Dining Rewards - Don't Even Think About Paying Cash for Dinner

From my NYC trip at the beginning of the month, I have a good example of why you should never pay with cash for dinner.

I was checking account balances yesterday and noticed that my HHonors balance was a few thousand points higher than the last time I had checked.  I knew that points from my Hilton Amex and the points from my New Year's Eve stay had already posted as I mentioned in Friday's post.

It turns out that the points in question were from the HHonors Dining program.  Now I knew there would be a few points coming from dining in NYC, and I knew that the Gelato Stand in Grand Central Terminal is a participating business, but I had absolutely no idea that the restaurant we had went to for dinner on New Year's Eve was even part of the program.

My girlfriend had actually made the reservation at Megu Midtown through OpenTable, and earned OpenTable points for the reservation, so it appears possible double dip on reservations like this one.

I hadn't spent much cash so for the trip up until that point so I was considering leaving cash until I reminded myself to put it on my Chase Sapphire Preferred card since it earns double points on dining.  Overall, I ended up earning 2 Chase Ultimate Rewards points plus 8 HHonors Points per dollar spent.  It normally wouldn't be enough to have me going out of my way to pick a restaurant, but It's a nice bonus when you can get it.

In this case, it was a perfect scenario  This was by far the most expensive meal we ate in NYC, the food was excellent, and then later I find out I earned HHonors points.  Awesome.

Sashimi Cave at Megu Midtown

I'll likely be back to Megu on a future New York Trip, and you can bet I'll be making sure my card is registered with HHonors Dining.

If you already use a Dining Rewards program, now's a good time to double check that all of you credit cards are enrolled.  If you're not already using a dining program, there are several to choose from and the links are below.  I personally use HHonors Dining, but something else may work better for you.  I'll be doing a write up covering all of the programs in the next week or so to help you make your decision.

HHonors Dining
AAdvantage Dining
Mileage Plus Dining
SkyMiles Dining
Rapid Rewards Dining
Priority Club Dining

No Paid Stay? Sign Up for those Hotel Bonuses Anyway

Typically the hotel rewards programs view award stays a little bit differently than paid stays.  Most hotels don't count the stay or number of nights stayed towards elite status, although Starwood's SPG program is a notable exception.

You can generally earn points at the usual per dollar rates on any incidentals such as meals charged to the room, bar tabs, etc.   This probably isn't all that surprising, what does surprise me though is that it's often possible to earn bonus points from quarterly promotions on award stays.


Here's an example from my recent stay at the DoubleTree Times Square:

As you can see I only earned 321 base points yet earned 3,000 points from HHonors Q4 1,000 Reasons to Stay Bonus.  Definitely a reason to make sure you have at least something that will generate base points charged to the room on award stays.  In most cases, if there are no room charges, no bonus points will post.

I always make a point to sign up for the quarterly bonuses from any of the chains I may be staying with,  whether I have paid stays or award stays planned.  I usually even register for the promos for my primary and secondary rewards programs even if I don't have stays planned, just in case something unexpected comes up.

Here's a list of the Q1 Hotel Promotions I know of so far:

• Club Carlson Triple Points Promo
• Hilton Double Your HHonors Promo
• SPG Power Up Promo (2k points after every 4 nights up to 18k)

If you're interested in learning more about Points, Cash, & Miles, consider following by email or just bookmarking the page - I'll be here with new material 2-3 times a week, possibly more if there happens to be anything I find really exciting in the world of points and miles.

Audience Rewards Trivia Questions - 10-25-2012

I actually wasn't aware that there were new trivia questions available - last time I had checked there were only questions that only gave showpoints, not partner points so I didn't think it was worth our time.  I just happened to think about it this morning and when I checked, there are new questions available that offer the usual 2 Showpoints + 2 Partner points.  It looks like these questions were posted last week.

Audience Reward Trivia update

There is one set of questions which is listed on each of the partner sites.The questions can only be answered once per Audience Rewards account, so you need to pick which partner program you want to earn the points in.  I’ve listed all 4 links below; personally, I’ll be using the SPG link as I value their points more than Delta or US miles.

