More Gold Points organized Mayhem?
 

Thanks to Tim Winship and his excellent newsletter I became aware that my Gold Points account will turn into an earning pumpkin effective April 1 2008
The good news if I understand correctly (in the eyes of the beholder) is my points can now be used for magazines and some cheezy gift certificates I have no interest in?

Where was I a loyal reader of Inside Flyer and regular lurker/poster on Flyertalk sleeping?

And though I only had 50k sitting in that account I had full plans for redeeming them to airline miles.
Can anybody be so kind to inform me here on Mars what is going on :confused:

I suppose I will find out in the morning what my fate will be and that of others.............(sigh)
Something tells me there is something rotting in Denmark. But only time will tell all. After all these are the same folks that manage the Amtrak Rewards Program.
Need I say anything more :rolleyes:
Thank You

Gold Points Program Changes; Points Remain Redeemable
 

GOLD POINTS PROGRAM CHANGES; POINTS REMAIN REDEEMABLE
MINNEAPOLIS, January 2, 2008 - Gold Points Reward Network, operated by Gold Points Corporation, a subsidiary of Carlson Marketing Worldwide, itself a subsidiary of Carlson Companies, Inc., today announced changes in its operation to better serve its major partners and their customers. As a result, the program as it exists today will cease issuing points beginning April 1, 2008, but will continue to redeem points accrued by members.

Carlson Hotels Worldwide® and T.G.I. Friday's® restaurants, the two most notable partners with the largest number of members participating in Gold Points Reward Network are refocusing efforts. Carlson Hotels recently exited the network and transformed its existing goldpoints plusSM frequent guest program focusing on hotel and travel rewards for its current and future members. T.G.I. Friday's is currently working with Carlson Marketing to introduce a new and exciting frequent guest program in early 2008 which will be more relevant and focused on their most loyal guests.

It's important to note that no members of Gold Points Reward Network will lose any of their accumulated points; they will be able to redeem their points for merchandise and gift cards through the Gold Points Reward Network Award Catalog at www.goldpoints.com. Communications were sent to Gold Points Reward Network members, notifying them of the changes to the program. Gold Points Reward Network members with questions are encouraged to visit www.goldpoints.com or contact the Gold Points Reward Network Call Center at [email protected] or call 800.508.9000.


And from Tim Winship

Gold Points Program Will Shut Down

Quoting from the Gold Points website: "IMPORTANT NOTICE: On April 1, 2008, Gold Points Reward Network will change to a redemption-only program. Beginning April 1, you will no longer be able to earn Gold Points; however, the Gold Points in your account will not expire. You may continue to redeem them for Gold Points catalog merchandise and gift cards by visiting goldpoints.com."

The two most prominent earning partners in the program had been Carlson Hotels and T.G.I. Friday's. As we reported here, Carlson already left Gold Points in favor of the more travel-focused goldpoints plus program. And T.G.I. Friday's will be rolling out a new loyalty program of its own.

777,

I believe this info has been floating around the Other Hotel forums for a short while. The initial plug (converting to airline miles) was pulled 2 - 3 months ago; and, with a week or 2 notice. To add insult to injury, they sent this info to an e mail account that I read every blue moon. By that time, I was out of luck.

My 40k will be blown at a TGI Fridays. :eek:
Care to join me? :p

dh

I also posted this in S.P.A.M. last week.

Thank you @:-)
Fridays is not my idea of a great night out except when stuck at an airport with no other choice
IF left with no other choice I suppose I will swallow down 15 or 20 of their commercial burgers to get it over with and put me out of my Gold Points misery :D
Funny I was the one preaching online at FT for years don't trust these snake oil salesmen.Looks like I have some snake oil points now too :eek:

Thanks looks like I will need to view Spam a little more often

As strange as this program has historically been, I thought most FTers were co-members of GoldPoints Plus. If you were, I was under the impression that your balance should have transferred over to this program late last year. GoldPoints Plus still has redemption opportunities for airlines. See https://www.goldpointsplus.com/offer...fferId=1830440

9175 points = $10 gift cert at Starbucks, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Best Buy, Target, CVS, and more.

18550 = $25
34175 = $50
65425 = $100

I guess a Starbucks giftcard won't go to waste.

Check the website for all the details.

In my opinion, the above is devalued by 50% (if you were doing airline transfers).

Anyone have a list of Fridays which are located at airports? I am looking at their website and I can't find any..I remember passing a Fridays either in JFK or MIA...thanks!

I believe there is one at IAD, in the Terminal (before you get on the moon buggies). Then again, I haven't actually seen it in person in a few years.

Tampa has a Fridays in the terminal. I remember being delayed on a flight to Vegas and being given a voucher for breakfast there from the GA. That was back in the day of America West!!

JudyJFLA

I logged in to redeem 28K points into miles yesterday....received an email reply stating that my points would be converted in 5-7 days and would post to my UA FF account within 4-6 weeks.

Generally, airport Fridays did not directly participate in GoldPoints. I was told that I could fax my receipts in for retroactive credit to my account, but never did. Additionally, they did not accept gift certificates as they were franchisee locations by HMS Host, et al. What is your intent with the airport locations?

