MileNerd well said what I want you to know. Have a good weekend.
Friday, November 30, 2012
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Bump, what’s it all about?
Have you heard the term “bump”? Essentially aka VDB (Voluntarily
Denied Boarding), you give up your seat back to the airline company in order to
exchange some future travel credit, vouchers or anything lucrative to you.
Let me give you an example, 10 years ago, my wife and I were waiting in a long queue and preparing to get our boarding pass from PEK-YYZ (Beijing to Toronto). I heard the broadcasting of looking for two volunteers that giving their seats and changing to next day flight. I immediately reported to the gate agent and started to negotiate the “compensation”. Since they were looking for two, our one booking confirmation fits perfectly. I secured the deal of
1. $1000 Air Canada credit each
2. One night hotel stay. (I didn’t accept, instead of a round trip taxi fee from airport to downtown my parents’ home)
3. We can check in in first class counter the next day to expedite our waiting time.
4. Two lounge passes we can use within 12 months
Why airline companies
do that?
They do this all the time, primarily “oversold”, to make
most of profit, airline company is inclined to oversell 20% of their flight
capacity if possible. Secondly, there are always full refund customers don’t
show up and reschedule, since they pay 2x or 3x times then the cheapest T
class, airline companies are very grateful to honor you a few hundred dollars
to accommodate those bigger spenders. J
(every ticket can easily make $2000 profit for airline companies)
How do I qualify?
Unlike priority boarding or some other elite benefits,
everyone can be qualified, it’s just matter of the following criteria
1. You need to be flexible, if you are catching an important business or you can’t afford the delay, don’t bother. A few years ago, I was in a thanksgiving evening from SFO-SEA, everyone seemed concerned to go back home on time and nobody wanted to take the VDB. I took it for the morning flight and $400 voucher plus a very comfortable hotel stay.
2. You need to ASK. When you check-in in the computer, there might be a prompt whether or not you want to be a volunteer, take it, it doesn’t guarantee you, but you are recorded. See below picture. If the computer doesn’t have this info, most likely the flight is not full. You can always press the change “seat” when you check-in, if you see the plane is full, now you know you don’t have to change seat, but you need to ask gate agent.
Negotiate the
compensation
If you are lucky enough to be on the first volunteer list,
the gate agent will offer their compensation, here are tricks
1. the international flight is better than domestic, typical $400 for domestic (or free ticket) and $800~1000 for intl’
2. the longer or more inconvenient of the changed flight, the better offer. Say, they put you in the flight in 2 hours later, $400 is pretty good, 6 hours later, I’d ask for a bit more for sure.
3. you need to know how many volunteer, the more, the unlikely they want to negotiate. Last time, in SFO, there was no volunteer at all besides me, I was in a good position to talk, right?
4. The closer to departure time, the better offer. The same principle, airline companies don’t want to delay their flight.
5. the important point is if you dislike the offer, you don't need to take it.
Recap
Don’t be greedy, if you think the offer is reasonable, take
it. If you think you can’t afford the reschedule, don’t even ask. For others'
experience and how much they got, take a look at here and here
Let me give you an example, 10 years ago, my wife and I were waiting in a long queue and preparing to get our boarding pass from PEK-YYZ (Beijing to Toronto). I heard the broadcasting of looking for two volunteers that giving their seats and changing to next day flight. I immediately reported to the gate agent and started to negotiate the “compensation”. Since they were looking for two, our one booking confirmation fits perfectly. I secured the deal of
1. $1000 Air Canada credit each
2. One night hotel stay. (I didn’t accept, instead of a round trip taxi fee from airport to downtown my parents’ home)
3. We can check in in first class counter the next day to expedite our waiting time.
4. Two lounge passes we can use within 12 months
We purchased our flight with ~$1000 each, so we not only
will take the flight back to YYZ next day, also a free around trip to Beijing
from Toronto in the future. J
all we have to do is to hang-in with our parents with one more day. (I don’t
think my in-law were really concerned about this. ;-) )
Why airline companies
do that?
They do this all the time, primarily “oversold”, to make
most of profit, airline company is inclined to oversell 20% of their flight
capacity if possible. Secondly, there are always full refund customers don’t
show up and reschedule, since they pay 2x or 3x times then the cheapest T
class, airline companies are very grateful to honor you a few hundred dollars
to accommodate those bigger spenders. J
(every ticket can easily make $2000 profit for airline companies)
How do I qualify?
Unlike priority boarding or some other elite benefits,
everyone can be qualified, it’s just matter of the following criteria1. You need to be flexible, if you are catching an important business or you can’t afford the delay, don’t bother. A few years ago, I was in a thanksgiving evening from SFO-SEA, everyone seemed concerned to go back home on time and nobody wanted to take the VDB. I took it for the morning flight and $400 voucher plus a very comfortable hotel stay.
2. You need to ASK. When you check-in in the computer, there might be a prompt whether or not you want to be a volunteer, take it, it doesn’t guarantee you, but you are recorded. See below picture. If the computer doesn’t have this info, most likely the flight is not full. You can always press the change “seat” when you check-in, if you see the plane is full, now you know you don’t have to change seat, but you need to ask gate agent.
