.com site (http://www.aa.com/apps/AAdvantage/ViewMileageProgramsPartnerDetail.jhtml?fileName=le Meridien.xml&repositoryName=AAdvantagePartnersContentRepository&repositoryId=12100231&itemDescriptor=AAdvantagePartnersContent) does it say otherwise and I can't find anything contrary to this in the Moments guide.

No, you have to choose between Miles or Moments points. You can't earn both.

No, you have to choose between Miles or Moments points. You can't earn both.

OK. I'm staying at the Meridien in BRU for 3 nights. the toal for the 3 nights, before taxes, will be 450 EUROs.

I am trying to decide which would be more advantageous... the AA miles of the Moments points that I can convert into AA miles.

1 EUR = 0.70 GBP, therefore I will be spending about 315 GBPs (450 EUR x 0.70)

From what I understand, at 315 GBPs, I would earn 158 Moments points ( 1 point for each 2 GBPs spent)

Therefore, at 5 x the Moments points as the points to AA miles conversion, that would be 790 AA miles.
However, from what I can see in their guide book, you must have a minimum of 200 points and can only spend 50% of your points on miles, so I guess I'm screwed for the Moments points. I guess my best option is the 500 AA miles then.


From the Moments Guide:

Frequent flyer miles
Le Méridien Moments is also there to help you reach your
destination. You can enjoy free flights by exchanging your points
for frequent flyer miles at the rate of 5 miles per Moments point.
Participating Le Méridien airline partners:
Alitalia
American Airlines™
Continental Airlines
Delta Airlines
Emirates
Gulf Air
Saudi Arabian Airlines
SN Brussels Airlines
South African Airways
Swiss
TAP Air Portugal
Thai Airways International
Virgin Atlantic Airways
You can convert up to 50% of your Moments points to airline
miles twice a year, provided you have at least 200 points and are
already a member of the airline’s frequent flyer programme.


*One Moments point earned for every £2 sterling spent or local currency equivalent. Most individual business and
leisure rates apply. Exceptions include group/conference rates, holiday packages and other heavily discounted rates.
However, you can still earn Moments points on your food and bar bill even if you are not staying with us or are not staying on a qualifying rate. Please see Programme Conditions for more details on exclusions.

I guess my best option is the 500 AA miles then.

Yes, IMHO that's the best solution if you are not a frequent guest at Le Meridien hotels. More valuable than AA, if you are an Air France Frequence Plus member you can earn 250 miles per night.