New Blog Look Coming Soon

Thank you all for reading the blog.

Over the past few weeks I've been working with the folks at Boarding Area to create a site presence and transition my blog to word press. I've also been traveling a lot which is why there has been less frequent blog updates.

You can expect to see some changes in the coming days/week.

US Airways 3,000 Mile Avis Rental Bonus Posting

I posted here, about the great US Airways 3,000 mile promotion with every 3 day Avis rental. While there are a few other rental car promotions out there that get you airline miles, this is my preferred promotion given my rental style.

The miles are beginning to post and I'm starting to rack up the US Airways miles:

Bottom Line

YTD I've earned 6,349 US Airways miles without even taking a single flight. Keep an eye out for the Delta 5,000 mile per Avis rental promotion that usually comes out towards the end of February.

Hyatt Next Big Thing Nights Extended Until June 30th for Diamond Members

Hyatt has updated a thread on Flyertalk stating that the Next Big Thing promotion free nights have been extended for redemption. So I've called the Hyatt Diamond desk and they have confirmed the extension.

General members - April 30th, 2010
Platinum Member - May 31st, 2010
Diamond Members - June 30th, 2010

Here are some pictures from our trip to the Grand Hyatt Kauai. One of my favorite Hyatt properties.

View from Room

View from Hallway outside of room

Bottom Line

If you have some free nights that you thought would go to waste, now is your chance to get on the phone with Hyatt and make those reservations. This is great for those of you who have earned more than you can burn by the original end of redemption date in March. You'll now have until as late as June if you are a Diamond member to redeem the free nights from the promotion.

SPG Gold Referral - Big Response

There has been a big response to the refer SPG Gold offer post the other day.

Rest assured, I'll get to each an every one of you who have requested the referral. Please note that the referral only applies to "new membership" accounts.

So if you already have an account with SPG, your email address won't work because it is already in the SPG system.

Gift to Readers - SPG Gold Status

Starwood Preferred Guest is running a promotion where I can gift Starwood Preferred Gold Status since I'm a Platinum member if you send me your information by February 28th. Once I submit the referral you'll have to stay by March 31, 2010 to get the status and points.

Details

Send me your email address if you are interested in SPG Gold status **AND YOU ARE NOT CURRENTLY A SPG MEMBER** and I'll gift you status through February 2011. Send your email to theweeklyflyer at gmail.com. If the email address already has a SPG account attached to it, the promotion will not be valid.

Promotion

It's easy to invite friends and colleagues to join SPG®. Just fill in your member information, add your friends' and colleagues' email addresses and submit by February 28, 2010. We'll send a message to each of your referrals, and you'll be on your way to earning bonus Starpoints®. You'll receive 1,000 Starpoints for each friend who stays at least once by March 31, 2010, and each friend will earn 1,000 bonus Starpoints per night through March 31, 2010, and enjoy elite Gold status through February 2011.

Bottom Line

You get Gold Status through February 2011, and we both get a free 1,000 Starwood points. 1,000 points earns you a 50% off Rack Rate coupon at all category SPG hotels.

Earn Triple Delta Miles with Avis Rentals

You can earn triple miles with Delta on Avis Rentals.

• Mention coupon # MUAA053 to earn triple miles.
• Mention Avis Worldwide Discount (AWD) # K817600 to receive discount.
• Provide your SkyMiles number at the time of reservation or at the rental counter.

Book here to earn the miles using the code above.

VIP Code on Thermostate - Worked at Hyatt

The VIP code I blogged about in this post worked great at the Hilton this summer. By entering the code it allowed me to override the thermostat temperature setting and reduce the temperature in the room as low as I wanted.

Tonight I arrived at the Hyatt in Atlanta and it was sweltering hot, so I checked to see if the thermostat is an INNCOM, and sure enough it was. So I tried out the code below, and it worked like a charm.

While holding down "display"
Press "off"
Then Press "Up" arrow
Release "display" button

You'll know it worked when you see a picture like this. Thats right, it says VIP!

















The Bottom line

Just because your not staying at a Hilton doesn't mean this code won't work. Check out the type of thermostat and give it a try, drop a comment if it worked for you.

Blog Update: Twitter Feed Enabled

You can now follow us on Twitter by clicking the "t" icon in the right menu of our blog.

