A Grim Economy For Frequent Flier Miles

Joe Sharkey took a hard look at the state of frequent flier programs in his New York Times column Sunday, and his prognosis is grim.

There are too many frequent flier miles chasing too few seats, a classic recipe for inflation and frustration. If you can find an award seat on a flight, you may be forced to pay double miles to get it. (Sadly, Delta Air Lines, which holds most of my miles, is rated the worst among the major domestic airlines for seat availability.)

For some time now I’ve been doubting the value of credit cards that award frequent flier miles because those miles are declining in value. Nevertheless, there is every reason to accumulate miles when you fly and to use them as wisely as you can. I’ve been to Europe, Hawaii, Central America and the Caribbean on Delta miles — and I intend to keep using them as long as I can.

Most airlines let you book award tickets about 330 days in advance. If you have a big trip in mind, start looking early, keep looking and be as flexible as you can about travel dates. And good luck.

Companion Tickets: Not Always Worth The Trouble

I just flew to San Diego and back on a $99 companion ticket that my husband gets each year with his Delta American Express card. On our return, I found an offer of a “free airline companion ticket” from American Express Publishing that had arrived in the mail. 

In the first case, we saved some money — but the deal wasn’t as good as it first appeared. And in the second case, after doing some research online, I figured the ticket wasn’t worth the trouble of signing up for it.

As it turns out, these offers don’t always offer value. And when they do, it can take some work and flexibility to squeeze the value out of them.

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Southwest Offers Double Rewards Credits

Do you have a lot of places to go in the next six weeks? If you go there on Southwest Airlines you can earn a free flight.

Southwest is offering double credit for flights before May 26, which means you can get a free flight after four round-trip flights if you complete them all by that time. Business select fares earn credit at a slightly faster rate.

If you have any Southwest flights coming up before May 26, be sure to sign up for this offer. You do need to register here.

Why Aren’t You Earning Miles?

There are more reasons than ever to join airline frequent flier programs, as Tim Winship of FrequentFlier.com writes for SmarterTravel.com.

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Buying Gasoline: Are The Airline Miles Worth It?

Today I did something I haven’t done for years — I paid cash for gas.

I did it because the station was offering a cash discount, but it got me wondering whether the discount was worth losing the frequent flier miles from a credit card purchase. After working out some math, I decided it was better to pay cash in this case, although there are several factors to consider.

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Questionable Values For Airline Miles

A way to calculate the relative value of spending airline miles on merchandise instead of travel is explained quite clearly in a recent post on The Dallas Morning News’ Airline Biz blog.

Customers who hold frequent flier miles may feel compelled to use them to buy things this way, even when it’s clearly a bad deal, because the airlines have shortened expiration periods. But if you think  you’re forced into a “use them or lose them” situation, you should consider other ways to create activity in your account and thus keep your miles valid for another 18 months or so.

The Rewards Network dining program is any easy way to do this with Alaska, American, Delta, Midwest, United and US Airways. One meal out, perhaps at a restaurant you would have visited anyway, and you can reset the time clock on your miles. (You can earn credit on Southwest, too, though its program works differently.)

Donating money to the Haiti relief effort is a particularly commendable way to earn miles on some airlines. Donating miles is another way to keep your account active. The Los Angeles Times’ Daily Travel & Deal blog has details.

Airline Frequent Flier Rules Questioned

I once tangled with a Delta Air Lines representative about a fee on my award ticket and he told me that I was getting the ticket “practically for free.”

Wrong. I was getting a ticket paid for with a currency called frequent flier miles. And I earned them.

Frequent flier miles are not gifts from the airlines, they are assets. Now Sen. Chuck Schumer wants to review consumer complaints about how airlines handle their mileage programs.

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Pay Late And Lose Your Miles

Let’s say you spend a lot on your co-branded Delta American Express one month and then forget to pay your bill on time.

You’re going to pay a hefty penalty and interest on the unpaid balance and, as of January, you’re going to lose the miles you earned during that month, the Associated Press reports. If you want the miles back, it will cost you $29.

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Southwest Planning Changes To Mileage Program

Long-awaited changes to Southwest Airlines’ frequent flier program will come late next year, reports Terry Maxon in the Dallas Morning News.

Southwest’s Rapid Rewards program is considerably more simple than the frequent flier programs run by the legacy carriers. Passengers earn a free flight after completing eight round trips in 24 months. Higher business fares accumulate credit more quickly.

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United To Charge Dollars For Upgrades With Miles

George Hobica at the Airfarewatchdog Blog points out that United Airlines will start charging July 1 to use miles for an upgrade from most fare classes. He also points out that it’s not a particularly worse policy than any other airline’s, but if you want to avoid the fee you should request your upgrate before July 1.  United’s Web site has a chart that lays it out.