Lots of stories the last several days like this one leading up to a true milestone for frequent flyers, Tom Stuker’s flight yesterday from Los Angeles to Chicago where he flew his 10 millionth mile on United. The comparisons to George Clooney in Up in the Air are everywhere, but Clooney was earning his miles from all sources (and in the book, which I read on a transcon flight in 2001 and which bore no relationship whatsoever to the movie, he was only after 1 million miles). I’ve earned that many myself. But Stuker’s 10 million are actual flight miles, logged with a single airline over the past 30 years. His first 5 million miles took 20 years, his second 5 million took only 10 years (so he was averaging 500,000 flight miles a year…
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Should I Bother Collecting Miles on this Flight?
I’ve long advocated, nay, begged people to sign up for frequent flyer programs even when they don’t fly very much or when they’re flying a carrier that they don’t normally travel with. I tell them that they might eventually get something from the simple act of joining and submitting their account number, if not right away then it’ll eventually accumulate. Goodness knows I don’t stay with Marriott often but surprisingly enough registering for their current stay twice get a free night promo meant that I received a free night, which I’ve already redeemed for an upcoming stay… … on a trip where I find myself questioning the very lesson of “always claim the miles.” I need to buy a flight from Bangkok to Koh Samui. Sure, I could fly Thai Airways and earn miles on…
Frequent Travelers Debate the Value and Future of Miles
I was interviewed in the June issue of Inside Flyer along with a handful of others: Carol (SanDiego1K on Flyertalk), Steve Belkin (the famous ‘beaubo’), and Seth Miller (Wandering Aramean blog). A good discussion, I express my overall preference for United Mileage Plus and Hyatt Gold Passport (with an honorable mention to Starwood Preferred Guest). I admit to letting my AAdvantage miles expire in the early 90’s. And I express the controversial view (contrary to the position taken by the other three on the group) that miles have gotten more valuable rather than less valuable — despite award chart inflation, where programs continually increase the number of miles required to redeem an award. Programs are definitely more valuable than they were 10 years ago, though they may not be as valuable as they were two…
Excellent Advice on Credit Card Mileage Earning, Redemption, and Special Perks
Wendy Perrin’s Conde Nast column this month is all about credit cards. While it draws heavily on my advice, Wendy does a great job of making really complex topics accessible and useful to large numbers of travelers. She begins talking signup bonuses, it’s one of the few times I’ve seen credit card churning discussed in a major publication, so there’s something fun about that. Plus I managed to convince Wendy (and by extension, Wendy’s husband) to sign up for American AAdvantage credit cards from Citi, three cards at 75,000 bonus miles apiece, and for British Airways Visas at 100,000 miles apiece. The main article lays out some basic tips. Don’t overlook hotel credit cards. Wendy mentions at the top of the piece that she uses a Starwood Amex for its flexibility for hotel stays and…
Free Miles on Your Choice of Airlines!
Through August 31, new members who enroll in Frontier Early Returns receive 1000 miles. A year and a half ago they ran a 1500 point signup bonus, and I recommended signing up just to convert the miles to a $6 Starbucks gift card. Frontier participates in Points.com, and you can convert 1000 miles to your choice of (among other options): 184 US Airways miles 297 Priority Club points 138 Delta miles 297 AsiaMiles 148 Aeroplan miles 153 Contiental miles 153 American miles You can use the opportunity to extend expiration on an American or US Airways account, for instance.
US Airways 100% Bonus on Purchased Miles is Back!
At one point — between November 2009 and November 2010 — US Airways had regular offers of a 100% bonus on purchased miles, either 9 or 10 of 12 months I believe. But in 2011 they’ve focused mostly on either targeted offers or offers with components designed to determine what drives consumer behavior and optimizes the sort of purchases that they’re looking for. In April and May it was a mileage transfer bonus and a purchase miles bonus only for co-branded credit card holders. Mid-February through March they required use of a downloadable app in order to qualify for the full bonus. In January it was an offer targeted at past mileage buyers. They also discounted rather than bonusing awards. They must have had enough fun with the analytic toys, because they’re back to offering…
Amazing 50% Bonus on American Express Membership Rewards Transfers to British Airways
The U.S. American Express Membership Rewards program is offering a 50% bonus on transfers to British Airways Executive Club through July 31. Points from Amex transfers post to BA instantly in real-time, and the bonus posts right away as well. (The fine print says ‘one bonus per cardmember’ so you may only get to do this once during the promotion period, though time will tell whether or not that’s enforced.) In February and March there was a 40% transfer bonus offer and that was a huge deal, of course this is even better. While I wouldn’t make transfers without a specific award in mind, because I do hugely value the flexibility of Amex points more than I do most bonuses, and it’s important to understand what BA miles are good for and what they aren’t,…
How to Score the Best Hotel Room Upgrades
I was riffing yesterday morning over at Milepoint on different ways to get upgraded at hotels and thought I’d share the advice here as well and maybe blow it out a bit. Back in 2005 I offered up some recommendations, the upshot of which was to find a way to just ask (without being a jerk). I think I’m a bit more experienced now than I was then, and can offer some additional insight, hopefully some of it is new or will spark some idea about how to go about it. The crux of the advice from back in 2005 remains, though. There are a lot of guests in a hotel, man of which have some sort of status, and some get the upgrade and some don’t, some get the ‘special’ suites while others get…
Free Planeside Meet-and-Greet and Fast Track Immigration with Roundtrip Car Transfer in Bangkok
In most cases throughout South Asia, VIP immigration meet-and-greet is available, reasonably priced, and utterly gratuitous. It’s wonderful to have when included free, such as provided by Thai Airways for all of their first class passengers in Bangkok – you’re met at the jetway and escorted (depending on distance, either walked or taken by golf cart) through VIP immigration with no lines, assisted with baggage, and turned over to your driver if one is waiting for you. The first time I experienced this was back in 2006, Thai used to identify first class passengers at Don Muang airport with a card they would give out and since my wife and I were both given a card and I admit I turned back only one, I still have one. It was really need to be taken…
Buy Hilton HHonors Points Today at Half a Cent Apiece
Today’s Discover America Daily Getaway from American Express is purchase of Hilton HHonors points — 100,000, 150,000, and 250,000 point blocks and when you pay by American Express you get a 10% discount and bring the price down to half a penny apiece. Buying points from Hilton HHonors directly is limited to 40,000 per year and costs about a penny a point, so this is a deep discount relative to the normal cost of purchasing points. It’s a good deal, and yet I’m torn. My usual mental model is that the average Hilton HHonors redemption gets you about half a cent per point in value. So you’re more or less prepaying the cost of an average reward stay. Not that appealing. There are of course some really strong redemption values, and if you are likely…
