Latest MilePort Upgrades

In the past week, the following programs were added to MilePort: China Air Dynasty Flyer and Malaysia Airlines Enrich.

MilePort now allows users to consolidate account information from almost 120 rewards programs, making it easy to maximize earnings and awards.

MilePort can be downloaded for free here.

Media Query

A national cable network is interested in speaking with longtime members of American AAdvantage and Delta SkyMiles for a report on Frequent Flier programs. We'd like to hear from road warriors, program players and families who use miles for vacations. If you're willing to share your opinions, please contact Mary Hanan at mary.hanan@nbc.com with a brief description of how many miles you have earned, how you get them (buying or flying) and how you use them.

Bankruptcy Watch

As this newsletter went to press on Wednesday afternoon, Northwest and its flight attendants union were arguing their respective cases before a federal bankruptcy judge. The company claims that a threatened strike by the attendants would be illegal. The union begs to differ.

The airline's 8,000 flight attendants have sworn to begin random, unannounced work disruptions as soon as 10:01 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, Aug. 15, to protest salary cuts and other concessions forced on them by the carrier.

A Northwest official testifying at the hearing estimated that an outright strike would affect 130,000 passengers on 1,200 flights a day, and could force Northwest into liquidation.

As we suggested last week, Northwest customers ticketed on flights departing on or after Tuesday next week should monitor the situation closely and be prepared to make alternative flight arrangements if the strike takes place.

Exchange Miles Between Programs?

By far the most-asked question we receive from readers concerns mileage consolidation: Can I move miles from Program A to Program B? And if so, how?

To some extent, mileage consolidation is possible. But it's almost always pricey. We've rounded up all the exchange options and assessed the pros and cons of each.

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FrequentFlier Forum Topics

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

In the "Airline Programs" Forum, docsmody finds himself just short of an award and is looking for ways to top up the account: "I'm 470 miles short of an 80k mile reward to Asia. Can anyone point me to a promo offer that I can get a quote, register, etc., that will give me that extra boost? Just don't want to pay the 65 dollars for the 1,000 miles by purchasing."

Also in the "Airline Programs" Forum, jamomom has a heads-up for members of Delta's SkyMiles program: "Just an FYI, beginning 01 Jan 07 all SkyMiles will now have a 2 year expiration instead of the current 3 years. That will also include any old frequent flier miles that currently don't have an expiration date, they will be converted to SkyMiles as of that date and any SkyMiles rules, validity will apply. Any activity to the account during that timeframe will extend the expiration date."

And much more. Questions, answers? Post them to the Forum!

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From American: TrAAvel Perks (for a Price)

American on Thursday launched a paid enhancement to AAdvantage, TrAAvel Perks.

For an annual membership fee of $159 (discounted to $129 through Aug. 31), TrAAvel Perks members receive three benefits:

1) Two companion certificates
The required paid tickets must be worth at least $299, and the fine print acknowledges that, "When available, short term promotional fares may provide a lower cost for your trip than the use of this certificate." Other caveats: The companion tickets are only for travel within the contiguous 48 states and Alaska, cannot be upgraded and may not be used during blackout periods.

2) 2,500 AAdvantage bonus miles
Subscribers receive 500 miles after the first 45 days of membership with subsequent miles issued in 500-mile increments during the end of each calendar quarter for the first year. Assuming miles are worth $0.012 each, the bonus is worth a modest $30. And it takes a full year for the miles to completely post.

3) "AAdvantage participant discounts and bonus miles"
American has negotiated special deals and discounts for TrAAvel Perks members with a number of travel suppliers and retailers. It's a mixed bag. A free Admirals Club day pass, worth $50, is a meaningful benefit. Discounts on Samsonite luggage, bonus miles for purchases from online florists, an earning rate of 10 miles per $1 spent at SkyMall... these deals are widely available without paying an additional fee to obtain them.

Bottom line: TrAAvel Perks makes financial sense only if the value of the benefits at least offsets the subscription price, and if those benefits are not available elsewhere for free.

Generally, consumers should be wary of such buy-access-to-future-discounts offers since they have value only insofar as participants truly need the featured products or services and actually purchase them. The program operator -- American in this case -- pockets the membership fee whether the subscriber takes advantage of the potential savings or not.

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Double AAdvantage Miles-for-Shopping

Through Sept. 17, AAdvantage members can earn double miles for purchases at selected merchants participating in the AAdvantage eShopping mall.

With the bonus, members earn six miles per $1 spent at Target.com, Lands' End, and Overstock.com; four miles at Staples; and two miles at HP Home Store.

Use the FrequentFlier Mile Search to find other miles-for-merchandise opportunities.

