United 777

United is once again running a promotion to match elite status held by travelers in its competitors’ frequent flyer programs. TripBadger reported on the promotion last year. The terms of this year’s program are similar; however, the match requires fewer miles over 90 days to keep the status than last year!

How to Status Match to United MileagePlus Premier Elite Status

Who is Eligible:  All customers holding elite status on another airline (except Star Alliance airlines).

Who is Excluded:  Customers who hold Star Alliance Silver and Gold Status with another airline (which includes, but is not limited to, all US Airways Dividend Miles elites) and customers who participated in a OnePass or MileagePlus status match program within the last 5 years.

How to Status Match:

1. Gather the following  information:
   • your MileagePlus account number;
   • your name, complete current mailing address and e-mail address;
   • and a copy of your most recent mileage summary or 2012 membership card that clearly identifies your current elite level in the frequent flyer program you are matching from)
2. Send Email to premiermatch@united.com or FAX to 605-343-4104.
3. You can also send mail to:

Mileage Plus Service Center
Attn: Premier Status Match
P.O. Box 6120
Rapid City, SD 57709-6121

Rules:

United will match your status for a 90 day period. To keep your status, you need to fly the following miles or segments within the 90 day period:

• Premier Silver Status Match – Fly 7,000 qualifying flight miles or 8 flight segments to retain Premier Silver status;
• Premier Gold Status Match – Fly 12,500 qualifying flight miles or 15 flight segments to retain Premier Gold status; and
• Premier Platinum Status Match – Fly 18,000 qualifying flight miles or 22 flight segments to retain Premier Platinum status.

United announced plans last week to reintroduce Boeing 787 service from Houston to Chicago on May 20. The airline is working with Boeing to modify its fleet of 787s with a battery fix recently approved by the FAA. The FAA grounded the 50 787s in service with airlines including United earlier this year following a series of battery fires. The 787 uses new technologically advanced lithium ion batteries to operate key aircraft systems, which become very hot during flight and need to be properly insulated. It’s typical for new airplane models to experience teething problems and this is not unique to the 787.

In addition to domestic flights, United will reinstate 787 international service on June 10, placing the aircraft on the Denver-Tokyo route. TripBadger is anxious to fly on the 787 one day soon now that it’s back in the air!

A Grounded United 787 at Houston Intercontinental Airport, April 2013

Register Now to Earn Double Starpoints

Starwood Preferred Guest is offering double Starpoints on all eligible stays from May 1 to July 31, 2013. All you need to do is register for this promotion here. You can also earn an additional 500 Starpoints by booking through spg.com or on their iPhone or Android apps.

• Only the base two-Starpoints-per-dollar earnings are doubled.  If you have Elite-level status, your extra Starpoint earnings and/or other bonuses will not be doubled.
• Some properties are not participating.

Starpoints are more valuable than most other hotel points because they can be exchanged for airline miles on over 30 different airlines on a 1:1 basis.  Free nights start at 2,000 points (weekend stays).

NYC’s Andaz Wall Street Hotel

Back in January, I wrote about how I was able to score a good deal on a room at the Andaz Wall Street during the busy holiday season in NYC.  That makes this review a little late, but I figured better late than never.

The New York Stock Exchange.

The Location

Located one block from the Wall Street subway station on–wait for it–Wall Street, the Andaz Wall Street is located in the heart of the financial district.  The Wall Street subway station is on the #2 and #3 lines (red).  The #2 line also serves Penn Station and Times Square making it possible to get to many of the city’s attractions without switching lines. While the financial district is less desirable as a jumping off point for the city’s main attractions, being on the #2 line made getting around fairly easy. Both the 9/11 Memorial and Battery Park are within easy walking distance of the hotel.  If you plan to visit the 9/11 Memorial, be sure to reserve your visitor passes online in advance. Same-day passes are only available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Because the financial district is not a tourist draw like Midtown and Times Square, I’ve found it’s possible to find much lower rates at financial district hotels during the weekend when the business travelers have gone home. Overall, I enjoyed the location. The financial district is relatively quiet on the weekends and offered a nice reprieve from the massive crowds on Fifth Avenue and at Rockefeller Center.

One downside of being in the financial district on the weekend is fewer eating options, so we mostly ate in other neighborhoods. However, we did find a great option just blocks away from the hotel– Harry’s Cafe and Steak. For brunch, Harry’s offers free unlimited champagne (carafes of juice are $7) with the purchase of an entree. The food and service were excellent.

Staircase leading up to the Wall and Water restaurant and down to the lobby area.

The Service

We were warmly welcomed upon arrival in the modern lounge space, which was decorated with comfortable, modern furniture. Smartly dressed (and very good looking) staff quickly checked us into our room. As is becoming the rule rather than the exception at trendy hotels, there is no check-in counter. Instead, the staff congregate around a central table and checked us in with an iPad. The iPad is equipped with a device to make hotel keys and scan credit cards.

