American Airlines just announced when their AAdvantage program and the US Airways Dividend Miles program will be combined into one, and what the program will look like. I’m going to outline the program below, based on the announcement that American made and also based on clarifications that I got yesterday speaking with AAdvantage President Suzanne Rubin and members of her team. We’re Keeping the American AAdvantage Program, Mostly As-Is Throughout the past year the mantra at American, as they proceed with the US Airways merger, has been “integrate before we innovate.” The goal has to become one airline, not to make changes. So it shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise that they’ve basically announced that they are keeping the current American AAdvantage program, with a few minor tweaks. And while there’s going to…
No Notice Devaluation at Delta: No More International Award Stopovers?
lancexfang emailed me about an issue this afternoon that seems to be new today with Delta. (He also pointed me to the Flyertalk thread he started.) Delta international awards have allowed one stopover and one open jaw. In other words, you could fly Atlanta – Paris (stop for several day) – Prague (destination) and then return home to Atlanta. That’s an example of a stopover. You could also return from, say, Warsaw or from Paris. Then you would have a stopover as before and an open jaw, returning from a city other than the one you arrive into. Today Delta seems to be still allowing open jaws — but pricing stopovers at an extra mileage cost. Delta’s price for North America – Europe in business class is 125,000 miles.
Aeroplan Changes, Greyhound’s Premium Seats, and TSA Reminders for Halloween
How big a deal is loyalty program fraud? (HT: Abbas) Greyhound now offering premium upgrade to slightly less disgusting seats (The Onion via MrPickles) A TSA Halloween: “realistic replica items and props such as guns, scythes, pitch forks, chainsaws, butcher knives, grenades, axes, bombs, swords, machetes, and other realistic weapons are prohibited from being transported in your carry-on bags.” One Mile at a Time says that Aeroplan is going to eliminate the rule of flying no more than 5% over the published ‘maximum permitted mileage’ for a given origin and destination. That sounds great, but if they are only allowed to book itineraries that autoprice in the computer there’s lots of room for glitches.. or hidden award constraints that simply don’t price. We’ll know within a few days. Wyndham is offering 2015 bonus points per…
Throwaway Ticketing and Fuel Surcharges… a Trick to Reduce the Big Fees on Your Next Award Ticket
Tocqueville asked me yesterday about fuel dumping award tickets and I thought it only fair to share my answer with y’all. Airlines that add fuel surcharges onto award tickets generally will charge the same amount that would apply on an identical paid reservation. He was specifically asking about reducing fuel surcharges using points with Air Canada’s Aeroplan. Now, here’s how to avoid fuel surcharges entirely when booking with Aeroplan. But if you must use one of their partner airlines where fuel surcharges apply, there are times where you can make the fuel surcharge less expensive. Much less expensive.
Barclaycard Just Got Really Aggressive Before the Window Shuts to Get the Card
I receive compensation for many links on this blog. You don’t have to use these links, but I am grateful to you if you do. American Express, Citibank, Chase, and other banks are advertising partners of this site. I do not write about all credit cards that are available — instead focusing on miles, points, and cash back (and currencies that can be converted into the same). Editorial note: any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. Comments made in response to this post are not provided or commissioned nor have they been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any bank. It is not the responsibility of any advertiser to ensure that questions are…
A Trick to Avoid Change Fees, Classic Airplane Lounges, and a Truly Scary United Flight
News and notes from around the interweb: The top 6 airline lounges that used to be in airplanes themselves Even Spirit Airlines is generous in allowing flight changes when they have a schedule change. That’s why I often advise readers to wait until close to date of travel when they want to make a change or cancel a paid or award ticket, there may be a schedule changes that lets them do it without a fee. Just don’t forget to do it! The United flight that lost cabin pressure and dropped 26,000 feet The end of the passenger widebody trijet. Here’s Wandering Aramean as well on KLM’s final MD-11 flight. 25% bonus for converting Shangri-La Golden Circle points to airline miles airberlin topbonus discounted mileage purchase. This airline has the world’s cheapest award tickets. You…
Are Exclusive Frequent Flyer Partnerships Going to Restrict Your Choices?
United and Hertz have a new tie-up with comp car rental elite status for United elites and premium credit card holders, and greater mileage-earning for all members. But as Scott at Hack My Trip points out, the new deal comes at a cost — you won’t be able to earn miles for car rentals with rental companies than Hertz, Dollar, and Thrifty (i.e. those owned by Hertz). I don’t see that as an especially big deal. United rarely ever had the best mileage deals with these companies, and Hertz and Dollar rarely had the best mileage deals period. Scott worries though that this could be a trend towards exclusivity, and fewer options. I don’t worry as much, and on net welcome the partnerships.
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card Still the Best All-Around Most Rewarding Credit Card
I receive compensation for many links on this blog. You don’t have to use these links, but I am grateful to you if you do. American Express, Citibank, Chase, and other banks are advertising partners of this site. I do not write about all credit cards that are available — instead focusing on miles, points, and cash back (and currencies that can be converted into the same). Key Link: Chase Sapphire Preferred Chase Sapphire Preferred is the best all-around, most rewarding personal credit card. Here’s why. There are three key value propositions for a credit card. Signup bonus (how much will they give you upfront for getting the card) How value is the earning for your ongoing spend (do you actually want to put spending on the card once you’ve earned the bonus) Benefits of…
The Most Blunt Devaluation Explanation I’ve Ever Seen from an Airline
If you thought I was being hyperbolic when I explained Air Canada’s major devaluation of elite status as the airline thinking their elites were over-entitled and they were determined to do something about it… Thread Tripping highlights PR comments from the airline that make my point for me. Truly, I don’t recall ever seeing such revealing honesty from an airline. We should simultaneously applaud the lack of spin, and avoid the airline. Unfortunately for our friends up North, their options for a network carrier are quite limited. I’m going to be blunt: we are not a charity. …It’s not a secret that we would prefer our customers sitting in the [business class] cabin to have paid for it. And the reason why they don’t want elites sitting in empty premium cabin seats: 1) It cheapens…
Understanding Your Credit Score: And How It Can Be Worth Millions (of Miles)
One of the most-asked questions about credit cards is how does it affect your credit score, and of course the implied followup, do you care? And it’s been awhile since I wrote a post on understanding your credit score. I’ve signed up for scores of cards over many years and I still have an excellent credit score, it was nearly 800 FICO on the three major credit bureaus when I went to get my mortgage. In part because of signing up for more cards, rather than in spite of it. I first discovered rewards credit cards in 1997. I signed up for a US Airways card, enticed by the bonus. I decided I didn’t want to pay an annual fee for a credit card back then. My income – and thus my spending – wasn’t…