When the pointsmilesandmartinis.blogspot.com is updated, the RSS feed gets updated and time stamped. The twitter service picks up any new blog posts from the RSS feed every 30 minutes or so and posts the "post title + url" to the twitter account.

This makes it a little easier to get updates if you are following multiple blogs.

Earn 2,500 Continental Miles For Next Flight

A reader sent me a link that Continental is offering (targeted to members-so this may not work for all and I've removed the OnePass # from the link of the person who sent it to me) 2,500 miles for your next flight if you register and fly before 3/31/2010.

Details

Receive 2,500 bonus miles on your next Continental Airlines flight* when you register and fly by March 31, 2010. Miles can be redeemed for reward travel, upgrades or merchandise at the OnePass® Online Auction. It's our way of thanking you for joining OnePass. We hope to see you on board a Continental flight soon.

Terms and Conditions

*Offer valid for round trips purchased and flown in qualifying published fare classes between Jan. 14, 2010, and March 31, 2010. This offer is nontransferable.

3,000 USAirways Dividend Miles with Every Avis Rental

As I mentioned in my last post the rental car promotions for 2010 are being announced. So far we have a few Delta promotions for 1,500 and 2,010 miles.

Now USAirways is getting in on the game. They are offering 3,000 Dividend miles for every qualifying rental of 3 days or more through March 31, 2011!

Just book using the link below and enter promotion code: MUAA044


Details

Earn more miles when you rent with Avis!

• From January 1, 2010, through March 31, 2011, Dividend Miles Preferred Members can earn 3000 bonus miles on qualifying rentals at participating Avis airport locations in the U.S. and Canada.
• Rent for 3 days or more and receive 3000 bonus miles when you use Coupon # MUAA044.
• Provide your Dividend Miles number when making your reservation. This offer is in addition to your everyday savings of up to 25% when you use Avis Worldwide Discount (AWD) # K024300.

Terms and Conditions

• 3000 bonus miles on all car groups is valid from January 1, 2010, through March 31, 2011, on a qualifying rental at participating Avis airport locations in the U.S. and Canada.
• Please mention coupon MUAA044 to take advantage of this offer.
• Dividend Miles Number must be mentioned at the time of reservation or at the rental counter to receive bonus miles.
• Bonus miles are in addition to the base miles you receive each time you rent with Avis.
• Offer valid on daily, weekly, weekend and monthly rates with a 3 day minimum length of rental.
• An advance reservation is required.
• Offer may not be used with any other coupon, promotion or offer except your AWD discount.
• Offer subject to vehicle availability at the time of rental and may not be available on some rates at some times.
• The savings of up to 25% applies to Avis leisure weekly and weekend rates and is applicable only to the time and mileage charges of the rental.
• Taxes, concession recovery fees, vehicle license recovery fee, customer facility charges ($10/contract in CA) and fuel charges are extra.
• Optional items such as LDW ($35.99/day or less) and other surcharges may apply and are extra.
• Car rental return restrictions may apply.
• Offer subject to change without notice.
• Renter must meet Avis age, driver and credit requirements.
• Minimum rental age may vary by location. An additional daily surcharge may apply for renters under 25 years old.
• Frequent Flyer surcharge of up to U.S. $0.75 per day may apply.
• Mileage accrual structure subject to change.
• Rental must begin by March 31, 2011.

2,010 Delta Skymiles with Every Avis Rental

The 2010 bonuses for rental cars are starting to be announced. We already have the 1,500 Delta miles with ever Avis rental.

Now Avis and Delta have released a promotion where you earn 2,010 Delta Skymiles with every qualifying rental of 2 or more days. Book with the link below, and use the promotion code: MUAA039 to earn your 2,010 Skymiles for rentals through 2/28/2010.


Details

Kick off the New Year with 2,010 bonus SkyMiles® exclusively for Delta SkyMiles members. Plus receive up to 25% off your rental.

• From January 1 through February 28, 2010, SkyMiles members can earn 2,010 bonus miles on qualifying rentals of 2 or more days at participating Avis airport locations in the U.S. and Canada.
• Mention coupon number MUAA039.
• Provide your SkyMiles number when making your reservation. This offer is in addition to your everyday savings of up to 25% when you use AWD # K817600.

