DOUBLE Star Alliance Points
 

DOUBLE Star Alliance Points till Nov 15th

Well the heading is true .. could be quadruple points in some cases.

I was just snooping around the Mexicana website as I fly with them to Los Cabos this week and have not yet booked a hotel. (Found Sheratons and Westins 50% off in Sept, so a useful site!)

Mexicana have just joined Star Alliance. Their "opening special" is for your first r/t flight DOUBLE mileage on ANY Star Alliance carrier flight, in any class, anywhere in the world:

www.mexicana.com.mx/mx2/english/Frecuenta/boletin/20bol_sepoct2000/double.asp

Thats the good news. The maybe not so good news is that the double miles go into your MEX "Frecuenta" account .. that also attracts a 4625 mile "sign on" bonus. How useful are Frecuenta miles? Who knows ... I spent 10 minutes on their site and can't see WHAT point sums apply to any redemption of free flights. If anyone else finds it, please post here!

All I know is that if ANY UA flyer takes a Thai flight they get HALF miles for every mile flown. If I fly Thai to Europe in coach the 20,000 flown miles get me only 10,000 MP points. On Frecuenta I assume this becomes 40,000 points, (+ 4625 sign on) and that 34,625 bonus might be worth something decent?

(Sept 13 Update .. the options get very interesting as the thread develops - like 46,000 FREE Hilton points as one very tasty option, with no flights or Hotel stays required!)

------------------
~ Glen ~



[This message has been edited by ozstamps (edited 09-13-2000).]

I might fly LH to Philadelphia in october. This trip is total 5134miles which is 10268 roundtrip and then another 10268 in bonus and then 4000miles in signup bonus. Totalt this would give me 24.536. The big question is this enough for anything? How many miles for SK within Europe?

Kempis .. see if YOU can find their redemption tables!? Being Mexico based I'd guess they'd keep award levels similar to US airlines, so 25K for an internal USA/Canada/Alaska flight would not suprise me .. probably on UA or AC metal being *.

So an east coast to Alaska freebie for your 1 transatlantic sounds tempting I suppose?

Depends on your status with SK of course - if they give you a high tier bonus this offer is no big deal at all. The Thai one was the best use of it I could think of quickly as I use Thai quite bit and UA is very "stingy" with that 50%. LH used to offer only 50% in Europe but Rudi I recall said that had changed but was not in all guides yet.

The other not so good news is that you're flying Mexicana. Since you're a sweet talker, Oz, I'm sure the hotel will forgive that first night when you don't get there until the next day. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

No you did not read it.

Fly ANY * carrier (your choice) and MEXICANA's program gives you the double miles.

------------------
~ Glen ~

Double credits, except on Mexicana flights. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

Not sure if it is clear to all that apart from Mexicana flights which the initial link specified, ALL other * carriers, worldwide, on all fares will get DOUBLE points in the MEXICANA plan.

What they are worth, who knows, but it may well be useful for someone! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

i.e. if you fly Ansett for 2000 miles which UA only give us 1400 points for (70%) MEX will give 8000 points (4000 + 4000) and UA only give points 30 days either side of a PAID trans pac, which the MEX plan does not require.

If am flying MEX (on a UA codeshare so it counts for this offer I imagine!) in a week or so LAX-Los Cabos-LAX. Normally UA give me 100% of that - about 2000 miles. Is is worth me ending up with 8000 MEX miles? At least 2000 UA I can use in some way by adding to the "bank". Bet the mimimum redemption level is 10K, and where the heck will I ever get 2000 MEX pointsvin future?

------------------
~ Glen ~



[This message has been edited by ozstamps (edited 09-10-2000).]

Mexicana benefits chart http://www.mexicana.com.mx/mx2/engli...os/benesas.asp

Scandinavia

1 Within Denmark or Norway or Sweden 10,000 20,000
2
Between Copenhagen-Stockholm or Stockholm-Oslo or Oslo-Copenhagen or Gothenburg-Oslo or Gothenburg-Copenhagen 10,000 20,000
Europe

Europe Between Scandinavia; Denmark, Norway, Sweden (direct services only): Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Eire, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greenland, Ungary, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lituania, Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Spain, Switzerland and United Kingdom 35,000 50,000
North America / India

Between Osolo or Stockholm or Copenhaguen (direct services only): Chicago, New York, Seattle and Delhi 50,000 80,000
Asia

Between Copenhagen:China, Japan, Singapore, Thailand 90,000 130,000
Within Asia

Between Bangkok-Singapore 25,000 40.000

Welcome to the boards fokker50 http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

If you can figger out the Frequenta site, PLEEZ stay around: that deserves a medal of honor .. I've worked on it for 15 minutes. VERY frustrating site in many ways. You post the SAS awards. Did you find a master table - for UA, Ansett etc? I found a table of "destinations" but no points needed to redeem them.

http://www.mexicana.com.mx/mx2/engli...eographics.asp


booking on-line with them gives 2500 points .. found that much out as well!




