Feedback from the Frontlines of Travel
"Regarding my posts on keeping FF miles active thru the airlines' Rewards Dining, and the nitpicking regarding them:
"1) The ONE CREDIT CARD technique:
"Register that card when you open up a Rewards Dining account with the airline whose miles you wish to keep active. Charge a minimal amount (e.g. a cup of coffee) at a bar or restaurant linked to Rewards Dining for that airline. That same day, if you wish, you call Rewards Dining and delete that card from that airline's program (you cannot delete that card if it is the only card registered in that airline's Rewards Dining program). If they won't let you delete the card and still keep the Rewards Dining account open for that airline, and you have only one credit card, close that airline's Rewards Dining account when you call. Then add that card to the next airline whose miles you need to keep active. Keep doing so until you've ensured all FF accounts have recent mileage-earning activity, if you are facing expiration.
"2) The TWO CREDIT CARD technique:
"Do as above but don't bother deleting the first card from the first Rewards Dining Account. Simply add the second card to the second airline's account.
"3) The MORE THAN TWO CREDIT CARD technique:
"Do as above but register a different card to each airline's account.
"An easy way to keep track is to apply a sticky label to, or mark in some way, each credit card indicating which airline the card is tied to.
"As to Kevin M.'s criticism that people may not live near any bar or restaurant linked to that airline's Rewards Dining program, OK. Then simply charge a minimal amount (using ANY CREDIT CARD) via that airline's shopping links. Some airlines' on-line merchants' gift cards even qualify. On Delta, for example, a $10 gift card purchase from Home Depot keeps your miles active for another 18 months.
"So yes, Kevin M. and John, this is 'easily' done by anyone. That is, anyone who cares enough to keep their FF miles active with a minimum of expense and effort. If you find any of the above burdensome or expensive, then I have little sympathy for you if and when your miles expire. [Mark M.]
"Over the last 5 years I have accumulated 115,000 Delta SkyMiles. Every time I want to convert these into flights there is always some problem, usually there are no seats available or they want me to pay some additional charges etc. It's impossible to get any transatlantic flights.
"Can SkyMiles be traded to something useful, other than European based flights, hotel stays, beer?" [Gavin]
[FrequentFlier.com replies - Delta's award options are mostly the same as the other airlines', with one exception, their Pay with Miles feature. While it only generates 1 cent per mile in value, it does allow you to circumvent the normal restrictions on award tickets, because you're using the miles in lieu of cash to purchase a paid ticket.]
"Next week I'll be using my US Airways miles to fly to Delhi on Lufthansa. I just received an email notifying me of a schedule change: I now have to fly a full day earlier! After many unsuccessful attempts to get my flight changed back to the original date, I gave up and booked an additional night at my hotel.
"Considering that airlines issue hotel vouchers when delays or cancellations force people to spend a night away from home, I felt I was due a hotel voucher. Neither US Airways nor Lufthansa would issue one -- and they seemed surprised that I would ask. I spoke to supervisors at both airlines and came to a dead end.
"I would be less frustrated and angry if someone had actually apologized at some point along the way, but the attitude has consistently been, 'Airlines reserve the right to make schedule changes. Period.'
"The US Airways people kindly offered to cancel my trip, but I didn't consider that a reasonable solution.
"Fed up." [Sonya T.]
"What does Australia have against Californians? That's the question I asked when reading the fine print in the 'Win An Aussie Sweepstakes Rules' wording [in last week's 'Sweeps & Freebies']. Perhaps it's because California is 'closer' to Australia and many of us fly there anyway? More obvious language would be ethical. Can't help wonder how many Californians (and Tennesseans and Puerto Ricans will fall for the 'give all your personal information so we can send you email ads' trick by simply clicking 'I read the rules' button. Feedback from that group will be interesting to read if you print this.
"Egad. The sweepstakes rules also say: 'Each winner's travel companion must be 21 years of age or older at the time travel is booked, and must sign, complete, have notarized and return a liability and publicity release prior to travel. Sponsor reserves the right to conduct a background check, including but not limited to criminal history, on any Grand or First Prize winner and/or his/her travel companion.' Perhaps you could invite a corporate officer, not a spokesmouth but a real person with actual responsibilities, to explain both the reasons for the above and why California, Tennessee and Puerto Rico were excluded?" [Lan L.]
Until next week...
|