Terms and Conditions

• 2,010 bonus miles valid on a qualifying rental of two or more consecutive days at participating Avis airport locations in the US and Canada.
• Bonus miles offer valid on all car groups.
• Provide your SkyMiles number at the time of reservation.
• An advance reservation is required.
• Offer may not be used with any other coupon, promotion or offer except your AWD discount.
• The savings of up to 25% applies to the time and mileage charges only of the rental.
• Taxes, concession recovery fees, vehicle license recovery fee, customer facility charges ($10/contract in CA) and fuel charges are extra.
• Optional items such as LDW ($35.99/day or less) and other surcharges may apply and are extra.
• Please mention coupon number MUAA039 to take receive bonus miles offer.
• Offer is subject to vehicle availability at the time of rental and may not be available on some rates at some times, including some online rates at Avis.com.
• Car rental return restrictions may apply.
• Offer subject to change without notice.
• Renter must meet Avis age, driver and credit requirements. Minimum rental age may vary by location. An additional daily surcharge may apply for renters under 25 years old.
• Frequent flyer surcharge of up to $0.75 USD per day, may apply.
• Rental period valid from January 1, 2010 through February 28, 2010.
• Reservations and rentals must be completed by February 28, 2010.

Free Companion Ticket on British Airways

Here is a promotion for those of you flying on British Airways. They are offering a free companion ticket on your next flight when you purchase and fly before January 29th, 2010. Registration required, register here.

Details

With everyone you know, and over 300 destinations, there are endless opportunities


When you book a flight and travel on or before January 29, 2010, you'll receive a complimentary companion ticket* which can be used in conjunction with your next purchased ticket. You and your companion can travel in any cabin, to any of the over 300 destinations British Airways flies to worldwide. Book your ticket and your companion ticket from January 4 through July 30, 2010 and travel from January 11 through December 15, 2010.



Existing British Airways Executive Club members

If you are an existing British Airways Executive Club member, all you need to do is register for your complimentary companion ticket using the following button.

25,000 US Airways Dividend Miles with Sign Up

If you sign up for a US Airways account and fly 8 segments within 90 days, they are offering up to 25,000 miles. Register here. Hurry, you have to sign up by January 15th, 2010.


Details

Join now and you could get 25,000 miles.
Now's the time to join Dividend Miles. Every time you fly in your first 90 days, you're one step closer to award travel. All you have to do is join.

Fly at least one segment and you'll get an extra 500 miles in your Dividend Miles account. If you fly 8, we'll fast forward you to 25,000 miles, and that equals an award ticket.

Take 2 roundtrip flights, each with a connection, and you'll have 8 segments – it's that easy.

• Join Dividend Miles between October 19, 2009 and January 15, 2010.
• Fly between 1 and 7 segments during your first 90 days and you’ll get 500 bonus miles.
• Fly 8 or more segments during your first 90 days and we'll ‘round-up your miles' to 25,000 miles, enough for a domestic roundtrip award ticket.

Bottom Line

The 8 segments could be an easy goal to hit. Trying adding a few extra stops on your next flight using multi-city search functionality on ITA Software.

Terms and Conditions

500 miles will be awarded to each member's account if the member flies US Airways within 90 days of enrolling in the Dividend Miles program. The 25,000 mile bonus is calculated as flight mileage plus a dynamic amount that when added together equal 25,000 miles. If a member travels 8 or more segments and 24,000 miles or more on US Airways within 90 days of enrolling in the Dividend Miles program they will receive 5,000 bonus miles in lieu of the 25,000 bonus mile 'round-up.' Travel must be credited to the member's Dividend Miles account. The offer is only valid for new Dividend Miles members who enroll online at usairways.com or via TextUS. Miles will be posted once, after the 90 day period following enrollment. Miles do not count towards Preferred status. Activity must take place during the first 90 days post enrollment - retroactive flight credits do not qualify. Activity must be on US Airways, US Airways Shuttle, or US Airways Express (airline partner activity does not qualify) and only flight miles count towards the calculation of bonus miles. 25,000 bonus miles is enough to qualify for a capacity-controlled domestic US award roundtrip ticket. Please see the terms & conditions of the Dividend Miles program to learn more about redeeming miles for travel. All terms & conditions of the Dividend Miles program apply. Mileage credit will be calculated based upon the distance from origin to final destination, regardless of the number of stops on nonstop and direct flights.

