questions - general -newbie
Jan 16, 2003 | 2:55 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Dayton, OH USA
Posts: 5
questions - general -newbie
Ok. That's for the welcome!
Here goes.
I have discovered that I love to go different places and stay in Hotels. In this I have discovered the various hotel programs and FF programs. I have memberships with The HOtel programs and a few of the FF programs, but I DO NOT FLY. hehe The only reason I signed up for the FF programs is because you can get hotel stays and transfers to hotel programs.
My delima is that I don't travel often like most of you do but I would like to be able to take small weekends away and get something out of it. I use alot of the point programs online that can be transfered into points for hotels and milage and GC for hotels. IE.. my points, milesource, milespree ect.
The biggest question is that if i am wasiting my time by using these programs since I do not travel that often, or if using these other programs is worth it. Or is there ways to combine points and things.
I have been looking at the forums and things. Will post other questions soon.
I appreciate your help!
Here goes.
I have discovered that I love to go different places and stay in Hotels. In this I have discovered the various hotel programs and FF programs. I have memberships with The HOtel programs and a few of the FF programs, but I DO NOT FLY. hehe The only reason I signed up for the FF programs is because you can get hotel stays and transfers to hotel programs.
My delima is that I don't travel often like most of you do but I would like to be able to take small weekends away and get something out of it. I use alot of the point programs online that can be transfered into points for hotels and milage and GC for hotels. IE.. my points, milesource, milespree ect.
The biggest question is that if i am wasiting my time by using these programs since I do not travel that often, or if using these other programs is worth it. Or is there ways to combine points and things.
I have been looking at the forums and things. Will post other questions soon.
I appreciate your help!
Jan 16, 2003 | 3:01 pm
#3
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Madison NJ; Watopia
Posts: 3,161
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by janna:
The biggest question is that if i am wasiting my time by using these programs since I do not travel that often, or if using these other programs is worth it. Or is there ways to combine points and things.
</font>
The biggest question is that if i am wasiting my time by using these programs since I do not travel that often, or if using these other programs is worth it. Or is there ways to combine points and things.
</font>
In order to get real value out of a hotel or airline program, I would suggest trying to concentrate your use to a particular chain or carrier. You want to use a rifle rather than shotgun approach for maximum efficiency.
You mention you don't like to fly. But perhaps instead of a mileage run - you could think about a hotel points run !
Jan 16, 2003 | 3:28 pm
#4
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Programs: AA- Lifetime Platinum; Marriott - Lifetime Platinum: Starwood - Gold; IHG - Platinum
Posts: 2,201
Janna, Welcome to FT! I don't think you are wasting time at all! I have scored much better with hotel redemptions than I have with free airline tickets. I only redeem hotel points when the price is upward of $300 per night at great hotels.
Consider getting a credit card that earns hotel points and use it for all of your purchases. I have the Marriott Visa and Starwood AMEX. I have been very pleased with both.
And as stated above: pick one chain to be loyal to so you will end up with points you can actually use. If you don't have many hotel stays don't spread your business too thin.
Consider getting a credit card that earns hotel points and use it for all of your purchases. I have the Marriott Visa and Starwood AMEX. I have been very pleased with both.
And as stated above: pick one chain to be loyal to so you will end up with points you can actually use. If you don't have many hotel stays don't spread your business too thin.
Jan 16, 2003 | 3:33 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Still going through ORD security when boarding has already started
Programs: AA EXP, UA Silver, HH Gold, Bonvoy Gold, IHG Plat, Hyatt Disco, Reno Air MEGA Platinum
Posts: 10,320
Welcome to FT!
No, I don't think joining these programs is a waste of time at all. After all, it is FREE! But, since you don't travel a great deal, it is important to consolidate to just one or MAYBE two programs, otherwise it will take a very long time to be able to redeem awards.
Check out the hotel forums, for some great info. on which hotel program to stick with.
Enjoy!
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"I just wanna wish you good luck, we're all counting on you"
-Dr. Rumack
No, I don't think joining these programs is a waste of time at all. After all, it is FREE! But, since you don't travel a great deal, it is important to consolidate to just one or MAYBE two programs, otherwise it will take a very long time to be able to redeem awards.
Check out the hotel forums, for some great info. on which hotel program to stick with.
Enjoy!
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"I just wanna wish you good luck, we're all counting on you"
-Dr. Rumack
Jan 16, 2003 | 5:27 pm
#6
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Posts: 2,513
If you get a chance to earn quick miles on some airline, but not enough to get you a hotel stay, you can probably use those miles to get Hilton HHonors points. Would work for the big up front miles you can get for airline credit cards, for example, or getting miles for opening a brokerage account.
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Jan 16, 2003 | 5:38 pm
#7
In Memoriam
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Easton, CT, USA
Programs: ua prem exec, Former hilton diamond
Posts: 31,801
I've never understood the concept of wasting time or the time not being worth it to sign up for one program or another.
All you lose is the few minutes it takes to sign up. From that point on, all you have to do to collect points or whatever is put down a few digits into the form.
Will you ever use them all, probably not. But yoy don't know. The orphan miles (they are called that, miles or points you don't have enough for a trip or a stay with, usually with somebody you don't use) may sit around and collect dust, but someday you mwy get a free magazine with them, be a few points short of a hotel award and be able to transfer them over, etc.
Recently somebody posted about the Continential tying in with Shoprite for miles. I don't fly Continential, didn't even have a FF number with them. I do shop at shoprite, so of course I signed up for the program and tied the two together. Every time I shop in the store I get the priceplus card scanned since I'm usually buying mostly stuff on sale with it, and now I'll get miles too. Even if I don't do a thing with them for years, it's no effort at all. Was the 5 minutes to sign up a waste of time? Don't think so.
All you lose is the few minutes it takes to sign up. From that point on, all you have to do to collect points or whatever is put down a few digits into the form.
Will you ever use them all, probably not. But yoy don't know. The orphan miles (they are called that, miles or points you don't have enough for a trip or a stay with, usually with somebody you don't use) may sit around and collect dust, but someday you mwy get a free magazine with them, be a few points short of a hotel award and be able to transfer them over, etc.
Recently somebody posted about the Continential tying in with Shoprite for miles. I don't fly Continential, didn't even have a FF number with them. I do shop at shoprite, so of course I signed up for the program and tied the two together. Every time I shop in the store I get the priceplus card scanned since I'm usually buying mostly stuff on sale with it, and now I'll get miles too. Even if I don't do a thing with them for years, it's no effort at all. Was the 5 minutes to sign up a waste of time? Don't think so.