Frequent Flyer Miles

[Carolinian]

I've read Delta's computer system is pretty bad, this being one example

It gets reported often enough, and not just at 600K but also 300K, 400K, etc. that it is clearly more than a computer problem. There are long threads on this over at FT.

 

[Timeshare Von]

While the FF travel programs have all changed over the years, making it more difficult to score free (or highly discounted) tickets, I'm still pretty happy with what I've been able to do in the past year or so.

David (DH) and I did Fairbanks on Delta flying coach there and 1st class back in Sept 10 for the minimal number of miles. The miles used were largely obtained through the DL/American Express offer.

I then went to Anchorage in March last year for the Iditarod (also on DL) for just 25k miles.

My trip to Kenya was on British Airways using miles obtained primarily through a credit card offer from British Airways. (I did have to supplement purchase around 15k miles so that I could fly home in 1st class.) Using the "miles + cash" option I paid $2,000 (total including the miles purchase) for a World Traveler + ticket to Nairobi and the first class ticket home. (A R/T coach ticket would have been around $1,700 had I not used miles.)

Coming up, the 3 of us (me, DH and MIL) will be flying American to Dublin . . . again thanks to a credit card offer. Our R/T coach tickets cost $250 (for the 3 of them) which was largely taxes and the call center fees.

I think what this also highlights, is that with more and more people jumping onto the mileage promos offered by credit card companies, there are more people out there with inflated mileage accounts (like me) competing for the limited inventory of reduced and/or free tickets available.

It has become clear to me that the rules have changed and yes, tickets are not always available at that 331 day mark. I have had to book some trips as 2 one-way bookings. For my BA trip to Kenya, I had to book my departure out of Dulles, which required a 1way purchased ticket from Milwaukee to Dulles . . . and my return was to Chicago O'Hare, with my hubby driving 2 hours to pick me up.

For the Ireland trip coming up, DH and I had to be booked on different Milwaukee to O'Hare flights as only 1 seat per flight (the small puddle jumpers) were available as FF inventory. I booked these flights back in June and just yesterday, I was able to change DH's flight out of Milw to my flight as "another seat" had been opened up for FF ticketing. Hurray! Fortunately my MIL is flying in from Indy, with no issues with inventory. And oh . . . these flights only cost 35k for the R/T coach ticket (105k total for the 3).

Anyway, long winded to say yes things have change and yes they require some degree of flexibility. If you are not already a member of FlyerTalk, you owe it to yourself to join so that you too can maximize your utilization of your airline mileage programs and to learn about mileage enhancement opportunities such as the credit card offers and "mileage runs".

 

[elaine]

AA stopovers:
less than 4 hours domestic, Hawaii, Carib. Really stinks for Hawaii--we used to always stopover in CA on the way back to DC. We are taking a red-eye from HNL-ORD-DCA vs pony up more miles for 5 persons!

If you get the right agent, I have "heard" you can still do the "last in, first out" flights and it does not count as a stopover.

For international (to Europe):
unlimited stopover allowed going/coming from US city.
Europe stopover less than 24 hours. We did a 22 hour stopover in London on AA FF miles with our kids---just enough time to "run" by Buckingham Palace, ride a red doubledecker bus, see the London Eye, and do a quick view of the Tower!

 

[nalismom]

I believe you can still do 'last in first out' without it counting as a stopover for domestic flights.....it really equates to a sleepover:zzz: but it is worth it if you can leave late on a workday and still arrive at your destination earliest possible the next day.

I thought flights to Europe Stopovers were only allowed at gateway city in US. Was your stopover in London due to going onto another destination in Europe? 22 hours isn't bad...can sleep and see something but a far cry from an unlimited SO which I think is still possible but is a different type of award with different requirements and levels.

 

[LisaRex]

Because I was so tired of planning my trip around award seat availability, and because they gave me a sweet signing bonus (110,000 miles) I switched most of my spending to CapOne Venture card. I love the flexibility of this program:

Double miles for every dollar spent. 100 miles for each dollar spent on travel, which is subsequently reimbursed in cash. Example: I pay $1000 fare to Hawaii on my CapOne card. I apply for reimbursement of the entire flight at the cost of 100,000 CapOne miles, which equates to $50,000 in everyday spending. Since I paid cash, I get to pocket the frequent flyer miles after I fly. Since I haven't been able to fly to Hawaii for fewer than 70,000 Delta miles in years, which is $70,000 in Delta AMEX spending, I come out ahead on all fronts. And since I'm free to pick my own itinerary, I don't have to do creative things like flying into another island on a Wednesday.

So, except for the fact that I still accumulate miles for flights flown, I'm done with the award ticket game. In the future, I'll just book the best itinerary I can find, for the best price, and then get reimbursed in cash.

