loyalty programs Archives - Your Mileage May Vary

What’s The Big Deal About Getting A Free Breakfast?

For as long as I’ve been reading travel websites, one of the biggest advantages of having status with a hotel chain was getting free breakfast. At first, I wondered what all the fuss was about. I mean, I’d received free breakfast at hotels before. They consisted of some stale bagels, bread and pastries, powered eggs, flimsy bacon, one flavor of yogurt, a vat of oatmeal and maybe some unripe bananas. Oh, don’t forget the really bad coffee.

The breakfast rooms were usually packed at the normal eating times and the food wasn’t refreshed nearly enough. Why were people so excited with this benefit? Continue reading “What’s The Big Deal About Getting A Free Breakfast?”

The Joys of Being Disloyal

To our new friends who may be visiting from Forbes.com, welcome! We are Joe and Sharon and we’re a married couple, originally from the northeast (he’s from Linden, NJ, she’s originally from Brooklyn, and then Staten Island, NY) but now living in Orlando, Florida. Joe is the one who is majorly into the points and miles and he writes most of our articles that have to do with miles, points, credit cards, airlines, hotels, tricks of the trade, etc. Sharon is the proofreader and tends to write the more diverse entries. If you’d like to look at more of our blog, click here to get to our home page of Your Mileage May Vary. Or maybe consider joining our Facebook group. We hope you like what you see! And now on to our post about the joys of being disloyal:

When it comes to making travel reservations, I’m disloyal. There, I said it and, truth be told, I get a bit of a thrill in making that statement. You see, I’m an Eagle Scout. Therefore, loyalty is part of the deal. Right here, second on the list behind being trustworthy.

A Scout is:

Trustworthy,
Loyal,
Helpful,
Friendly,
Courteous,
Kind,
Obedient,
Cheerful,
Thrifty,
Brave,
Clean,
and Reverent.

So why am I not loyal when it comes to my travel? Simply stated, I don’t travel enough to Continue reading “The Joys of Being Disloyal”

Signing Up For Car Rental Programs, and What Each Program Will Give You

I’ve written in the past about how to sign up for frequent flyer programs and hotel programs. With each of those, you earn loyalty points or miles you can redeem in the future for flights or hotel nights. While some car rental companies also run loyalty programs that can earn you free rental days, the reason you should sign up for these programs is because of how much easier they make renting a car.

The thing I hate most about renting a car is the experience at the rental counter. It’s when, after usually waiting in a line, you get to talk to the car rental agent……. and then the sales pitches for an upgraded car, extra features (navigation, satellite radio), pre-paid gas and coverages begin. After denying (or accepting, I’m not one to judge) each one of these, I feel as if I had to make a deal just to rent the car I reserved for the price I agreed to pay. This is where registering for the loyalty program really pays off. You answer all of these questions in advance and certify these choices will apply to all your rentals unless you specify otherwise. Now when you walk to the counter, you simply hand over your drivers license and credit card and sign for the keys, or so they say. It’s easier to rent from some rental companies than others but enrolling in the rental company’s program will always make the process go along with less hiccups.

Here are the sign up links for the major car rental loyalty programs including any perks that are included and if they award loyalty points.

Continue reading “Signing Up For Car Rental Programs, and What Each Program Will Give You”

Does British Airways Owe You Money?, Changes To Epcot’s Illuminations Show & More!

Hi everyone – I hope you’re all enjoying your Sunday!

I want to start this week by remembering the tragic death of Anthony Bourdain. Many travel writers have written about how he was an inspiration to them to get out into the world and share what a wonderful place it is. Of all the articles I read, I was particularly moved by this post from Mommy Points. I encourage you to read it, as it sums up so many feelings people have nowadays.

Getting back to the travel posts….

Continue reading “Does British Airways Owe You Money?, Changes To Epcot’s Illuminations Show & More!”

How To Get An Upgraded Hotel Room 100% Of The Time

Over the years I’ve developed a way to get an upgraded room at a hotel every time that I’ve used it. It’s so easy that I’m hesitant to share it with you but as our readers, you deserve it.

To get an upgraded room every time all you have to do is……….. pay for it. 😉

What, were you expecting some magic system? Maybe a code word or secret handshake that only internet bloggers know about? Well yeah, that would be pretty cool. And don’t get me wrong, according to the internet there are a million different ways for you to score an upgraded room. Here’s a list of some of the most commonly shared “secrets”: Continue reading “How To Get An Upgraded Hotel Room 100% Of The Time”