We bring you the Hyatt World of Hurt loyalty program, show you new United stopover tricks, the latest IHG Rewards Pointbreaks, an awesome personal finance post and get back with some ranting against pimping bloggers for YOU!
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I am typing this in the Qatar Airways Business Class Lounge in Doha. I left Shiraz, Iran earlier today after spending the past 11 nights in the country. I hope I get to the trip report before 2019 lol. Anyways, this lounge is fantastic! I think it is better than the Turkish Airlines Istanbul lounge but hey, everyone is different.
Amazingly, I kept up with Feedly, sucky Iranian wifi and all. So, to ease back into TBB mode, here were the top five posts recently you should know about.
The IHG Rewards Pointbreaks list is out. 5k points for one night. If you can find it by now. Anyways, this list was another yawn.
Hyatt’s Sweeping New Loyalty Program. Well, what is so distressing about this is how now hotels are even going full Delta revenue based mode. Loyalty means dollars. The way it should have been all along actually. The spoils go to the big spenders/road warriors while we should all be free agent this travel thing! I mean, who in their right mind will go and stay 60 nights (or just 55 nights to extend it). I mean, if it was even 60 “stays”…WTF! And these moronic names, Discoverist, Explorist, Globalist and super sucky logo, wow! After I book my free Visa night award, I am canceling my card, time to clear the herd!
New United Stopover Tricks (The Roundtrip Hack). I appreciate the out of the box thinking. But, as in the Hyatt mega devaluation killing above, I wonder if these loyalty programs monitor us closely and whenever a “loophole” type post is published, a staff person is given a little note with the URL and the instructions to KILL it 🙂 Heck, I would…if i was running these programs!
Start Now. An awesome personal finance post. Did you miss these?
Well, things did not change much while I was roaming the mosques and other things in Iran. Bloggers keep pimping shitty credit card offers while keeping their readers in the dark and not even mentioning better offers for the same credit card! Case in point the American Express Platinum card for just 40k points that pays the bloggers a fat commission while better offers exist but do not pay the bloggers. And, here is where it gets so much suckier…Other bloggers and readers do not challenge them but instead kiss their asses and link to them while conveniently bypassing this awful violation of conflict of interest like it does not even exist! Wow, just wow. Many even in my Blogs I Like do that and it is one of these things that piss me off SO much as it only contributes to the sheer pimpingdom that exists in this space!
Speaking of pimping, I will let Mile Nerd close this post out as he knows best…Oh, and don’t bother to complain to me as well, WTF!
I’m getting a lot more questions about Club1Hotels. That probably means writers/whores are “helping” readers again by sharing this “opportunity.” I wrote about it already, but I should add something – from all the reports you guys have sent, Club1Hotels sucks. I don’t recommend it at all. But if you frequent the kinds of websites that push it on you (because they’re getting paid)…please don’t email me to complain about them. Not direct enough? Ok. How about this? If you support/read any bloggers who put money over integrity, stop crying to me about them. I’m not on your side.
I really like this pic of me the colors while hanging out somewhere in Iran…
And I leave you with this…
Check out my updated blog lists: Blogs I Love, Blogs I Like, Blogs To Ignore
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The Club1Hotels push might be the basis for rethinking the blog ranking. DOC uses it to ask for donations to support the blog. The comments are fun to read. Eyes wide open.
You have a valid point…
I am taking (mental) notes…
The most disappointing thing to me about the new Hyatt reward program is that the lowest member is just called member. Someone’s job was to specifically do this rebrand, and apparently coming up with one more stupid name was just too much work…
Levelist
Bassist
can’t think of others…
Just sad
Agoraphobia.
I read thru the 29 page thread on FT (’twas a rainy afternoon in Paradise!). While I can understand some of the angst, I can also see that HGP/WoH will FINALLY have a true “mid-tier” elite level (with an absolutely asinine moniker). Not sure it is very competitive with other mid-tier offerings but for years it was Plat (basically nada) or Diamond.
Most of the angst seems to be from the “gamers” (no negative connotation intended). As a Diamond (most years via both stays AND nites), I will miss the Diamond amenities — I’ve had some killer F&B sent up!
I do NOT for one minute believe that suite upgrades will happen when they are available. More than one GM from more than one chain has told me that suite upgrades are “expensive” due to the size of the suite and the labor involved in refreshing/turning it.
Shouldn’t the “member” level be called: Dirt ?
Agoraphobist* is what I meant!
Love the picture. Colors are amazing.
Yes they are. Amazing had enough time to snap a few, place was overrun by terrorists, I mean, tourists.
From Daesh? Or where did all the tourists come from?
Please re-elect Gerald. Please.
(First video, votegerald.com)
That is the best campaign video of the year, or ever. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzjRwNUQDRU
I am at the LGA Centurion Club and…can’t stop laughing! And I have not had a single drink yet. Thanks!
That lounge in Doha exceeds all expectations. Had many beers there last night in the restaurant upstairs with a German dude I met on the free Doha “tour”, next took a long shower before the 1am flight. The second restaurant where sandwiches are made is definitely worth too – some good food there. Comparison with the Admirals Club in Philly where I dwelled afterwards is not possible.
Yeah I agree. Only downer was the duds manning the luggage storage area are not very sharp.
Best spots to rest is in the Quiet area inside the main restaurant in the main floor and inside the business center too. Not easy to find. The first one even has showers and is so much LESS busy than the main showers everyone goes to.
I wish the bathroom attendants would hold back a little…yes I know how to turn the water on!
I think this one is better than the TK IST lounge that is just over run by so many people!
Just want this on the record:
“I did NOT have sexts with that man, Carlos Danger”…
Welcome home (almost?) Buzz. Glad you have your bag with you — I once “forgot” mine in the President’s Club at PTY. It was late and I had been celebrating since early. Know how difficult it is to get a “forgotten” bag sent from PTY to MGA? Lesson learned.
My next adventure — anyone have any good recommendations for a restaurant NEAR (not in) DTW? Have a 3+ hour layover there at lunchtime and I cannot stomach any more Vino Volo or other airport “fare”…
#TBBon and Happy Weekend
3+ hour layover is really not that long. If you go outside, you need to Uber or taxi. When are you coming? If I am not doing anything that day I could pick you up and go to lunch. Let me know in advance, got so much to catch up to now.
Had planned for Uber-ing (is that a verb now?) — flying the Widget and no status (free agent – buy the cheapest F fare!) so no lounge for me.
Probable date is 30 November – may move up to the 29th depending on mood/phase of the moon/how tired I am of the DEN crowd not making decisions.
Great if you can make it — lunch on me since I never click your links (the horror!). Can even sweeten the deal with killer Costa Rican cafe and assorted treats. And a story or 20…
That weekend I am flying to Philadelphia to see a client, Friday to Sunday, not sure the times. Flying Spirit for the first time too!
Present, glad you are back.
Yeah, me too. I missed home. I am no perma traveler dude….I like coming back to family and my home and….Panera!
.
Was there a link in your comment that did not make it through?
I come back to more phucking emails crap!
would be ok if a blogger said help me out make a few bucks with signing up for a BS site. definitely would do that for DOC at least. but they all act like that garbage is a good deal.
>>>>>>>>>>but they all act like that garbage is a good deal.
Yep, exactly. Oh, it is the text copy they were given, I got it too. I could make $4 per signup, more if there was high conversions. This site will not be around a year from now when they are through blowing the money from their investors/suckers.