 

[elaine]

In reply to----------- "I thought flights to Europe Stopovers were only allowed at gateway city in US. Was your stopover in London due to going onto another destination in Europe? 22 hours isn't bad...can sleep and see something but a far cry from an unlimited SO which I think is still possible but is a different type of award with different requirements and levels."

For Europe on AA, they will allow anything less than 24 hours and it does not count as a stopover. So, into LHR from Rome landing @ 2pm Sat and takeoff at noon Sunday is 22 hours and allowed.

 

[exyeh]

I pay $1000 fare to Hawaii on my CapOne card. I apply for reimbursement of the entire flight at the cost of 100,000 CapOne miles, which equates to $50,000 in everyday spending.

Do you mean 10 miles for $1 on travel? otherwise Capone reimburs you $1000 after you spend $1000.

 

[stevelb]

Because I was so tired of planning my trip around award seat availability, and because they gave me a sweet signing bonus (110,000 miles) I switched most of my spending to CapOne Venture card. I love the flexibility of this program:

Double miles for every dollar spent. 100 miles for each dollar spent on travel, which is subsequently reimbursed in cash. Example: I pay $1000 fare to Hawaii on my CapOne card. I apply for reimbursement of the entire flight at the cost of 100,000 CapOne miles, which equates to $50,000 in everyday spending. Since I paid cash, I get to pocket the frequent flyer miles after I fly. Since I haven't been able to fly to Hawaii for fewer than 70,000 Delta miles in years, which is $70,000 in Delta AMEX spending, I come out ahead on all fronts. And since I'm free to pick my own itinerary, I don't have to do creative things like flying into another island on a Wednesday.


So, except for the fact that I still accumulate miles for flights flown, I'm done with the award ticket game. In the future, I'll just book the best itinerary I can find, for the best price, and then get reimbursed in cash.

Yes, I have also begun to structure my spending as you relate. Miles have become very difficult to use and CapOne and Chase Saphire seem to be the better approach at this time. Of course I still many miles to burn, when possible, on several airlines.

 

[nalismom]

I have CapOne Rewards as well ...not the Venture but the original Rewards and have 40k rewards which would could be used by using 35k to reimburse me for the equivalent of $350 inclusive of fees and taxes for an air ticket. Conversely 35k on AA would get me a coach RT tic to either Caribbean or Hawaii which for me prices out to approximately $750 so I will stick with my AA FF program. I looked at cashing 30k rewards on CO but that came to $150....hardly worth it. What I have decided to do instead is use my CO rewards to cover hotel costs here and there....especially the ones that would add up close to $350.

Elaine...that is good to know about the Europe stopover.....I wonder how stopovers would work flying US to LHR-NBO? The BA flight is an ON getting in early and the flight on to Nairobi is several hours later but it is another long flight and doesn't land in NBO til 9 PM....essentially 24 hours of travel....might be useful to break it up by staying in London for a day or so. The one that is a killer is the NS flight from DFW to Australia......I just don't see there being a stopover other than LAX which only 3 hrs into a 22 hr flight.

 

[elaine]

I only know the "under 24 hr connection" from US to Europe and under 4 hr US-Hawaii. The 24 hrs is a hard rule, 23:55 is OK, 24:05 is not. Africa/Asia, etc. could have different rules per AA FF miles. I would hope they let you break it up.
The new rules really messed up our big European trip with the kids--but we improvised. Thanks to Rick Steves, I found out there is a Ceremony of the Keys at the Tower of London that starts at 10pm---you have to write for free tickets months in advance--we got the tickets and it is a very formal ceremony with the Beefeaters that takes you into the locked gates to the Bloody Tower/Traitor's Gate area---pretty good for 3 kids on the whirlwind "London in 22 hours" pit stop---LOL!

 

[nalismom]

Love RS......always go to his books first for the scoop...we just came back from Spain and Morocco using his guides and TA for Morocco.

 

[x3 skier]

Please send me your miles

If anyone has miles they do not want or cannot use, please send them to me since I seem to get flights close to what I want without an inordinate amount of effort.

Actually, most airlines have a donation program for charities for "orphan" or actually, any miles, like Make a Wish or others. If you don't want to put up with frequent flier programs anymore, please consider donating.

Cheers

 

[pwrshift]

There is no plan as bad as Air Canada"s Aeroplan. Almost any seat is available if you are prepared to part with an excessive number of AC FF miles...sometimes as much as 600,000 for a tough to get flight. Just for fun, try it here...

http://www1.aeroplan.com/adr/AirBooking.do

Although it's a partner of Star Alliance there's no relation to the normal FF levels on most flights.

