Miles and Points

This thread is about frequent flyer programs from airlines as well as hotel loyalty programs, credit/charge card programs, rent-a-car programs, and other loyalty programs.

Follow The Points Guy on twitter, he has amazing tips and tricks.

American Express Offering 50% Bonus on British Airways Avios Points

American Express Membership Rewards has announced a 50% bonus on point transfers to the British Airways Executive Club frequent flyer program. Transfers can be made in increments of 1,000 points Membership Rewards points

US Airways and Points.com Offer 100% Bonus On Purchased Miles

US Airways, a member of the Star Alliance, and Points.com are offering a special promotion for mileage purchases.

A purchase of miles between March 15 and April 15, 2012 yields a 50%

Fairmont, Marriott, Jumeirah, Raffles, and Swissôtel to Partner with Qatar Airways Privilege Club

Five hotel groups, namely Fairmont, Marriott, Jumeirah, Raffles, and Swissôtel, have announced plans to join forces with the Qatar Airways Privilege Club...

Virgin America, Virgin Atlantic, and Virgin Australia Link Frequent Flyer Programs

Passengers who are members of the frequent flyer programs of Virgin America, Virgin Atlantic, and Virgin Australia will be able to redeem miles or points on any Virign-branded airline going forward.
The three airlines have linked their programs and this latest move follows a change made in 2010 that allows passengers to earn miles and points across the range of brands.
Members of Virgin America’s Elevate program can book flights on Virgin …

American Express Offering 50% Bonus on British Airways Avios Points

American Express Membership Rewards has announced a 50% bonus on point transfers to the British Airways Executive Club frequent flyer program. Transfers can be made in increments of 1,000 points Membership Rewards points...

US Airways and Points.com Offer 100% Bonus On Purchased Miles

US Airways, a member of the Star Alliance, and Points.com are offering a special promotion for mileage purchases.
A purchase of miles between March 15 and April 15, 2012 yields a 50% bonus. Joining Points.com (and registering your Dividend Miles account) before …

This story is from the business section of the LA Times:

The frequent fliers who flew too much

By Ken Bensinger, Los Angeles Times
May 5, 2012, 6:14 p.m.

Many years after selling lifetime passes for unlimited first-class travel, American Airlines began scrutinizing the costs — and the customers.

Full story here.

American Express Updates Airline Fee Credit Program

By Paul Riegler
An important benefit offered by American Express’ Platinum and Centurion cards is the $200 Airline Fee Credit, one of several worthwhile benefits. American Express will refund up to $200 per year for miscellaneous fees and purchases that cardholders pay for with a specific airline (the cardmember has to specify the airline in advance of making any purchases, however)
Previously it wasn’t always clear as to which fees American Express would reimburse …

American Express Expands Savings at Work Program, Expedites Hilton HHonors Silver and Gold Status

By Paul Riegler
American Express corporate card holders will now be eligible for additional discounts and benefits. Three new partners, Box, Dunkin’ Donuts, and Sprint, have been added to the program.
In addition, relationships with several existing partners including Choice Hotels, FedEx, and Hilton, have been expanded.
The Savings at Work program gives pre-negotiated discounts to American Express Corporate Card holders.
Box, a content management company, is offering a 20% discount on annual subscriptions. Dunkin’ Donuts …

Flying Blue Changes Awards Program for Intra-European Flights

By Paul Riegler
Flying Blue, the frequent flyer program of Air France and KLM, has announced changes to the program that impact award ticket redemption.
For flights within Europe, including North Africa and Israel, Flying Blue has discontinued charging a separate fuel surcharge. Airport and security taxes and fees will continue to be collected.
In addition, the Flying Blue program is increasing the availability of award tickets within this region.
The price (in miles) for …

US Airways Upgrades Dividend Miles Benefits

By Paul Riegler
US Airways, a member of the Star Alliance, has upgraded the technology it uses to process upgrades. Going forward, the new system will check for available upgrades for “preferred” members of its Dividend Miles frequent flyer program several times a day.
The same upgrade windows will continue to apply, i.e. if you are Silver it’s two days prior to departure, Gold three days, Platinum five days, and for Chairman’s it’s seven.
In …

Marriott Rewards Launches MegaMiles Promotion

By Paul Riegler
Marriott Rewards has launched a program called MegaMiles that will allow its members to earn triple miles with their preferred airline when they stay at a Marriott brand hotel more than once between July 1 and October 31.
Dozens of airlines’ frequent flyer programs are eligible for this promotion, including British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Delta, JetBlue, and United Airlines.
MegaMiles may be accumulated at any Marriott hotel over their 13 brands, including …

