Regardless of loyalty packages’ supposed function of offering enhanced providers and rewards to their most loyal members, the fact is that they usually 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 latest journey to Asia, nevertheless, I used to be pleasantly shocked when a couple of loyalty packages went above and past my expectations; finally, renewing my religion of their worth.
Learn on to search out out what occurred and how one can probably 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 rejoice along with her.
Having been to Hong Kong a number of instances earlier than, there wasn’t a lot we needed 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 have been in a position to e book this journey nearly totally on reward factors and free night time certificates with Asia Miles, Aeroplan, Marriott Bonvoy, and Hilton Honors – a feat that isn’t at all times doable.
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 economic system seats at 50,000 Aeroplan factors.
Nevertheless, we didn’t find yourself flying this itinerary.
When my sister’s household determined that they needed 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 economic system for 75,000 Asia Miles every and several other in economic 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 night time.
From Hong Kong, we flew to Osaka on Peach Airways for $177 (CAD) per individual, which I booked by means of Capital One Journey so I may maximize my incomes fee 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 have been booked utilizing Hilton Free Evening Rewards earned by means of 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 residence, we booked seats on ANA in economic system from Osaka to Tokyo for $103 (CAD) per individual, and linked onwards to Toronto flying Air Canada enterprise class.
Pleasantly, ANA was in a position to straight 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 Test-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 have been checking us in, we skilled the primary loyalty program perk of the journey – a supervisor got here round and casually requested if one in all us would love a complimentary improve to enterprise class. Properly, in fact the reply was sure!
The airline really had area to improve each myself and my husband; nevertheless, as a result of we have been seated in premium economic system with one in all our children, one in all 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 pretty much as good as another Asian carriers, having a lie-flat mattress was heavenly for the lengthy flight.
Now, you might 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, primarily saving me 35,000 Asia Miles, since a enterprise class redemption on this route usually prices 110,000 Asia Miles.
Take residence message: There’s not often, 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 on account 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 e book 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 employees member kindly welcomed me as a Marriott Bonvoy Platinum member, and I made a decision to strive my luck and ask if there was an improve obtainable.
The employees checked availability on his pc after which apologized, advising me that right now none of their one-bedroom suites have 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.
Once I completed checking in, I walked over to my husband who was beside me checking in for my sister’s household with a distinct employees member. The employees member was simply within the midst of asking him which welcome amenity he would love, and he was given a kind the place he may choose his selection of beverage and selection of snack.
On this second, I spotted that the employees 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 problem after we have been settled in our room.
Marriott Bonvoy Elite Profit Ensures Defined
So, you might be questioning what the large deal is with a missed welcome amenity.
The explanation that is vital is that elite members of resort loyalty packages are entitled to a listing of advantages, however these advantages aren’t at all times delivered by the inns as they need to be.
Marriott Bonvoy is one resort program that not solely has assured these advantages (with some uncommon exclusions), however has additionally brazenly revealed what these ensures are and the corresponding compensation that outcomes when elite advantages aren’t delivered.
Advantages being missed occurs extra usually than you’ll suppose, however most friends most likely 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 a little bit awkward asking the employees who checked me in for $100 (USD) compensation on the spot, I made a decision to ship a message by means of the web chat perform on Marriott’s app later that day.
I obtained a response fairly shortly stating that they might look into the problem and get again to me. The subsequent 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 employees member who checked me in.
Certain sufficient, later that day, I obtained a really apologetic e-mail and slightly than provide me the $100 (USD) compensation I had inquired about, he proactively supplied me an improve to one of many resort’s high 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 possibility for the Nightly Improve Awards I had tried to make use of.
I clearly wasn’t anticipating this final result, however I gladly accepted it. With a household of 5, I at all times admire extra space.
From a worth 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 friends, however this new suite was actually snug even for 5 friends.
It was open and spacious, with a desk that would seat six friends along with a seating space with a big sectional couch. It was the proper setup for permitting my prolonged household to collect and spend time collectively.
Take residence message: In case you qualify for an Elite Profit Assure, don’t be afraid to talk up. At minimal, you must get some additional money or factors on your troubles, however you could possibly 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 night time on the St. Regis Osaka.
Though this resort is a bit dated, they’re identified for his or her customer support, and now I do know why.
Previous to checking in, I had obtained an e-mail saying that when once more, my husband’s Nightly Improve Award didn’t clear. I used to be a little bit upset, but in addition knew this was not unusual.
Once I arrived, I believed I’d strive my luck and ask if an improve was obtainable. To my shock, the employees member talked about that I had already been upgraded 10 room classes increased to the Matsu Vice Presidential Suite!
On the time, I had no thought what this suite can be like, nevertheless it seemed like my household was in for a deal with.
Once I requested why the type gesture, the employees member suggested me that they have been deeply sorry that as a Titanium member, my husband’s Nightly Improve Award didn’t clear as their resort was experiencing a excessive occupancy fee on the time.
As an apology for this, they’d upgraded us – positively 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 have been giant sufficient to accommodate two of my kids, and we may have ordered a cot for the third. The youngsters, nevertheless, most well-liked to camp out on our spacious bed room flooring, so we requested for a number of blankets, pillows, and bedsheets as an alternative.
We ordered room service from the resort and loved it at our eating desk, after which we watched a household film in the lounge earlier than calling it an evening.
Take residence message: Service requirements range enormously amongst resort chains and properties, particularly in North America. In Asia, there may be typically the next dedication to offer superior service; nevertheless, to keep away from disappointment, at all times go in with low expectations. This fashion, you could be pleasantly shocked by the sudden.
Conclusion
On our quick journey to Asia, I used to be pleasantly shocked 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 reap the benefits of standing matches every time doable and converse up if an elite profit has been missed. In any other case preserve expectations low and hope for the very best.
When you have skilled a tremendous loyalty story your self, share it within the feedback beneath!