Delta Skymiles (10-25-2012)

US Airways Dividend Miles (10-25-2012)

Starwood Preferred Guest 10-25-2012

Best Buy Reward Zone (10-25-2012)

Your Trivia Questions and Answers for 10-25-2012:

• Where is Grace set?
  Florida

• Daniel Breaker, of The Performers, is from what state?
  Kansas

• What other Kenny Ortega film did Newsies director Jeff Calhoun bring to the stage?
  High School Musical

• What one role in Once is not listed as playing an instrument as well as performing in the show, according to the program?
  Ivanka

• True or False? Elaine Stritch was in the replacement cast of the original Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
  True

• What was Dusty Springfield’s real full name?
  Mary Isobel Catherine Bernadette O’Brien

• In Spider-man: Turn Off the Dark, the Green Goblin dies by falling off what?
  The Chrysler Building

• True or False? Until the upcoming production, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella has not yet been on a Broadway stage.
  True

Did Hhonors Take Away Diamond Benefits?

Gary over at View from the Wing has concerns this morning over same changes to the Hhonors benefits page "Did Hilton Hhonors Steal my snack?".  This worried me so I took a look myself and it does appear that the wording for Embassy Suites has changed, from three snacks to two, not really a concern for me since I always took the points anyway.  The worrisome part was that the wording change on the HHonors website for Conrad / DoubleTree/ Hilton  on the Member Benefits page under Explore Hhonors.  This page indicates that you must choose between the free breakfast and 1,000 extra points.

The Hotel Benefits page under the My Profile section of the site (when logged in) does not show these changes and does not allow you to make a selection between the options. Additionally, a confirmation e-mail I receieved for a stay I booked yesterday afternoon shows all of the benefits and does not indicate that a choice is required.   

I think this is nothing more than a mistake that will be corrected.  As far as I can tell the Conrad / DoubleTree / Hilton benefits have not in fact changed.  We may have lost a snack at Embassy Suites, I don't really care as I prefer the points anyway.

Earn SPG Points for Dining Without a Hotel Stay

I have to admit that for most of us this probably doesn't happen very often, so this may not be a major miles opportunity, but over the years there have been various occasions where I have found myself dining (or having drinks) at a hotel where I'm not staying.

A unique and easily forgotten benefit of the Starwood Preferred Guest Program is the ability to earn points at the same rate you would for a hotel stay on dining or drinks without a stay.  I believe there is a $15 minimum to earn points and technically you are supposed to ask for your points and provide your SPG number at the time of purchase but as I recently found out, it's easy to get the points after the fact as well.

I recently had dinner at the Sheraton in Cuyahoga Falls, and despite paying for the meal using an SPG American Express card, I wasn't able to remember to ask for my points and provide my SPG number while I was at the hotel.

Here's an example email that could be sent when asking to have your points credited to you SPG account:

To:research(at)starwoodhotels(dot)com

Re:Earning Points for Dining without Stay

Dear SPG Researchers, 

It's my understanding that I can receive Starwood Preferred Guest points from dining at SPG properties without actually staying at the hotel.  I recently dined at [Restaurant Name] at the Sheraton in [City Name].  I have attached a digital copy of my receipt to this e-mail.

I would appreciate if you could look into getting the points added to my account (Member # XXXXXXXXXX).  Also please let me know if this is the best way to be submitting this type of request or if I should be doing something differently.

Thank You for your Assistance,

PointsCashMiles

pointscashmiles(at)yahoo(dot)com

SPG Member #:XXXXXXXXXX

After sending the e-mail, I immediately received a response that my message had been received and by the following day, the points were in my account.

Club Carlson 50% bonus on purchased points

So the Club Carlson Global Getaway Sweepstakes has ended along with the 100 free points per day.  If you haven't already seen the points ahow up in you account they should be appearing there in the near future.  Now you may be wondering what to do with these points and that's where the Club Carlson current 50% bonus on purchased points comes in to play.

Club Carlson points usually cost $7.00 per 1,000 so with this 50% bonus offer you can get 1,500 points per $7 not bad considering a low end free night takes 9,000 points.

If you weren't able to participate in the Global Getaway Sweepstakes, this could be a way to top off an account cheaply.  I think the obvious use here is the cash and points redemption.  If you managed to get at least 2,000 points for this promotion which was easily obtainable as this required entering less than half of the days the promotion ran, it would only take $14 to get the additional 3,000 points you need for a cash and points stay at the 5,000 points plus cash level.  This might not generate huge savings, but it at least makes all those contest entries worth your while.


