Steals & Deals by Joe Brancatelli for 2013

DECEMBER 26, 2013
LAN rolls out one of its infuriating business-class sales, but it does yield great fares to South America. Air Tahiti Nui offers deep discounts on its LAX-Paris nonstops. United matches American's bonuses on transcon flights.

DECEMBER 19, 2013
Hyatt is kinda, sorta reviving Faster Free Nights, but slowly...but the points may be better. Porter Airlines wants you to sit outside in the cold in Chicago and watch hockey. Top-flight premium flights to Paris for less than $1,300 roundtrip from OpenSkies. Marriott's latest MegaBonus is more of the same...but less than before.

DECEMBER 12, 2013
A burst of (mostly wan) first-quarter hotel promotions from Hilton, Choice, Starwood and InterContinental. American Airlines offers bonuses for higher-fare transcontinental travel. And many more.

DECEMBER 5, 2013
Lufthansa slashes the price of coach flights to India. Malaysia Airlines offers big business-class discounts to Asia via its LAX-Tokyo nonstop. OpenSkies continues to offer deep discounts on premium-economy flights to Paris. United finally offers double miles from Seattle.

NOVEMBER 28, 2013
It's late, but, amazingly, you can still score some fabulous fares in the premium classes to Europe and Hong Kong over the Christmas-New Years break. We've got a rundown of carriers that still have seats available at deep discounts.

NOVEMBER 21, 2013
LAN discounts business class on South America flights. LOT offers ultra-cheap flights to Eastern Europe in coach. Accor offers 30-40 percent discounts on global hotels this winter. American Airlines offers double AAdvantage miles on Qatar Airways flights. And more.

NOVEMBER 14, 2013
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Hong Kong thanks to Cathay Pacific's business-class sale. Cheap fares to Russia on Finnair. Korean Air offers a business-class bargain to Singapore. Hertz promotes thousands of SkyMiles for rentals. The Taj Boston offers a sale on its fireplace suites.

NOVEMBER 7, 2013
Virgin Atlantic springs a last-minute, deep-discount business-class sale for Thanksgiving weekend travel. United cuts the cost of restricted coach awards to Europe for a few months. Cathay Pacific deals on its hidden transcontinental flight between Vancouver and New York.

NOVEMBER 1, 2013
How to get the $395-a-year Chase United Club Card free for the first year. JetBlue offers quadruple points on flights until the end of the year. Cathay Pacific cuts the price of its new LAX-Hong Kong flights in coach next week. Hyatt offers big Gold Passport bonuses for its new France hotels and more than a dozen properties in the metropolitan Atlanta area.

OCTOBER 24, 2013
Virgin Atlantic extends its business-class holiday bargains to the West Coast and Florida. Enterprise revives the $10/day weekend rental deal. Delta and Alaska Airlines get into a double-miles war. OpenSkies revives the $1,265 roundtrip premium-economy fare to Paris. And much more.

OCTOBER 17, 2013
British Airways rolls out its Christmas bargains in the premium classes. Air New Zealand offers a killer fare on its killer premium-economy class. A big "acquisition" bonus if you take Citi's best American Airlines credit card. Southwest Airlines offers double points nationwide for a month.

OCTOBER 10, 2013
Emirates cuts the price on its new New York-Milan service again. Aer Lingus posts a last-minute fare sale for Ireland travel in November and early December. OpenSkies bargains on its superlative premium-economy class again. Sofitel cuts 40 percent off its nightly rates until the spring if you book now. After making HHonors points nearly worthless, Hilton offers a quadruple-points promotion.

OCTOBER 3, 2013
LOT Polish cuts premium prices on Dreamliner flights to Warsaw. Malaysia cuts the price of nonstop flights to Tokyo. SAS is still dishing up great premium-class fares for Thanksgiving and Christmas/New Year travel. Air France is dealing on premium-economy seats to Paris. Hertz and Delta team up for a big bonus on car rentals.

