Question
Are hotel rewards booked thru the NEA/MBNA travel rewards program eligible for frequent stay points?
[This message has been edited by sheetz (edited 08-14-2000).]
Answer
Generally, yes, unless the room rate that's reserved by the MBNA travel agency has some type of restrictions.
We are spending next weekend at a golf resort. The best rate I could find was $209 per night. Through MBNA/NEA, they credited $200 per night in exchange for 5000 points, so we end up paying $9 plus tax (on $209). And, the room is eligible for ff mileage.
Same goes for flights and car rentals. It's like using a "normal" travel agency.
Answer
Thanks. How does it work? Do you get something like a voucher or reimbursement for the hotel stay?
Answer
At the end of each statement cycle, you accrue 1 point for every dollar spent.
To use these points, you call MBNA's travel group, give them your MC account number and they book your hotel, airplane, etc. just like a travel agency. Once the reservation is booked, they apply an amount (not to exceed $$, as specified) to the reservation.
For example, to book a $250 hotel room, you reserve through MBNA, using 5,000 points (up to $200 credit). MBNA sends the hotel a $200 check to be applied to your reservation and you pay the balance (plus taxes) to the hotel at check-in or check-out. If your hotel room was $175, you can chose to redeem 3,000 points ($150 credit) or 5,000 points (they pay the full hotel cost and taxes, up to $200 total).
The hotel sees your visit as a regular stay, except that $200 has been prepaid. FF points, etc. are rewarded, unless the rate that YOU booked under precludes awards. For air travel, you get the FF mileage. It just doesn't get any better...
It's a great program and MBNA's been a joy to work with. Just awesome. No hitches, except Saturday night stay required for air travel and 10 day advance (I think) reservations required for car/hotel (so the check can get to them).
[This message has been edited by ejulber (edited 08-15-2000).]