Product Description

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #932117 in Books
• Published on: 2008-03-28
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: .1 pounds
• Binding: Paperback
• 374 pages

Amazon.com Review
Who says loyalty isn't appreciated? Follow the advice laid out in The Penny Pincher's Passport to Luxury Travel and you may find yourself wallowing in the pleasures of luxury without breaking the bank--especially if you travel often and stick like glue to one company. Grateful airlines and hotels often respond to such brand loyalty with free seat or room upgrades, the first steps towards living the life of Riley at the same cost as those Joes cramped behind in coach. Widzer--with a business degree from Pepperdine, a career in marketing, and a million-mile award from his chosen airline--knows all the ropes when it comes to the business side of traveling in comfort, and explains how to ask the appropriate questions to get the desired results. If you're paying full price because you booked last minute, for example, asking for perks often gets you luxury extras. Widzer shares strategies for saving money depending on if the dollar is strong or weak; regularly obtaining airline seat, hotel room, and car rental upgrades; effectively voicing (and being compensated for) complaints, as well as knowing whom to tip when. With an appendix of travel resources, this is the book for those willing to do their homework to win the prize. --Stephanie Gold

From Library Journal
Widzer believes in traveling in style but without paying luxury rates. He manages to achieve this using his travel experience (he flies at least 100,000 air miles each year) and his knowledge of the travel industry. By carefully maintaining customer loyalty and by knowing exactly who, how, and when to ask, Widzer manages to get much more than he pays for. Here he explains how. Arranged topically in ten chapters, clear explanations with examples detail how to leverage customer loyalty and travel mishaps. Examples and strategies attempt to cover all types of travelers, from very frequent to infrequent, but are more effective for frequent travelers. Customer service providers may find this interesting as an analysis of what quality really means to a customer. Purchase for larger public libraries.AAlison Hopkins, Queens Borough P.L., Briarwood, NY
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review
"At the risk of checking my luggage if I have to, I'm taking this book on board with me every time I get on an airplane in 1999." -- Randy Petersen, InsideFlyer Magazine

"Don't let the title of this book fool you. This book can make any kind of your travel much better for you." -- Randy Petersen, InsideFlyer Magazine

"I'm usually consider[ed] a know-it-all when it comes to travel. After reading this book, I realized, I don't really know it all. A must read and more importantly, a must take along for every traveler." -- Randy Petersen, InsideFlyer Magazine

"This is one book that I can honestly say...I wish I had [written].... It's a wonderful approach to the best kind of information anyone needs when they are traveling." -- Randy Petersen, InsideFlyer Magazine

First Class Travel for . . . You? It's rare we feel compelled to recommend a travel book, but we can't resist telling you about "The Penny Pincher's Passport to Luxury Travel: The Art of Cultivating Preferred Customer Status," ...you'll find that [this] book aimed at, well . . . you. You, the not-quite-frequent flier who chases bargains... The guide makes a convincing case that even, you can enjoy a more dignified style of travel -- mainly by judiciously consolidating your travel business, however occasional and frugal, with a small universe of travel suppliers... by spending those dollars very carefully, get some of the same perks coveted by plutocrats everywhere. This is provocative stuff, counterintuitive to most self-respecting bargain travelers. (Note: If you take three trips a year or fewer, this book won't do you much good.) But if flying first or business class most of the time all year long sounds preferable to saving $350 on that "free" ticket to the in-laws' place, check it out. But do remember to use your airline affinity credit card to pay. Hey, every mile matters. -- The Washington Post Sunday, August 1, 1999