[OLD THREAD - 2022] Wyndham's - Blue Thread and Travel Up

[momof3kids]

My mom has 1,105,000 points and is VIP Platinum with Club Wyndham Access. She is seriously considering buying another round of points to get access to "Blue Thread" and "Travel UP". Please help me counter her argument .... Explain to me like I am 5 why its NOT a good deal? It seems to me that Wyndham's new program "Blue Thread" is actually better than using your points to book off-brand lodging/activities/transportation. With the locked in rate of 15K/bedroom/night it is very similar to the average Wyndham Club Access rates.

 

[bnoble]

As far as I know, the savings on those vs. just paying cash for the lodging/activities/transportation is at best minimal---it would take a very very long time to make back the purchase price. In some cases, there is no savings at all.

 

[HitchHiker71]

"Blue Thread" isn't anything you pay for. As a Wyndham timeshare owner - you are entitled to a status match into the Wyndham Rewards system - at VIPP it'll give her Diamond status automatically in the Wyndham Rewards hotel rewards system. Absolutely nothing that requires a purchase - she already has entitlement to this benefit - sales is simply using a FOMO sales tactic to try and get her to buy more points here. She could use the Wyndham Earner's rewards credit card to build up WR points faster if so desired (this is what we do for example). Again, no purchase necessary.

Regarding the TravelUp program - in our view here on the TUG Wyndham forum, to date, that's not worth the paper it's printed on. We've had repeated feedback now that the TravelUp pricing available for rental cars, airline tickets, hotels, etc., is no better than pricing you can readily obtain via various travel websites such as Expedia, Travelocity, Trivago, Kayak, etc. In fact in many cases the pricing is worse. It's certainly not worth what Wyndham says its worth - not even close. If you happen to get it as part of a developer purchase for other legitimate reasons - that's fine - but considering a developer purchase solely for any of these minor perks is not ever something we would recommend based upon our data from existing feedback mechanisms.

 

[r4rab]

Blue Thread is a marketing gimmick; there is nothing to get access to. Those using TravelUp (and there aren't many) have not indicated that the prices offered are any better than expedia. You can also join TravelUp directly without a purchase for something like 14.99/mth if I remember correctly.

 

[Sandy VDH]

Save the cash, DO NOT update.

 

[tschwa2]

Blue Thread is a marketing gimmick; there is nothing to get access to. Those using TravelUp (and there aren't many) have not indicated that the prices offered are any better than expedia. You can also join TravelUp directly without a purchase for something like 14.99/mth if I remember correctly.

and you only get free access to travel up for 1 year after a new purchase after that it's $79 per year. If she wants to try travel and leisure (the travel up that anyone can get for $14.99) she can get a free month to take a look. https://clubtravelandleisure.com/ I didn't see any big savings.

 

[Jan M.]

There's nothing new or different to justify making another purchase.

If your mom ever decides to make another purchase she should consider doing an equity trade with about 2/3 of her CWA points to get something deeded with much lower maintenance fees. In the pink stickies at the top of the Wyndham page there's a post for a maintenance fee chart. It's not as up to date for 2022 as it should be but it will give you and idea of the resorts that have considerably lower maintenance fees.

These figures are the maintenance fees per thousand points on 1,105,000 points without the program fee.
CWA $6.93 - $7,657.65
Panama City Beach $4.71 - $5,204.55
National Harbor $4.79 - $5,292.95

 

[momof3kids]

There's nothing new or different to justify making another purchase.

If your mom ever decides to make another purchase she should consider doing an equity trade with about 2/3 of her CWA points to get something deeded with much lower maintenance fees. In the pink stickies at the top of the Wyndham page there's a post for a maintenance fee chart. It's not as up to date for 2022 as it should be but it will give you and idea of the resorts that have considerably lower maintenance fees.

These figures are the maintenance fees per thousand points on 1,105,000 points without the program fee.
CWA $6.93 - $7,657.65
Panama City Beach $4.71 - $5,204.55
National Harbor $4.79 - $5,292.95

Thank you great information!

 

[momof3kids]

Blue Thread is a marketing gimmick; there is nothing to get access to. Those using TravelUp (and there aren't many) have not indicated that the prices offered are any better than expedia. You can also join TravelUp directly without a purchase for something like 14.99/mth if I remember correctly.

Thank you really appreciate the honest feedback!

