Hotel loyalty programs, how not to lose points on the way
Some time ago I wrote an article in which I made a list of all the tricks, shortcuts and other gimmicks that do not [...]
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Some time ago I wrote an article in which I made the following points. The list of all the tricks, shortcuts and other gimmicks that don't work when trying to ripping off hotel chain loyalty programs. Today, at the suggestion of a couple of readers, I am writing instead about What you need to do to not get ripped off From loyalty programs.
Watch out for the exchange rate
The first source of problems is definitely the exchange rate, especially these days with the dollar having gone from 1.20€ to parity or even higher. Since all loyalty programs calculate points based on dollar spending, my advice is to keep a close eye on how much you have spent and how many points have been loaded.
The exchange rate should not only be controlled in point key, but also in benefit key. In the case of the program FH+R we know very well that you get a credit of 100$ per stay. I recently happened to stay at the Park Hyatt in Auckland and the exchange rate applied to my credit was not discounted to the current value in local currency at all, almost a 20% less than the exchange rate at the time of my check-out.
Watch out for loaded points
I was recently in Bratislava on business and stayed at the Grand Hotel River Park, which participates in Marriott's Luxury Collection. When I checked my credited points the day after check-out, I noticed that almost 3,000 were missing. On balance, it appeared that the hotel had not charged the points related to hotel spending. Considering that bonuses are calculated on the base points loaded, this is a double miss. I had to write to Marriott, and after a couple of emails, I was able to see the correct points loaded to the account.
Eye on the bill and status benefits
One example is some facilities that do not comply with guaranteed benefits (e.g., late check-out) or free breakfast. Last year I stayed at the Hilton Niagara Falls. A hotel on the Canadian side of the famous falls. When paying, I noticed that I was not given free breakfast, but a credit. Which happens in the US, but does not apply to hotels outside the US.
Again, I had to write to customer service to get the charge reversed with an extra 30$.
In conclusion
No one is trying to cheat the other party, But sometimes things don't always run smoothly. The important thing is to be certain about what you have the right to ask for and vice versa.
- 6,000 Mile Registration Bonus
- Collect miles WITH EACH PURCHASE
- Your miles with no expiration*
- No fees for ATM withdrawals and foreign purchases
- Without having to change banks
- Autonomous card activation
- Multi-function mobile application
- Free travel insurance
- Free credit for up to 7 weeks
- Contactless Payment
- Mastercard® SecureCode
- 20€ discount directly in your statement by spending €60 in one or more transactions with Carta on Italotreno.it
- Free fee the 1st year. From the 2nd €5.50 per month
- You can choose to pay in full or in installments
- Premium level of the Italo Più program
- 4 Vouchers per year for access to Italo Club Lounges
- Preferential Access to Italo's Fast Track at the station
- For every 5 purchases of Italo ticketing and/or onboard services made with Italo American Express Credit Card you will receive 1 voucher for room upgrade
- Welcome bonus of 100,000 Volare points upon reaching 6 thousand in spending in the first 3 months after card issuance
- Accumulate 1.5 qualifying Volare points for every euro spent, accumulate an additional 3 non-qualifying Volare points ( for a total of 4.5 Volare points) for every euro spent on ticketing purchases and other services offered by ITA Airways
- Access to the Premium Club of ITA Airways' Volare program.
- ITA Airways Lounge Access
- Free excess baggage
- Points Back