Alert – Another Chance to Buy Airline Miles for a Penny per Mile via a New Wyndham Promotion (Up to 19,200 Miles per Account)

A few months ago, we all had a shot at scoring some valuable airline miles for less than a penny per mile via Daily Getaways by buying Wyndham points and then converting them to miles at your favorite airlines. Competition for those limited number of packages was fierce, and many ended up with nothing but disappointment.

Well, a second chance has surfaced, if you are still looking to top off your frequent flyer accounts. Back then, a 16,000-point package cost $55 (or $50 with the Amex discount); now, it is around $64 and you get a hotel night to use if you want to!

A new Wyndham promotion, first brought to my attention earlier today by Ric, the Loyalty Traveler, will let us buy up to 19,200 miles at a cost of about one penny per mile. All you and your family members have to do is to pay for up to 3 one-night stays at one of the 20 new Wyndham or Hawthorne Suites, between August 6 and October 6, 2012 (with the last check-out date of October 9, 2012).

Each stay at one of the 20 hotels will earn you 16,000 bonus Wyndham Rewards points, which can then be transferred to your choice of airlines at a ratio of 2.5 to 1 (each block of 8,000 Wyndham points = 3,200 miles). You are allowed to repeat this promotion up to 3 times, for a maximum of 48,000 Wyndham points or 19,200 miles.

The catch is that you have to have received an email from Wyndham and reserve the room online by following the link provided in the email. Even though a few received the email on August 6, 2012, most of us just got the emails this afternoon (after Ric’s blog post). The email is titled “Your point balance, member offers & Summer Rewards,” and sent by WyndhamRewards@emails.wyndhamrewards.com, in case you’d like to search for it. [Update (10am PST, 8/15/12): if you don't already have a Wyndham account, you can sign up for one and then call 866-996-7937 or email customer service to ask for a personalized email link for this offer.]

 

If you happen to have hotel needs in the next two months in one of the cities listed, this could be a great option even if you don’t need airline miles (16,000 points can get you a free night at a tier-4 hotel).

If you don’t have any hotel needs during the promotion period, then finding a prepay or AAA all-in rate of ~$64 could be well worth it. Wyndham is the only chain known to credit phantom (“no-show”) stays. Follow this link and read B.8 under part II – “If the property requires a credit card for a reservation, the Member is a no-show, and the hotel charges his/her credit card for the first night of the no-show stay, the Member will receive points for such night as if he/she had stayed.”

Here is the entire text of the official terms for the promotion. Since you have to follow the link in your email, it is not possible to earn additional cash back or points by going through a rebate shopping portal.

2012 Revere Promotion Terms and Conditions – Free night 16,000 bonus points

To qualify for the “16,000 bonus Points” promotion (the “Promotion”) and earn 16,000 Wyndham Rewards® points, the member must (i) be an active member (ii) click through the email and book a stay at any of the 20 participating properties at a qualifying rate between August 6, 2012 and October 6, 2012 and complete their hotel stays by October 9, 2012.(the “Promotion Period”). Members will receive 16,000 Wyndham Rewards points for up to 3 stays within the Promotion Period at any of the 20 properties regardless of the number of rooms booked. 16,000 bonus points is redeemable for one free night stay at a Tier 4 hotel. Member stays with check-out dates after October 9, 2012 will not be counted towards the Promotion. One stay includes all consecutive nights at the same hotel regardless of check-ins or check-outs.  For a full list of the 20 participating properties click here. Members should allow six to eight weeks after completion of stay for the bonus points to be credited to their account.

Lastly, IF the US Airways Grand Slam returns this September, we can hopefully double dip by setting the Wyndham earnings preference to US Airways. Stays at Wyndham or Hawthorne earn you 500 US Airways miles.

Update (8/6/2012): Please read my first-hand experience in this post.

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