I know last summer I was getting $60 a night Hyatt Place nights in RDU area (Usually either RDU airport or Raleigh North, with one stay in GSO)
If I wanted to use my Capital1 Venture card to book the charter - but payment is through PayPal - does anyone know what the charge comes through as? Would love to use the rest of my 100,000 miles Capital1 just gave me to subsidize part of the charter cost. Also, I got Hyatt gift cards from the Capital1 miles - can I use those to pay for my rooms - or do I have to pay up front with a credit card? Thanks!
@ Rob: you can choose your payment source when you go through Paypal. Does anyone know the detail of AA status challenge? I will only join if I can get EXP challenge. I joined SMD3 last time and while I had a ton of fun, my wallet still hates me
If you are top level elite on a non OneWorld carrier, you may challenge for EXP. 20K EQMs flown on AA metal btw 09 OCT - 13 JAN. If you are mid-level elite on a non OneWorld carrier, you may only challenge for Platinum, 10K EQMs needed, same dates. If you are lowest-level elite on a non OneWorld carrier, you may only challenge for Gold, 5K EQMs needed, same dates. No fee for challenges.
They will only match you to the equivalent status of another provider. And then you have to fly 5000/10000/20000 base miles on AA to qualify for a full year of Gold/Plat/EXP.
I see the great opportunity for those participants who are non-AA FF to become new loyal customers. Are there any opportunities for existing to "move up" as quick?
It is EQM, and in the terms and conditions it is listed as Base Miles Earned (there is no reference to points for the challenge)
Unfortunately it does not look like existing AA or OneWorld elite or non-elite will have a "move up" challenge offered. This is clearly a play to snag elites from non oneworld competitors.
No, there don't appear to be any particular bennies for us already loyal AA/OW travelers other than the good EQM earnings on the charter itself. Slightly disappointing, but I understand the goal of wooing over elites from competitors in hopes of earning new/additional business.
They were really going hard after the opinions of competing elites at the launch party, so they are really wanting to gague interest, and I really think that the percentage of people who complete the challenge and then stay loyal to AA may have an impact on how they structure challenges in the future.
no clue on that yet, but as soon as I get the confirmation message on the challenge, I'm going to be booking my flight so I can get my 10K in one trip
I think it's a "challenge" and not a "match," therefore my guess is no status will be confirmed until the terms of the challenge are met.
Does anyone know how travel accident insurance works with a charter? For instance, I see these terms (emphasis is mine): Will the charter flights, and transportation to/from, be considered a "common carrier?" Or, is this something that is covered in the OWMD T&Cs?
The Paypal payment will not show up as travel on the Venture card, so you would have to try to convince a customer service rep that it is travel so they can flag it as such. People have managed to do that with other charges. Earlier this year it was also possible to apply points credits to a single line item multiple times, so a lesser charge (say a hotel) could be "paid" for multiple times to clear out those 100k points. I honestly don't know if they closed the loophole since I burned through my 100k using that trick very very quickly. The rooms are only held via the CC (not prepaid). Nothing is charged until you're at the hotel, so I'm sure you can work out gift card vs CC use with the front desk.
Without a status bump for current AA elite members,,, I may not be able to pull the trigger on this. I do really want the behind the scene look, but I was justifying this trip based on the elite status bump I thought was coming... I already have a Hyatt Diamond challenge that I'll complete and get Diamond until feb 2013. I am going to make Platinum, but NOT EXP this year The bump to EXP from platinum was my justification,,,, now it's a hard deal to swallow since I can get the eqm's on a mile run cheaper.. I think AA missed the beat here.... they should celebrate current loyalist... this is a celebration of oneworld... now it kind of seems like a marketing piece to pull other elites from alternate airlines.... we'll see tomorrow,,, I may still pull the trigger...
Remember the swag. Like for the launch party, Hyatt gave all attendees $100 bathrobes, and AA had some interesting giveaways
I ended up giving the bathrobe to someone at the Four Points Sheraton LAX. My luggage just could not accommodate it.
