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Just a reminder: If you're not already doing so, use this link to follow us on Twitter and stay abreast of the latest in frequent flyer program news, opinion, and advice.

"Up Front" Blog Entries

Following are some of Tim's recent blog posts:

• Earn Double Miles for Charges to Delta Credit Cards
  Members of Delta's SkyMiles program can earn double or triple miles for charges to their Delta credit cards through September.
• United Offers Triple New York-Chicago Miles
  Traveling between New York and Chicago this summer? Earn triple miles from either of the three largest airlines.
• 10 Miles Per Dining Dollar Through December
  Hungry for miles? The miles-for-dining promotion offered by six airline and two hotel programs has been extended through the end of the year.
• JetBlue Triples the Points on Two Shuttle Routes
  JetBlue's triple-points offer for flights from New York to Boston or Chicago is a response to promotions from American, Delta, United. Does the bonus measure up?
• What Would You Do With 100,000 British Air Frequent Flyer Miles?
  Due to an uncommonly lucrative dredit card promotion, I have 100,000 miles in my British Air account. If they were yours, how would you redeem them?

The FrequentFlier Forum - Hot Topics

As always, there's plenty of activity on the FrequentFlier Forum.

In the "Airline Programs" Forum, keith shares information and a link to a superior sign-up bonus for Southwest credit cards:

www.southwest.com/onboard/ will get you to a link that gives you the opportunity to get 16 Rapid Rewards credits for your first use with the Chase Southwest Visa. You can get up to an additional 8 credits with a balance transfer and an additional 2 on your anniversary date.

Beats the current promo on the Chase website that gives you 8 credits for your first use plus up to 8 for balance transferss and 2 for hitting your anniversary.

Questions, answers, opinions? Post them to the Forum!

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Deal Alert from SmarterTravel.com

1) $50 Each Way on Southwest - Travel Through Fall

Southwest has just announced its latest airfare sale, which features summer and fall travel to more than 60 cities including Boston, Chicago, Las Vegas, and Orlando. The promotion offers solid savings by as much as 28 percent over competitors' rates.

Travel through mid-November, but book by Thursday, July 1.

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2) U.S. and Caribbean on JetBlue Sale From $49 Each Way

Flights start at $49 one-way or $98 round-trip with JetBlue's latest sale fares for fall travel to Boston, New York City, and Orlando, as well as Caribbean locales such as Nassau and Santo Domingo.

Book fares by July 7 for midweek travel September through mid-November.

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Win 1 of 5 Amtrak Train Trips for 2

Enter Amtrak's "All Inclusive Adventure" sweepstakes by August 15 for a chance to win one of five grand prize train trips for two, including two tickets with roomettes on one of the following Amtrak routes: California Zephyr, Starlight, Empire Builder, Chief, or Sunset Limited; hotel accommodations for two in a city to be selected by the winner; and $1,500 spending money.

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[Visit FrequentFlier.com for more travel sweepstakes -- Updated this week.]

Feedback from the Frontlines of Travel

We welcome reader feedback on issues related to travel generally and frequent flyer programs in particular. Please use this link to submit comments.

Award Booking on Delta

"In the June 16 issue, Brent advocated that one should be creative and look for space segment by segment (i.e. MEM-AMS, then add connecting flights).

"My wife and I are retired with 27,000 and 32,500 Delta miles respectively. I have been trying to book 2 seats to any NASCAR race from YYC and continually get trumped by requests for 40,000 and 60,000 miles per flight. I have tried the 330+ days in advance, but no luck.

"I have the time to become a low-end reservation/computer agent, but I don't understand how to book flights by segment.

"Could Brent or someone who has mastered this technique offer up a few keystrokes to help me?" [RSM in Canada]

[FrequentFlier.com replies - Pending more information from Brent, you might want to try calling Delta's reservations center to see whether an agent can help you with your award bookings, including constructing itineraries segment-by-segment. Yes, you will pay a service fee if the agent succeeds in booking your flights. But that's a small price to pay if it makes the difference between using your miles or not.]

Where Are My Northwest Miles?

"I was a member of Northwest Airlines WorldPerks with approximately 8,376 mileage balance. Is this account still active with these miles?" [Bonnie C.]

[FrequentFlier.com replies - Following the Delta-Northwest merger, WorldPerks was folded into Delta's SkyMiles program on October 1, 2009. If you had a SkyMiles account at that time, your WorldPerks miles should have transferred automatically into that account. If you only had a WorldPerks account, that should have been converted to a SkyMiles account. From what we've heard, what should have happened in most cases did happen -- reports of problems have been few and far between. But since you're unsure of the disposition of your WorldPerks account, your best bet is to call Delta at 1-800-323-2323 and confirm.]

What's Insulting About Baggage Fees... (continued)

"Completely agree with Catherine's comments re baggage fees [in last week's newsletter].

"What makes it worse is the effect it's having on cabin comfort. To avoid the fees, more flyers are dragging everything onboard with them. Of course the airlines don't care to enforce the size restrictions on bags. Too much trouble, I guess?

"The airlines get more money, we get chaos." [Sam T.]

Until next week...