With a hat tip to LoyaltyLobby, hotel booking service PointsHound is offering free Level 2 status and the option of some bonus miles from Virgin America or Etihad, two of its partners. What does Level 2 mean? PointsHound rewards its frequent customers with more miles for every dollar spent. While a standard booking at its introductory Level 1 earns only 3 to 8 miles per dollar (depending on the program), Level 2 members earn 5 to 10 miles. It normally takes five nights over six months to reach this level.
If you sign-up using Virgin America’s link, you also get 50 points for signing up and 150 more points after your first booking. Etihad’s link offers 100 miles for joining and 250 more miles after your first booking. But even if you don’t want to join either program, you should still use their links.
The Level 2 status is worth at least 200 extra miles on a $100 booking (5 minus 3 times 100), and it will probably earn you much more. Once you sign up, just change to your account preferences to credit to your program of choice like Delta, United, or American Airlines. My normal referral link only offers 250 miles after the first booking and no status. Since the bonus miles with Level 2 are potentially so much more, I’m not even going to share that link here.
Both offers are valid for new sign-ups through May 31. LoyaltyLobby comments that a sign-up promotion last year was ended early, but I don’t think that is the case here. Talking to co-founders Pete and Chris at the Frequent Traveler University, they shared that airlines are footing the cost of these new enrollment bonuses, making it easier for them to save money on advertising and pass on more of their marketing budget to customers in the form of higher earnings rates and other perks.
Finally, Virgin America is also running a contest on Facebook, with a grand prize of 50,000 Elevate Points, worth about $1,000 in free flights. Though the sign-up offer continues longer, the terms and conditions of this contest require you to enter by May 15.
