Tim Winship travel tips

Following is our regular summary of the latest travel news and best frequent traveler promotions reviewed during the past week.

There’s nothing new about discounted hotel rates available only to members of the hotel’s loyalty program who book direct. Of the major chains, Starwood was the first to offer member-only rates, beginning last year. And Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, and InterContinental have since followed suit.

On Friday evening—traditional timing for bad-news announcements that companies hope will go unnoticed by the public and unreported by the media—American published the new mileage-earning rates, effective from August 1, for travel on AAdvantage partner airlines.

Following is our regular summary of the latest travel news and best frequent traveler promotions reviewed during the past week.

In 2015, flyers filed 15,260 complaints with the Department of Transportation. That was a 34 percent increase over 2014’s 11,365 complaints.

InterContinental Hotel Group’s next points promotion, Share Forever, begins next month and features bonuses for both the member’s own IHG Rewards account and to share with other program members.

Enter the Babich Wines “Trip to New Zealand” sweepstakes by August 31, 2016, for a chance to win the grand prize: a seven-night trip for two to New Zealand, including air to and within New Zealand; hotels in Auckland, Marlborough, and Queenstown; choice of activities; and a NZD$1,000 gift card.

If you flew TWA to or from New York before the airline declared bankruptcy for the third and final time, in 2001, your travel experience was elevated by a walk through one of the world’s most enduring architectural spaces.

Beginning earlier this month, some Uber customers in Pittsburgh have been treated to a preview of what many expect to be the future of ridesharing. Fourteen self-driving Ford Fusions began ferrying riders within a 12-square-mile section of the city’s downtown.

Enter the SmartSource.com “New Year, New You” sweepstakes by February 29, 2016, for a chance to win the grand prize: a seven-night trip for two to Freeport, the Bahamas, including air, hotel, and on-premise meals.

Supersonic speed – mainstream fares

Through October 31, members of the Club Carlson program can earn bonus points for stays at Quorvus Collection, Radisson Blu, Radisson, Radisson Red, Park Plaza, Park Inn, and Country Inns & Suites hotels as follows:

Following is our regular summary of the latest travel news and best frequent traveler promotions reviewed during the past week.

While not particularly generous, Club Carlson’s new promotion is at least simple and straightforward.

Overall, Delta’s SkyMiles program has established itself as one of the industry’s least generous loyalty schemes. To play, you’ll pay. But with this limited-time award sale, you can at least pay less.

In the latest blow to Cuba tourism, the U.S. Department of the Treasury today issued new restrictions on travel to the island nation.

Basic economy fares may be sweeping through the industry, but one airline says it’s staying out.

Carlson’s latest promotion may appeal to points-seekers or to those aspiring to elite status. But it’s one or the other, not both.

Does it feel like 2010 all over again? As far as U.S. domestic airfares go, it is. Or so the government would have us believe.

Enter the Conde Nast “Readers’ Choice Awards” sweepstakes by June 1, 2016, for a chance to win the grand prize: a 15-day Viking River Cruises trip for two from Amsterdam to Budapest, including air and transfers.

Visa Checkout allows Visa cardholders to make online purchases at participating retailers with a single sign in—no need to reenter card and personal information for every transaction.