The Extra Mile

New Hotel Program Is Still "Under Construction"

Q&A: Can I Earn Miles for Paying My Income Taxes?

March 26, 2004 - When it comes to hotel loyalty programs, bigger is assumed to be better. The reasoning: with access to a long list of participating hotels, from Omaha to Osaka, program members can easily stay within the network, consolidating their points-earning in a single program.

In addition to more hotels, the major programs have sought to provide members with extensive menus of pricing choices, representing a wide spectrum of lodging quality and room rates.

So among the 2,500 individual hotels in its HHonors frequent-stay program, for example, Hilton offers eight brands, from Conrad for the prestige-conscious to Hampton Inn for the budget-minded. And the Priority Club Rewards program allows members to earn points across a network of 3,400 hotels comprising seven hotel brands, from tony InterContinental to entry-level Holiday Inn Express.

The latest arrival on the hotel-program scene is even bigger than its counterparts, but also more narrowly focused on a particular segment of the lodging market.

Cendant Corporation -- parent company of nine value-oriented hotel chains comprising 6,000 individual hotels, plus Avis, Budget, etc. -- has launched TripRewards, the self-proclaimed "newest and largest hotel loyalty program."

TripRewards members earn 10 points per $1 spent on qualifying room rates at AmeriHost Inn, Days Inn, Howard Johnson, Knights Inn, Ramada, Super 8, Travelodge (U.S. hotels only), Villager, and Wingate Inn hotels in the U.S. and Canada. Other points-earning partners include Avis and Budget.

As an alternative to points, members may elect to earn two airline miles or rail points per $1 of room spend in the programs of Air Canada, Amtrak, Continental or Delta.

On the award side, free hotel room nights may be had for between 6,000 and 16,000 points, depending on the desired hotel's assigned "tier." The program's award chart also includes airline miles, resort packages, gift certificates, merchandise, etc.

While TripRewards falls short in several areas (limited airline partners, no affiliated credit card), leisure travelers -- or business travelers on tight budgets -- will find the wide availability of TripRewards hotels a plus.

Enroll at a participating hotel, or online at http://triprewards.com.

Current News & Offers

Extending a trend begun in the latter part of 2003, the airlines continue fine tuning their elite programs.

Beginning Mar. 18, members of American Airline's top elite tier, AAdvantage Executive Platinum, may request unlimited complimentary upgrades on all fares for travel within and between the U.S., Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, the Bahamas, Bermuda, and Central America.

American also has lowered the price of 500-mile electronic upgrades purchased online or via automated voiceline from $40 to $25, and from $50 to $30 when purchased at the airport or via reservations.

Effective Mar. 1, Continental OnePass members earn 150% of elite-qualifying miles and two elite qualification points when flying on H-class fares. The change elevates H fares to the same status as Y fares.

Among a number of changes taking effect in Mar., Northwest WorldPerks members now earn a 50% elite-qualifying bonus when traveling on B-type coach fares on Northwest, Northwest Airlink, or KLM flights. Additionally, Platinum Elite members traveling domestically on full coach fares may upgrade a traveling companion who is booked for travel on the same reservation.

Readers: Miles on their Minds

Question from Florinda G.

I recall reading somewhere (maybe in an inflight magazine?) that it is possible to earn miles for paying income taxes. Did I get that right? Can you shed light on how this works?

Answer

There are two ways to earn miles at tax time.

The first option is to use a mileage-generating credit card to charge tax payments at one of two IRS-authorized payment services, Official Payments (http://officialpayments.com) or PAY1040.com (http://pay1040.com). (The IRS is prohibited from directly accepting payment charges because the merchant fee assessed by credit card companies would dilute tax revenues.)

Both services charge a 2.49% "convenience fee" so the miles effectively cost 2.49¢ each. But for the current tax season, there are promotions on offer from Delta, Starwood Hotels and United which double the miles for tax payments charged to the cards linked to their programs. That effectively halves the per-mile cost.

Separately, taxpayers who use H&R Block for tax preparation may earn miles in the programs of American, Delta, and United, plus points in the Best Western Gold Crown Club and Priority Club Rewards programs.

For details, contact the programs, or call H&R Block at 1-800-HRBLOCK.