Tag Archives: frequent-flyer

Wise Mile Spending

You scrimped and saved for years to take vacations to various destinations.  Now, you’ve finally accumulated enough frequent flyer miles to redeem a cushy reward.  So, do you blow those precious miles on a free ticket or do you use them to upgrade to first class? Travel experts say the key to using award travel miles is to research your options before settling on a prize.   In other words, before you cash in your hard earned miles, consider where you’re going, how much a ticket there costs, and how challenging it will be to claim your reward. For example, if … Continue reading →

Why It Pays To Read the Fine Print

There’s nothing worse than losing money when you don’t have to. Traveling doesn’t come cheap, so when it’s time to take flight, hit the road or ride the rails it’s a good idea to read the fine print before you fork over your hard-earned cash. For example, many jet-setting travelers think they are scoring big time by signing up for airlines’ frequent flyer credit cards.  However, unless you read all the details associated with the enrollment process, becoming a member may end up costing you more than you bargained for.  Sure, you’re earning bonus miles each time you use the … Continue reading →

Loyalty Pays

When it comes to scoring travel deals it pays to be loyal. Reward programs offered by hotels, airlines and car rental agencies can yield amazing savings for frequent travelers.  Basically, the more you patronize a company the larger the award.  In some cases, you can accumulate bigger bonuses when companies partner with one another. For example, last week, Starwood Hotels and Delta Airlines announced that they’re planning to team up in order to give their top customers major money-saving perks.  The new “Crossover Rewards” program will be the travel industry’s only program that allows frequent travelers to earn VIP privileges … Continue reading →

Playing the Frequent Flyer Game

Years ago, I enrolled in multiple frequent flyer programs with the hope that I would accrue enough miles to earn free flights.  Nearly two decades later, I’ve scored roughly eight round-trip tickets at no charge thanks solely to miles earned by flying.  Not by staying at select hotels, purchasing meals at participating restaurants, or sending flowers to loved ones using a company affiliated with an airline’s loyalty program. I prefer to earn miles the old-fashioned way: by flying. There has been a growing trend among frequent flyer programs to reward travelers with miles if they patronize companies affiliated with an … Continue reading →

Tips for Redeeming Frequent Flyer Miles

In my last rant… I mean blog… I mean rant… I shared my frustration regarding airlines’ frequent flyer programs. Specifically the hassles involved with trying to redeem miles for an award seat on a flight that’s bound for a destination you actually have a desire to visit. That blog didn’t offer much in the way of helpful tips so I hope to redeem myself in this one. In fairness to the airlines there are ways you can use your miles before they expire provided you don’t mind reading the fine print and following stringent rules that came about when carriers … Continue reading →

The Nightmare of Redeeming Frequent Flyer Miles

Well, it has been for me anyway. I rack up frequent flyer miles on two airlines (I’ve given up on the others) by eating at select restaurants, staying at designated hotels, and by flying back and forth from Chicago to Hawaii. All I ask in return is to be able to redeem my miles every once in a while for a seat (okay, seats for my entire family) from the airport of my choice to the destination of my preference. Why that is seemingly asking the impossible is beyond me. I’m no stranger to frequent flyer programs and by now … Continue reading →

Insults Flying In The Not-So Friendly Skies

If you are enrolled in a frequent flyer program with one of the country’s largest air carriers then you may have received an email asking for your help to convince Congress that private aircraft owners should pay more to help modernize an outdated air traffic control system. I happen to be enrolled in several frequent flyer programs and have already received a note encouraging me to pen a letter to my congressional representative and demand that private aircraft owners dig deep to help pay for a new air traffic control system. If you haven’t received an email from a major … Continue reading →

Teacher + Desire for Free Airline Ticket=Suspension

Did you hear about the Florida teacher who was recently suspended because he asked students to help him earn frequent-flier miles? The teacher allegedly gave extra credit to students who brought in specially marked Wendy’s beverage cups that were part of a frequent-flier promotion with AirTran (32 cups could be redeemed for AirTran flight credits, basically, enough for a free one-way ticket). The teacher claimed that he didn’t realize that asking the students to bring in cups was wrong. I remember seeing a television news report that revealed how the promotion was encouraging dumpster diving, but now, hearing about this … Continue reading →

Selecting A Frequent-Flyer Program

I am a member of virtually every frequent-flyer program out there. Not necessarily because I fly with a variety of different carriers, but you never know which airline will offer you the lowest fare, so I like to be prepared. Just about every major U.S. airlines offers a frequent-flyer plan, and many foreign carriers are starting them. These programs allow you to earn free trips, upgrades (e.g., from Coach to First Class) or other awards based on how often you fly on that airline. In some programs you can earn credit by using specified hotels, rental car companies, credit cards, … Continue reading →