If you even once select "miles" instead of "points," CC converts your entire balance!
Feb 1, 14, 9:13 am
#1
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Chicagoland, IL, USA
Programs: WN CP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,127
If you even once select "miles" instead of "points," CC converts your entire balance!
And it's irreversible! Though perhaps you can switch back for future earnings; not 100% clear.
Apologies if this has been noted before, but I could not find it in a search and it's quite important to know about Club Carlson.
From "My Profile" page:
"Important Information: When you select Miles as your earning preference your entire balance of Gold Points and all future Gold Points earned will automatically convert to Miles with the airline you have selected in 10,000 point increments. Miles can not be converted back to Gold Points. All miles with this auto conversion option will be redeemed at an 10:1 ratio."
Emphasis mine.
I have never heard of a rule so harsh in any loyalty program. Be very careful of this one.
Watch out especially if you get an attractive "miles" offer, as they might be trying to convert a lot of people unawares.
Apologies if this has been noted before, but I could not find it in a search and it's quite important to know about Club Carlson.
From "My Profile" page:
"Important Information: When you select Miles as your earning preference your entire balance of Gold Points and all future Gold Points earned will automatically convert to Miles with the airline you have selected in 10,000 point increments. Miles can not be converted back to Gold Points. All miles with this auto conversion option will be redeemed at an 10:1 ratio."
Emphasis mine.
I have never heard of a rule so harsh in any loyalty program. Be very careful of this one.
Watch out especially if you get an attractive "miles" offer, as they might be trying to convert a lot of people unawares.
Last edited by toomanybooks; Feb 1, 14 at 9:29 am
Feb 1, 14, 1:49 pm
#2
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Charleston, SC, USA
Programs: Avis Chairman's, IHG Gold, HyatGlobalist Lite, Honors Diamond (Amex spend), Marriott Life Gold
Posts: 6,777
Thanks for the heads-up! One way around it is to make dummy reservations to hold your existing points, or those U want to keep as points.
Feb 2, 14, 10:35 pm
#3
Suspended
Join Date: May 2012
Location: ORD
Programs: AA, UA, AS, DL, BA, F9, IHG Plat, HH Gold, CC Gold, SPG Gold, MR Silver
Posts: 1,786
Originally Posted by Brendan
Thanks for the heads-up! One way around it is to make dummy reservations to hold your existing points, or those U want to keep as points.
Feb 3, 14, 12:16 am
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Usually in SAN or Central Europe.
Programs: AA:EXP/1MM. Accor/Radisson:Silver; HH:Gold; ICH:Plt Amb.
Posts: 22,230
Or just use the points-to-miles transfer option. You can transfer as few as 2K CC points for 200 FF miles.
Feb 3, 14, 6:19 am
#5
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Miami, FL
Programs: UA 1MM, AA Plat Pro, Marriott LT Titanium, Hilton ♢, IHG ♢, Hyatt Globalist, Hertz Pres
Posts: 5,080
That is not true. In the past I selected miles. And then yes, as soon as you hit the minimum level all your points were converted into my chosen miles program. But then I decided to switch to points and they stopped converting the to miles and now I've collected a decent amount of points. So you can switch back and forth - but as soon as you switch to miles they will convert them immediately (and going forward) unless you switch back to points.
Feb 3, 14, 1:56 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: LAX
Posts: 10,743
Thanks for heads up
This is messed up - i wouldn't want to find a few hundred K worth of points disappear because of a single stay switch.
What if some FD agent accidentally clicks miles???... Is there any way to block this nonsense?
This is messed up - i wouldn't want to find a few hundred K worth of points disappear because of a single stay switch.
What if some FD agent accidentally clicks miles???... Is there any way to block this nonsense?
Feb 3, 14, 7:55 pm
#8
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Miami, FL
Programs: UA 1MM, AA Plat Pro, Marriott LT Titanium, Hilton ♢, IHG ♢, Hyatt Globalist, Hertz Pres
Posts: 5,080
Originally Posted by azepine00
Thanks for heads up
This is messed up - i wouldn't want to find a few hundred K worth of points disappear because of a single stay switch.
What if some FD agent accidentally clicks miles???... Is there any way to block this nonsense?
This is messed up - i wouldn't want to find a few hundred K worth of points disappear because of a single stay switch.
What if some FD agent accidentally clicks miles???... Is there any way to block this nonsense?
Feb 18, 14, 5:36 pm
#9
Join Date: May 2006
Location: BOS and ...
Programs: UA 2MM, DL 500k, WoH 1M, HH Gold, Rad. Gold, CP Gold, Miracle Fruit-su Club
Posts: 9,940
Pure evil
In other words, a trap. Especially following the recent devaluation of the conversion program. No other frequent guest program does this. HHonors is the best example of offering and touting the easy change in earning preference back and forth. Would that this were a glitch in the system, in which case it could be fixed fairly easily. If it's not, then it's part of the business plan. Thank you for bringing this up, toomanybooks.
Feb 20, 14, 7:15 am
#10
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Folsom,CA
Posts: 406
Here is a portion of an email today from Southwest. I almost went for it until I remembered this thread. Thanks for the heads-up.
Earn triple Rapid Rewards® Points on every eligible stay at a Country Inns & Suites By CarlsonSM hotel in the U.S. through April 30, 2014. With triple points, you'll earn 1,800 points instead of the standard 600 points you normally earn per eligible stay.