InterContinental Hotels Group Adds Digital Rewards Program

By Michael Acampora
InterContinental Hotels Group has announced that its Priority Club Rewards program will soon allow points to be redeemed for Digital Rewards; these include music, games, and software. This will be the first hotel loyalty program to offer a full suite of digital rewards.
InterContinental has partnered with the first club, an instant digital content provider, to create the Digital Rewards program. The program can be accessed through the Priority Club Rewards …

Wyndham Announces Summer is 4x Sweeter Promotion

Wyndham Rewards, the guest loyalty program for Wyndham brand hotels as well as Dream Hotels, Ramada, and Howard Johnson, announced the Summer is 4x Sweeter promotion, officially called “Book Direct Quadruple Points or Miles.”
Simply register for the promotion , book stays using a Wyndham website, and you will start earning quadruple points or miles starting with your second.<SNIP>

Seriously, life can be simple if you choose it to be. All the hotels and credit card offers create more your your time to strategize. Are they really worth it? I am not saying those who have many accounts are crazy, but I am saying there is an alternative that should be considered.

For me, the only program is CitiCard=AA miles. So far, 10 trips to Germany for 40K miles each. Pay the tax and AA fee. Having fun driving the autobahn, and visiting the car museums and taking production tours many times over. It is as simple as that, and it doesn't have to be expensive if you do it right.

Sharing last April's trip to Germany http://www.flickr.com/photos/wasserball4/page2/ that included MBZ, BMW, Porsche museums, and the VW Autostadt in Wolfsburg. Where do I stay? Not at brassy hotels, but with families I know in Germany and Denmark.

New trips... December 2012 buying Christmas presents from the beautiful and famous Christmas markets. Month of April, 2013, love the spring time in Europe without the stress of seeing all the summer tourists. The month of May is OK, but that when the school groups will interfere with your movements. Month of August (120K miles), going to Germany for a wedding.

For the longest time I carried two cards, AMEX MR and the AA Citi to keep my AA Miles alive and for those places that do not accept AMEX. I recently got the Chase BA Card for the Chip to use in Europe (and the 100K Avios). Chasing and churning for bonuses is not for me

If either Citi or AMEX ever enters the 20th Century and adds a Chipped Card, I will be back to two.

Cheers

Originally Posted by X3 Skier

For the longest time I carried two cards, AMEX MR and the AA Citi to keep my AA Miles alive and for those places that do not accept AMEX. I recently got the Chase BA Card for the Chip to use in Europe (and the 100K Avios). Chasing and churning for bonuses is not for me

If either Citi or AMEX ever enters the 20th Century and adds a Chipped Card, I will be back to two.

Cheers

Both have.
See
Smarter Credit Cards Coming Soon: An EMV Primer

The operative words are "Coming soon". As soon as they are "Available Now", I will get one.

Cheers

Miles and points are one of my hobbies. Getting BMWs through ED is another. These two hobbies go well together. Just booked biz class to Munich with miles for our 5th ED next June 20. The return on July 3rd or 4th from Nice will be available for me to book in 10 days or so. We'll be staying at Le Meridien Munich, Radisson Blu Lucerne, Park Hyatt Milan, Fairmont Monaco, JW Marriott Cannes, a Novotel in Nimes, and the Le Meridien Nice. All (with the exception of the Novotel) on points. Plus some Marriott and Fairmont $ gift cards thrown in... this trip will bring me great pleasure. The planning of it, the collecting points part, the getting the deal part, the churning part, already have. The waiting a year part sucks, but that is when my lease is up. Luckily a trip to Amsterdam and London this November (all on points/miles) will take the edge off...

Starwood preferred credit card has the best options for transferring points. Sign up for one, get the bonus points. Spend 5000 in 3 months and get more bonus points
US Airways cards. Signup bonus. Spend a certain amount in 3 months get extra bonus. Get yearly companion passes for one domestic flight. Also, gives you "silver" status on US airways flights. Quicker check-in, quicker at security gates, and one free checked bag.

Avoid using the above two when you are overseas. While their rewards are great, they have a 3% international fee surcharge.

Schwab debit card does not charge international fees and reimburses you on all ATM fees incurred by other banks
Nordstrom credit card only has 1% international fees (really low)

Avis rental program - You can transfer the points to your favorite airline, but best to keep it. Build up a free weekend rental and you will have something to drive to the PDC when picking up your ride

As always, your preferred airline should be the one that has a hub in your home town. You will get the best times / price combinations because of that. For example. I am in Philly so my option is US Airways. Any other airline = terrible flight times, almost guaranteed layovers, and not so good prices. I am not a fan of US airways, but they got the hub. Don't mix and match airlines, stick with your preferred one to build up preferred points and status.

EDIT: Never use airline points on domestic flights. When you use airline points you will NOT be upgraded to first class. You can't be automatically upgraded on international flights (at least not on StarAlliance flights). So save your airline miles for international travel.