 

[momof3kids]

"Blue Thread" isn't anything you pay for. As a Wyndham timeshare owner - you are entitled to a status match into the Wyndham Rewards system - at VIPP it'll give her Diamond status automatically in the Wyndham Rewards hotel rewards system. Absolutely nothing that requires a purchase - she already has entitlement to this benefit - sales is simply using a FOMO sales tactic to try and get her to buy more points here. She could use the Wyndham Earner's rewards credit card to build up WR points faster if so desired (this is what we do for example). Again, no purchase necessary.

Regarding the TravelUp program - in our view here on the TUG Wyndham forum, to date, that's not worth the paper it's printed on. We've had repeated feedback now that the TravelUp pricing available for rental cars, airline tickets, hotels, etc., is no better than pricing you can readily obtain via various travel websites such as Expedia, Travelocity, Trivago, Kayak, etc. In fact in many cases the pricing is worse. It's certainly not worth what Wyndham says its worth - not even close. If you happen to get it as part of a developer purchase for other legitimate reasons - that's fine - but considering a developer purchase solely for any of these minor perks is not ever something we would recommend based upon our data from existing feedback mechanisms.

Thank you so much! It is so hard sometimes to convince my mom that more points are not necessary for what she wants to do!! Really appreciated being able to share these comments with her. She is NOT buying now thank goodness!

 

[momof3kids]

As far as I know, the savings on those vs. just paying cash for the lodging/activities/transportation is at best minimal---it would take a very very long time to make back the purchase price. In some cases, there is no savings at all.

Good to know! Thank you!

 

[JinVT]

and you only get free access to travel up for 1 year after a new purchase after that it's $79 per year. If she wants to try travel and leisure (the travel up that anyone can get for $14.99) she can get a free month to take a look. https://clubtravelandleisure.com/ I didn't see any big savings.

There is a huge difference between the Travel&Leisure magazine side membership they use to sell which from my research used their network as a primary revenue stream compared to advertising. The Travel Leisure version is more similar to a model like Expedias pricing. Except that TNL has way better priced rates from companies due to their huge network= more consistency for brands like Hilton or Royal Caribbean. Additionally, their advertising and publication network had a product to leverage to also get considerably better rates vs companies like expedia/hotels.com. & booking/ travelocity which simply offer revenue and are giving a similar discount from each place and that is their only revenue stream making less discouny availabke.

The posting above and the pricing structure follows the already established travel leisure memberships and network which is monetized extremely differently than the TravelUp benefit that an owner who purchases developer points gets especially at each VIP level which adds an even higher discount. And I think your confusing vacation Sidekick which if you are an owner lower than a gold VIP you recieve sidekick free for a year but have to pay after that first year free. If you buy points and have the TravelUP benefit attached you never are charged each year at any level VIP or even as a nonvip Wyndham owner. TravelUP is Way different than the membership. It states it in the terms of the program.

It is really sad how much misinformation I find in these various postings where people are posting without even stating they are unsure, but instead speaking with full confidence.

 

[JinVT]

and you only get free access to travel up for 1 year after a new purchase after that it's $79 per year. If she wants to try travel and leisure (the travel up that anyone can get for $14.99) she can get a free month to take a look. https://clubtravelandleisure.com/ I didn't see any big savings.

The trial is not TravelUP that your trying. Your trying the magazines trial that they offer. It is way different especially if you are a VIP. Additionally once you have TravelUP there is no annual charge at any level if attached during a purchase. At every ViP level basically TNL takes less profit from the booking. The free trial is more helpful for people that are horrible at computers as it simplifies travel into one website. Plus many people both in the free trial, the cost membership, and the much different TravelUP program use it and book either in a way to not show strengths by only looking up a specific place vs doing area searches or in extremely low end hotels/rural area where there is only so much profit margin in a budget hotel. As an example is super 8 has 80$ in cost per room and they do 95$ to discounters even if you get on TravelUP it's not going to be 60$. However in midrange to high end, in consumers poor at using computers, those who rely on travelagents, booking multiple places over spans of time, and especially mid level VIPs to high end,and city travelers the Wyndham TravelUP feature that is free with purchase is exceptional.

