Frequent Traveler University, December 5-7, Hyatt Regency Crystal City (near Washington’s National Airport)
This promises to be the largest gathering of frequent flyers ever, bringing together some of the best minds in miles and points and creating an opportunity for folks interested in the hobby to learn, trade tips, and build friendships (and networks for sharing knowledge offline as well).
I’m excited to be helping to put it together, and I’m giving away two packages to FTU on the blog this week. Each of two winners will receive:
- A complimentary ticket to FTU ($149)
- 2 hotel nights for the event (valued at $99+tax per night)
So that’s over $350 in value per prize, with two prizes, an all you have to do to enter is comment on this post as I explain below. And of course everyone who buys (or wins!) a ticket receives Hyatt Platinum status.
And don’t worry, you can go ahead and buy one, if you win the contest I’ll make sure your purchase gets refunded – or refund it myself!
Here’s the details for the giveaway:
- This is the official entry post. Comment on this post to enter, by providing either one travel tip or one thing you would hope to learn at Frequent Traveler University.
- Since there are (2) questions, you may enter to up (2) times.
- Contest ends Friday at noon Eastern time.
- All of my decisions are final and unappealable and by entering you agree to this. In other words, don’t make it hard for me to give stuff away!
Truly a can’t-miss event and promises to be the best Frequent Traveler University ever! The room block is filling up, so I’d suggest signing up now…
Related:
- Tickets now available for the biggest frequent flyer gathering in history
- Everyone at December’s Frequent Traveler University Gets Elite Status
- New speakers added for Frequent Traveler University
- You can join the 40,000+ people who see these deals and analysis every day — sign up to receive posts by email (just one e-mail per day) or subscribe to the RSS feed. It’s free. You can also follow me on Twitter for the latest deals. Don’t miss out!
Tip: pairing CLEAR and PreCheck memberships at certain airports can drastically reduce secuirty clearance times.
Travel Tip: When traveling abroad without using cell phone data, search for walking directions on WiFi and pre-load it on your phone. Keep your data off, and even without WiFi when walking around outside your phone’s GPS still works to take you where you need to go!
as a newbie, i just want to maximise the value for my money within my travel budget
My one travel tip(and its not points related) – Roll never fold your clothes when you pack. It is amazing how much extra you can put in your suitcase. Think carry on vs having to check a bag.
I hope to pick up some new MS techniques.
One of my travel tips is pack light and carry a small bottle of woolite with you. Makes things handy to was a shirt or something quickly. Fri fit shirts are light and easy to care for on the road.
Would love to learn more about using my frequent flyer miles better. Right now it’s several airlines and because I don’t fly much yet, I’m steered in all directions.
I hope to learn how to build more complex international award tickets than the simple ones (like London or Paris), so that I can go to more interesting places than the average traveler.
I book a lot of travel for my coworkers. I want to find the best way to maximize any points I can earn from booking travel for other people, using a company credit card.
My travel tip is to remember not to get too bogged down in the analytics of your journey (logistics, points money) that you forget to enjoy and absorb the place you’re at!
I want to learn how to get blocks of tickets from my miles as I travel with my family
As a travel tip, please read your travel insurance policy so you understand the coverage, both primary and secondary.
Travel TIP: Get TSA PreCheck and Global Entry!! It will change your life 🙂
Bring an empty water bottle pass security and refill your water once you’re in the terminal. There are water refill stations in most airports so no need to pay for water.
Isn’t FTU December 5-7, not December 3-5?
Learn: more about non-US program award redemptions
Would love to learn more about using award miles for once-in-a-lifetime trips.
My travel tip: Never miss out on earning miles, even if you don’t have a use for them yet.
Tip: If fuel surcharges are high for a round trip award ticket, check the rates as two separate one-ways. In some cases they are very low in one direction (e.g.) SE Asia to Indian subcontinent is high and the other way is low.
Roll your clothes, never fold them.
Fly Alaska Airlines to get EK flights!
I would hope to learn now ways to earn miles!
I’d like to meet more folks who are in the game
i’d love to learn how to find mistake fares
my tip: sign for everything, even if you don’t think it’s helpful at the time. you never know!
Best uses of orphaned miles/points
Learn how to use ITA software
Chase Amtrak converts to 3x choice points. You need the Chase amtrak CC and must make $200 in amtrak purchases. Bu a refundable ticket far out inyo the future with free cancellation so you can transfer points then cancel.
Best sights for milage run info
I would like to learn how to maximize my FF points/miles
How to know which award miles are best to use by destination
How to find the best value to redeem with star alliance carriers and easiest way to attain those miles.
Would love to learn more about booking rewards as that is where I struggle in this game!
One travel tip is to not overindulge in club lounges. No one wants to miss their flight.
I hope to learn about taking advantage of affiliate partnerships at Frequent Traveler University.
Hope to learn how to make the best use of miles
I just became a consultant and am learning this whole points and miles game. I think I could learn a lot and hopefully get better at earning (and using) these miles. Europe here I come?
Travel Tip: Save your miles and points for larger things that you normally couldn’t or wouldn’t spend money on! Dream big and make it work!
Looking to switch from DL to AA for my primary airline, so I’m hoping to learn more details on AAdvantage and oneworld.
I’d like to learn how to maximize my award redemptions – I feel as if I’m not doing a good job of building in layovers and stopovers.
Travel tip: don’t forget that Canada counts as international for SkyTeam Elite+ lounge access benefit, even when flying coach.
Tip #1: Two Skyteam one-way award tickets in Europe priced through Delta (not all of the time, but often) price out as one round trip at 25,000 Skymiles for the lowest level. It may require calling the reservation desk and providing specific instructions including the partner airline you wish to fly and the specific flights. The more information you can provide them, the better luck you will have that they can “find” you award space.
US Airways will upgrade AA Platinum customers on a AA award ticket, if you flirt with the gate agent.
I want to learn how to use all of my Delta miles.
I’m looking to learn how to most easily find award space on and take advantage of attractive award ticket mile requirements on oneworld airlines such as Qatar, JAL, and Cathay Pacific.
Avoid United
Travel Tip – Southwest can really be valuable. They are refundable, free checked bags and they can be much less expensive then the major airlines using miles. I use them many times to get to a gateway destination for my real flight in International First Class.
I would like to know how to get more from airline elite status, how to really use those SWU on AA, and further more how to utilize revenue tickets spend after delta and United changed their miles earning system.
What I hope to learn at FTU : How to maximize award tickets value.
Would like to learn how to find award space in premium cabins using our US miles for a family of 4.
I would love to get some tips about the best routes with business class availability for families.