[This message has been edited by ozstamps (edited 09-10-2000).]

Interesting...

Mexicana Benefits Chart - Miles Required

http://www.mexicana.com.mx/mx2/engli...s/benefrec.asp
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Mexicana Partner Benefits Charts - Miles Required

AeroLitoral
http://www.mexicana.com.mx/mx2/engli...enelitoral.asp

AeroMexico
http://www.mexicana.com.mx/mx2/engli...s/benecpam.asp

Aeromar
http://www.mexicana.com.mx/mx2/engli...eneaeromar.asp

Air Canada
http://www.mexicana.com.mx/mx2/engli...s/benecana.asp

Air New Zealand
http://www.mexicana.com.mx/mx2/engli...enezealand.asp

Lufthansa
http://www.mexicana.com.mx/mx2/engli.../benelufth.asp

SAS
http://www.mexicana.com.mx/mx2/engli...os/benesas.asp

SiemprePlus
http://www.mexicana.com.mx/mx2/engli.../beneplusn.asp

United Airlines (2 Charts)
http://www.mexicana.com.mx/mx2/engli...s/beneunit.asp
http://www.mexicana.com.mx/mx2/engli...beneficios.asp

Varig
http://www.mexicana.com.mx/mx2/engli.../benevarig.asp

Hard Rock Cafe
http://www.mexicana.com.mx/mx2/engli...os/benehrc.asp

Hilton HHonors
http://www.mexicana.com.mx/mx2/engli...benehilton.asp

[This message has been edited by MRLIMO (edited 09-10-2000).]

I looked at the United Award chart, is that right, 25,000 miles for a trip to Hawaii??
If so it, is better than the UA award !

MRLIMO ..... what great work .. thank you! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Wow these threads are worth looking into. And your assistance has been the "key" to unlocking the secrets all of us can now share in.

THE BEST "flying" value I can see there IMHO is the 20,000 coach/30,000 Business for Australia to Asia - Singapore-HK-Japan-China or v/v etc.

Kempis .. you still here?

Those are often $3000 r/t tickets in Business/First. Not bad for your one transatlantic discount ticket on SAS!

Also another fine transer was to Hilton HHonors points:

Frecuenta Miles convery to HHonors Points .............

3,125 Frecuenta points = 10,000 Hilton
6,250 = 20,000
12,500 = 40,000
18,750 = 60,000 Hilton

Now folks, Mileage Doctor Glen is here to tell you the obvious. You get 4,000 points for signing on with Frecuenta and you get 10,000 Hilton points for 3,125 Frecueta points. Thank you all ... that is 10,000 Hilton Free points for eveyone reading this unless there is some catrch. Can anyone see one?!

Add the 6,000 points that Hilton well give you free on my other post here:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum1/HTML/003354.html

And everyone reading this can have 16,000 FREE Hillton points for 10 minutes work.

That is enough for more than 3 FREE Hilton nights - see:

http://www.hilton.com/hhonors/rewards/hotel.html

Or naturally, you can take your 16,000 Hilton points and turn them into quite a few 1000 REAL airline miles on most major carriers - of your choice.

(Please send the $50 bills in plain brown envelopes folks!)

Enjoy .. this IMHO is one of the neatest deals I've seen for a while. You appear to not need to fly ANY airline or stay at ANY hotel to end up with 16,000 very useable points. Someone correct me if I missed something? Looks pretty foolproof from here. Kempis would for instance end up with over 60,000 HHilton points from his one trip outlined above. (SIX free Hilton nights at "opportunity rates" are only 33,000 points, so he might juggle it to end up with a dozen Hilton nights!)

Same deal would apply to ANYONE who took a * flight ... on UA, SAS, Air NZ, Thai, Singapore,Varig, Lufthansa, etc, etc, and added the MEX # in booking after joining Frecuenta, not your usual airline one.