SEPTEMBER 26, 2013
South African Airways and British Airways put South Africa on sale. Alaska slashes the price of travel around the West. Hyatt offers 10-15 percent room discounts without a chase. Emirates extends its Milan sale. Malaysia offers gigantic discounts on coach and business-class flights to Tokyo.

SEPTEMBER 19, 2013
OpenSkies revives the stunning $1,245 roundtrip promotion in premium economy for flights to Paris. Cathay Pacific's introductory fare on its Newark-Hong Kong nonstop is a startling $759 roundtrip in coach. Virgin America offers a bundle of bonus points for premium-class flyers. And more.

SEPTEMBER 12, 2013
After hiding fares for holiday business-class travel to Europe for weeks, major airlines are finally beginning to roll out the bargains. Aer Lingus has stunning prices to Ireland and beyond. Alitalia brings out its Italy holiday prices. Virgin Atlantic starts with a New York-London bargain. In other deals news, Air New Zealand offers a wowser of a premium-economy price on LAX-London. Amtrak, Alaska Airlines and Choice Hotels have interesting promotions. And more details on the new points-based One-Two-Free offer from National Car Rental.

SEPTEMBER 5, 2013
National's 1-2 Free deal returns, but this time with a pointy twist. OpenSkies extends its amazing premium-economy deal to Paris. Holiday Inn Resorts give you $75 back on a three-day stay. Air New Zealand cuts the price of its LAX-London flights in business class.

AUGUST 29, 2013
Three hotel chains--Hyatt, InterContinental and Starwood--unleash fall points promotions. American Airlines and Citi offer a 50,000-mile bonus for new credit cards. Hilton offers 1,000 MileagePlus miles per day for stays at Conrad and Waldorf properties. Enterprise offers triple Amtrak Guest Rewards points.

AUGUST 22, 2013
Emirates launches a New York-Milan route with low fares in both coach and business class. OpenSkies posts another stunning premium-economy class bargain on flights to Paris. Cathay Pacific offers big premium-economy deals between Canada and Asia. Accor posts a "private" global sale that knocks 30-50 percent off room rates.

AUGUST 15, 2013
Delta Air Lines is invading the California Corridor and its first attack: Deep discounts on first-class travel along the West Coast. Air France's well-liked premium economy cabin is available at surprisingly gentle prices from the United States to Paris. And many more.

AUGUST 8, 2013
Virgin America is selling cheap seats in first class for two weeks later this month. Sofitel hotels is promoting free breakfast and bonus points for Labor Day stays. Starwood and Amex roll out a big bonus to take a Starwood Preferred Amex card. Hertz offers big SkyMiles bonuses for rentals. And Marriott's next MegaBonus is as convoluted as ever.

AUGUST 1, 2013
Finnair offers great deals on business-class service to Eastern Europe if you include its flagship New York-Helsinki flights. US Airways is selling miles again and the price is good, but be cautious. Starwood resorts offer a panoply of deals for AAA/CAA members. Hilton tries HHonors bonuses to get travelers to try a cursed Las Vegas resort.

AUGUST 1, 2013
Finnair offers great deals on business-class service to Eastern Europe if you include its flagship New York-Helsinki flights. US Airways is selling miles again and the price is good, but be cautious. Starwood resorts offer a panoply of deals for AAA/CAA members. Hilton tries HHonors bonuses to get travelers to try a cursed Las Vegas resort.

JULY 25, 2013
Another stunningly low fare in premium class between New York and Paris. Virgin America will knock 15 percent off fares with a special code. American Airlines offers business-class sales to select South American destinations.

JULY 18, 2013
Lufthansa rolls out business- and first-class sales to Europe for Thanksgiving and the Christmas/New Year period and the Star Alliance follows. The SkyTeam carriers have a holiday sale, too, but they aren't talking about it. Virgin Atlantic is dealing to London for the holidays from some of its gateways. Hyatt offers bonus points for stays in New York. And more.

JULY 11, 2013
LOT Polish is offering premium-class bargains this summer on its flights to Warsaw from New York and Chicago. After more devaluations, Hilton HHonors claims it is offering triple miles for stays during the third quarter. Omni Hotels offers 15-25 percent off summer stays. The Ritz-Carltons in Washington throw in a famous yacht with suite accommodations.

