Regardless of loyalty packages’ supposed objective of offering enhanced providers and rewards to their most loyal members, the truth is that they typically fall quick.
Moreover, the packages often expertise devaluations over time, main us as factors collectors to query the worth of sustaining standing and loyalty to a selected model.
On my current journey to Asia, nevertheless, I used to be pleasantly stunned when just a few loyalty packages went above and past my expectations; in the end, renewing my religion of their worth.
Learn on to search out out what occurred and how one can doubtlessly maximize your loyalty expertise sooner or later.
How We Booked a Household Journey to Asia on Factors
Earlier this 12 months, my grandmother was turning 90, and so my complete household made plans to return to Hong Kong to have a good time along with her.
Having been to Hong Kong a number of instances earlier than, there wasn’t a lot we wished to do there outdoors of visiting household, so we determined to solely keep within the metropolis for 5 nights after which go to one other vacation spot in Asia.
Because the youngsters love Japan, and we had solely had restricted time to discover Osaka on our final journey to Japan, we opted to enterprise again there for 4 nights.
Notably, we had been in a position to ebook this journey virtually completely on reward factors and free evening certificates with Asia Miles, Aeroplan, Marriott Bonvoy, and Hilton Honors – a feat that isn’t all the time potential.
I had initially booked our flights from Toronto to Taipei with EVA Air, which on the time of my reserving final 12 months nonetheless launched two enterprise class seats (they at the moment solely launch one seat) at 75,000 Aeroplan factors every in enterprise class, which we booked along with three financial system seats at 50,000 Aeroplan factors.
Nevertheless, we didn’t find yourself flying this itinerary.
When my sister’s household determined that they wished to journey collectively, my household ended up altering our flights to a direct flight from Toronto to Hong Kong on Cathay Pacific.
The 2 households collectively booked a number of seats in premium financial system for 75,000 Asia Miles every and a number of other in financial system for 38,000 Asia Miles every.
We stayed 5 nights in Hong Kong on the JW Marriott Hong Kong on a mixture of three Marriott Bonvoy Free Evening Awards value 50,000 factors apiece, acquired as a part of the welcome bonus on the US-issued Chase Bonvoy Boundless, and two nights booked for 53,000–56,000 Bonvoy factors per evening.
From Hong Kong, we flew to Osaka on Peach Airways for $177 (CAD) per individual, which I booked via Capital One Journey so I may maximize my incomes price of 5 Capital One Miles per US greenback spent.
In Osaka, we redeemed a Marriott Bonvoy Free Evening Award value 85,000 factors on the St. Regis Osaka earlier than shifting to the Conrad Osaka for 3 nights. These three nights had been booked utilizing Hilton Free Evening Rewards earned via the US-issued Hilton Honors American Specific Aspire Card and the Hilton Honors American Specific Enterprise Card (the Free Evening Reward profit has since been faraway from the latter card).
For our flight house, we booked seats on ANA in financial system from Osaka to Tokyo for $103 (CAD) per individual, and related onwards to Toronto flying Air Canada enterprise class.
Pleasantly, ANA was in a position to immediately switch our checked baggage onto Air Canada, saving us the effort of needing to recheck them in Tokyo.
For our Air Canada flight from Tokyo to Toronto, we redeemed 74,800 Aeroplan factors and 13 eUpgrades per passenger.
Free Improve to Cathay Pacific Enterprise Class at Verify-In
On the day of departure, we arrived at Toronto Pearson (YYZ) two and half hours earlier than our flight. At Cathay Pacific’s check-in counter, they welcomed my husband and me as Silver members of their Asia Miles loyalty program.
As they had been checking us in, we skilled the primary loyalty program perk of the journey – a supervisor got here round and casually requested if certainly one of us would really like a complimentary improve to enterprise class. Nicely, after all the reply was sure!
The airline truly had area to improve each myself and my husband; nevertheless, as a result of we had been seated in premium financial system with certainly one of our youngsters, certainly one of us had to stick with her.
