View from the Wing

Choices: The End of Award History and the Last Mile?

by Gary Leff on June 18, 2006

Jun 18 2006

I’ve probably undercovered the introduction of the Mileage Plus Choices program (okay, I’ve undercovered everything since I haven’t had the time or brainspace to post for the last couple of weeks). The June 2006 issue of Inside Flyer calls the Choices program “The New Golden Egg” so it certainly warrants a mention, though I’m not nearly as high on it as Randy Petersen seems to be. United’s new bombshell, Mileage Plus Choices, means looking at the future of frequent flyer programs in a whole new way. The “Choices” program allows United Visa cardholders to use the portion of their miles earned through their credit card as a form of cash to buy airline tickets, hotel nights, or rental car days (along with a few specialty items) with their miles. The program is incredibly confusing at…

Amazon discount on travel apparel

by Gary Leff on June 18, 2006

Amazon is having a sale on ‘travel apparel’ although their idea of what people wear while traveling (as opposed to other times) is anachronistic at best. Still, coupon code wetravel takes $20 off an $80 qualifying order, and I picked up a few pairs of pants at a nice discount. Lee Jeans Men’s Wrinkle Resistant Relaxed Double Pleat Pant $38 on sale for $21.99 before coupon Tommy Hilfiger Men’s Pleated Trousers $49.50 on sale for $17.89 before coupon Also available are Tommy Hilfiger Men’s Flat Front Trousers $49.50 on sale for $17.89 before coupon Lee Jeans Men’s Wrinkle Resistant Relaxed Plain Front Pant $38-$41 on sale for $21.99-$24.99 before coupon This SlickDeals.net thread also has a list of several shirts that qualify, though none appealed to me.

Another BA Transfer Bonus

by Gary Leff on June 3, 2006

Jun 03 2006

In addition to Diners Club, Starwood, and Marriott offers, you can earn 30% additional British Airways miles when transferring Radisson Gold Points to BA by July 20, 2006. (Hat tip to Free Frequent Flyer Miles.)

Double Miles on Frontier

by Gary Leff on June 1, 2006

Frontier is offering double miles for online purchases made by June 30 for travel through the end of the year. Registration is required. (Hat tip to the MilesLink newsletter.)

Delta Amex Double Miles for June, July, and August

by Gary Leff on May 31, 2006

May 31 2006

All purchase on the Delta American Express earn double miles from June 1 through August 31. Items that already earn double miles such as restaurant and US Post Office charges do not receive additional miles under this promotion, and the limit on earning additional miles from this offer is 20,000. Bonus miles should post towards the end of October. Registration is required by August 31.

30% Bonus on Transfers from Marriott to British Airways

by Gary Leff on May 31, 2006

May 31 2006

British Airways is offering a 30% bonus on miles when transferring points from Marriott Rewards by July 20. For those who aren’t already British Airways Executive Club members — and membership normally requires booking a full fare coach ticket or more — BA is offering accounts via this promotion as well (apparently without any requirement to transfer points from Marriott, so anyone wanting a BA account this is a good opportunity to get one).(Hat tip to Free Frequent Flyer Miles.)

LA Times Reporter swallows two bags of grass, seventy-five pellets of mescaline, five sheets of high powered blotter acid, a salt shaker half full of cocaine, … a quart of tequila, a quart of rum, a case of beer, a pint of raw ether and two dozen amyls

by Gary Leff on May 28, 2006

(With apologies to Hunter S. Thompson, but it’s the only way to explain the conclusions in this story.) James Gilden looks at US domestic airline award availability and online booking and gives the highest marks to Continental. Of course, Mr. Gilden (1) looks only at a single route, different for each airline (2) over a specific set of dates (3) booking only online (4) and choosing a form of redemption that’s generally low value anyway (domestic coach award). There’s no way that Continental miles are better to have than United’s or American’s currency. And all airline award websites are fairly limited in their functionality, even with marked improvements over the past few years. It’s still important to call when you don’t see what you want online. And really it’s rare that you should be redeeming…

Double Miles on Star Alliance Flights with South African Airways

by Gary Leff on May 28, 2006

Here’s a pretty good reason to join the South African Airways frequent flyer program: double miles on most Star Alliance partners. Double miles through the end of June on Thai (first flight only), All Nippon Airways, and Singapore. Double miles through the end of July on TAP Air Portugal, Lufthansa, Swiss, bmi British Midland, Spanair, SAS, Air New Zealand, and USAirways. Interestingly, United isn’t on the list. First account activity earns 2500 bonus miles. And fair warning, discount economy fares only earn 50% of miles, so earn regular full mileage only under this promo. If you’re flying on participating carriers within the promotion period, and aren’t flying on deeply discounted coach tickets, crediting your flights to the Voyager program may make good sense. Flyertalk.com discussion is here.

An Evergreen Story on Fare Glitches

by Gary Leff on May 28, 2006

Travel deals like $51 to Fiji or $61 to Iceland are like dreams come true; impossible fantasies for most people in the world. So who needs a news hook? The Wall Street Journal ran another piece on the Alitalia fare glitch, $33 + tax for business class Toronto to Cyprus, in its weekend edition yesterday. Stephen Mutkoski, a 37-year-old lawyer at Microsoft near Seattle, was thrilled recently to find a mistaken fare online for flights to Europe — just $33 plus taxes. He quickly booked trips for himself and his wife in July, August and Thanksgiving week. The catch: The flights are to Larnaca, Cyprus. From Toronto. I love this description of Flyertalk:The online epicenter of travel-deal discovery is FlyerTalk, a sort of methadone clinic for frequent-flyer and hotel-stay program addicts. In its highly trafficked…

Finally Able to Earn United Miles on America West (er USAirways) flights

by Gary Leff on May 26, 2006

May 26 2006

Effective this past Saturday, May 20, United Mileage Plus members earn miles on “USAirways West” — USAirways flights operated under the America West flight certificate. This ends one of the more confusing mileage accrual issues in recent times, where USAirways is a member of Star Alliance and a partner of United’s but a sizable portion of USAirways flights were ineligible for United mileage accrual because they were ‘really’ America West flights operating under the USAirways name — meaning they were old America West flights, operating under the old America West flight certificate, and America West was not a United partner even though the company was merged into one and now called USAirways and the flights were sold as USAirways flights. Mergers are indeed messy things, and in this case quite customer unfriendly. That piece of…

Choices: The End of Award History and the Last Mile?

Amazon discount on travel apparel

Another BA Transfer Bonus

Double Miles on Frontier

Delta Amex Double Miles for June, July, and August

30% Bonus on Transfers from Marriott to British Airways

LA Times Reporter swallows two bags of grass, seventy-five pellets of mescaline, five sheets of high powered blotter acid, a salt shaker half full of cocaine, … a quart of tequila, a quart of rum, a case of beer, a pint of raw ether and two dozen amyls

Double Miles on Star Alliance Flights with South African Airways

An Evergreen Story on Fare Glitches

Finally Able to Earn United Miles on America West (er USAirways) flights

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About Gary Leff

	Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard® Limited time: Earn 75,000 AAdvantage® bonus miles after $5,000 in purchases within the first 5 months of account opening AAdvantage miles are the currency I've redeemed most.[See rates and fees]
	Bilt Mastercard® Earn Points Paying Rent (up to 100,000 each year) plus earn 3x at restaurants; 2x on travel; as long as you make at least 5 purchases per month. No annual fee.
	Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months (See rates and fees)