 

[JinVT]

Btw I was not given actual costs for Super8 just giving an example of how tight some of the margins are at the budget hotels & how even if someone saves 20% more it still might only be 10-15$ more

 

[JinVT]

My mom has 1,105,000 points and is VIP Platinum with Club Wyndham Access. She is seriously considering buying another round of points to get access to "Blue Thread" and "Travel UP". Please help me counter her argument .... Explain to me like I am 5 why its NOT a good deal? It seems to me that Wyndham's new program "Blue Thread" is actually better than using your points to book off-brand lodging/activities/transportation. With the locked in rate of 15K/bedroom/night it is very similar to the average Wyndham Club Access rates.

At the high levels of VIP your exchange ratios change for accessing the blue thread. These are places basically only accessed via reward points. Many owners only have a small amount of rewards and only enough for a hotel never getting enough points to access the homes or the other options. Rewards is an awesome system and your not buying the blue thread instead your buying the new platinum and founders benefits, plus possibly having someone helping you to have the know how of accessing them. BLUE THREAD is the entire system vs only just the condos. It isn't a gimmick at all but people do misuse what it actually means

 

[paxsarah]

At the high levels of VIP your exchange ratios change for accessing the blue thread. These are places basically only accessed via reward points. Many owners only have a small amount of rewards and only enough for a hotel never getting enough points to access the homes or the other options. Rewards is an awesome system and your not buying the blue thread instead your buying the new platinum and founders benefits, plus possibly having someone helping you to have the know how of accessing them. BLUE THREAD is the entire system vs only just the condos. It isn't a gimmick at all but people do misuse what it actually means

So how long have you worked for Wyndham?

 

[tschwa2]

The trial is not TravelUP that your trying. Your trying the magazines trial that they offer. It is way different especially if you are a VIP. Additionally once you have TravelUP there is no annual charge at any level if attached during a purchase. At every ViP level basically TNL takes less profit from the booking. The free trial is more helpful for people that are horrible at computers as it simplifies travel into one website. Plus many people both in the free trial, the cost membership, and the much different TravelUP program use it and book either in a way to not show strengths by only looking up a specific place vs doing area searches or in extremely low end hotels/rural area where there is only so much profit margin in a budget hotel. As an example is super 8 has 80$ in cost per room and they do 95$ to discounters even if you get on TravelUP it's not going to be 60$. However in midrange to high end, in consumers poor at using computers, those who rely on travelagents, booking multiple places over spans of time, and especially mid level VIPs to high end,and city travelers the Wyndham TravelUP feature that is free with purchase is exceptional.

Feel free to wow me with a real world example to demonstrate what a gold level vip could expect.
I have a cruise next year. I am looking at a 2 night pre cruise stay in Boston May 25-May 27. I was looking at the seaport district. The 3 hotels I am considering are: Homewood Suites by Hilton Boston Seaport District, Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel, and Westin Boston Seaport District. On the other end of the cruise I am looking as 2-3 nights in Montreal June 3-5 or June 3-6. I currently have a points reservation at Montreal Marriott Chateau Champlain.

 

[abelcermak]

It's a sales tactic to get her to buy more points. "Travel Up" pricing for rentals, flights, and hotels often isn't better than what you can find on sites like Expedia or Travelocity.

 

[rickandcindy23]

This is an old thread. But the advice is good. Don't buy more points for any new "made up" name they talk about at the sales' table. Liars.

 

[jules54]

My mom has 1,105,000 points and is VIP Platinum with Club Wyndham Access. She is seriously considering buying another round of points to get access to "Blue Thread" and "Travel UP". Please help me counter her argument .... Explain to me like I am 5 why its NOT a good deal? It seems to me that Wyndham's new program "Blue Thread" is actually better than using your points to book off-brand lodging/activities/transportation. With the locked in rate of 15K/bedroom/night it is very similar to the average Wyndham Club Access rates.

I’m curious does your Mom use the points she already has? That is a good amount of points with a high level VIP. Her maintenance fees no doubt are substantial. She doesn’t need anything else. Explain to her even if the rate she would pay for the new program points wise to book she has to factor in the whole picture. This starts with the cost of her initial purchases. She will never recoup that investment with good deals on travel programs.

 

[HitchHiker71]

This is an old thread. But the advice is good. Don't buy more points for any new "made up" name they talk about at the sales' table. Liars.

Thanks for bringing this up - I’ve modified the thread title to indicate it’s an older thread. I agree buying more points for “blue thread” is a joke, same with TravelUp which last I heard is now accessible to current members without an additional purchase.


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