The Room

Before it was renovated for Andaz, the hotel previously served as an Embassy Suites hotel. Unsurprisingly then, the room was very large by NYC standards. The decor is minimalist and modern. The hardwood floors were strikingly beautiful and a welcome departure from the well-worn carpet of hotels’ past. A lot of design attention was focused on the bathroom, which featured a large shower and expensive-looking, floor-to-ceiling black marble.

The room features hardwood floors. The opaque glass allows natural light to enter the large shower.

Rooms are also relatively high-tech and equipped with a smart lighting system (one-touch controls, mood lighting effects) and an electronically controlled window shade.

Andaz Wall Street room.

The Andaz Wall Street shower.

Summary

We enjoyed our stay at the Andaz Wall Street. On the weekend, the financial district often offers a good value.  The next time you’re frustrated by the rates in Midtown, don’t forget to check out the rates further south.  The Andaz Wall Street is a great option.

(Photo credit: Michael Beall)

As we wrote about in December 2012, Virgin America has been offering to match elite status in United’s MileagePlus®, American’s AAdvantage®, and Southwest’s Rapid Rewards® frequent flyer programs. By providing proof of your current United, American, or Southwest elite status, Virgin America will grant you comparable elite status in its Elevate program through June 30, 2013. This has been extended beyond the orginial end date of April 30, 2013.

To retain your elevate status, you must earn a certain number of status points in the Elevate program by June 30, 2013. Virgin America has sweetened the deal for Virgin America Visa Signature cardholders (review here) who need less than half the status points otherwise required to retain Elevate Status. Our December 2012 post provides more detail about the promotion (link to article). TripBadger offers details on the Elevate program here. You must sign up for Elevate or already be a member to participate in this offer.

TripBadger Recommendation:

If you have United, American, or Southwest elite status, this is a great opportunity to experience Elevate status completely free for a limited time. It’s also an easier way to retain status through the end of 2013, particularly for Virgin America Visa Signature cardholders (retaining Elevate Silver will only require one round-trip cross country flight). Virgin America is a highly rated airline, having been ranked by Travel & Leisure magazine readers as the top domestic airline 5 years in a row.

For a limited time, earn 7,500 bonus points!

If you’re not yet a member of JetBlue’s loyalty program, now is a great time to join. After registering, new TrueBlue members who book and fly a round-trip flight on JetBlue by June 19, 2013 will receive a 7,500 point bonus.

One-way flights start at just 5,000 points. When you book through JetBlue.com, you will earn 6 points per dollar spent on tickets. With the bonus and the points earned on your first flight, you’ll be well on your way to a free round-trip flight (which start at 10,000 points).

For additional information, please check out TripBadger’s review of the TrueBlue program.

Here’s the registration link.

Amtrak Acela Express

Last weekend while traveling from Washington, DC to New York City on Amtrak’s Acela train service, I discovered an amazing Amtrak secret. Amtrak offers free priority boarding and baggage assistance for all customers at 12 stations across the United States called Red Cap service. Dedicated red shirt-clad Amtrak employees are there to help anyone who requests assistance with the boarding process. Unlike the airlines, which charge extra fees for similar boarding and baggage services, the only cost associated with the Red Cap service is a tip for the person who helps you.

Using Red Cap is Very Simple

All you have to do is locate the Red Cap stand in one of the 12 stations and ask for help. The Red Cap porters will take your bags and hold them until 15-20 minutes before boarding your train. This relieves you to wonder the station’s restaurants and shops without your bag in tow. At the agreed upon 15-20 minutes before the departure time, the Red Cap escorts you with your bags to the train before general boarding begins. If you board at an originating station like I did in Washington, DC, you have the first pick of any seat on the train in your ticketed class. The Red Cap attendant will help you find the best seat based on your preferences (near the dining car, in the quiet car, etc). I tipped the Red Cap $20 ($5 for each of the four of us traveling together). It was well worth it to be first on the train and avoid the mad rush of passengers fighting for seats.

Amtrak Stations that Offer Red Cap Service

• Baltimore, MD
• Boston, MA (South Station)
• Chicago, IL
• Los Angeles, CA
• New Haven, CT
• New York, NY
• Newark, NJ
• Philadelphia, PA
• Portland, OR
• Seattle, WA
• Washington, DC
• Wilmington, DE

TripBadger Recommendation

If you’re traveling from one of the 12 stations that offers Red Cap assistance, it’s definietly worth the cost of tipping the Amtrak porter. It’s really hard to believe more people don’t use the service to enjoy free help with baggage and the first choice of seats on the train. Also, if you’re traveling before May 18, don’t forget to register for the double Guest Rewards promotion and earn extra points for Amtrak travel across the country! TripBadger highlighted this bonus last week.