 

[winger]

There is no plan as bad as Air Canada"s Aeroplan. Almost any seat is available if you are prepared to part with an excessive number of AC FF miles...sometimes as much as 600,000 for a tough to get flight. Just for fun, try it here...

http://www1.aeroplan.com/adr/AirBooking.do

Although it's a partner of Star Alliance there's no relation to the normal FF levels on most flights.

This 600,000 stuff is "crap" (sorry for the language) - if I had to pay something this high, I will NEVER go any where with the family of four

 

[Carolinian]

The best one out there right now is BMI, which is 45K miles on TATL flights on *A all year, and intra-Europe as cheap as 12K on any *A carrier, both RT. The said thing is that they are being bought by BA, so this program will go away in the next few months/

 

[LisaRex]

Do you mean 10 miles for $1 on travel? otherwise Capone reimburs you $1000 after you spend $1000.

I earn 2 miles for every $ spent. So after $50,000 in spending, I'll earn 100,000 miles.

In order to redeem those miles, I have to apply for reimbursement for a travel-related expense, at a rate of 100 CapOne miles for every dollar charged. So if I want to be reimbursed for a $1,000 flight, I must have 100,000 miles in my account.

 

[glypnirsgirl]

I've only booked a stopover on FF ticket over the phone; is it possible to book with that option online? I don't recall seeing it when I've check award availability on AA and Alaska (what we will probably end up using).

Sure - just use the multi-city option.

elaine

 

[BurleA]

Citibank says frequent flyer miles are taxable

You really have to book earlier because you're not the only one who hold that FF card. There are a lot! Anyway, have you read this already? Last Feb. Citibank gave away thousands of frequent flyer miles as part of an offer. Now, customers who took advantage of the promotion are getting 1099 forms, declaring that those miles can be taxed income. Article source: Citibank says frequent flyer miles are taxable

 

[artringwald]

Delta is the worst these days, but none of them are what they used to be. Delta often charge numbers of miles that are off their own milage charts. Some at FlyerTalk have reported being asked for 600,000 miles (yes that many zeros) for tickets to Europe.

I love your signature "Driving Every Loyal Traveller Away - the new Delta". Delta drove away even more people recently by getting rid of the two McDonalds in the Minneapolis airport. They're being replaced by more upscale restaurants.

 

[Talent312]

Delta drove away even more people recently by getting rid of the two McDonalds in the Minneapolis airport. They're being replaced by more upscale restaurants.

1. Delta does not "own" the airport and does not decide who the venders are.
That's the province of the airport management. They may have made a suggestion or request, but the contracts are with the port-authority.

B. Are you seriously upset about losing McDonald's?
You do know that what they sell is not real food, just a mash-up of industrialby-products, right? Personally, I'd be delighted.

 

[heathpack]

We were looking for flights using AA FF miles on a multistop itinerary: LAX to NYC the day before Thanksgiving and then NYC to Cancun on either the Tuesday or Wednesday after.

We called exactly 339 days out (or whatever youre supposed to do) for the day-before-Thanksgiving tickets. The only thing available were 2 business class tickets, we took those because we figured award tickets would be tough to come by that particular travel day. It also doesn't hurt to upgrade to civilized travel on the busiest travel day of the year.

We called exactly 339 days out for the second part of the ticket. Nothing available on the nonstop itinerary, not even business class. I was frustrated and the agent commented that award seats are no longer necessarily released 339 days out. They can come available any time. So I've been checking diligently and today they suddenly pop up as available, two ecomony AAsaver tickets JFK-CUN.

The moral of the story is don't conclude the award seats will remain unavailable just because you can't get them 339 days out. Keep checking and maybe you will find what you want.

H

 

[MichaelColey]

The moral of the story is don't conclude the award seats will remain unavailable just because you can't get them 339 days out. Keep checking and maybe you will find what you want.

I've seen more and more comments about that on FlyerTalk. Inventory seems to be released more gradually now.

You're spot on about business class as well. Even if you don't normally travel business class, it's worth checking. Business class at a saver rate is the same number of miles (or less) as an anytime coach ticket with most airlines.

 

[artringwald]

1. Delta does not "own" the airport and does not decide who the venders are.
That's the province of the airport management. They may have made a suggestion or request, but the contracts are with the port-authority.

B. Are you seriously upset about losing McDonald's?
You do know that what they sell is not real food, just a mash-up of industrialby-products, right? Personally, I'd be delighted.

Delta doesn't own the airport, but with 95% of the flights, they control it. Here's the article.

Industrial by-products? You mean like the chemical ingredients listed on most of the things sold at the grocery store? We eat them because they taste good. I'm not a big fan of McDonald's (except maybe for breakfast), but Delta PR people should have know that with billions served, people are going to react to the decision to boot McDonald's.