1,500 Delta Airline Miles with Avis Rentals

Avis has a promotion out where you can earn 1500 Delta Airline miles for rentals of 3 days or more by 3/31/2010.

Make sure you use coupon # MUAA135 to earn the miles.


Details

The more you rent, the more miles you earn!

• Now through March 31, 2010, Delta SkyMiles members can earn 1,500 bonus miles on rentals of 3 or more days.
• Offer valid on all car groups at participating airports in the U.S., Canada, Latin America, Caribbean, Mexico, Australia, Europe, Middle East, Asia and Africa.
• Use coupon # MUAA135 and provide your SkyMiles number at the time of reservation or at the rental counter to receive your bonus miles. These miles are in addition to the base miles you receive every time you rent with Avis.
• This offer is in addition to your everyday savings of up to 25% when you use AWD # K817600.

Terms and Conditions

• 1,500 bonus miles valid on a qualifying rental of three or more consecutive days at participating Avis airport locations in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean, Mexico, Australia, Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.
• Bonus miles offer valid on all car groups.
• An advance 24-hour reservation is required.
• Offer may not be used with any other coupon, promotion or offer except your AWD discount.
• The savings of up to 25% applies to the time and mileage charges only.
• Taxes, concession recovery fees, vehicle license recovery fee, customer facility charges ($10/contract in CA) and fuel charges are extra.
• Optional items such as LDW ($35.99/day or less) and other surcharges may apply and are extra.
• Please mention coupon number MUAA135 to take receive bonus miles offer.
• SkyMiles Number must be mentioned at the time of reservation or at the rental counter to receive bonus miles.
• Offer may not be used in conjunction with any other promotion or offer.
• Offer is subject to vehicle availability at the time of rental and may not be available on some rates at some times, including some online rates at Avis.com.
• Car rental return restrictions may apply.
• Offer subject to change without notice.
• Holiday and other blackout periods may apply.
• Blackout Dates for Europe, Middle East, Asia and Africa: 12/14/09-12/31/09, 1/1/10-1/3/10, 3/27/10-3/31/10.
• Blackout Dates for Latin America, Mexico and Caribbean: 12/19/09-12/31/09, 1/1/10-1/10/10, 2/12/10-2/21/10, 3/26/10-3/31/10.
• Renter must meet Avis age, driver and credit requirements. Minimum rental age may vary by location.
• An additional daily surcharge may apply for renters under 25 years old.
• Frequent flyer surcharge of up to $0.75 USD per day, may apply.
• Rental must begin by March 31, 2010.

Up To 1,000 Continental Airline Miles with Continental Email Opt In

This is an easy way to earn up to 1,000 Continental Airline miles. All you have to do is click this link, select the second offer, and opt in to receive continental emails.


Details

Find out how to earn more miles and stay current on OnePass news when you sign up to receive the News & Offers e-mail and/or your OnePass Online Statement. You'll also be able to easily access your account information online.

Sign in using your OnePass number at the "Manage Profile" page to subscribe, and you'll receive 500 bonus miles for each subscription after your third month of enrollment.

Its Back Up..And Back Down - 100,000 British Airways Miles for CC Signup

If you snooze you lose. The link is down again.

British Airways and Chase are still offering 100,000 British Airways miles if you sign up for the British Airways Visa card. You earn 50,000 with the first qualified purchase, and another 50,000 when you spend $2,000 in the first 91 days. The first year fee is $75 and you earn 1.25 miles per $ or 2.5 miles per $ on British Airways purchases.

You can use the miles for British Airways or their Partners. On British Airways award chart you can use the miles for 1 business class ticket to Europe, 2 coach tickets to Europe, or even 4 domestic coach tickets on American Airlines.

Also if you spend $30,000 on the card in 1 calendar year, you get a buy one get one free award redemption voucher. This means if you spend $30,000 in the first year on the card, you would have 137,500 miles to redeem for 2 business class tickets to Europe.

Bottom Line

If you missed this offer the first time it was out THIS IS YOUR CHANCE! Definitely a cheap way to earn miles for redemption on American Airlines or other partners, this is one of the best deals out there. I would however not recommend this card for any other reason than the sign up bonus. I signed up a few weeks ago and have already obtained my card. The first 50,000 miles should post to my account shortly.