It’s been a tough 18 months in the frequent flyer world. It’s easier than ever to earn points, but the cost of awards has gone up, up, up.
Miles and points have been very good to me, and I do my best to give back where I can. I don’t make a public show of my charity, but I do my best to give the best advice I can and to offer giveaways when things are offered to me. And when I have gift cards, I can either turn them into money orders or do various frequent flyer experiments, or I can give them away.
So here, I thought I would give away $400. And what better way to give them away than to my readers who comment on this post?
Goodness knows it’s been a tough 15 months or so for frequent flyers.
- United devalued its award chart, especially premium cabin awards and especially partner awards in first class.
- Delta devalued its award chart, and then decided they didn’t want to wait for changes to go into effect so they imposed an interim devaluation. Then they finally decided to go revenue-based.
- Southwest devalued its points, underscoring just how arbitrary such changes can be — there’s no fundamental reason to devalue a revenue-based frequent flyer program, higher ticket prices automatically make an award cost more already. Here they just decided to make their points worth less.
- American eliminated international gateway stopovers and distance-based awards and US Airways eliminated the 90,000 mile business class award.
- Hilton devalued the most among hotels, such that I am no longer inclined to stay with them when I can avoid it. I didn’t re-up my Diamond status (or accept free Gold status).
- Others devalued as well – Marriott with big award category shifts, Hyatt with a new more expensive award category 7 and other changes.
And that’s just a small sampling.
So I would like to focus on something positive for a change, and I’m looking to you for help to do so!
Here are the prizes:
- (4) $100 gift cards
So here’s how you enter.
- Leave a comment on this blog post. Say something positive above miles and points, blogs, forums, or your fellow travelers.
- Enter by Noon Eastern, Friday May 30. That’s 4 days from this writing, and there are four prizes.
- Enter no more than 4 times. Four prizes, four days to enter, you can enter by commenting up to four times. (It doesn’t have to be one per day, the only limitation is that you cannot enter twice in a row you have to at least wait for someone else to enter before you enter again each time.)
- Four prize winners will be drawn at random. As in past, I will use random.org for the drawing.
- Fine print. Void where prohibited by law. All of my decisions are final and unappealable, I want to make giveaways as easy as possible and with the fewest headaches possible.
So, what do you like about miles and points, blogs, forums, or your fellow travelers?
- 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!
Frequent Flyers can be a very considerate lot – especially the kind people you have guested me into a BA lounge in the last year!
Stayed in aspirational hotels like park Hyatt, with just one credit card sign up
Happy to catch the $150 JFK>MXP; PRG>NRT for our 30th wedding anniversary!
Frequent Flyers can be a thoughtful lot – especially the kind people you have guested me into a BA lounge in the last year!
At the end of the day, I’m still able to travel in style for less or no money out of pocket than before. Can’t be negative about that!
Gotta tell you, the glass is ALWAYS half full when you’re drinking it from a free ticketed seat! Thanks for all of the great tips!
It’s still much easier to obtain premium class or nice hotels through points than paying for them.
aspirational awards
I’m happy to hear when others are able to grab mistake fares in time even if I can’t!
This blog allows me to maintain my 5-star lifestyle, on a 2-star budget 🙂
I am new to the points and miles lifestyle and am sooo excited to begin this new chapter in my life! I have found tons of great advice and interested facts on the forums. Thanks for everything that you do to help us!
Despite the devaluations, frequent flyer miles let me bring my grandmother who lives overseas to visit us in the US on a business class ticket. It’s much more comfortable for her and makes the long journey much more bearable.
I’m often impressed with flight attendants. I see it as an incredibly tough job and it can be 10 jobs in one. Most people perform with patience and positivity, despite huge challenges from fliers.
I love the aspirational Starwood properties!
You’ve given me some helpful information to make my life as a frequent flier easier. Thank you.
Looking forward to trying out all of the Star Alliance First Class lounges in the new LHR T2 in the Fall – something I could never have done without points.
Keep up the good work.
I just used miles to fly business class to Tahiti. Now all I need is to get home from Sydney, Australia in business class using AA miles. Thank you for all of your tips!!
Despite the devaluations, I still am able to travel to places and stay in hotels I wouldn’t be able to afford if I was paying all cash all the time!
searching for bonuses and deals is like a treasure hunt.
Reuniting with long lost family members at a reunion on the other side of the county because it won’t cost me an arm and a leg. Thanks, points!
More and more airlines are putting in new/updated business class seats!
Fantastic service!
I love the Executive Platinum phone desk. They have always treated me very well.
Miles and points addiction is positive in that I don’t need to risk my life to get my next fix…
Miles are a way to see loved ones.
Sweet spots will come and go, yet we continue to find new opportunities in this game and that’s what makes this not only rewarding but fun as well!
I could have never experienced what Luxury is without all your advice!
I am loving the JetBlue Mosaic program and free changes and cancellations
Despite these changes, miles and points are still the great equalizer for us common folks!
Thanks to all of your help you make it possible for me to travel. That’s a big positive for me!! Thank you from the bottom of my heart!!
I think among all the negative news all FF bloggers agree that Singapore airlines is now part of Ultimate Rewards transfer partner is the most positive news recently!
turning points into cash
Miles have given me the opportunity to fly to places I would never have been able to.
I love reading your blog! One of the highlights of my morning =)
Being able to cheaply take my family on vacations.
still collecting points and travelling regardless of the changes
With miles and points I have been able to experience the comforts of business/first class (particularly wonderful on trans-Pacific flights), which I never would have otherwise!
Nice to have a hobby that pays for itself!
I like that there are a few options for “diversified currency” out there now. It makes it easier to be less loyal and smarter about what brand I choose for hotels and air.
Miles and points allow me to travel much more than I could without them!
I take 60 flights a year and a lot of them are award flights. Frequent flier miles have served me well.
I like that there are still some first class seats worth collecting points for aspirationally
I like being able to provide travel for family that otherwise wouldn’t be able to
I love using points to fly out friends and family that can’t afford it.
Being able to travel the world!! Couldn’t do it without miles…
POINTS MAKE PRIZES!!!
Being able to stay in properties that I wouldn’t otherwise…like the Park Hyatt Vendome in Parise!
I really like hearing about first time experiences flying business/first – the excitement just makes me so happy!
A little bit of effort can really pay off with miles/points.