My Take on Loyalty Programs

 

What can I say? My loyalty is divided. I tend to book a hotel based on price and location. I'll scoop up the points when I can but since I don't travel nearly as often as I'd like, I don't go out of my way to only stay at a major chain. Since I'll never reach elite status with my infrequent stays, my loyalty is very much up grabs. In fact, I prefer boutique properties over the cookie-cutter corporate look and feel.

Thanks to Julie Weed for spotlighting my take on loyalty programs in the New York Times.
Photo: Peter DaSilva/New York Times

How to Score a Free Travel Upgrade

If you’re not a business traveler with elite status, getting upgraded can seem like a long shot. Want a better seat on the plane? These days, extra legroom or an aisle seat will cost you extra. Want a nicer hotel room? You can pay a bit more at check-in for a room on a higher floor.

So how exactly do you ask for a complimentary upgrade without coming across as a demanding customer or a complete cheapskate?

I asked travel experts with the power to grant or deny an upgrade -- including a front-desk manager, a car-rental agent, and airline experts -- for tips on how to score that coveted upgrade and other perks even if you’re an infrequent traveler.

Check out my "How to Score an Upgrade" story on CNN.com or pick up a copy of the October issue of Money magazine.

UPDATE: "How to Score an Upgrade" has been picked up by Yahoo! for the homepage carousel. Thanks to everyone who noticed and let me know about it!

Photo by Amy Chen: An ocean-view room at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, Oahu.

The World's Best New Affordable Hotels

Armed with a team of freelance writers, I scoured the globe for the best hotels that were a) less than two years old and b) had a sense of intimacy or personality. From San Francisco to South Africa, we whittled the list down to 31 properties, plus four hotel chains with style (no corporate clones here). Check out the winners at Best New Boutique Hotels under $150.
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