News in brief:
American Express suspends Starwood Membership Rewards transfers
American Express Membership Rewards has suspended transfers into Starwood Preferred Guest until 8th August.
This is inconvenient if you were hoping to pick up a Marriott Travel Package before they shoot up in price on 18th August, or indeed book a redemption at a property which is going up in cost on the same date.
8th August is an odd choice of date. I would have expected transfers to be suspended until 18th August, to ensure that there is no confusion over the ratio. I am expecting the transfer rate to move from 2:1 to 2:3 on 18th August in line with the 1:3 alignment of Starwood Preferred Guest with ‘new Marriott’ although this has not been confirmed.
Hilton Honors extends its ‘double points’ promotion
Hilton Honors has extended its ‘double points’ Summer promotion which is open for registration here.
The offer was due to end on 31st August but has been extended to 9th September, to take in the Labor Day holiday weekend in the US.
If you haven’t already registered, it is very straightforward with minimal small print: you will earn DOUBLE Hilton Honors base points for every stay between 1st May and 9th September.
There is no cap to what you can earn and there are no minimum stay requirements. It really couldn’t be simpler. You will earn 10 base points per $1 spent, plus an additional 10 promotional points, plus any status bonus.
There is no small print except that you need to register in advance via the Hilton website (which has not been changed yet to reflect the 9th September extension):
There is no minimum stay requirement
Existing bookings still count
All Hilton Family properties (Hilton, Hampton, Curio, Waldorf-Astoria, Conrad etc) are taking part – there is no list of non-participating hotels – except for Hampton properties in China
Remember that the Home2 Suites and Tru brands earn a lower 5 base points per $1.
How to earn Hilton Honors points via UK credit cards
As a reminder, there are various ways of earning Hilton Honors points from UK credit cards. Many cards also have generous sign-up bonuses!
Click here to read our detailed summary of all UK credit cards which earn Hilton Honors points. That page is regularly updated with the latest special offers and will still be accurate even if you are reading this article months after publication.
Who won 100,000 IHG Rewards Club points?
Two weeks ago we ran a competition in association with IHG giving away 100,000 IHG Rewards Club points to one lucky HfP reader.
We can now confirm the winner: Randall C.
Congratulations (and also congratulations on your 35th wedding anniversary, which Randall was celebrating on the day we told him he’d won!).
Remember that you can still save 20% on weekend stays at IHG hotels in Manchester via their current promotion. Bookings have to be made by 7th September, for stays until 31st December 2018
Full details can be found on this special Manchester sale page of the IHG website.
The Mail on Sunday article on the Iberia Avios promotion
Finally … as I couldn’t link to it in my piece yesterday because I didn’t have the URL, here is The Mail on Sunday article on Iberia’s ‘90,000 Avios’ promotion if you missed it.
(Want to earn more hotel points? Click here to see our complete list of promotions from the major hotel chains or use the ‘Hotel Promos’ link in the menu bar at the top of the page.)
About Head for Points
Cancelled a previously booked Avios RFS some 2 and a half weeks ago. Still waiting on the return of my points and credit card payment (less £35 fee). is that a typical timeframe..?! Seems a little strange and I’m concerned that the current/imminent closure of the Avios scheme will see these go astray.
No. Call them, refunds can get blocked – it has happened to me before.
Still waiting on 25,000 Avios and 75ish pound tax refund from a change on my booking from 3-4 weeks ago.
Was blocked as I changes credit card, eventually they had to use a bank account – However still waiting… will call again in a few days.
Just noticed a refund I’ve been due for 3-4 weeks hasn’t arrived – complaint going in now..
OT but AMEX MR related: I opened a Club Eurostar account yesterday and tried to transfer AMEX MR in order to book a trip to Paris. However, I don’t seem to be able to add my Club Eurostar account (in order to carry out the transfer). Are there any conditions (like a minimum time since opening of the Club Eurostar account) which need to be fulfilled before a transfer is possible? Thank you in advance for any advice.
Don’t enter the first 6 numbers.
Hi Rob&Anika
Is there any new Amex Gold holders Amazon offer or has the previous one been extended?
Last time I checked it had not been extended again.
Are you referring to the ‘shop with points?’
It has been extended – now due to finish tomorrow (https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/shopwithpoints/marketing.html/ref=swp_ya_add_card?ie=UTF8&pr=swpamexukmr&inc=swpamexukmrl)
It does say it’s valid to 31/07/2019 in the first paragraph however item one of the T&Cs says 31/07/2018 which I will take to be the correct date.
Thanks Ewan. That’s weird, I checked a couple of weeks ago and it hadn’t changed. Let’s see if it flips over again.
Yes Rob – extended again. ‘Shop with points’ promo now extended to finish on 31/8/2018
OT: Does anyone know if you book a BA holiday and fly American Airlines in Economy, can you reserve the Main Cabin Extra seats (if available) as Gold (One World Emerald) for free? I assume you could by logging into American with your code to select a seat…but wondered if you could do it for both of us if the other half doesn’t have status…? Anyone guidance would be greatly appreciated.
I find this webpage I mine field:
https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/experience/seats/main-cabin-extra.jsp
If on the same booking it should let you do it for both. If on separate bookings then I guess will just need to try AA call centre and see if they’re willing to help?
Does anyone know if the SPG to Airline Miles transfers at 1:1 will be affected by the SPG/Marriott merger?
It may change for smaller quantities but the ’60k ‘new scheme’ points for 20k miles plus a 5k bonus’ will remain.
Thanks Rob, as always
When in Rome?
My wife is taking 2 chimps to Rome next week – big 5 – oh.
I bowed out. We all need a holiday from our wives.
But I got her & the kids a great hotel in Central Historic part of town.
Now, if you could just recommend 1 good thing to do in Rome, what would it be? I don’t mean ice cream. Something more meaningful or memorable.
St Peter’s Basicalla. It’s free (big plus) and the queues move quickly (unusual in Rome) but better to get there early to avoid the longest lines.
It is without doubt the most impressive building I have ever been in. I’m no Catholic and would not register on the religious scale but it is awe inspiring. Then you think about how it was funded… makes for an interesting visit whichever side of the religious divide you sit.
Just walk and enjoy the scenery, seriously gorgeous. I found the coliseum a bit meh but if she wants to go get her ticket from pallatine hill as she can then skip the queue at the coliseum.
The hop on hop off bus is good for a general overview.
The pantheon was nice, free and central.
Evening meal on the rooftop of the hotel indigo – St George was great. Wonderful views of the Vatican etc lit up at night and decent food.
Thanks both – will recommend.
As it happens, I did my Italian A level at St George’s School, Rome – I arranged this exam independently, got an A, was back in about 1985. So rings a bell, St George’s just invigilated it.
Tell your kids they can do the same. I got 2 more A grade A levels in Italian & Spanish whilst I was at university – always impressed the interview panels but were really a mere piece of ploop & good fun.
An audience with the Pope?
Languages are just easy – A grade A level is within everybody’s reach, just go onto Rosetta Stone or do an intensive course in the country 🙂
Raffles – German? – shame on you lol
Damned annoying that Amex suspended SPG transfers – I’m trying to pick up a travel package before they screw up all the rates!
Amex Reward point transfers to SPG suspension extended to 21st August, which makes sense in the context of the merger. Total lack of info from Amex on how transfers will work after that – will 2 MR points convert into 3 “New Marriott” points? Who knows? Certainly not Amex CS rep’s who appear to have been told absolutely nothing. A bit of Amex communication with their Customers would be useful.