Web Buzz: Rack up the airline points at Pointshound.com
This online service gives travelers an easy way to earn airline mileage while booking a hotel stay.
Name: Pointshound.com
What it does: It’s a global hotel booking website that entices you with airline mileage points in exchange for your business. There are more than 100,000 hotels around the world to choose from.
What’s hot: Free points just for the taking. There are three levels of free membership, and as your number of hotel-night stays grows, you move up to the next level, which allows you to earn even more airline miles per dollar spent. Keep your eyes open for the Big Earnings lightning bolt button. Even if you’re just starting out at Level 1, some hotels allow you to earn 10 times the miles. If you already earn points through hotel loyalty programs such as HHonors and SPG, look for the Double Dip button that directs you to hotels where you can earn points with both Pointshound and your hotel reward program. I especially liked that there were plenty of deals to be found. But check the hotel’s website too. I once found a better per-night rate by booking direct.
What’s not: When I tested the site, there were only five loyalty programs available: Delta SkyMiles, United Mileage Plus Reward Miles, Hawaiian Airlines, Club Premier Aeromexico and Baltic Miles. If you’re hungry for American Airlines miles, you might try RocketMiles.com, a similar site.
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