------------------
~ Glen ~

http://www.mexicana.com.mx/mx2/engli...benehilton.asp
Does this mean you need at least 5000 miles
before you can make a transfer?
**minimum transfer=5000 miles**
If so, just the signup bonus of 4000 miles won't get it. Close, but no cigar.
Correct me if I'm wrong.

[This message has been edited by anz5708 (edited 09-10-2000).]

According to the sign-up screen you get 4000+625 points just for signing up.

Dorian



------------------
Star Alliance RTW Price Chart: http://www.informationlab.com/rtw.htm
Star Alliance Comparison Chart: http://members.home.net/deercroft/starall00.html

They are giving 4625 for sign up now. How to get those extra 375 points? A hotel stay with one of their partner hotels
http://www.mexicana.com.mx/mx2/engli...mashoteles.asp

Or send four people flowers at 250 miles a pop ($28 cheapest bunch at www.floramex.com for three roses)
http://www.mexicana.com.mx/mx2/engli...rs/flowers.asp

With a couple participating in this and the HH signups that is 26,000 HH points all for the price of two cheap hotel stays or four bunches of flowers thanks to ozstamps and Mr. Limo. Fantastic, thanks http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif


[This message has been edited by Mvic (edited 09-10-2000).]

ANZ and Dorian ... well spotted. So, to get up to 5000 miles one needs to book ANYTHING online with MX (2500 points) or get 375 points via the "flying" bonus at the head of this thread.

Seeing MEX are offering double points on ANY Star * flight, any round trip anywhere in the world on * totalling 375 miles flown round trip will do it, which is small beer for many of us. For instance I am travelling LAX-Los Vegas-LAX next week on the UA Shuttle - 236 miles each way, So that would easily qualify me. ( And UA are "mean" with Shuttle flights are only award miles flown, not minimum 500).

Something short like that is all that is needed, on UA or LH or British Midland or Thai etc. Ansett just offered $US16 flights within Australia - those sort of things all qualify.

Can anyone else see from the MEX site a way to get 375 bonus points into an existing Frecuenta account that does NOT involve flying? Doing a survey, signing up a calling card etc. Please post link here if anyone can dig something out! I am flying them in a week or so. Does anyone know if they sell duty free on the 3 hours LAX-Los Cabos flights? Buy Margaret some Chanel, and a nice cognac for me wil do it probably?


------------------
~ Glen ~



[This message has been edited by ozstamps (edited 09-10-2000).]

Imagine flying a RTW on *A and booking it to your MEX account!?!!

Dorian



------------------
Star Alliance RTW Price Chart: http://www.informationlab.com/rtw.htm
Star Alliance Comparison Chart: http://members.home.net/deercroft/starall00.html

It gets even better! Sign up for a calling card:

Classic members will receive a welcome bonus of 4,000 kilometers on obtaining
their card and 8 kilometers for every
peso spent.

Gold or Platinum Status members will
receive a welcome bonus of 5,000
kilometers on obtaining their card and
11 kilometers for every peso spent.

Service Center Telephone number:
Mexico city 52625280
Within Mexican Republic 01 800 900
9191
USA 18008671232

www.mexicana.com.mx/mx2/english/Frecuenta/obtener/telefono/mastelefono.asp



[This message has been edited by ozstamps (edited 09-13-2000).]

ozstamps and all, a transfer from American Express Membership Rewards or Diners Club Club Rewards are two possibilities to top off your Mexicana Frecuenta account!

[This message has been edited by MRLIMO (edited 09-10-2000).]

This is a little misleading.

There is no standard free, three-night award available for 16,000 points. There is, however, a Point Stretcher (very limited availability) award for a three-night stay for 15,000 points at their lowest class (Opportunity) properties.

Keep in mind, PS awards are generally limited to less desirable dates at some properties. Of course, this can work out very nicely if you need to stay in Boise on a weekend in March. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

And not to be dismissive of PS awards, I've redeemed points for stays at the New York Hilton and Towers during Spring Break weekend, among other well-timed visits. Just be aware that PS awards are not widely available for the most desirable dates.

A better use of HHonors points is to transfer orphan miles from ff accounts to redeem for totally free nights at upper-level properties either on PS or standard awards.

Email me for details.

[This message has been edited by essxjay (edited 09-10-2000).]