My husband volunteered to stick with our daughter, so I fortunately took my upgraded seat in enterprise class.
I can’t describe the thrill I had after touchdown this free enterprise class improve. Whereas the service and meals on Cathay Pacific aren’t nearly as good as another Asian carriers, having a lie-flat mattress was heavenly for the lengthy flight.
Now, it’s possible you’ll be questioning how I’ve Silver standing with Cathay Pacific.
Again in February 2024, Marriott Bonvoy and Cathay Pacific introduced a brand new partnership, and as a part of that partnership, they launched a standing match promotion.
With the partnership, a restricted variety of registrants with Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador, Titanium, or Platinum standing can be matched to Cathay Pacific Silver standing for 12 months. On the time, I didn’t place a lot worth on the standing, and I noticed the primary perk as getting access to Cathay Pacific enterprise class lounges even after we weren’t flying in enterprise class.
I took benefit of the standing match anyway, which was lucky because the promotion was extraordinarily quick lived.
Because it seems, leaping on the standing match was extremely useful because it landed me a free improve to enterprise class on a 15-hour flight, basically saving me 35,000 Asia Miles, since a enterprise class redemption on this route usually prices 110,000 Asia Miles.
Take house message: There’s hardly ever, if ever, a draw back to having an additional standing. Make the most of standing matches when obtainable, as you by no means know what surprises could come because of them.
(As a matter of truth, I simply took benefit of a present standing match alternative with Flying Blue. I used to be in a position to standing match my Aeroplan 75K Elite standing with Air France KLM Flying Blue Platinum standing, which has enabled me to ebook the elusive Air France La Première utilizing Flying Blue miles).
Suite Improve in Lieu of a Missed Welcome Amenity
After a really nice flight expertise, we arrived in Hong Kong early within the morning and headed straight to the JW Marriott Hong Kong. Though I had utilized a few Marriott Bonvoy Nightly Improve Awards to a part of my keep, they sadly didn’t clear.
On the check-in desk, a workers member kindly welcomed me as a Marriott Bonvoy Platinum member, and I made a decision to attempt my luck and ask if there was an improve obtainable.
The workers checked availability on his laptop after which apologized, advising me that presently none of their one-bedroom suites had been obtainable.
I then requested whether or not he thought there was an opportunity my Nightly Improve Awards for the approaching nights would clear. He wasn’t certain if they might, however he requested me to maintain checking, after which proceeded to finish the check-in course of.
After I completed checking in, I walked over to my husband who was beside me checking in for my sister’s household with a unique workers member. The workers member was simply within the midst of asking him which welcome amenity he would really like, and he was given a type the place he may choose his selection of beverage and selection of snack.
On this second, I noticed that the workers member who had helped me had forgotten to supply me my selection of welcome amenity. I may have gone again to the desk and corrected this proper then and there however with youngsters in tow after an extended flight, I made a decision to deal with the difficulty after we had been settled in our room.
Marriott Bonvoy Elite Profit Ensures Defined
So, it’s possible you’ll be questioning what the massive deal is with a missed welcome amenity.
The rationale that is essential is that elite members of lodge loyalty packages are entitled to an inventory of advantages, however these advantages are usually not all the time delivered by the lodges as they need to be.
Marriott Bonvoy is one lodge program that not solely has assured these advantages (with some uncommon exclusions), however has additionally brazenly printed what these ensures are and the corresponding compensation that outcomes when elite advantages are usually not delivered.
Advantages being missed occurs extra typically than you’ll assume, however most visitors in all probability don’t make a fuss about having compensation for it both as a result of they don’t know the ensures exist, or as a result of they merely really feel awkward asking for them.
In my case, by lacking the welcome amenity profit, I used to be now entitled to $100 (USD) in compensation as per Marriott’s Elite Advantages Assure.
Now Again to the Suite Improve…
Feeling somewhat awkward asking the workers who checked me in for $100 (USD) compensation on the spot, I made a decision to ship a message via the net chat perform on Marriott’s app later that day.
