Amazon Winners Announced and My Failed Predictions from December 2013

Thank you for everyone who entered my giveaway contest (link).  Some of guesses were pretty close, but there can only be two winners (according to the rules I created).

The two winners are Smarterman64 (indeed smarter than everyone else) and Brian (anagram for brain).  I will send you a $10 Amazon eGift Card to your email address, so look for those emails shortly.

Back on December 30, 2013, I wrote a post titled My Travel Predictions (Both Good and Bad) for 2014.  After more than 5 months, it looks like most of my predictions have not happened yet (Nostradamus took a few hundred years, can you give me a few more months?)

My thoughts are in red.

Airlines:

• British Airways – I think the 4,500 and 7,500 (maybe even 10,000) Avios award prices will go away or the entire award chart will be revamped.  The current prices are just too good.
• Alaska Airlines and Delta Airlines – since there has been a lot of fighting over routes to/from SEA and SLC, I think Alaska will no longer allow you to earn or redeem miles with Delta. This is pretty close, we will have to see what happens the rest of the year.
• American Airlines and US Airways – after the merger, we will see some new “enhancements” (aka devaluations) to the new award chart.  Maybe off-peak awards will be changed or removed. Partially right, American and US Airways have made a few devaluations since December.
• Southwest Airlines and AirTran – hopefully the merger goes through smoothly and quickly.  I look forward to using Southwest Rapid Reward Points for flights to Hawaii, Mexico City, and other tropical destinations south of the border.  I also think the 50,000 Southwest Rapid Reward sign up bonus will no longer count for companion pass status, it is just too easy to get Companion Pass.
• Hawaiian Airlines – merge with another airline, maybe JetBlue or Alaska Airlines.
• Lufthansa  – revamp their award chart after everyone signs up for their credit card.
• Virgin Atlantic – miles will be transferable 1:1 with Virgin America and Virgin Australia.

Hotels:

• I think the new American Airlines and Hilton will create a partnership (similar to SPG-Delta and United-Marriott) for reciprocal elite benefits. What do you think Hilton Gold will be worth?
• Starwood – their credit card from American Express will offer no foreign transaction fees so I can use the card at SPG hotels outside the United States.
• Hyatt – change the credit card from “2 free nights at any Hyatt in the world” to something not as good (maybe exclude top tier properties).
• Hilton – since there are so many ways to get Hilton Gold, I think we will see some benefits dropped, like no free breakfast.
• IHG – I hope they run more Points Break deals, but I think they will raise award night prices or Points Break prices, from 5,000 to 10,000 points a night.
• Club Carlson – Revamp stay 2 nights for the price of 1 night award chart. They did add a new hotel category tier, but that is not a big deal.
• Points Hound and Rocket Miles will merge into one company – Points Miles or Rocket Hound?

Credit Cards:

• Credit card sign up bonuses – I think more cards will go from having huge sign up bonuses, to having larger spending bonuses (such as $10,000, $20,000, and up) to receive more bonus points/miles.  I called this before the Citi American Airlines Executive Credit Card was promoted.
• Chase Ultimate Reward Points – add more travel partners, but not offer any transfer bonuses. A few weeks ago Chase add Singapore as a transfer partner, still no transfer bonuses.
• American Express Membership Reward Points – less transfer bonuses and less transfer partners.  Good news with the introduction of the AMEX Everyday and Everyday Preferred Credit Cards.
• Citi Thank You Points – add more transfer partners and allow transfer from all Thank You accounts.
• Discover It card – will have a $500 sign up bonus (please!)  $150 is the highest I’ve seen lately.
• Capital One – revamp their reward program and offer 5x rotating categories to entice more credit card sign ups.
• A new card will come out from now where to surprise and overwhelm the travel credit card industry (please!) Citi AA Executive Card, the SPG 30k, Chase Freedom 20k, and Chase Ink Bold/Plus 60k (this was an easy guess)

What do you think will happen during the next 6-7 months?  Anything good or bad on your mind?  Please share in the comments section.