One of the things that I do in my ‘real life’ is help individuals with a charitable purpose minimize their tax burden. Most folks just make gifts of appreciated stock, which provides the double benefit of a tax deduction for the gift value and avoidance of the ccapital gains tax on the appreciation of the asset. But there are all sorts of things that people can do, including transferring assets to limited partnerships whose shares have less value than their underlying assets because they carry no voting rights (although after the general partner’s death, presumably those voting rights transfer). This is an interesting way that many folks minimize their estate’s value for taxation purposes. Similarly, some people gift a percentage interest in their home each year while maintaining the right to live in that home…
What’s bad for the airlines is good for the country?
Lynn Kiesling explains that revenue declines for the airline industry are good for consumars and the economy. If she’s right, we’d be wise to ignore the industry’s pleas for subsidies.
Any publicity is good publicity
The April 2003 issue of Inside Flyer magazine mentions this website. And makes me happy. 🙂 (Subscribers only, unfortunately.)
Reader Mailbag
Karol writes: I have a question. Do you switch back and forth between phone companies for the miles and if so, does it work? Actually I don’t, but that’s just because I have a cell phone only (no home phone) and switching providers just isn’t that easy with a cell. But I used to. Sprint had a great offer once upon a time that paid out 40,000 Northwest miles in a year. I’ve also earned United signup bonuses more than once. The thing to be careful about with miles earning phone plans is that the phone company will often default to an expensive plan. Be sure you understand the terms of the plan you’re signing up for and if it doesn’t fit your calling pattern ask for a different one. For a pretty comprehensive list…
Why I’m Spending My Miles
My approach to award travel this year is very different than in years past. I used to act almost as though miles for accumulating, but that I pretended they couldn’t be redeemed. Ever. I built up some very big mileage balances. This year, I’m taking a radically different approach. My business trips are on paid tickets and I earn mileage for those. All but one of my personal trips that have been booked since Thanksgiving of last year have been award tickets. Two things play into the decision. First, given the uncertainty surrounding the major carriers, I’d rather keep my money and spend my miles. I know that Randy Petersen, who is far more expert about these things than I, says not to change redemption patterns because the miles will survive (he’s a bit more…
What it takes to win me as a customer
I’ve gone ahead and laid out my terms and conditions for a continued relationship with United Airlines over at Flyertalk.com
One Down, One Up
It looks like Air Canada is filing for bankruptcy while American Airlines has managed to put that off for now.
Light posting for the next week
I’m real busy at work the next couple days, and I’m not taking my laptop with me on my trip that begins Wednesday. Look for only occasional posting until 3/31. But check back — because I’ll have a whole mess ‘o goodies saved up to share by then!
The Tax Man Taketh Away… But Notiflyer Gave a Little Back
Did my taxes yesterday. Thanks to this Notiflyer article I got AmericaWest miles for doing them online. Now I’ll make my payment with my Starwood American Express for double points…
I Feel Safer Flying Than Living a Mile From the Pentagon…
I’m quoted on the state of business travel in light of the current unpleasantness in an article from today’s Financial Times. My basic take is that, for me, it’s safer to be flying than living a mile from the Pentagon… Business travelers will still make trips if there are opportunities, but the War (and concommitant uncertainty)’s effect on the economy might make those opportunities somewhat more scarce. If I did have to fly to London, I’d avoid US or UK flag carriers though. I told the reporter that I’d fly JFK to Heathrow on Singapore Air (and explained that Singapore, Kuwaiti, and Air India all fly the route). They somehow mixed up the quote, saying I’d choose Air India.
