News You Can Use – Hilton Status Match Extended, 5,000 JetBlue Points, 20% Off Silvercar, & More

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1.   Hilton Status Match Extended to March 2018

Update:   The Points Guy reports Hilton is having trouble with its status match website.  However, you may still be able to request a match through this link.  Or by emailing proof of status with a competing chain, proof of stay and Hilton HHonors account number to [email protected].

Via The Points Guy, Hilton has extended its status match program.

So, if you have elite status with a competing hotel chain, like Choice, Hyatt, IHG, Marriott, or Starwood, Hilton will upgrade your HHonors Elite status to match.

You can submit your status match application online by June 30, 2016.  Along with something that shows your elite status with another program (like a screenshot).  And proof of a stay with that program in the past 12 months.

You’ll get Hilton HHonors elite status through March 31, 2018.  And they’ll match to Silver, Gold, or Diamond, depending on your status in another program.

And remember, certain credit cards give you automatic hotel elite status.  For instance, the Chase Hyatt card gives you Hyatt Platinum status.  And folks with the Chase IHG Rewards Club Select receive automatic IHG Platinum elite status.

During Hilton’s last status match promotion, many folks reported receiving Hilton Diamond status (executive lounge access, room upgrades, late check-out when available, and free breakfast at some hotels) when they matched to IHG Platinum elite status.

So this deal is a no-brainer for folks with the Chase IHG card, which comes with automatic Platinum Elite status!

2.   5,000 JetBlue Bonus Points (Targeted)

Angelina Travels wrote about a targeted offer she got from JetBlue.  So check your email to see if you’re eligible too.

Angelina was offered 5,000 JetBlue bonus points on every flight purchased by May 6, 2016, and flown between April 6, 2016, and June 30, 2016.  That’s an amazing bonus!

JetBlue points are worth ~1.4 cents per point.  So the 5,000 points you earn are worth ~$70!  

And, you get the bonus for one-way OR round-trip flights.  So in this case, it’s better to book 2 one-ways to get 2 separate 5,000 point bonuses for a total of 10,000 bonus points (2 X 5,000 points).

Don’t forget about the new Barclaycard JetBlue credit cards.  You could easily earn a lot of JetBlue points with a nice sign-up bonus plus your potential targeted bonus!

There are the JetBlue card (no annual fee), JetBlue Plus (better earning and a higher sign-up bonus), or JetBlue Business cards to choose from.

3.   Earn 250 Free Avios Points 

Via Points With a Crew, Aer Lingus will be changing their miles & points program to AerClub.  And you’ll now earn Avios points when flying with them.

I’m not sure yet how these will be related to British Airways Avios points.  But hopefully you’ll be able to transfer between miles programs.  Just like you can between British Airways and Iberia Avios.

I’ll keep you updated when we know more!

In the meantime, you can get 250 free Avios points for pre-registering for AerClub.  It’s scheduled to start in July 2016.  But as long as you pre-register before June 30, 2016, you will get 250 Avios points.

It’s worth noting, it doesn’t ask for your Avios account information when you sign-up, so you’ll have to wait to hear back.  We’re not sure how you’ll get your Avios points and it’s not clear if US residents are eligible.  But it only takes ~10 seconds so it might be worth it!

4.   Save 20% on Silvercar Rentals

Silvercar is offering 20% off on rentals until the end of April 2016.  Just use the promotion code “SPRING20″ for the discount!

Reservations MUST be started by April 30, 2016, to qualify for the promotion.

If you’ve never used Silvercar, you’ll earn $25 off your first rental when you sign-up with my link.

Here’s a post about my experience with them.  And what my friends thought about Silvercar – and my driving! 😉