Additionally it may be worth looking at a category 1 free night redemption.  If you managed to get 3,000 points out of the promotion you only need 6,000 more points for a low end Category 1 free night and you can pickup these points for just $28.  There might not be a ton of category one properties you want to stay at (in fact only 17 total in the US) but it could be a good deal if one of the hotels match up to your travel plans. 

I don't think the bonus is good enough to just buy points outright, but if you have a specific redemption in mind, this could be a great deal.

Win up to 1,000,000 Hhonors points

Hilton HHonors is celebrating its 25th anniversary by giving away more than 25 million HHonors Points over 25 days.

Each day through to September 18, 2012, one member will walk away with one million HHonors Points. There are also 6 instant win prizes each day including more HHonors Points, free night stay certificates, and exclusive prize packages from the various Hilton brands. That's 150 instant win prizes in total plus the 25 one million point prizes. You can enter once each day.

Here's a link to the rules and list of prizes: http://hilton.promo.eprize.com/hhonors/public/fulfillment/rules.pdf

 

And an excerpt from the FAQs:

Q. What is the Hilton HHonors 25 Million Point Giveaway?
A. The Hilton HHonors 25 Million Point Giveaway is in celebration of Hilton HHonors 25th anniversary. Hilton HHonors is giving away a variety of daily prizes including HHonors points, free night stay certificates and branded prize packs, plus 1 million HHonors points to 25 lucky grand prize winners. See Official Rules for complete details.

Q. Where can I enter the 25 Million Point Giveaway?
A. Enter by visiting the Hilton HHonors Facebook page or the Facebook page of one of our brand partners: Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, DoubleTree by Hilton, Embassy Suites, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Hotels, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Home2 Suites by Hilton. See the Official Rules for complete details.

Q. How many times can I play?
A. You may enter once per day from any one of the participating brand Facebook pages.

For more information and to enter, here's a direct link to the contest page: http://www.facebook.com/HiltonHHonors/app_420113214707653

Gift Card Sale at Chase Ultimate Rewards

Chase is currently running a promotion where you can redeem points for select Gift Cards at either a 10% or 20% discount depending on the brand.  It's scheduled to run through the end of September so there's no real rush, just an interesting redemtion alternative to consider.

Keep in mind that I'm not necessarily recommending redeeming in this way, I'm fully aware that transfering the ultimate rewards points to airline or hotel programs can provide a better value but this still works out to 1.25c per point (on the Lands End and Gap GCs) and could be very handy if you need something and are short on cash.  Land's End GCs are redeemable at Sears, and I would certainly consider redeeming for them if I was low on cash and needed something like an appliance or a new grill. Similarly, if I needed to do back to school shoping I would consider the Gap giftcards as they can be used at Old Navy, Gap, Banana Republic, and their outlet stores.

I won't personally be taking advantage of this offer, largely because I'm not in the market for anything from these particular stores right now but also partially because I redeemed most of my Ultimate Rewards points earlier this year for roughly $1800 worth of Southwest Airlines flights.  I mention this because, I full well knew that I could get more "value" by redeeming for high end hyatt hotels or business class international flights, but these weren't things I needed.  I needed (or I should say wanted since I could have chosen not to travel) 6 Southwest Airlines tickets and couldn't or at least didn't want to spend the cash on them. 

My point here is simple; Always consider the best value for you when making redemptions and keep in mind this can change over time.  This year, my best value for UR points was Southwest flights, next year it could be first class international tickets or it could be giftcards.

Free Miles/ Points - Audience Reward Trivia update 08-20-2012

Audience Reward Trivia update 08-20-2012

There seems to be a change in the Audience Rewards program; where we previously had different sets of questions for each of the partner programs, there is now one set of questions which is listed on each of the partner sites.  The questions can only be answered once, so you need to pick which partner program you want to earn the points in.  I’ve listed all 4 links below; though personally, I’ll be using the SPG link as I value their points more than Delta or US miles.

Delta Skymiles (08-20-2012)

US Airways Dividend Miles (08-20-2012)

Starwood Preferred Guest 08-20-2012

Best Buy Reward Zone (08-20-2012)

Your Trivia Questions and Answers for 08-20-2012:

§  In what year did the novel that the play War Horse is based on come out?

1982

• Which of the Following Broadway regulars in NOT in Nice Work If You Can Get It?

Megan Hilty

§  Prior to Nice Work If YouCan Get It, which of the following shows did NOT play the Imperial Theatre?

