I have one very simple question, which is why I've started this thread instead of posting to one of the "Has anyone used AwardPlanner?" threads.


Is there any difference whatsoever - even subtle differences - between a membership in AwardPlanner and a membership in RewardPlanner?

Such differences could include but are not limited to:
- Limitations on what types of paid travel I can book in conjunction with my award travel with no additional fees.
- Level of "consulting" I would get (i.e., real value-added advice and recommendations on complex itineraries).
- The actual people doing my travel planning (i.e., is it the same pool of people for both programs)

I've already made my decision: I want to join this program because testimonials indicate that they are ethical people who are good at booking complex award trips. However, I have talked to AwardPlanner and RewardPlanner and gotten some different answers on the first two points above. Because the services have slightly different prices, I'd like to get more information as to whether there are small differences in the memberships.

Thanks!

I have a question for anyone who has used either of these services....Do they continue checking for award availability on dates/times/routes you desire or do you have to call them back to do this? In other words, if I want an award from A to B on a certain date/time and no award seats are available, will the Planner service continue checking back with the airlines for me. If so, how often do they check and for how long? Will they place daily calls on my behalf?

Randy, would it be possible for you to respond to my questions about AwardPlanner? I started this thread to keep technical program discussions separate from the "AwardPlanner experiences" thread, but now we're talking about the same thing in both threads...I won't be offended if you lock this one and respond in the other one...

Thanks!

Same company, same pool of employees, same effort to either member. As in any service organization, there's always an off-day once and a while and staff has varying degrees of experience. LaDonna and Nicki have the most experience and have built up a full scghedule of members who renew year after year and trust them for everything. Understand that if you can't get it done and they also can't, it doesn't mean they failed or they are no good, it means it simply wasn't possible. Also, different people have different experiences. Some might have a great experience with Stephanie, others may not. It's about chemistry sometimes and honestly it's about the member. But overall the renewal rate is extremely high. As for the call-back on awards. That's really how we started the business (which was orginally started in 1987 as the Frequent Flyer Club). doing tasks that most members don't have time for. I believe that the gorls do make calls daily to try and free up award space. Some programs are better than others and there are times when awards don't budge. The best use is when we move miles/points from many different account to create a complete award vacation. Most people simply don't have the time to do all that.

But i think the best observation i see is that when people in the media say you can't get awards anymore (perhaps even some of you think that), I look at our completion record and it's well into the high 90%'s.

Hope this helps.

PS In addition to supplying the service to members of the Hilton HHonors program, recently Akmerican Express Membership Rewards members can take advantage of the program earning bonus miles for joining, etc.

As for additional fees, we certainly won't pay taxes and other required expenses on your behalf, but we don't add service fees for award bookings, and we do an extremely high number of complex awards for members - specializing in safari's, B&B award vacations in Australia, and a whole lot of Hawaii. The best part od at the end of it all you get one seamless complete itinerary which doesn't care where the travel came from - miles, points, purchase in addition, credit card, etc. On the back end of it all is a travel agency we own to make assistance in the area of revenue travel needs to supplement awards.

[This message has been edited by Randy Petersen (edited 12-18-2002).]

To me this is a classic example of::

Paying someone to do your legwork
Paying someone for their domain knowledge

Frankly, I think the idea is fantastic and I can see no downside unless you place a very low value on your time.

Randy: Thank you for the response! That was very helpful, and I look forward to joining the service.

For what it's worth, I've had good luck requesting this service from the airlines themselves.

Example: "Hello, I'm trying to arrange award travel in Business Class to Europe in May. I'd like to leave from Philadelphia and fly to any destination in Italy or Switzerland. Ideally I'd prefer to leave on the 3rd and return on the 18th, but any trip of two weeks duration give or take a day will work out well. I will fly on your airline or any of your mileage partners that are available."

"Yes sir, let me look at what I can find. Why don't you call back in two or three hours."

Three hours later I had PHL-ZRH on my choice dates all reserved.

That's pretty cool. I remember about five years ago, I had a wonderful agent at US Airways spend an hour or so piecing together a last-minute request for business class flights from the US to Scotland for a weekend in mid-June. Most flights were sold out, but she put together a six-segment, open-jaw trip on three different airlines and I got a great golf weekend in St. Andrews done for 80,000 miles.

Where AwardPlanner will add value for me will be on a trip where I will be redeeming awards from multiple airline programs and multiple hotel programs. Throw in a stopover or two and the fact that there will be a lot of international partner travel... I'm a travel junkie, but I'll leave this one for the pros...

I plan to sign on next year when I start planning my RTW for my renewal leave, using awards and trying to stretch them as far as I can. Thanks to Randy for taking a great idea & making it work!

JP

Ahhh. I tend to redeem one award at a time (hotel in HKG last trip, flight to London next trip) and apply the savings to the other elements. Trying to schedule an entire free trip (hotel plus lodging plus amenities) might get complicated.

Yvonne at AP has been fantastic for me! What else to say?

Complicated trip, lots of questions, plenty of e-mails and telephone calls--but she got it all done perfectly.

I'm thrilled I joined up with AP.