Can you provide the direct link for these redemptions? I don't see them anywhere, of course I'm sure they're right in front of me, lol.

Look for Spend points on the left. http://www.goldpoints.com/servlet/Co...ineStoreAction

You'll have to sign in to use your points.
If you just want a look/see, then click on continue in the middle of your screen.
From there, click on gift certs.

Anyone know whether TGIF will transfer GoldPoints into whatever program they roll out?? Sure would make things easier and shed some good will among TGIF customers?????

I am a member of goldpointsplus. As far as I know, my points will contintue to be redeemable for hotel rooms.

Someone please correct me if I am wrong.

If you were able to convert your Goldpoints into goldpointsplus, then you're ok.
If you're still stuck with goldpoints, well, your stuck with goldpoints. :mad:

That's the last my family will see of tgifridays. Plenty of choices to eat in this category.

Well, I was hoping to burn my GoldPoints eating at Fridays' on my layovers(after all, all airport food is pretty crappy). So are you saying that the airlines locations don't redeem or award GoldPoints? That would really :td:

Is April 1 the last day to burn GPs at Fridays? Or does that continue in the "redemption-only" program?

March 31st is the change to redemption-only, then at some undisclosed date in the future (accoring to the TGIF website), they will cease to accept GoldPoints.

Thanks!

Today I received information from Goldpointsplus that my account did indeed transfer over without a hitch.
It would have been nice to receive an email from them months ago before being caught off guard.
Especially as they had my latest email information for a year now.
But after all the former Goldpoints ran the most dysfunctional program in the business.
Lets hope the new one does a better job
sigh

I got $25 Amazon card, and transfer the 1000+ into AsiaMiles. Not ideal, but at least keep my AsiaMiles account alive.

airport locations
 

I've never had a hitch with goldpoints posting properly from the Friday's in DCA and DFW.

Miles posted today...3,500 UA miles for 28K goldpoints.

Go to the TGIF home page. Looks like the start of a new program roll out. No specifics but option to sign up for email notification for program and specials.
Best yet! Sign up for TGIF emails and get a free appetizer! Still have 1310 Goldpoints left which I'll use 1250 for appetizer. Throw in a Happy Hour and it makes for start of a night out.

So I finally made it to a TGIF...
 

The food is not that great. I ended up ordering 2 appetizers and a desert, and what would've costed me $27 (which I would never have paid for the food) ended up burning 3750 GoldPoints. The bartender (the order was to-go) had to ask the manager to do it, but the pain from the wait was minimal (unlike the stomach pains I experienced afterwards)...:p

Since I was like 300 points short for a gift card I did the points.com transfer thing into my mostly dormant AAdvantage account.

So that netted me about 600 miles on an 8500 point transfer. Poor ratio I know but I wanted out asap. That keeps my AA account active. :)

The only thing I used Gold Points for was TGI Fridays because their wings taste wise were best paying nothing for.

FYI and I don't know if it's posted earlier but the TGI's at EWR did happily accept the GoldPoints card for redemption and earning. They are both at Terminal A... one pre security (a bigger restaurant) and one at Terminal A by Gates 10-18, the United gates.

When it's 6 in the morning and you want something just to sit in your stomach the TGI's alleged bacon and egg omelet suited ok.

Curious to see what the new TGI frequency program will be.

[QUOTE=Catman;9198832]
FYI and I don't know if it's posted earlier but the TGI's at EWR did happily accept the GoldPoints card for redemption and earning. They are both at Terminal A... one pre security (a bigger restaurant) and one at Terminal A by Gates 10-18, the United gates.

[QUOTE]

Thanks...I had been asking about this earlier ^

I remember going to that TGIF and ACTUALLY paying, which sucks. Next time I pass through it will be on GoldPoints :cool:

Anyone know if there is one in Houston, Atlanta, or Miami?

It finally registered on me that the original news about this said that Friday's is working with Carlson Marketing to develop its new frequent-guest program. That's the subsidiary of Carlson that runs goldpointsplus.
This is only natural, as Carlson Marketing, TGI Fridays, and the Carlson hotels all are subsidiaries of Carlson, as is the Carlson Wagonlit business travel. agency. A couple of weeks ago Carlson announced that all its leisure travel agency brands, which operate under the umbrella of the Carlson Liesure Group, are being spun off to CLG's management.

Interesting to speculate on the nature of a frequent-guest program involving that collection of companies.

http://www.carlson.com/brands/index.cfm

Carlson comes by frequent-guest programs honestly - it was originally founded as the Gold Bond Stamp Company, a competitor of S&H Green Stamps, according to the company history on the web site.

PS - At fridays.com there is a coupon for $5 off $15 or more purchase, valid through Feb 29.
http://www.fridays.com/Feb2008_5off15_home.htm

PPS - they appear to be correctly sweeping goldpoints into the associated goldpointsplus account, at least in my case. Points from a January 29 visit to the TGI Friday's at DCA moved over to my goldpointsplus account on Feb 5.