Algonquin entrance 59 West 44th Street

Last weekend, I jumped on the Amtrak Acela from Washington, DC to New York City to for a quick two days. For this trip, I chose the Algonquin Hotel located near Times Square to serve as my home base from which to explore the city.

The hotel is part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection and is a AAA Four Diamond property. There are 174 guestrooms, a fitness center, a business center, the Round Table Restaurant, and the Blue Bar. The hotel recently completed a major renovation and is what you would expect of a luxury boutique hotel in Manhattan.  The location is very central and within easy walking distance of Times Square, the theater district, and shopping on 5th Avenue.

Originally built in 1902, the hotel is well known for its traditions, the most famous of which is hosting literary and theatrical notables over the years.  In 1919, the hotel entertained the daily meetings of the Algonquin Round Table, where influential actors, writers,  and publicists would gather for lunchtime discussion in the hotel’s restaurant.  The outcomes of those daily meetings heavily influenced literary styles of the 1900s.

The Room

My room at the Algonquin was a typical size for New York and definitely small by other U.S. city standards. My view was the street below. There was a comfortable queen-sized bed, a walk-in closet, and a very tiny bathroom. I found the room was adequate, furnished well, and clean. Room rates start around $300 per night depending on demand.

Overall Impression

I found the Algonquin to be a comfortable choice in a great location. My room was small but on par with expectations for New York City. The staff were friendly and attentive, but the concierge was often overwhelmed helping guests and it was difficult to speak with him for dining recommendations. I was surprised that the hotel doesn’t offer 24-hour room service given its AAA Four Diamond status.

I was shocked by the prices of drinks in the hotel’s bar, Blue Bar, where a cocktail costs $21. Tip: if you check-in using  Foursquare on your smart phone, you unlock a coupon for half-off one drink. Definitely try this to avoid the outrageous regular price.

Standard room at the Algonquin

Exploring New York City

Beautiful day on the High Line

The weather in New York City while I was there was beautiful. I spent my two days wondering around different areas of the city and especially enjoyed walking along the High Line park.

For brunch on Saturday, I had a noteworthy meal at Chez Sardine in the West Village. It was outstanding and definitely worth a visit. Click here for the brunch menu – I really liked the Fedora Burger with smoked cheddar, cucumbers, and BBQ mayo.

There is always so much to see and do in New York City that it’s hard to really capture much in a quick TripBadger post. If you’re headed there and seek a convienent luxury boutique hotel, I would recommend the Algonquin Hotel. Don’t forget to provide your Marriott Rewards number at check-in.

Now a $200 ticket change fee on United

Additional fees charged by airlines continued to rise this week. United, US Airways, Delta, and American have all raised the fee they charge to change purchased tickets within North America from $150 to $200. This sizable increase may cause some travelers to think twice about switching flights, I know that would be the case for me. The airlines claim the increase is necessary to keep fares low amid increased competition. Southwest, however, the largest domestic airline, has yet to follow. The company still doesn’t charge a fee on top of any fare difference when switching flights.

Also this week, Frontier announced plans to charge for drinks on its flights beginning July 1. Travelers who purchase the airline’s cheapest and most popular discounted fares will have to pay $1.99 for soda (you get the whole can), juice, tea, and coffee (which will include refills). Non-discounted fares will still include free non-alcoholic beverages. In addition, Frontier will begin charging from $25-$100 per carry-on bag for travelers who purchase tickets through third party sites like Orbitz, Expedia, and Travelocity rather than through the company’s flyfrontier.com website. Frontier is calling the beverage and carry-on fee customer enhancements, although it’s hard to tell how either actually improves anything about the Frontier experience.

Customers may not be too happy about the changes. Several years ago, US Airways attempted to charge for drinks, which the company quickly dropped after much complaining by travelers. United tried a similar move in the mid-2000s with a plan to test a buy-on-board meal service for transatlantic flights from Washington Dulles. Travelers mounted an aggressive campaign against United and the airline relented. We’ll see if history repeats itself or perhaps Frontier can force its customers to pay for water on its flights in the long-term.

Now through May 18, Amtrak  is offering travelers the opportinty to earn double points in its Guest Rewards frequent traveler program for qualifying train travel systemwide. In order to enjoy the promotion, you must be a member of the Guest Rewards program and register through the link on Amtrak’s website. Note, you have to provide your Guest Rewards number at the time of  booking your train tickets and you are limited to two one-way qualifying trips per day.

TripBadger previously provided an overview of the Guest Rewards Program and the Guest Rewards MasterCard from Chase. Check it out!

Amtrak Double Guest Rewards Points Promo Through May 18