Hotel Rewards Cheat Sheet Shows the Real Cost of Free Nights
Aug 16, 2010, 5:56 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: New England
Programs: American Airlines, Continental, United, Southwest, BA, Marriott Rewards, Hilton Honors, Hyatt
Posts: 272
Hotel Rewards Cheat Sheet Shows the Real Cost of Free Nights
I apologize if this is in the wrong location. From Lifehacker.com
"Nearly anywhere you go, you've got a choice of hotel chains, and each offers to reward your loyalty. How long does it really take to earn a free night's stay? Comparison site NerdWallet ranks the inns in order.
Even with an apples-to-apples comparison of the number of nights needed for a free stay and the general value of sticking with chain, which NerdWallet provides, it's hard for any mere mortal to keep track of which hotel conglomerate controls which brands"
http://www.nerdwallet.com/infographics/hotel-rewards
Frequent Flyer Cheat Sheet:
http://www.nerdwallet.com/infographi...nt-flyer-miles
"Nearly anywhere you go, you've got a choice of hotel chains, and each offers to reward your loyalty. How long does it really take to earn a free night's stay? Comparison site NerdWallet ranks the inns in order.
Even with an apples-to-apples comparison of the number of nights needed for a free stay and the general value of sticking with chain, which NerdWallet provides, it's hard for any mere mortal to keep track of which hotel conglomerate controls which brands"
http://www.nerdwallet.com/infographics/hotel-rewards
Frequent Flyer Cheat Sheet:
http://www.nerdwallet.com/infographi...nt-flyer-miles
Aug 16, 2010, 6:03 pm
#2
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: WAS
Programs: AA EXP2M, DL 1MM DM ext, UA PP <=> HH G/Marr PE/Hyatt G/IHG P FT RA ( Recovering Addict)
Posts: 4,596
I do not think an SPG is worth 2.3c
When I use an SPG card instead of my 2% cash back I get 1 point = 2c cost
Also it overvalues Continental miles and undervalues AA miles significantly.
CO miles can't be used one way.
AA gives great OW awards, has lifetime status for 1MM miles does not block and has great award availability.
I could go on and on...
When I use an SPG card instead of my 2% cash back I get 1 point = 2c cost
Also it overvalues Continental miles and undervalues AA miles significantly.
CO miles can't be used one way.
AA gives great OW awards, has lifetime status for 1MM miles does not block and has great award availability.
I could go on and on...
Aug 16, 2010, 8:41 pm
#4
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Programs: Hyatt Diamond, Fairmont Platinum, Aeroplan Diamond, HHonors Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 18,686
Availability for reward flights is a key factor missing as well.. Points may be worth more, but more difficicult to book. For example, Air Canada Aeroplan is near impossible to book to Hawaii or Orlando for the quoted value tier.. But, because Star Alliance includes United.. I always seem to be able to book United on our vacations to our destinations.
Aug 17, 2010, 11:12 am
#7
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Arlington, VA
Programs: Any program with a credit card, or good prices.
Posts: 437
The numbers just seem wacky to me. For example the AK Air sign up is 25,000 miles which they say is worth $197, that is also valid for a saver domestic ticket (i.e. a flight to Alaska or from the West Coast to the East Coast).. Unless you are flying between the lower 48 west coast states (i.e. OR to WA) you are hard put to fly a round trip for under $200 on Alaska Airlines.
Aug 17, 2010, 7:14 pm
#9
Join Date: Nov 2008
Programs: MTA NYCTA Super Plutonium Elite
Posts: 107
Aug 19, 2010, 2:16 am
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Trident Plat, DL Diamond, AI Maharajah
Posts: 29,668