Ouch.

I don't think I've ever redeemed anything other than 7 night awards, typically at higher category properties. This change knocks 40% right off the value of points accumulated over the last 15 years. Adding 15% to my future earnings (15/dollar vs 13/dollar) certainly does not make up for that. Not as bad as USAir devastation of their FF program, but this hurts big time.

Time to book several big trips for next year. Soon.

Some math - average increase

By # nights
1 - 0
2 - 7.2%
3 - 12.8%
4 - 20.4%
5 - 0.6%
6 - 12.0%
7 - 22.1%

By Category
1 - 8.5%
2 - 4.7%
3 - 5.7%
4 - 6.0%
5 - 14.8%
6 - 17.6%
7 - 17.8% (actually higher due to Cat 8 movement)

So if you do 5 days at a time at the local FI, you're looking at 0-7% savings. If you do a week at a time at a resort property, 30-40% increase. Hmmm, I wonder where the majority of points are redeemed.

I'd hazard a guess that the weighted average increase here is 15%. And that there will be a lot of 5-night awards in the future.

Impact analysis : http://richs.smugmug.com/gallery/537...165_qjyGM-O-LB