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Frontier Imposes Booking Fees

Beginning yesterday, Aug. 8, Frontier began imposing a $5 fee for reservations made by phone with the airline's call center or at an airport ticket counter. Reservations made on Frontier's website are fee-free.

Frontier is also guaranteeing that its web fares are the lowest available, and backing up that promise with 2,500 frequent flyer miles.

There is no fee for EarlyReturns award bookings. And the fee is also waived for paid bookings made by elite members of Frontier's EarlyReturns program.

More nickel-and-dimeing, to be sure. The best that can be said is that Frontier's new fee is lower than the $10-$15 being charged by most other airlines, and that it doesn't apply to award reservations.

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Double HHonors Points at 2 Waldorf=Astoria Collection Hotels

Hilton's new Waldorf=Astoria Collection is made up of four premier hotels, including the original Waldorf in Manhattan. HHonors members can earn double points at two of the other hotels in the collection, as follows:

HHonors members will earn double base points for stays at the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa in Phoenix, Arizona, through Oct. 2, and special rates starting at $149 per night.

Double points are also on offer through Sept. 30 for stays between Sunday and Thursday nights at the La Quinta Resort & Club in La Quinta, California.

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WorldPerks University Adds New Course

Northwest's WorldPerks University has added a third "course" to the curriculum, WP200: A Global Perspective - SkyTeam.

WorldPerks members can earn 100 miles for each course successfully passed.

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United Chucks Choices, Chooses Miles

When United introduced its new Mileage Plus Choices Visa credit card in May, we gave it solid marks for value but questioned United's decision to call the rewards currency Choices instead of miles:

"United's marketing materials proclaim Choices 'a new kind of currency.' Yes, but do we really need a new currency -- especially one with a convoluted relationship with the old currency, traditional miles?"

Apparently we were not the only ones who thought that Choices was all cleverness and no clarity. As soon as United can update its marketing materials and advise Mileage Plus members of the change, Choices will be renamed miles.

Other features of the card remain the same.

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Deal Alert from SmarterTravel.com

1) Save More Than $300 on Fall Europe Flights

Iberia is offering shoulder-season flights to Europe from $479 roundtrip. Destinations include Athens, Brussels, Paris, and Rome.

Departures are valid from Sept. 12 through Oct. 31. Fares require a five-day minimum stay, and the maximum stay is 30 days. Iberia has not listed a booking deadline.

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2) Delta's Hawaii Fares from $478

Honolulu flights are on sale from as low as $478 roundtrip. Delta's offer is valid for travel through September.

Travel is valid from Aug. 7 through Sept. 30. Book tickets at least seven days in advance, and by Aug. 21. The maximum stay is 60 days.

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Win 2 Million Hilton Points, 1 Million American Miles

Enter the American Way Road Warrior contest by Aug. 31 for a chance to win 2 million Hilton HHonors points and 1 million AAdvantage miles. Other prizes include Bose sound equipment and a Hawaii trip.

Unlike the sweepstakes normally featured in this column, this is a contest. Participants must answer questions proving their travel prowess and write a short travel-related essay. The prize makes the extra effort worthwhile.

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Feedback from the Frontlines of Travel

"Was interested in your enlightening column about transferring miles from one airline to another. One area not addressed, but I would appreciate your input about, is that of consolidating miles from different sources of the SAME airline. For example, I have miles from AA (directly) and also have miles from a credit card account (Capital One), from which I can apply miles to AA. Is there a way to consolidate my miles entirely into AA so I might then have enough miles for a trip?" [Albert S.]

[FrequentFlier.com replies - Miles earned with the Capital One card can be redeemed for a free flight on many airlines, including American. (When you redeem the miles, Capital One buys you a ticket through a travel agency.)

And of course American AAdvantage miles can also be redeemed for a free flight on American. But there is no way to consolidate AAdvantage miles and Capital One miles.

American's program and Capital One's program each has its strengths and weaknesses, but you're probably better off sticking to one or the other to avoid finding yourself with separate non-combinable accounts. There's more advice on choosing the best credit card here.]

"I read that your site can consolidate points from different airlines. How can I do that? I don't see that on your home page." [Barbara K.]

[FrequentFlier.com replies - We can't help you consolidate your miles. We do however have some information on conversion which you might find helpful at http://frequentflier.com/ff071706.htm.]

"Does Icelandair have a partnership with any major airline? I am trying to get some miles somehow..." [Vivien E. - Washington, DC]

[FrequentFlier.com replies - Icelandair has its own program, Customer Club, but is not partnered with any other program -- no surprise since they've always positioned themselves as an international discount carrier.]

Until next week...