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My horrible experience transferring miles from HDFC Bank Diners Club

January 5, 2016 by Ajay 24 Comments

HDFC Bank Diners Club has some great promotions for travel and dining, which makes it a great card to hold in your wallet if you want to earn miles and points in India.

However, as I found out over the last quarter of 2015, they have an incredibly bureaucratic and clueless team to deal with the transfer, and the process is manual and very irritating. It took me over 2 months to get my points transferred from HDFC Bank’s point currency to the mileage programs I wanted them transferred in.

Do read through this before you decide to pick up these cards, and perhaps we can compare notes in the Comments section?

#redcarpettrip: Introduction and Trip Index

January 4, 2016 by Ajay 9 Comments

two glasses of wine on a table overlooking a body of water

Our honeymoon trip was a year in the planning, and had some amazing experiences included, largely due to the power of miles and points and status. We went to Los Angeles, Bora Bora, Las Vegas, Washington D.C. and New York, and flew some of the most coveted products such as Singapore Airlines Suites Class and Etihad Apartments on our way in and out.

This post is intended to be a sort of an index of the entire trip report which will be published over the days. In all earnestness, if I could do it, you can do it too!

Watch out inside for all the details of this #redcarpettrip

#redcarpettrip: We are back to base!

January 4, 2016 by Ajay 9 Comments

two teddy bears next to a couple of glasses of champagne

Shipra and myself just got back from a megatrip over 22 days, where we flew Singapore Airlines Suites Class, the Etihad Apartments, went to Los Angeles, Bora Bora, Las Vegas, Dallas, Washington D.C. and New York and had some amazing experiences.

This is a recap of the trip in pictures, while we get set to post an elaborate trip report for you, along with all the details!

Ia Orana: Hello from Bora Bora Islands!

December 22, 2015 by Ajay 6 Comments

Hello from the wonderful islands of Bora Bora! Shipra and I were looking forward to spending some time away from our respective workplaces, so we have been planning a trip largely on miles and points and status privileges over the course of the year.
Here’s what we have been up to so far!

Big changes to Air India Flying Returns: Child Membership introduced, upgrade transfers stopped, new base tiers

December 2, 2015 by Ajay 18 Comments

Air India has been quietly coming up to speed with the times on their frequent flyer program. Just yesterday, they have launched new features such as Child Membership, and introduced a Primary Active membership at the base tier as well.

Some of the key changes include the inability to transfer your upgrade vouchers to anyone here on, as well as the pseudo move to revenue-based earning by linking percentage of miles earned to flown miles and the RBD multiplier. Hence, deep discounted tickets don’t get as many miles anymore!

Read on and share your views on the program in the comments section

Your Air India Flying Returns account needs paperwork

December 2, 2015 by Ajay 7 Comments

Air India’s Flying Returns frequent flyer program is implementing new security measures to authenticate users, which includes a verification process for everyone, to prevent the creation of bogus accounts, and to weed out existing bogus accounts.

As a part of this measure, if you already have an Air India Flying Returns account, you should log into the account and provide the Air India team with information and certain identity documents to authenticate your account.

Vistara tying up with Axis Bank for co-branded credit card

November 24, 2015 by Ajay 7 Comments

Vistara will launch a co-branded credit card with Axis Bank early next year. That makes it the third airline to launch a co-branded card, if you exclude the not so great SpiceJet co-branded cards.

Hyatt’s Diamond status outright available

November 20, 2015 by Ajay 1 Comment

Hyatt Gold Passport last night announced on Twitter the offer to give an outright status match to top-tier members of competing hotel chain’s loyalty programs. This helps you to Hyatt Diamond status till March 2017, along with 4 suite upgrades which can be confirmed at the time of reservation and some other nice perks.

Here is how to help yourself to the diamond status by making an application to Hyatt Gold Passport.

Free Club Vistara Gold Status for HDFC Bank Infinia card holders

November 17, 2015 by Ajay 4 Comments

Club Vistara is offering a 1-year upgrade to Club Vistara Gold for HDFC Infinia card holders, and Silver status to HDFC Regalia card holders. While the hard benefits are limited, there are soft benefits such as random upgrades. Here is how to get the Gold status if you qualify for it.

Marriott to buy Starwood Hotels

November 16, 2015 by Ajay 2 Comments

Marriott Hotels is entering a transaction to acquire competitor Starwood Hotels & Resorts. Transaction expected to complete by Mid-2016. Post transaction, Marriott will have 30 brands, 1.1 million rooms and will be the largest hotel management co. in the world.

Air India & Jet Airways cheap fares for travel till April 2016

November 5, 2015 by Ajay Leave A Comment

Air India and Jet Airways are offering some cheap fares to start up 2016 with. Both have fare sales going on till November 7, 2015 for fares available for travel till April 2016. Some incredible deals out there!