JULY 4, 2013
Lufthansa puts business-class seats to Europe on sale for travel in August. American Airlines slashes fares on its Dallas-Seoul route. The return of the frequent-flyer sign-up bonus. And much more.

JUNE 27, 2013
British Airways touts the arrival of its first Dreamliner with "special...celebratory" fares that are higher than their standard offerings in coach, premium economy and business class. Malaysia Airlines slashes the price of business-class seats on the LAX-Tokyo nonstop again. SAS is still offering deeply discounted premium-economy and business-class seats to Northern Europe this summer. And many more.

JUNE 20, 2013
Finally: a business-class deal to Buenos Aires and other Argentine destinations. Ritz-Carlton offers a stay-two-get-one-free-night laden with restrictions. The Algonquin in New York wants you to, uh, book this suite package.

JUNE 13, 2013
American Airlines is dealing in business class on some of its routes to Asia. Its Oneworld partner Malaysia Airlines cuts fares even lower. Best Western revives its three-stays-equals-a-free-night promotion. Accord knocks as much as 50 percent off half its hotels this summer. And more.

JUNE 6, 2013
BA's boutique carrier, OpenSkies, offers a fabulous deal for travel to Paris this fall. Air Berlin unleashes a last-minute summer business-class sale to Berlin and Dusseldorf. A Marriott in Kentucky is offering bourbon distillery tours with its guestrooms. And many more.

MAY 30, 2013
Delta mounts a last-minute business-class fare sale to Europe and this may be the last week for you to find a summer seat at a bargain. United is selling MileagePlus miles at discounts up to 40 percent. Priority Club Rewards offer double points for stays in July and August.

MAY 23, 2013
Two hotel chains announce $50-back promotions for summer travel. It's last call time for the best business-class deals for summer travel to Europe. And much more.

MAY 16, 2013
LAN posts another of those crazy-quilt business-class fares to South America. Aer Lingus extends its Europe summer business-class offer. Club Carlson offers 10,000 points for two-night stays. National and Alamo offer 25 percent off and 1,500 bonus Hilton HHonors points for rentals. LOT Polish offers special fares in its new premium-economy class on its Boeing 787 Dreamliners to Warsaw.

MAY 9, 2013
Airlines offer up some tepid summer business-class fares to London. OpenSkies discounts its business-class flights to Paris for summer. Marriott's "unexpected" bonus promotion looks a lot like the old MegaBonus promotion with a new name. And more.

MAY 2, 2013
Cathay Pacific is offering deep discounts on business-class flights to Hong Kong this summer. Air France finally posts its summer sale and there are bargains on both business-class and premium economy seats. Best Western will give you $50 for three stays in about 30 days. American Airlines and rental car firms offer big mileage bonuses. US Airways is selling miles again and maybe you can profit by the promotion.

APRIL 25, 2013
Like its parent Lufthansa, Swiss International is now offering discounted first- and business-class flights for summer travel to Europe. Hertz and Delta renew a familiar deal for big SkyMiles bonuses on rentals. Holiday Inn Resorts wants to give you $100 back this spring, but you'll have to jump through hoops to get it.

APRIL 18, 2013
Aer Lingus posts a Europe-wide summer sale with the best prices so far. Accor hotels knock up to 50 percent off nightly rates worldwide in a supposedly "private" sale. Starwood Preferred Guest will give you bonus Starpoints for booking via its phone app.

APRIL 11, 2013
Air France offers the rarest of the rare: a fare sale to Africa destinations. How to fly business class for less to South Italy this summer. Malaysia Airlines offers business-class seats to Tokyo for pennies from LAX. And more.

APRIL 4, 2013
American Airlines rolls out a summer business-class fare sale to Europe. Cathay Pacific offers attractive premium-economy fares to Hong Kong. Aer Lingus is selling cheap business-class upgrades to Shannon. Sheraton dangles 1,000 points for stays on its Club Level.