I acquired a response fairly shortly stating that they might look into the difficulty and get again to me. The following morning, I hadn’t heard again so I checked in once more and was suggested that I might shortly be receiving an e-mail from the workers member who checked me in.
Positive sufficient, later that day, I acquired a really apologetic e-mail and slightly than supply me the $100 (USD) compensation I had inquired about, he proactively provided me an improve to one of many lodge’s prime suites (the Hong Kong Suite with two double beds) for the rest of my keep.
This was a collection that wasn’t even listed as an choice for the Nightly Improve Awards I had tried to make use of.
I clearly wasn’t anticipating this end result, however I gladly accepted it. With a household of 5, I all the time admire more room.
From a price perspective, this additionally had us popping out fairly forward, with our authentic room with double beds costing 3,200 HKD ($410 USD, $561 CAD) on the time and the upgraded Hong Kong Suite costing greater than double that at 8,653 HKD ($1,109 USD, $1,518 CAD)
The upgraded suite was phenomenal. Our authentic nook room with two double beds and a metropolis view was manageable for 4 visitors, however this new suite was actually snug even for 5 visitors.
It was open and spacious, with a desk that would seat six visitors along with a seating space with a big sectional couch. It was the right setup for permitting my prolonged household to collect and spend time collectively.
Take house message: For those who qualify for an Elite Profit Assure, don’t be afraid to talk up. At minimal, you must get some additional money or factors to your troubles, however you possibly can find yourself scoring one thing even higher. Negotiate for one thing that works for you.
Suite Improve in Lieu of a Nightly Improve Award Not Clearing
After 5 nights in Hong Kong, we flew to Osaka, Japan, staying our first evening on the St. Regis Osaka.
Though this lodge is a bit dated, they’re recognized for his or her customer support, and now I do know why.
Previous to checking in, I had acquired an e-mail saying that after once more, my husband’s Nightly Improve Award didn’t clear. I used to be somewhat disillusioned, but in addition knew this was not unusual.
After I arrived, I assumed I’d attempt my luck and ask if an improve was obtainable. To my shock, the workers member talked about that I had already been upgraded 10 room classes larger to the Matsu Vice Presidential Suite!
On the time, I had no concept what this suite can be like, nevertheless it appeared like my household was in for a deal with.
After I requested why the type gesture, the workers member suggested me that they had been deeply sorry that as a Titanium member, my husband’s Nightly Improve Award didn’t clear as their lodge was experiencing a excessive occupancy price on the time.
As an apology for this, they’d upgraded us – undoubtedly a primary for me.
The minute I set foot within the suite, I used to be in shock. The suite door opened up right into a small lobby which then opened up right into a grand seating space, which led to a separate eating space and kitchen, after which to the master suite.
The suite solely had one king mattress, however the sofas had been giant sufficient to accommodate two of my kids, and we may have ordered a cot for the third. The children, nevertheless, most popular to camp out on our spacious bed room ground, so we requested for a number of blankets, pillows, and bedsheets as a substitute.
We ordered room service from the lodge and loved it at our eating desk, after which we watched a household film in the lounge earlier than calling it an evening.
Take house message: Service requirements fluctuate vastly amongst lodge chains and properties, particularly in North America. In Asia, there may be usually a better dedication to offer superior service; nevertheless, to keep away from disappointment, all the time go in with low expectations. This fashion, you could be pleasantly stunned by the sudden.
Conclusion
On our quick journey to Asia, I used to be pleasantly stunned by the service offered by Cathay Pacific and Marriott Bonvoy to their elite members.
In an period when there may be an oversaturation of elite membership and when fixed devaluation appears to be the development, it’s experiences like these that spotlight the advantage of incomes and sustaining standing in loyalty packages.
To maximise the profit you may reap out of your standing, you should definitely benefit from standing matches every time potential and communicate up if an elite profit has been missed. In any other case maintain expectations low and hope for the perfect.
When you have skilled a tremendous loyalty story your self, share it within the feedback beneath!