Shrek The Musical

• In Avenue Q, “If You Were Gay” is sung by which characters?

Nicky and Rod

• At what theatre is Rebecca, The Musical set to open this fall ?

The Broadhurst Theatre

• What is the female lead’s name in Once?

Trick Question – we never learn her name

• True or False? While Disney is involved with the stage musical version of Newsies, it was not involved in the movie version.

False

• Which of the following tracks is often played by a non-minority actor in the cast of the Lion King?

Scar

100 Free Points Every Day with Club Carlson!

Club Carlson - 100 free Points per day for the next 39 days

I've always been a fan of quick and easy ways to get free miles or points, even if it's only a few miles at a time. Club Carlson’s current promotion, The Club Carlson Global Giveaway is the latest opportunity I've come across and is god everyday for the next 5 and a half weeks!   Basically this is a 6 week long promotion and Club Carlson is giving away one trip each week. Each week's prize includes a five-night stay at a selected hotel, business class airfare for two and $5,000 cash.

 When you register for the drawing, you're given the opportunity to flip through a virtual "Vacation Look Book".  Once you've viewed each of the pictures, you earn 100 Club Carlson Points.

The promotion Website is: www.clubcarlsonglobalgiveaway.com

You can enter daily and can collect the 100 points each day for the length of the promo - and remember points can be transferred in between member accounts by contacting customer service so it could be especially useful if there are multiple family member participating in the promotion.

I'll never remember to do this every day for the next month and a half so I don't expect to get the full 3,900 possible points remaining, but I probably will remember more often than not and expect to earn around 3,000 points from the promo. 

Club Carlson is the Rewards Program for a number of Hotel Chains including Country Inn & Suites, Park Inn, Park Plaza, Radisson, and the Flagship Radisson Blu Brand.  Room night redemptions start at 9,000 points per night so this promo could get you almost halfway to a free night at one of their lowest tier hotels.

Audience Rewards Trivia for 08-09-2012

Audience Reward Trivia update 08-09-2012

For some reason I was expecting these on Monday but it appears we are back to the new questions every 10 days schedule.

There seems to be a change in the Audience Rewards program; where we previously had different sets of questions for each of the partner programs, there is now one set of questions which is listed on each of the partner sites. The questions can only be answered once, so you need to pick which partner program you want to earn the points in. I’ve listed all 4 links below; though personally, I’ll be using the SPG link as I value their points more than Delta or US miles.

Delta Skymiles (08-09-2012)

US Airways Dividend Miles (08-09-2012)

Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) Points (08-09-2012)

Best Buy Reward Zone (08-09-2012)

Your Trivia Questions and Answers for 08-09-2012:

§  True or False? Old Jews Telling Jokes has two acts, and one intermission.

False

·         Aside from winning the 2012 Tony Award for Best Play, what other famous award did Clybourne Park win in 2011?

The Pulitzer Prize

·         Which of the following movies was Nicholas Hytner NOT involved in?

Shakespeare in Love

§  True or False? Both Celia and Andrew Keenan Bolger went to the University of Michigan.

True

§  Michael Morpurgo wrote the book that what Broadway play is based on?

War Horse

§  True or False? Bring It On, The Musical is based on a movie.

True

§  What show won the Tony Award Best Book of a Musical in 2012?

Once

§  True or False? "When Your Mind's Made Up" has two versions in Once. One is as is, and one replaces "Made" with a swear word.

True

§  In the show, Newsies, there is a big dance number that famously involves what prop?

 Newspapers

§  Which of the following shows has Kristin Blodgette not worked on?

Billy Elliot

Audience Rewards Trivia Updates 07-30-2012

Audience Reward Trivia update 07-30-2012

There seems to be a change in the Audience Rewards program; where we previously had different sets of questions for each of the partner programs, there is now one set of questions which is listed on each of the partner sites.  The questions can only be answered once, so you need to pick which partner program you want to earn the points in.  I’ve listed all 4 links below; though personally, I’ll be using the SPG link as I value their points more than Delta or US miles.

Delta Skymiles (07-30-2012)

US Airways Dividend Miles (07-30-2012)

Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) Points (07-30-2012

Best Buy Reward Zone (07-30-2012)

Your Trivia Questions and Answers for 07-30-2012:

§  What lyric finishes this phrase - "Oh, what a night! Late December back in ___"?

