Maximise your Avios, air miles and hotel points

Bits: new ‘Luxury Travel Diary’ auction, HfP in the media

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News in brief:

New ‘Luxury Travel Diary’ auction launched

The ‘Luxury Travel Diary’ website has launched another of its regular auctions.  Some HfP readers have successfully bought items in the past – this is not a huge site and there can be genuinely good deals if you get something which others have overlooked.

The full list of items on offer is here.  If you want to narrow it down to UK items, click here.  Of the items which looked interesting:

One way private jet flight for two from New York to California (or vice versa)

Two nights in Paris at a Five Star boutique hotel

Two nights at the Andaz New York hotel

Four nights at Makunudu Island, Maldives

If none of those appeal, there is a yurt on the Isle of Wight as well.

The closing dates for the lots vary wildly – some close this week, other run into late October – so you should make a diary note to keep track of those of interest.

Head for Points in the media

I appeared in a couple of media pieces this week which may be worth a look.

Over at Buying Business Travel, I discussed the impact of the Avios devaluation.  What is interesting about this piece is that a number of corporate travel agents talk about the changes they have seen to booking patterns.

For The World, a public service radio show in the US, I discussed the UK approach to miles and points as part of a broader discussion.  The gist of the piece is in this article here or you can listen to the full show here (you want the September 14th edition) – fast forward to 17 mins 25 seconds.

Comments (9)

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

  • Tom C says:

    I was outbid on the private jet with 5 seconds to go last time it was on auction. As I tried to place a new bid the website then crashed and all was lost. Charity Buzz is a bit more fair, in that if someone outbids you right near the end, it starts a countdown again for about 5 minutes so you have the chance to bid again. There are some absolutely amazing offers out there, so people should definitely look into it. I “won” 3 nights in Fregate Island, Seychelles for about 30% of what it would have cost. Only shame is that the new private jet offer is just one way, whereas previously it was a round trip.

    • Rob says:

      Starwood uses the ‘extra 5 minutes’ system for SPG Moments auctions. The problem with that is that you literally need to block out 90 minutes in your diary because they can drag on that long as people keep adding new bids.

      The Starwood ones do offer an interesting intellectual exercise into auction theory, though. You often have 5 identical lots ending at the same time but, because of the ‘extra 5 minutes’ rule, the eventual end times start to diverge and you need to decide whether to add a bid to an expensive one about to close in 10 seconds or let it go and chase one which is currently cheaper but is likely to be kicked up and up.

  • Anon says:

    I’m sure there are some who have had luck with this site but I’ve found it a little questionable. From the website crashing at the end (happened to me too), to items being closed early (and not knowing so not able to increase bid), or being extended (one had almost a month added, possibly as the bid was very low). And be careful to read the T&C very carefully, and especially when they can be used. Eg the Melbourne flat that is currently there (and which I nearly bid on), is only valid for the period 28th May 2015 – 28th October 2015! But apart from that it’s great, so hopefully they get their system working a bit better!

  • Squeezed says:

    Also not really for families, Seems to all be for couples.

  • James67 says:

    OT Bit: For anybody heading to Japan ANA has return exUK fares in business for £1749 and in premium economy for £1099. Might be worth a look at their exEU fares to see if there are any hot deals to be had.

  • AndyGWP says:

    Deleted

  • mark2 says:

    OT
    Iberia have an offer until Oct 31st to get up to 8,000 points if you take out an Economist subscription.
    Which is great as mine is due for renewal!

    • Rob says:

      Can be as high as 12,000 but, as you are renewing, you can’t complain as they are effectively free.

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

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