Negotiate the
compensation
If you are lucky enough to be on the first volunteer list,
the gate agent will offer their compensation, here are tricks1. the international flight is better than domestic, typical $400 for domestic (or free ticket) and $800~1000 for intl’
2. the longer or more inconvenient of the changed flight, the better offer. Say, they put you in the flight in 2 hours later, $400 is pretty good, 6 hours later, I’d ask for a bit more for sure.
3. you need to know how many volunteer, the more, the unlikely they want to negotiate. Last time, in SFO, there was no volunteer at all besides me, I was in a good position to talk, right?
4. The closer to departure time, the better offer. The same principle, airline companies don’t want to delay their flight.
5. the important point is if you dislike the offer, you don't need to take it.
Recap
Don’t be greedy, if you think the offer is reasonable, take
it. If you think you can’t afford the reschedule, don’t even ask. For others'
experience and how much they got, take a look at here and hereMonday, November 26, 2012
A few AMEX benefits (Free Money)
During the Black Friday and 11/24, I’ve got $200+ free money
as AMEX card holder. If you missed below #1 promotion, don’t feel bad,
you can still register #2/3 and the upcoming gigs in the future.
Recap
During the holiday reason, I saved $175+$50+$50=$275 with just swiped my
cards a few times and took a few minutes to register AMEX/Facebook sync app. I will highly recommend you to watch out for AMEX "free money" in the future.
Every year, AMEX prompted this one-day event that
each AMEX card can get you $25 statement credit if you shop in your local small business
to support them. I’ve knocked down 7 cards x$25=$175 literally free money this
past Saturday. And I bought a lot of wines and spirits and had a fancy dinner
and lunch with family. I asked the server to split the bill to two cards if it
exceeds $25.
2.
Bestbuy buy $200 save $20
a. Spend
$200 or more, get $20 back
b. Get
a one-time $20 statement credit by using your synced Card to spend a total of
$200 or more online or in store at Best Buy by 12/31/2012. Offer excludes Best
Buy Express locations.
c. I
bought two iPad with $460 each at Bestbuy 11/23 Black Friday per AMEX card,
the $20 credit posted within 2 days.
e. You
need to register and sync your AMEX card to the facebook here. If you still can’t
find the link or the offer, it’s under my facebook here
3.
Costco spend $100, get $25 back
a. Get
a one-time $25 statement credit by using your synced Card to spend a total of
$100 or more online at Costco.com by 12/31/12.
b. I
bought two Costco gift card and got my $50 credit back within 2 days
c. You
need to register and sync your AMEX card to the facebook here. If you still can’t
find the link or the offer, it’s under my facebook here
Recap
During the holiday reason, I saved $175+$50+$50=$275 with just swiped my
cards a few times and took a few minutes to register AMEX/Facebook sync app. I will highly recommend you to watch out for AMEX "free money" in the future.Sunday, November 18, 2012
Cashback and on-line shopping
As BF(Black Friday, not boy friend, even though he will pay the bill. :-) ) is around the corner, if you shop a lot
online, you probably already know the cashback and miles/points you can get
back. I don't understand people just go to on-line shopping without getting the cashback or points/miles, it's a HUGE waste!!!
2. Once you lock down which website or portal you have the max rebate, click the link
3. For cash back
a. I have huge successful rate with Topcashback ( my referral link is http://www.topcashback.com/ref/benlucanada, both you and me will get $10 to start with). I personally like it most, for example, Groupon offers 16% cashback and IHG(holidayInn) threw in 21% recently and etc..
b. My second choice is fatswallet.com (my referral link is http://www.fatwallet.com/?referral=benlucanada and both you and me get $5)
4. For miles/points shopping portal, I prefer United/Chase UR as I value their miles $0.02/mile. however, if Citi thankyou (last time, I managed to snag a iPAD with deep discount) offer 3x than other portal, go for it.
My experience is
1.
Firstly, you need to compare which cashback websites and
on-line shopping portal offers the best rate. I always go to www.evreward.com and
let it compare for me. (it doesn't list topcashback however)2. Once you lock down which website or portal you have the max rebate, click the link
3. For cash back
a. I have huge successful rate with Topcashback ( my referral link is http://www.topcashback.com/ref/benlucanada, both you and me will get $10 to start with). I personally like it most, for example, Groupon offers 16% cashback and IHG(holidayInn) threw in 21% recently and etc..
b. My second choice is fatswallet.com (my referral link is http://www.fatwallet.com/?referral=benlucanada and both you and me get $5)
4. For miles/points shopping portal, I prefer United/Chase UR as I value their miles $0.02/mile. however, if Citi thankyou (last time, I managed to snag a iPAD with deep discount) offer 3x than other portal, go for it.
