No Grand Slam? Bloggers remain silent...
Aug 16, 2012, 6:45 pm
#1
Suspended
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,677
No Grand Slam? Bloggers remain silent...
The fact that bloggers are not talking about the fact that there is NO Grand Slam this month -- has convinced me that they know something...and there will be a Grand Slam some time this year. WHAT SAY YE?
Aug 16, 2012, 6:47 pm
#2
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,758
Aug 16, 2012, 6:48 pm
#3
Join Date: Jul 2012
Programs: Delta Gold, Alaska Gold 75K, LATAM Black
Posts: 3,393
No Grand Slam? Bloggers remain silent...
I hope!!!! I have points stashed in Club Carlson, Hilton, Best Western, E-miles & e-rewards in preparation lol we still have a few weeks yet ....
Aug 16, 2012, 6:51 pm
#4
Formerly known as iahsumr
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 520
I don't know any more than anyone else about the Grand Slam. I've tweeted, emailed, etc to try to get any ounce of info from US Airways (just like others have done), but ultimately it hasn't amounted to much.
I've got nothing else to post about the Grand Slam until either there is one, or there is some definitive info that there isn't one. I'm certainly crossing my fingers tightly though!
I've got nothing else to post about the Grand Slam until either there is one, or there is some definitive info that there isn't one. I'm certainly crossing my fingers tightly though!
Aug 16, 2012, 7:18 pm
#6
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SFO
Programs: AA EXP,AS MVPG,MR Platinum,HH Gold
Posts: 1,343
Here's hoping! My AwardWallet is chock full of stray point balances just waiting to be turned into Grand Slam hits! I'll be so sad if they don't run it again. The bamboo plant I ordered from FTD last year is wilting -- just in time!
Aug 16, 2012, 8:01 pm
#10
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: LAS
Programs: DL PM, UA PS, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 4,904
In previous years (like last year), US Airways has had a post-summer promotion for two months where you get "hits" for doing partner activities. I.e. renting a car at Hertz/Avis/etc and posting the miles to US Airways earns a hit. Staying at a Hyatt/IHG/Best Western and crediting to US Airways earns a hit. Buying stuff through the US Airways shopping mall was a hit. Buying US Airways miles was a hit. Oddly enough, flying US Airways was not a hit, but I digress ...
You get bonus miles for every 4 hits (a slam). Last year, 36 hits was the maximum for 100K bonus miles (40 hits for US elites for 110K bonus miles). That's on top of the miles you'd earn from the activities themselves. This being FT, we come up with ways to earn hits very cheaply. To put it into figures, last year I topped off at 184K miles for under $750 of incremental spend (i.e., spend that I made purely for the promotion).
At certain multiples of 4s, the miles also counted toward elite status, so a lot of US elites have counted on the GS to hit a target status level.
Certain hits, like transferring from e-Miles or e-rewards or hotel points to US Airways miles take time to do, so a lot of us gather up eMiles/eRewards/hotel credits in odd programs with the sole intention of transferring them to US Airways during the GS to earn a hit.
There are plenty of relatively easy hits that are free/cheap, so a lot of people aim for a hit number in the teens or twenties, but it's a great way to get a bunch of miles usable for *A travel. If you go for the full 36-40 hits, it can be time-consuming, but very fun.
You get bonus miles for every 4 hits (a slam). Last year, 36 hits was the maximum for 100K bonus miles (40 hits for US elites for 110K bonus miles). That's on top of the miles you'd earn from the activities themselves. This being FT, we come up with ways to earn hits very cheaply. To put it into figures, last year I topped off at 184K miles for under $750 of incremental spend (i.e., spend that I made purely for the promotion).
At certain multiples of 4s, the miles also counted toward elite status, so a lot of US elites have counted on the GS to hit a target status level.
Certain hits, like transferring from e-Miles or e-rewards or hotel points to US Airways miles take time to do, so a lot of us gather up eMiles/eRewards/hotel credits in odd programs with the sole intention of transferring them to US Airways during the GS to earn a hit.
There are plenty of relatively easy hits that are free/cheap, so a lot of people aim for a hit number in the teens or twenties, but it's a great way to get a bunch of miles usable for *A travel. If you go for the full 36-40 hits, it can be time-consuming, but very fun.
Last edited by amolkold; Aug 16, 2012 at 8:08 pm
Aug 16, 2012, 8:03 pm
#11
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: ORF
Programs: Amex Plat, AA, BA Silver, Marriott Plat, Choice Gold, HHonors Gold, IHG Diamond
Posts: 3,749
Sure, a great promo for those who are accumulating US miles (I got my 120K last year), but a very iffy business proposition, especially when done every year.
Of course, if there's no GS, there'll be a lot of stamping of feet around here and plenty of accusations that "the bloggers" (sort of spat out in the way I once heard an old Irish guy say, "the English") ruined the deal by giving it too much publicity.
Aug 17, 2012, 12:48 am
#12
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SFO
Programs: AA EXP,AS MVPG,MR Platinum,HH Gold
Posts: 1,343
Makes a lot of sense. USAirways may be the Star Alliance consolidator, but I've got to believe their airline partners have said something along the lines of "ENOUGH."
Sure, a great promo for those who are accumulating US miles (I got my 120K last year), but a very iffy business proposition, especially when done every year.
Of course, if there's no GS, there'll be a lot of stamping of feet around here and plenty of accusations that "the bloggers" (sort of spat out in the way I once heard an old Irish guy say, "the English") ruined the deal by giving it too much publicity.
Sure, a great promo for those who are accumulating US miles (I got my 120K last year), but a very iffy business proposition, especially when done every year.
Of course, if there's no GS, there'll be a lot of stamping of feet around here and plenty of accusations that "the bloggers" (sort of spat out in the way I once heard an old Irish guy say, "the English") ruined the deal by giving it too much publicity.
Aug 17, 2012, 3:09 am
#13
Join Date: Apr 2004
Programs: AA, UA, SQ, VA, QF, AF, BA
Posts: 2,865
What I can't figure out is why US isn't just telling us if it will happen or not. What do they have to gain by keeping it a secret? Those of us who have been doing it for years will have already done the prep work, it's too late in the game for full-on newbies to prep the "free" hits unless they are business travelers who stay in lots of hotels througout the year. I've seen the evasive answers on Twitter and just think US is disrespecting their customers. Either say, "sorry, it's not going to happen this year" or "yes we are having it, details will be posted on *insert date*" and be done with it!
Aug 17, 2012, 3:11 am
#14
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,132
There is a GS forum on FT just for this purpose... the 'GS2012 yes or no?' has been going on for quite a while...
Aug 17, 2012, 4:18 am
#15
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 198
What I can't figure out is why US isn't just telling us if it will happen or not. What do they have to gain by keeping it a secret? Those of us who have been doing it for years will have already done the prep work, it's too late in the game for full-on newbies to prep the "free" hits unless they are business travelers who stay in lots of hotels througout the year. I've seen the evasive answers on Twitter and just think US is disrespecting their customers. Either say, "sorry, it's not going to happen this year" or "yes we are having it, details will be posted on *insert date*" and be done with it!