CNN Announces the Winners of the 2014 FlyerTalk Awards Sponsored By KAYAK
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: SAN/LAX
Programs: UA Gold, VX Silver, HH Gold, Hyatt Gold, JPM Palladium
Posts: 627
CNN Announces the Winners of the 2014 FlyerTalk Awards Sponsored By KAYAK
Earlier this year, we all voted for the best airline, hotel, and rental car programs as well as the most outstanding program benefits.
Are you curious to see which programs and which benefits won? Well, what are you waiting for??
Click here to see the winners: http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/05/travel...ward-programs/
Did your favorite program/s take the top spot?
Did any winner/s surprise you?
Are you curious to see which programs and which benefits won? Well, what are you waiting for??
Click here to see the winners: http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/05/travel...ward-programs/
Did your favorite program/s take the top spot?
Did any winner/s surprise you?
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Pittsburgh
Programs: MR/SPG LT PLT, AA LT PLT, HH GLD, UA SLV, Avis PreferredPlus
Posts: 23,802
Hilton at #2 surprises me. I gave up on them a while ago, and that was before the crushing devaluation.
#4
Tomorrow. But they're all listed in the full CNN.com article:
http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/05/travel...ams/index.html
http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/05/travel...ams/index.html
Last edited by IBobi; Mar 5, 14 at 1:08 pm
#5
Join Date: Aug 2005
Programs: AA Plt 3MM; UA 1K 2 MM; MR Lifetime Plat; HH Lifetime Diamond; HH Diamond; IGH Spire Ambas; SPG Gold
Posts: 2,139
#6
Join Date: Sep 2010
Programs: AZ FA+, A3 G, AB G | IHG RA, HGP D, FPC P, Accor P, BW D, HH D, Eleva, GHA P, 1862 Voyager
Posts: 1,773
"Travelers love their Hilton HHonors executive lounge access, naming it the best hotel benefit in Europe and Africa. Shown here is the Hilton Frankfurt Hotel executive lounge."
Haha! The Hilton FRA lounge is a joke! Right in front of the elevator, it is almost like they didn't want to convert any existing room space so used the elevator lobby space and squashed some seats there.
Haha! The Hilton FRA lounge is a joke! Right in front of the elevator, it is almost like they didn't want to convert any existing room space so used the elevator lobby space and squashed some seats there.
#7
Join Date: Sep 2010
Programs: AZ FA+, A3 G, AB G | IHG RA, HGP D, FPC P, Accor P, BW D, HH D, Eleva, GHA P, 1862 Voyager
Posts: 1,773
Well, maybe the truth is that we all love Hyatt but we don't want to vote them tops as it could potentially lead to less benefits, more category up shifts and points devaluation.
It's like increasing a hotel's trip advisor rating - ranking goes up, rates go up.
#8
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: ROC/NYC/MSP/LAX/HKG/SIN
Programs: AA 1.66MM EXP EMD, UA 1.31MM 1K *G, DL SM, AS MVPG 75K, Marriott LT PLT(PP)/ICH AMB PLT/Hertz PC
Posts: 3,125
No love for Marriott?
I actually think that Marriott has better perks than Starwood. Perhaps Starwood's current program provides more benefits for customers of over 50 nights, but I have not heard of any hotel chain that has travel packages as enticing as Marriott does. Am I missing something?
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: ORD/MDW
Programs: AA, HH, MR elite. Fly mostly AA/WN/B6.
Posts: 18,409
Sure, because Hilton has many more locations and brands, hence many more members, hence higher familiarity. Hyatt is a better product and a better rewards program but far fewer people know about it.
These awards are essentially a name-recognition contest as virtually no voter knows all the programs. They vote for what they know.
These awards are essentially a name-recognition contest as virtually no voter knows all the programs. They vote for what they know.
#10
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Atherton, CA
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP; Owner, Green Bay Packers
Posts: 21,690

Sure, because Hilton has many more locations and brands, hence many more members, hence higher familiarity. Hyatt is a better product and a better rewards program but far fewer people know about it.
These awards are essentially a name-recognition contest as virtually no voter knows all the programs. They vote for what they know.
These awards are essentially a name-recognition contest as virtually no voter knows all the programs. They vote for what they know.
I agree that this is the major factor in the voting.
#11
Join Date: Mar 2011
Programs: Delta Skymiles
Posts: 660
Surprised delta didn't win for must robust Ff program
#12
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 95
#13
In memoriam
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Seattle WA
Programs: Kimpton IC, Hyatt Diamond, Gold Marriott, Lifetime Platinum Starwood
Posts: 8,664
Not one of the things I voted for won. . .
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Benicia CA
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold 75K, AA 3.8MM, UA 1.1MM, enjoying the retired life
Posts: 30,788
#15
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Seattle, WA, USA
Programs: AS MVPG, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 961
Hyatt even sent emails begging for votes. When Hyatt runs targetted promos, gifts, and contests without any criteria, they alienate loyal customers. Wrong business model especially when there is no connection between HGP and marketing. Even the Zidell doesn't know the "secret sauce".