Show Some 4Q Finesse

With so many hotel chains striving to get our heads on their beds, quarterly frequent-stay-plan bonus promotions are now standard operating procedure. In exchange for a certain number of nights or stays, the major chains offer big points bonuses or free nights. But the fourth-quarter promotions are different because you need to finesse them to maximize your gain. If you've already achieved your preferred level of elite status in the frequent-guest plan sponsored by your preferred hotel family, it makes sense to concentrate your fourth-quarter stays with another chain. That'll maximize your chances of getting elite status in a second program. The fall and fourth-quarter promotions have already been announced by Choice, Hyatt, Starwood, InterContinental, Best Western, and Marriott. Hilton says its fourth-quarter offer will be announced next week. Word to the wise: Don't try to judge the "richness" of one promotion against another. Choose the hotel family whose lodgings you like, then make sure you're in its frequency program and registered for its fourth-quarter promotion.

Plan a Mileage Run or a Status Match

Fourth-quarter planning is also crucial for your airline travel. Examine the remaining trips you have planned for the year and check them against your progress toward elite status in the airline programs for 2012. If you're coming up short, consider a "mileage run" (cheap flights that add substantial number of miles) to get to your preferred level. And if you're already at the most elite level you can reach, consider shifting your fourth-quarter flying to another carrier so you can reach elite status at that airline too. (One note: Delta's SkyMiles program has a "rollover" feature that allows you to apply "excess" 2011 flying to a future year's elite qualification). If you're unhappy with your current carrier, now is a great time to consider asking for a "status match" for 2012. Most airlines will match some or all of your existing status with your current carrier automatically or with a flying "challenge." Call the airline's frequent-flyer program for details. One airline, US Airways, even allows you to purchase elite status outright. Word to the wise: The now-merged United and Continental airlines will announce the details of its merged 2012 Mileage Plus program in the next few days. But elite status in the 2012 plan is based on your flying with the existing United Mileage Plus and Continental OnePass plans.

Cheap and Comfy for the Holidays

As they do for each Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's periods, the major airlines and their global alliance partners like Lufthansa and Alitalia offer extremely cheap fares in business class to Europe. Around Thanksgiving, up-front fares are as low as $1,320 roundtrip from the East Coast if you travel between November 20 and December 3. For Christmas and New Year's, the travel period is December 19 to January 10. Roundtrip prices from the East Coast start around $1,800. This year, Air New Zealand is also offering holiday fares to Australia and New Zealand. Prices, which include free stopovers in the Cook Islands and New Zealand, start at about $6,000 roundtrip from Los Angeles. Word to the wise: Try to lock in your fares and tickets before the end of the month to get the cheapest prices.

The Fine Print…

There's a unique fall deadline this year: Continental Airlines leaves the American Express Membership Rewards program on September 30. That means if you've been charging on American Express and moving the points to Continental for mileage credit in OnePass, you must make the final transfer by September 30. After that deadline, you can move Amex points to Delta, Virgin America, Frontier, AirTran, and several international carriers.