26,000 is enough for three free nights (standard reward fewer restrictions)at an opportunity level property (like a double tree for example)
http://www.hilton.com/hhonors/reward....html#standard

or add $10 to buy 1000 HH points(you can buy up to 20% of the reward points needed for a reward at $10/1000HH) and its 2 free weekend nights at a Classic level property (point stretcher reward more restrictions and blackout days).


[This message has been edited by Mvic (edited 09-10-2000).]

"Three Free Nights"
15,000
PO3
30,000
PE3
39,000
PS3
51,000
PC3
60,000
PP3

Sorry it was 15,000 for 3 free nights, (PO#3) not 16,000. (PO#3 being "opportunity" lowest level and PP#3 being highest grade properties, being "Premium") All these APPEAR to be redemption rates for three FREE nights - reading the Hilton website I used in my answer. Scroll DOWN MVic .. you are looking I think only at "STANDARD" awards - I have ALWAYS been referring to "opportunity" rates under "Point Stretcher" plan which is BELOW that table you might be reading? What am I missing here folks?

One of us at least must be reading the Hilton website wrong as MVIC has a totally different figure quoted again! That's THREE conflicting answers to the one question!

Oh well, we are playing with points that cost nothing, so at this point, who really cares. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif There are FREE rooms here, and with the Calling card signup I just posted, I reckon about FOUR free Hilton rooms without stepping on any airplane.



[This message has been edited by ozstamps (edited 09-10-2000).]

I am looking at the same chart you are Glen, just that I figure the total points per couple on this one as 26000. That would be 5 free nights at an opportunity level property on a point stretcher (with the purchase of the extra 1000HH points for $10 for the 27000 PO5 award).

Mario ... Let's work this backwards. WHAT is a PO3 award then, if it is NOT three nights Free for only 15,000 HHonors points? Can anyone please let me know???? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/confused.gif

[This message has been edited by ozstamps (edited 09-10-2000).]

Mvic and Oz,

You are talking past each other.

Oz,you are correct about the points needed for a three-night Point Stretcher stay at an Oppotunity level property: it is 15,000 HHonors points.

And Mvic, you are correct that a five-night stay at an Opportunity level property is 27,000 points.

_My_ point is to keep in mind that availability for Point Stretcher stays is very limited, usually to less desirable dates and not at every property. It can work out great.

Thanks essxjay ... MVIC and I were both correct but at cross purposes it seems. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

OK, now the dust has settled, here is my take on this winding, bizarre but IMHO very productive thread:

1. Sign up in MEX Frequenta and get 4,625 sign up points.

2. Sign up for their calling card, and get 4,000 points. (Gotta make ONE call remember!)

3. Take those 8,625 Frequenta points and transfer them via Frequenta into 20,000 Hilton HHonors points. (You need 6,250 Frequenta to get 20,000 Hilton) So you still have 2,375 "orphan" balance left in case any other good promos come along or you fly MEX etc.

4. Sign up a couple anew with Hilton HHonors on-line via the direct link given on the other thread and get 6,000 free Hilton points. (one person is 3,000 but hey 6,000 is not rocket science)

5. Buy 1,000 Hilton points for $10.

6. New HHonors account total is 20,000 + 6,000 + 1,000 = 27,000.

7. 27,000 Points redeems FIVE Free nights at selected Hilton properties in the USA .. or:

8. 27,000 points redeems two nights on point stretchers at medium level (grade #3 of #5) "SELECT" Hilton properties worldwide.

9. Or save the 10 bucks even, and take your partner for a deluxe romantic weekend stay at only 21,000 points at the HIGHEST level Hilton properties in the world, in the very highest "Premium" category of the 5 they offer.

All without leaving your keyboard! All courtesy Flyer Talk . All FREE. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

And take just ONE return flight on ANY Star * carrier except MEX - in ANY fare class, any routing, and you up the ante big time on this, remembering you already have 2,375 "orphan" points sitting there. A 12,500 Frecquenta transfer to Hilton gives you 40,000 HHonors, plus your starting 6,000 = 46,000. A UA transcon at 4,250 miles round trip would do it for example.

It is now all pretty clear this scenario set out here is workable. I really am excited about a few dozen people here geting some free Hilton rooms from the combined digging of many on these boards. As essxjay comments Hilton are very active right now with many fine promos - witness the UA one. Some securing these rooms will "taste" Hiltons and HHonors for the first time, and like that taste and stay more often - on paid nights. That is why Hilton do these apparently super generous things, and IMHO it is superb brand marketing, and VERY savvy business.

