I got some awesome messages in response to yesterday’s post. So many good stories about how much we can receive when we put a smile on someone’s face. Yet another reminder to me how we have the power to brighten someone’s day or darken it. My favorite email was from James. Here it is:
Loved your column today.
Just. Ask.
Here’s my “3 Ways To Get Bonused.”
1. Train The Rep! – 2,000 ThankYou points for informing them the Citi Prestige American lounge benefit extends for free to family members. They didn’t know, so seeing as I had just trained them, I asked if it was worth anything to find that information out. Apparently it was.
2. Tell A Joke! – 3,000 Starwood points for telling a joke to a rep and “making her day.” Just ask.
3. Play The Idiot Card! – My patented move. 2,500 Ultimate Rewards points to Chase Freedom because I’m an idiot (cancelled a Ritz card before 5x points from a $500 Marriott stay posted). I told the guy my mistake and asked if I could get some UR points because of my stupidity. He obliged.
All these are just what I’ve received in the last month. Haven’t even tried for any annual fee waivers yet this year but they’re coming soon.
Also, I emailed that I had sent 20-30 cards for the IHG Priceless Surprises promo and hadn’t heard anything back. 2 days later I received 90+ plays. We’ll see if those 52,500 points post.
Oh, speaking of IHG, I also played the idiot card for the first promotion last year with 4 of 6 requirements needed. For me it was stay 2 times at 2 Holiday Inns, pay with a credit card, and earn 50,000 points. Anyway, I ended up staying at the same hotel twice (a lot of Flyertalkers made the same mistake and were pissed). I called the awful call center and said I was an idiot for staying at the same Holiday Inn twice when I could have stayed at one down the street. I asked if they could do anything because of my stupidity and they gave me an extra 10,000 points. Still 30,000 short but better than nothing!
FYI, if you have short legs on United, they allowed me to cancel an outbound while keeping the inbound leg intact (outbound was weather-delayed 12 hrs and the refund paid for my 1-way Hertz rental). No status with United. I just asked. After 10 minutes on hold, the refund was done.
Just. Keep. Asking.
