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The FrequentFlier Forum - Hot Topics
As always, there's plenty of activity on the FrequentFlier Forum.
In the "Airline Programs" Forum, Kohoutek provides a helpful summary of United's baggage fees, including exceptions for elite members of the Mileage Plus program.
And in the "Credit Card Programs" Forum, lasnowboardnguy shares his tale of credit card woes: "I have been an AMEX Platinum cardmember for 6 years now, and I am on the verge of cancelling my account. I have 4 cards total with AMEX (Platinum, Starwood, Hilton, Simply Cash). I run my business with AMEX in that I pay for some purchases with AMEX to earn the points, I carry a balance on my Simply Cash and Hilton (both are very low APR's) but pay the rest of my cards off every month. I have been declined 5 times on my AMEX Platinum (paid in full every month) due to errors in their system, most recently was 10/18 when a charge out of town at Kmart was declined."
Questions, answers, opinions? Post them to the Forum!
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Earn Double American Miles at the AAdvantage Shopping Mall
Through December 31, AAdvantage members will earn double miles for purchases at 21 participating AAdvantage eShopping mall merchants, including Banana Republic, Barnes & Noble.com, Bose, Cabela's, Circuit City, Dell Home, drugstore.com, eToys, Gap.com, landsend.com, Macys.com, Overstock.com, Pottery Barn, RedEnvelope, Saks.com, Sears, Staples.com, Home Depot, TigerDirect, Victoria's Secret, and Williams-Sonoma.
In addition to the bonus miles, AAdvantage members who spend at least $500 at the 21 participating merchants, and charge their purchases to a MasterCard, will receive a $25 MasterCard gift card.
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Delta, Northwest Cancel Fuel Surcharges on Award Tickets
While both Delta and Northwest pledged that their fuel surcharges were truly linked to this summer's spike in fuel costs, and would be lowered or rescinded when those costs abated, we were somewhat skeptical.
After all, many of the airlines cited fuel costs as the reason for imposing a slew of recent fees, and no one expects those fees to disappear now that the price of oil has plunged by half.
But the two airlines -- really one airline, since their merger was approved last week -- made good on their promises today, cancelling the $25 - $100 surcharges on award tickets for travel originating in the U.S. and Canada. The change is effective immediately.
Other changes include a reduction of the fee for phone bookings (including award bookings) from $25 to $20; elimination of the $3 fee for curbside baggage check-in; and the addition of fees of $15 and $25, respectively, for the first and second checked bag from December 5.
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Shop at the Marriott Mall for Double Points
Through December 31, Marriott Rewards members will earn double points when shopping at 22 participating Marriott Rewards Mall merchants, including the Apple Store, Barnes & Noble, Circuit City, Current Catalog, Dell Home, Dell Small Business, Hickory Farms, HP Home Store, JCPenney, Kmart, Lands' End, Macy's, Nordstrom, OmahaSteaks.com, Overstock, REI, Ross-Simons, Sears, Home Depot, Victoria's Secret, VistaPrint, and Walmart.com.
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Earn Double Priority Club Points for Holiday Shopping
Through December 31, Priority Club Rewards members will earn double points for purchases at 22 Priority Club Shopping mall retailers. Participating online merchants: the Apple Store, Barnes & Noble.com, Circuit City, CompUSA, Current Catalog, Dell Home, Dell Small Business, Hickory Farms, HP Home Store, JCPenney, Kmart, Lands' End, Macy's, Nordstrom, OmahaSteaks.com, Overstock, REI, RitzCamera.com, Ross-Simons, Sears, Home Depot, TigerDirect, Victoria's Secret, VistaPrint, and Walmart.com.
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Feedback from the Frontlines of Travel
"I recently upgraded to BusinessFirst on a return flight from New Orleans to Belfast using FF miles. Travelled coach from N.O. to Newark on Oct 16th, the other four segments I travelled were BF or First. Booking was easy and the service was great. Return trip flights were on time and my luggage arrived with me on Oct 27th. Just missed the Arctic weather in Belfast and Newark by one day. Continental are really good. Been using them since 1995 with no complaints.
"Also, the pound sterling plunged 25% against the dollar on Oct 15th. I have seen a lot of complaints in the Crier over the years I've been reading. How about a positive one." [Tom S.]
"We in the healthcare industry owe a great deal to the airline's showing how to generate more money from 'usual/customary services.'
"Delta is a wonderful model by now charging for window seats and aisle seats. In the hospital industry we are testing similar additional charges - ie: the bed next to the window has a $500.00/day surcharge; those closest to the nursing stations will be charged an additional $750.00; and the list goes on. The U.S. owes a lot to the airlines for their ingenuity but much, much more is owed to the stupid schmucks who pay these increasing worthless charges without protest (and increase their company's travel expenses in an understandable but futile effort to increase their rapidly devaluing FF miles). FYI - FF now stands for something else - which I can't state publicly - but the first F is frequenly and the second F is a four letter expletive. More to come..." [Karen L.]
"Do you happen to know what the plans are for the Delta/Northwest mileage programs when this merger is completed? How will they determine if a person is a member of both programs and will you lose any accrued miles or status?" [Cliff S.]
[FrequentFlier.com replies - Tim just addressed this question in an "Up Front" blog. You can read what he had to say here.]
"Between us, my husband and I have 8,178 US Airways Dividend Miles. We have Visa Mileage Plus credit cards and use them almost exclusively accumulating hundreds of miles. We fly US Airways, using United miles. They are partners. I'd like to transfer the 8,178 miles to United without fees. Is there any chance of this?" [Myra]
[FrequentFlier.com replies - For a full discussion of this topic, we'll refer you to Tim's latest installment in the "Joy of Miles" series, which is devoted entirely to the issue of converting miles between programs.]
"I feel with all the airlines not honoring mileage for first class privileges, your best bet is to convert your mileage into points for hotels.
"Example, I know I wont be traveling anywhere far on American Airlines. I had over 200,000 miles so I converted them to my Hilton HHonors accounts as I use other airlines and then I can use them for my hotel rooms through Hilton HHonors and have the luxury of upgrading.
"We always enjoy staying at Embassy Suites, and they are everywhere, only thing is you have to use the account at least every 18 mos. which is no problem for us." [VetDet]
Until next week...
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