Seeing this thread title started off totally differently, and seeing LOTS of folk here are not tied up in any way with Star Alliance, hence may not even read this topic, I will against all usual rules and decorum post this as a new thread on General Travel Talk as:

"Five Free Hilton Nights For 10 Bucks!" (And invite the board police to fine me for doing it.)

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/tongue.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/eek.gif

------------------
~ Glen ~



[This message has been edited by ozstamps (edited 09-10-2000).]

This just keeps getting better and better. Calling card does seem the best way to go as Ozstamps has pointed out.

Just to keep things consistent:
if a couple signs up for the 6000 HH points (3K each) it seems that they may as well each sign up for the Mex ff points too. That would be 20,000 HH points each bringing the grand total of this whole endeavor to

46,000 HH points

for the cost of two phone calls. No flying necessary. Once you start throwing flights
and online bookings in to the mix, well, the mind boggles http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif


[This message has been edited by Mvic (edited 09-10-2000).]

Nice but I have a quick, "silly" question?

Are you certain that these non flight miles may be simply moved out of the program into Hilton Honors?

They would of course have to buy these points and may balk at the notion! You may want to check beforehand, if you haven't already!

But, hopefully so! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

My cautious side! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Well the nice thing is it doesn't cost anything to find out http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

(other than the hopefully nominal cost of the phone call to qualify the calling card)



[This message has been edited by Mvic (edited 09-10-2000).]

DOC .. I don't think these guys are as vague as "Latin Pass" etc!

Thanks to MRLIMOS links research we have this pretty specific link below that to me seems to indicate it is a cinch to transer Frecuenta miles. Is this how you read the link ...might be a catch but seems very specific?

http://www.mexicana.com.mx/mx2/engli...benehilton.asp



------------------
~ Glen ~

Hopefully it'll be just fine. I'm just not 100% sure! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

As noted, however, it's not much to worry about though! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

As pointed out in another thread, it appears that many of the links are not functioning and are indicating that the page cannot be displayed. The www.mexicana.com.mx site, which is the gateway to most all the above links is experiencing some difficulties for the moment. It could be any number of reasons from site maintenance to server overload or technical problems, etc. I am planning to try again a little later. They are valid links and typically should be up and running shortly. At least, let's hope so.

All is well again! The links are working. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

This sounds like a great deal, but I noticed two inconsistencies:

1)Hilton's reward exchange page indicates that it takes 5,000 miles (not 3,125) to get 10,000 points:
http://www.hilton.com/hhonors/rewards/exchange_1.html

2) The phone card indicates a bonus of 4000 KILOMETERS while the sign-up bonuses are in MILES. This may be a distiction without a difference, but it seems odd.

I hope the main conclusions in this thread are correct because everyone in my family (4)has been sitting on 4625 unusable frequenta miles for the last year or two.

Here's the original threads that tipped me off to the sign-up bonuses:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum33/HTML/000004.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum33/HTML/000005.html

Thanks to ozstamps for digging deeper into this and highlighting the double miles bonus.

[This message has been edited by dhacker (edited 09-11-2000).]

Glen... great post !!! Thanks very much to you and all the rest for doing all the research...

You guys are great http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/cool.gif !!!!



------------------
Gaucho100K

Another thing: I just signed up for frequenta, but they didnt give me my membership number in the on-line process.... I guess will have to wait for the card to arrive in the mail http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif (or did I miss the number somewhere...??)

I didnt get an email either... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/confused.gif

[QUOTE]Originally posted by ozstamps:
[B]DOUBLE Star Alliance Points till Nov 15th

Well the heading is true .. could be quadruple in some cases.

Greetings Ozstamps,

How are you arriving at the "quadruple" possibility?

Crankyusi

Crankyusi .. the "Quadruple" was my posting right at start of this thread. It certainly applies in the situation I quoted:

That situation has not altered. Ansett in Australia only give 70% AND require a flight within 30 days of Tranpac to get UA points .. the MEX deal nearly triples my feed there.

This thread has of course now evolved to the point where NO flying is needed to gain 46,000 Free Hilton points sitting at your keyboard.

For more details of that, which is effectively:

NINE FREE HILTON NIGHTS WITHOUR LEAVING YOUR DESK

click here:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum94/HTML/002427.html





------------------
~ Glen ~