At Country Inns & Suites, you'll discover complimentary hot breakfast, free high-speed Internet, and employees who make your stay smooth and comfortable, no matter where your travels take you. Start earning triple points by booking your next stay at one of many exciting Country Inns & Suites locations.
Earn triple Rapid Rewards® Points on every eligible stay at a Country Inns & Suites By CarlsonSM hotel in the U.S. through April 30, 2014. With triple points, you'll earn 1,800 points instead of the standard 600 points you normally earn per eligible stay.
At Country Inns & Suites, you'll discover complimentary hot breakfast, free high-speed Internet, and employees who make your stay smooth and comfortable, no matter where your travels take you. Start earning triple points by booking your next stay at one of many exciting Country Inns & Suites locations.
Feb 20, 14, 7:44 am
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Chicagoland, IL, USA
Programs: WN CP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,127
Yep, I am posting a warning in the WN forum.
They are going to try to trick people into losing their points.
They are going to try to trick people into losing their points.
Originally Posted by carraher
Here is a portion of an email today from Southwest. I almost went for it until I remembered this thread. Thanks for the heads-up.
Earn triple Rapid Rewards® Points on every eligible stay at a Country Inns & Suites By CarlsonSM hotel in the U.S. through April 30, 2014. With triple points, you'll earn 1,800 points instead of the standard 600 points you normally earn per eligible stay.
At Country Inns & Suites, you'll discover complimentary hot breakfast, free high-speed Internet, and employees who make your stay smooth and comfortable, no matter where your travels take you. Start earning triple points by booking your next stay at one of many exciting Country Inns & Suites locations.
Earn triple Rapid Rewards® Points on every eligible stay at a Country Inns & Suites By CarlsonSM hotel in the U.S. through April 30, 2014. With triple points, you'll earn 1,800 points instead of the standard 600 points you normally earn per eligible stay.
At Country Inns & Suites, you'll discover complimentary hot breakfast, free high-speed Internet, and employees who make your stay smooth and comfortable, no matter where your travels take you. Start earning triple points by booking your next stay at one of many exciting Country Inns & Suites locations.
Oct 6, 14, 9:27 pm
#12
Join Date: May 2008
Location: WAS
Programs: AA Ex Plt
Posts: 1,629
Holy Crap. I just saw this b/c of the 7500 AA for 2 stays promo.
Hey Mods - Can we make this a sticky or something so that everyone knows
^^^ to TMB - nice (horrible) catch
Cheers
Hey Mods - Can we make this a sticky or something so that everyone knows
^^^ to TMB - nice (horrible) catch
Cheers
Originally Posted by toomanybooks
And it's irreversible! Though perhaps you can switch back for future earnings; not 100% clear.
Apologies if this has been noted before, but I could not find it in a search and it's quite important to know about Club Carlson.
From "My Profile" page:
"Important Information: When you select Miles as your earning preference your entire balance of Gold Points and all future Gold Points earned will automatically convert to Miles with the airline you have selected in 10,000 point increments. Miles can not be converted back to Gold Points. All miles with this auto conversion option will be redeemed at an 10:1 ratio."
Emphasis mine.
I have never heard of a rule so harsh in any loyalty program. Be very careful of this one.
Watch out especially if you get an attractive "miles" offer, as they might be trying to convert a lot of people unawares.
Apologies if this has been noted before, but I could not find it in a search and it's quite important to know about Club Carlson.
From "My Profile" page:
"Important Information: When you select Miles as your earning preference your entire balance of Gold Points and all future Gold Points earned will automatically convert to Miles with the airline you have selected in 10,000 point increments. Miles can not be converted back to Gold Points. All miles with this auto conversion option will be redeemed at an 10:1 ratio."
Emphasis mine.
I have never heard of a rule so harsh in any loyalty program. Be very careful of this one.
Watch out especially if you get an attractive "miles" offer, as they might be trying to convert a lot of people unawares.
Oct 7, 14, 5:02 am
#13
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,720
Originally Posted by thegrailer
Holy Crap. I just saw this b/c of the 7500 AA for 2 stays promo.
Hey Mods - Can we make this a sticky or something so that everyone knows
^^^ to TMB - nice (horrible) catch
Cheers
Hey Mods - Can we make this a sticky or something so that everyone knows
^^^ to TMB - nice (horrible) catch
Cheers
Oct 8, 14, 6:04 am
#14
Join Date: May 1998
Location: australia
Posts: 5,600
But is it not the case that in the AA/AC promotions you are registering for a bonus not selecting miles as your earning preference. Equally I don't see anything too draconian compared to pretty much every other mileage/stay program that seem to all have a clause that states that the transfer is unable to be reversed.
Where is Chicken Little?
Where is Chicken Little?
Oct 8, 14, 8:34 am
#15
Join Date: May 2006
Location: BOS and ...
Programs: UA 2MM, DL 500k, WoH 1M, HH Gold, Rad. Gold, CP Gold, Miracle Fruit-su Club
Posts: 9,940
Relying on the "7,500" thread, where it seems to remain up in the air as to whether earning the 7,500 would permanently convert one's account to miles, I was just on the verge of biting with a family member's small Carlson points account. But reminded of the focus that toomanybooks gave the explicit t&c above, I will wait. But dayam, that 7,500 is tempting.
