1) Emirates Skywards Platinum.

Emirates Skywards offered instant Platinum status a year ago, access our article HERE.

I’ve received many emails regarding the Platinum Skywards requalification for the year 2017 as the year is up this month, for all that were fast enough to take the offer up last year November. The requalification is standard at a massive 150,000 tier miles.

I’d say the best advantage I received is the First class lounge access in Dubai. I have a review on it HERE, its one of those spaces you feel like everyone vanished off the face of the earth (with a Rolex counter…)

Cabin wise in 1st class, Emirates is just a small Business class seat with a electric closing door (Etihad’s door is manual with 2.8x the space inside). Have a look at the recent Emirates Jennifer Aniston vs Etihad’s Nicole Kidman videos of 1st class products online.

Note: Emirates currently matches one tier higher if you hold Gold in a competitor airline.

2) Hilton higher than Diamond status in 2017.

Hilton is considering launching a ‘Diamond+’ level sometime in 2017. Id say closer to April, hopefully they will take some of Hyatt’s confirmed perks into account. Hyatt still has the most heavyweight perks of all the loyalty programmes even with their changes being implemented in 2017 ( more below).

3) SPG biggest points sale ever. Up to 50%.

The worlds most valuable point – is having a awesome sale. Ends 31’December 2016.

Remember 1x Starpoint transfers to 3x Marriott Reward points and 20,000 Starpoints transfers to 25,000 airline miles in most airliners ( hello upgrades to F and J galore) + heaps of points transfer and booking tricks between the two programmes. You gonna love the maths and savings all round here !

Access the offer HERE.

4) Hyatt Gold Passport changes in 2017.

The worlds most valuable loyalty status– is implementing changes.

New programme: World Of Hyatt.

Starting 1st March 2017 these are the new tiers:

Discoverist: 10 nights, 25k base points ($5000 spend)

Explorist: 30 nights, 50k base points ($10,000 spend)

Globalist: 60 night, 100k base points ($20,000 spend) (55 nights to re-qualify)

The new levels work on nights and not stays making it harder, however if you managed to do your required stays this year you will auto qualify for next year to 2018.

If you a Diamond in 2016 but didn’t re-qualify will be given Explorer status regardless of activity.

If you have Platinum status for 2017 gets you  Discoverist status.

For upgrades:

Discoverist: upgrade to best available room within type booked, which may mean a better view or higher floor.

Explorist: best available room excluding club floor and suites ( however they get 4x club lounge certificates for up to 7x nights each)

Globalist: best available room up to standard suites (8x confirmed certificates even on award nights + extra certificates earned at certain nights completed) – This will be the new benchmark level in Loyalty replacing their current Diamond level.

There is also free night certificates going to be added for Explorist and Globalist for use within 120days.

Note: If you holding suite certificates, use them! they are not valid beyond 02/2017. Each certificate has a value of R180,000 in suite upgrades and perks ( Diamond members got 4 certificates – next year its 6 )

5) Hilton Visa 5000 points promo.

This will stack on all their other 101 on-going promos beautifully. Love this.

Earn 5,000 Bonus Points when you register below then book in the Hilton HHonors app and pay for your stay between November 1, 2016 – January 31, 2017 with your Visa card.

Access the offer HERE.

6) Massive airfare discounts.

Due to Egypt’s decision to unpeg from the $, their currency has tumbled, Check how mighty the ZAR is now. Besides being a hub to stretch HHonor points for the cheapest international holiday destination ( which just got cheaper) the airfares flying out of Cairo are crazy low in Business and First class.

Etihad has business class to Bangkok for $540.

Qatar has 1st class ( includes the fabulous Al Safwa lounge in Doha + A380 1st class for Doha to Bangkok) for $1150. These pay out heaps of miles for investment travel.

I’ve found flights up to April 2017. There are heaps to be found. Imagine when you change the country of booking on Egypt Air…

also,

Ethiopion Airlines, Star Alliance Member stared flying into Comoros.

Air Seychelles, Etihad partner,  will launch a Durban service in 2017.

Both have been offering some of the lowest fares this year.

The most wise way to go on holiday is to have your spend as an investment with plenty to show and use for after check-out. All other travelers get nothing on check-out. Travel wisely. Travel the TraveLoyalty way.

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TRAVELOYALTY