Free $25 statement credit on 11/24 by enrolling your AMEX Card and supporting your local Small Biz
Link: https://www.americanexpress.com/us/small-business/Shop-Small/#
1. Corp card doesn’t count
2. 11/24 only
3. Go to above website to check which merchant qualifies
4. You have to spend above $25 per transaction
5. Multi-card is ok, technically, you can get $25 x N back. If you have 10 AMEX cards, you will get $250 back in total
6. Enrollment has limit, so act quick!
1. Corp card doesn’t count
2. 11/24 only
3. Go to above website to check which merchant qualifies
4. You have to spend above $25 per transaction
5. Multi-card is ok, technically, you can get $25 x N back. If you have 10 AMEX cards, you will get $250 back in total
6. Enrollment has limit, so act quick!
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Never Hurt to Ask
If you love this hobby of traveling around the world for
free or saving tons of coins on Air tickets/hotel stays. You should be familiar
with what the title of this post says. Essentially, anything is possible, it is
just matter of fact “Are you going to Ask?”.
Let me give you a few examples.
Chase is very friendly in terms of matching Credit card
offer, say you applied 30 days ago for a 40,000 points(miles) card and Chase
bumped the offer to 60,000. Send them a SM and most likely they will match you.
I’ve explained how here
I sent UA MileagePlus an email and they said “ no problem” within 24 hours. I am very happy that I avoided a mileagerun
3.
Complaint and compensation
I can’t remember how many times that if I have some
negative feedback(or complaint) about ground agent or flight attendant or hotel
staff or room or literally anything that I feel I’m obligated to feedback to them
to improve in the future. Most of time,
I received “apologized letter” and often time, I receive flight voucher/coupon/miles/points
or some small gift to compensate and appreciate my feedback.
Being in the customer services industry for many years, I know this is the way we apologized to our customers and kept our customers’ loyalty and why not take it with a 5 minutes email? Never hurt to ask, right?
4.
Rule is rule, exception always occurs
Every company has their rules that they ask us to
stick to it, this is quite understandable. However, tell you what, they do have
exceptions. For example, Priceline.com has strict rule of no change, no refund
once you booked their hotel or air flight. But if you do have some emergencies,
call them, they will accommodate once you can approve it, such as email them
your family doctor’s visit record.
1.
Chase SM (Secure Message)
Chase is very friendly in terms of matching Credit card
offer, say you applied 30 days ago for a 40,000 points(miles) card and Chase
bumped the offer to 60,000. Send them a SM and most likely they will match you.
I’ve explained how here2. A few hundred miles short for Elite Status
I missed my flight two weeks ago and I posted my story here. After I returned home, I asked MMS Daraius what's my options, Daraius suggested me to email them and try the "never hurt to ask".I sent UA MileagePlus an email and they said “ no problem” within 24 hours. I am very happy that I avoided a mileagerun
Dear Mr. Lu:
Thank you for contacting the
MileagePlus Service Center.
No problem. I gave you credit for your
original scheduled flights on 11/5/2012 and removed the others. Please check
your account in 24 hours. For technical reasons, I had to post the new flights
with a date of 11/6/2012.
Regards,
MileagePlus® Service Center
Original Message Follows:
Hi, I was late for my flight
from SEA-IAD-FLL, confirm# , ticket#: . The gate agent managed to rebook me to
SEA-IAH-FLL. Thanks for that!
However, I am now short 246 miles to elite for 2013, which I
intended to fly IAD vs IAH for the extra miles. :-)
I don't have travel plan for
the rest of 2012, is that possible for you to credit me the same amount miles
SEA-IAD-FLL-IAH-SEA vs SEA-IAH-FLL-IAH-FLL?
3.
Complaint and compensation
I can’t remember how many times that if I have some
negative feedback(or complaint) about ground agent or flight attendant or hotel
staff or room or literally anything that I feel I’m obligated to feedback to them
to improve in the future. Most of time,
I received “apologized letter” and often time, I receive flight voucher/coupon/miles/points
or some small gift to compensate and appreciate my feedback. Being in the customer services industry for many years, I know this is the way we apologized to our customers and kept our customers’ loyalty and why not take it with a 5 minutes email? Never hurt to ask, right?
4.
Rule is rule, exception always occurs
Every company has their rules that they ask us to
stick to it, this is quite understandable. However, tell you what, they do have
exceptions. For example, Priceline.com has strict rule of no change, no refund
once you booked their hotel or air flight. But if you do have some emergencies,
call them, they will accommodate once you can approve it, such as email them
your family doctor’s visit record.Bottom line
Take 5 minutes of your time and don’t be afraid to ask, what do you lose anyway? Never hurt you to ask for something, the worse scenario is a “Nope”.Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Free Experian Report from Wells Fargo by 11/15
Go to your Wells Fargo branch and ask for free report code by 11/15.
They don't check whether or not you are their customer. it's free and it's for Experian, most of Credit card companies, Chase/AMEX/Citi hard pulls against Experian in most states.
If you are not sure which credit card company pulls which credit bureau, take a look at here (MMS has a great post here to explain everything you need to know)
They don't check whether or not you are their customer. it's free and it's for Experian, most of Credit card companies, Chase/AMEX/Citi hard pulls against Experian in most states.
If you are not sure which credit card company pulls which credit bureau, take a look at here (MMS has a great post here to explain everything you need to know)
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