63

• Felicia makes her radio debut singing what song?

Someday

•   Which of the following shows did NOT have an actress nominated for a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical in 2012?

Leap of Faith

• Which New York Mayor is portrayed in Newsies?

Robert A. Van Wyck

• Who stared in the film version of Bring It On ?

Kirsten Dunst

• On what famous street does Rock of Ages take place?

Sunset Boulevard

• What Country is Evita primarily set in?

Argentina

• How many 2012 Tony Awards was One Man Two Guvnors  nominated for ?

9

10 Free Starwood (SPG) Points - Audience Rewards Trivia - 05-19-2012

Audience Rewards Trivia Questions for Starwood - 5 questions worth 10 points:

Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) Points - Audience Rewards Trivia 


Voca People markets itself mostly as what?
          A musical event
What song is Frankie Valli asked to sing by an important NJ gangstar in the early scenes of Jersey Boys?
         
How many Tony Awards did the current revival of Chicago win?
          6
At what theatre does War Horse play?
          Vivien Beaumont Theatre
What height is the tallest animal in the Lion King stage production?
        18 feet

12 Free Best Buy Reward Zone Points - Audience Rewards Trivia - 05-17-2012

This Morning, six new Audience Rewards Trivia Questions worth 12 Reward Zone points have been posted for Best Buy RewardZone.  


Best Buy Reward Zone - Audience Reward Trivia




Here are the Audience Rewards Trivia Questions (and Answers) for today:



True or False? The original first act of The Phantom of the Opera was presented at Andrew Lloyd Webber’s home. 
          True
What is the last song of Act I in Jersey Boys? 
          Walk Like a Man
The Wicked backstage tour, Behind the Emerald Curtain, was formed by a man who played what role in the original Broadway company? 
          The Witch’s Father
What is Mr Banks’ first name? 
          George
David Ives is from what US City? 
          Chicago
Aside from Eva Peron, what other real life character has Elena Roger portrayed on stage? 
          Edith Piaf

For those of you interested in the Radisson Big Night Giveaway and the Country Inn and Suites SOGO promotions, I just registered and got messages indicating the full 50k and 44k points are still available.  If you haven't heard of the promo or have but need more info, check out this post from Boarding Area blogger Mommy Points: Club Carlson Promos.  She has one of the most detailed explanations of the promotion that I've seen.

If you just need the links to sign up for the promos, here they are:

SOGOCountry.com

Radisson Big Night Giveaway

A Week in Hawaii with Marriott - Exclusive Offer for Marriott Rewards credit card holders

Just When I was thinking about canceling my Marriott Rewards Credit Card to make room for another offering from Chase, I received an e-mail last night that is making me reconsider...

An exclusive offer for Marriott Rewards® Credit Card holders
Enjoy 3 free nights at Maui’s Wailea Beach Marriott® Resort & Spa when you redeem for a 4-night stay in 2012, giving you 7 nights of oceanfront bliss.

For just 140,000 Marriott Rewards points, you’ll enjoy:
     - 7 nights at the Wailea Beach Marriott Resort & Spa
     - $100 credit at Kumu Bar & Grill

Need more points? Earn points with every card purchase, with additional points earned at participating Marriott properties worldwide. Just a few points shy? You can also purchase up to 50,000 points a year.

Seems like a great deal to me since a week at the Wailea Marriott can easily go for $2500+ before taxes and resort fees. (The week of Christmas come in near $5K) You'll still be on the hook for the resort fees of course But for 140,000 Marriott points, I think I'm ok with that.

I've never actually stayed at the Marriott but I have been through the Hotel when staying down the street at the Grand Wailea. The lobby and public areas are incredibly nice and If I can figure out how to pick up another 70k points.

Here's a link to the Marriott Wailea Beach Resort Website

Partial T&Cs:

Marriott Rewards® US credit card holders in good standing with open accounts are eligible for offer. Offer is exclusive to the Wailea Beach Marriott® Resort & Spa only. Marriott Rewards members who book a redemption stay for 4 nights between May 1, 2012 and December 31, 2012, and begin their stay on or before December 31, 2012, will receive three (3) additional nights with no point redemption cost to the member. The entire seven-night (7) stay is valid for consecutive nights only. There is no limit to the number of times a member can redeem for this offer.

