I am a big fan of loyalty schemes, but I’m the first to admit that I’m no expert.
There are entire websites devoted to helping you make the most out of frequent-flyer and hotel memberships, and the credit cards that link to them.
If you really want to maximise your points, and you are prepared to change banks, juggle many cards at once and go slightly crazy doing it, I suggest you check them out. Lucky’s One Mile At A Time blog is a good place to start. You’ll be amazed at how he manages to make the system work for him, often resulting in spectacular upgrades and free trips. But it’s a full-time job.
If you’re not that into it, I do strongly recommended that you at least try to understand the terms, conditions and utility of the schemes you are enrolled in.
Pay attention when you sign up, and pay especial attention when they send you an email or letter (remember them?) changing the mall print.
for example, today I received an email from IHG — the hotel groups covering, among others, the Interdontinenta, Hiliday Inn and Crowne Plaza brands, noting that Rewards Club members have to book directly through the company to take full advantage of the scheme.
That means, presumably, that a booking through a travel agent or aggregator website won’t carry the same benefits. And that’s worth knowing.
This seems to be a part of a general push by hotels to get you to directly deal with them sothey don’t have to pay commissions to third parties.
Of course, you could price compare on the aggregator sites, and then book directly on the hotel (or airline or cruise company website). But what if you can’t get the same price? The question then is whether the cheaper price is worth losing loyalty points — and that’s the kind of decision frequent travellers have to make all the time.
All you can do is make sure you know what you’re doing, as far as that is possible.