MARCH 28, 2013
Alitalia has posted its summer business-class sale and, unfortunately, it's less than magnifico. Qatar Airways slashes business-class fares on flights from Washington to Asia. Hertz has a low price on small cars for weekend airport rentals. Hilton HHonors wants you to earn bonus devalued points.

MARCH 21, 2013
United's summer business-class sale as a hollow echo of Continental's once-great deals. Lufthansa surprises with a summer sale to Europe in first class. Amtrak offers double points on rail trips until May 18. US Airways offers big bonuses for flights on its East Coast Air Shuttle.

MARCH 14, 2013
American Airlines selectively cuts the cost of first- and business-class flights to China. If you got ten grand, you can have two nights in a suite in Charlotte--and the Charlotte Bobcats basketball team, too. Citi offers a 50,000-mile bonus on its best AAdvantage credit card. Thrifty offers a gigantic bonus in MileagePlus for car rentals.

MARCH 7, 2013
Major car rental companies are offering attractive one-rate rates if you drive their vehicles out of Florida and Arizona this spring. British Airways celebrates the arrival of the Airbus A380 in Los Angeles with a sale on the LAX-London route. A bad business-class sale from Lufthansa nevertheless offers up one stunning price. Chase and Marriott offer 50,000 bonus points to take a credit card.

FEBRUARY 28, 2013
Renting a car long ago stopped being a good source of airline miles. But American AAdvantage and Delta SkyMiles have deals that seriously up the ante again. JetBlue flies into Charleston with great sale fares--if you can handle the restrictions. Choice Rewards is offering a free night (sorta) after two stays.

FEBRUARY 22, 2013
LAN has emerged as our one reliable source for business-class bargains to Latin America. The problem: You have to hunt and peck for their deals, which aren't consistent or even logical. Meanwhile, Alitalia will pay you for your E-mail address.

FEBRUARY 14, 2013
Without much fanfare, the big airlines are offering deeply discounted business-class seats to Europe for the Easter and Passover holidays. Prices start at around $2,700 roundtrip from New York and $3,000 from the West Coast. Hyatt offers bonus points (and a bonus for using a Chase Hyatt Visa) for late winter/early spring stays. Cathay Pacific offers bargain fares on premium economy seats to India.

FEBRUARY 7, 2013
Air New Zealand cuts business-class fares to London for the summer. American Airlines posts a first-class sale on flights to Asia. Lufthansa offers last-minute booking on business-class Europe flights for Easter. Four Points by Sheraton offers 30 percent off room rates for AAA members.

JANUARY 31, 2013
SAS is first in with a summer sale on business-class travel to Europe. Prices are up sharply from last year in New York, but surprisingly gentle from SAS' new West Coast gateway. Amtrak offers a free ride on Acela this summer after three winter trips. Best Western offers a free night after three separate stays. And the best hotel in Hong Kong offers a second night free in its breathtakingly lovely (and breathtakingly expensive) suites.

JANUARY 24, 2013
Malaysia Airlines offers up a startling low price on business-class to Tokyo. American Airlines offers a business-class sale from Miami to Latin America. Lufthansa mounts an Easter sale for business-class travel to Europe. And more.

JANUARY 17, 2013
LAN slashes the price of business-class travel on some Latin American routes. EVA offers nice bargains on premium-economy flights to Asia. British Airways has revived its two-free-room-nights promotion with winter ticket purchases. And many more.

JANUARY 10, 2013
If it's a new year, it's time for major hotel families to roll out first-quarter promotions. Here's what's on tap from Starwood, Hilton, Marriott and Choice. Meanwhile, Air France offers big winter and spring savings on its Premium Economy class to Paris and beyond. Radisson Blu offers a year-long weekend sale on its UK and Irish hotels.

JANUARY 3, 2013
OpenSkies cuts the price of Paris travel to just $1,200 roundtrip in its near-business class. Cathay Pacific's new Premium Economy cabin is selling for just $2,000 roundtrip on the New York-Hong Kong run. Carlson offers triple points on hotel stays in the first quarter. Amtrak offers you a free roundtrip after you buy two trips in the Northeast Corridor.



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