12 Free US Airways Dividend Miles - Audience Rewards Trivia 05-08-2012

US Airways Audience Rewards Trivia

I'm a bit late on these this morning but here are your US Airways Audience Rewards Trivia Questions and Answers:

What is the name of the town where the musical Leap of Faith takes place?
          Sweetwater
Which of the following songs is not featured in Priscilla, Queen of the Desert?
          Time After Time
Michael Morpurgo wrote the book that what Broadway play is based on?
          War Horse
In what show did Linda Lavin make her Broadway debut?
          A Family Affair
Rick Elice is the writer behind all but which of these shows?
          Next to Normal
What does Bud Frump do in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying whenever he is unhappy with something at his job at the office?
          Call his mother

12 Free Best Buy Reward Zone Points - Audience Rewards Trivia

This Morning, six new Audience Rewards Trivia Questions have been posted for Best Buy RewardZone. I noticed that my RewardZone account has 206 points as of this morning so, if you have your RewardZone account set to issue certificates at the $5.00 level, you may want to consider changing this to a higher dollar amount if you prefer to transfer the points rather than receive the $5.00 off at Best Buy reward.  This can be checked at https://myrewardzone.bestbuy.com/

Best Buy Reward Zone - Audience Reward Trivia

The Trivia Questions and answers:

Which of the following did the director of Memphis, Christopher Ashley, NOT direct? 

          Shrek, the Musical

What is the name of the character played [by] Celia Keenan Bolger in Peter and the Starcatcher?

          Molly

What was the last musical that Kate Jennings Grant was in on Broadway? 

          Guys and Dolls

What composer’s music makes up Nice Work If You Can Get It? 

          George Gershwin

Which of the following actors was NOT in the movie Leap of Faith? 

          Robert Downey, Jr.

What kind of shop does Mrs. Corry own in Mary Poppins? 

          A Talking Shop

12 Free US Airways Miles and 10 Free Starwood (SPG) Points - Audience Rewards Trivia - 04-28-2012 / 04-29-2012

I was traveling for a few days and ended up being without a laptop, so I wasn't able to get these trivia questions up in a timely fashion.  On the off chance that Someone looking for the answers hasn't already went elsewhere to find them, Here are the questions and answers for the latest Audience Rewards Trivia Questions for US Airways and Starwood (SPG) Hotels:


US Airways Audience Rewards Trivia Questions and Answers from 04-28-2012

US Airways Audience Rewards Trivia

What year did the novel of War Horse come out?
          1982
Which of the following Broadway regulars is NOT in Nice Work If You Can Get It?
          Megan Hilty
Which of the following films was Janus Cercone NOT involved in?
          Death to Smoochie
Venus in Fur deals largely with which of the following issues?
          Masochism
True or False? Evita takes place entirely in one country.
          False
Where did Mamma Mia! originally premiere in the U.S.?
          San Francisco



SPG Audience Rewards Trivia Questions and Answers from 04-29-2012

Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) Points - Audience Rewards Trivia

In what famous sitcom did Linda Lavin star?
          Alice
True or False? With Lin-Manuel Miranda, Thomas Kail wrote the closing rap for the 65th Tony Awards telecast on June 12, 2011.
          True
The opening of the second act of Peter and the Starcatcher features the cast dressed as what?
          Mermaids
What was the last show that Matthew Broderick was in on Broadway?
          The Philanthropist
What production company was behind Leap of Faith?
          Paramount

Free 90 day Trial of Hyatt Platinum Status

Hyatt Gold Passport 90 Days Trial Platinum link - From Visa Signature


This was covered by most of the prominent travel blogs last month.  I waited to sign up because I knew I didn't have an immediate need for the status so I figured I'd wait as long as possible to stretch the potential usage of the Platinum benefits.

Visa Signature card holders in the U.S. can register their U.S.-issued Visa Signature card number by May 11, 2012 for 90 days of instant Hyatt Gold Passport Platinum elite status. This status level has the following benefits:

- free internet
- 15% bonus points
- possibility of room upgrades(availability based)
- 2pm late check-out
- Expedited Check-in

Platinum members also receive a Platinum Extras certificate every 3rd stay which can be used for bonus points, dining discounts or room upgrades.

Most of us that play the Credit Cards for Signup bonuses game probably have a Visa Signature card in our aresenal, I happen to have a Citi Hhonors Visa that I'm using to sign up for the promo. If you don't have one, keep in mind that the site doesn't require it to be your card number, any valid number will work.