"Up Front" Blog Entries

Following are some of Tim's recent blog posts:

• Free Miles, Get Your Free Frequent Flyer Miles Here!
  Can you earn a zillion frequent flyer miles without spending a dime? A recent offer from the U.S. Mint proves that you can. Sorta. Sometimes.
• Miles Fly as British Carriers Wage Credit Card War
  While British Airways' credit card promotion remains among the most generous ever, Virgin Atlantic is giving them a run for their money. And for yours.
• Canada-Based Program Offers More Miles for Holiday Shopping
  Aeroplan is following U.S. programs in offering bonus miles for Christmas shopping. But this promotion is among the season's least generous.
• From Delta: More Frequent Flyer Miles for Shopping
  New promotion adds 50 percent more miles for purchases at many SkyMiles partners, through January 15, 2010. Holiday shopping, anyone?

The FrequentFlier Forum - Hot Topics

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

In the "Airline Programs" Forum, steve_m is looking for miles to support the operations of his charitable organization: "I know most of the airline programs allow you to donate miles to a select list of charities, but is there a way that a small nonprofit can get in on this action? I'd like my org to be able to accept air miles through our website; not a problem if I have to include separate instructions for different programs, write a lot of code... I just want to know if it's possible for a person to transfer ownership of the miles to my organization fairly easily, preferably without anyone on our end having to do anything besides thank them and send them a receipt."

And in the "Credit Card Programs" Forum, joelmeu shows how to convert miles into cash (or at least gift cards): "This is an old offer with a new twist. Delta started to offer gift cards for SkyMiles. So now you can get $350 in gift cards for 35,000 SkyMiles..."

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

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American Doubles the Dallas-Milwaukee Miles

Through February 28, AAdvantage members can earn double miles for non-stop flights between Dallas and Milwaukee.

Registration is required.

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Continental Introduces New Elite Tier

Beginning next year, OnePass members will have a new top-level elite tier to strive for.

After spending $30,000 -- this is revenue-based, not mileage-based -- OnePass members who are already Platinum elites will qualify for Presidential Platinum status, the program's highest tier. (Continental is reserving the right to modify the qualification criterion in future years.)

Perks include top priority for upgrades, a dedicated customer-service phone line, and waiver of the fee for the Presidential Plus MasterCard that comes bundled with airport lounge membership and bonus flight miles.

Benefits will take effect "mid-year 2010" according to Continental's website.

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3rd Night Free (and Chocolate) at Sofitel Hotels

Through January 31, 2010, members of Sofitel's A|Club program who book eligible rates at participating hotels will receive the third night free, plus double A|Club points, late check-out, complimentary breakfast, and chocolates.

If booking by phone, reference the "I Love Chocolate" offer.

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Deal Alert from SmarterTravel.com

1) $39 One-Way Domestic Sale Fares on Virgin America

Virgin America is offering a handful of routes on sale with prices starting at $39 one-way. Destinations include Boston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C.

Travel is valid from the beginning of the year through spring 2010. Book fares by Tuesday, December 15.

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2) $288 Honolulu and Maui Sale on Hawaiian

Hawaiian Airlines' latest sale features travel to Honolulu and Maui starting at $288 round-trip.

Travel is valid from January through mid-June, with a short period blacked out during the spring-break season. Book fares by Wednesday, December 16.

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Win a Trip for 2 to Denmark

Enter Skagen's "How Well Do You Know Skagen Denmark?" sweepstakes by December 31 for a chance to win a six-night trip for two to Skagen, Denmark, including air, car rental, accommodations, and $500 spending money.

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[Visit FrequentFlier.com for more travel sweepstakes.]

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.

No FTD Love for New Yorkers

"Did you notice that in the FTD/United Airlines Sweepstakes [in last week's newsletter], FTD/United Airlines' Registration Form leaves New York State out of their drop-down menu of States, so that no one from New York can enter?" [Garth L.]

Lack of Seats on American

"Try finding a FF seat for 25,000 miles on American. Good luck! For all practical purposes, a FF seat now costs 50,000 miles." [Paul B.]

How to Get Kicked Off a Plane

"Kudos to Allegiant for kicking off a mother with two unruly children. And boos to Southwest for knuckling under and giving the other mother a sweetener.

"I've suffered from too many unruly children on planes to have any sympathy for those passengers. Let's face it, if an adult passenger had behaved as those children were reported to, he or she would probably have been arrested, not simply denied boarding. Several years ago in American Airlines Business Class, a two year old kicked the backs of our seats from Glasgow to Los Angeles and the flight crew did nothing about it. I'm so glad to hear that things are finally starting to change. Just one parting comment: Where were the fathers of these little terrors?" [Mary-Lynne F.]

Cashless Flights

"I have always understood that it was illegal to refuse to accept US Dollars for payment for goods and services. It says on the bills "legal tender for all debts public and private". How can the airlines refuse to accept cash for in flight purchases?" [Two30SLK]

British Airways - 5 Star Experience!

"We must have flown a BA different from what others mentioned.

In August-Sept '09 we flew from Boston to Heathrow round trip. On both flights we had excellent service, free splits of wine (as much as we wanted) and in both colors, good food at no extra charge, roomy seats, and planes that left/arrived on time. The terminal was bright and the personnel who took care of us. (We needed more hand-holding than most as we had not flown to England in years and years and were unfamiliar with everything.) Not first class, not business class -- frequent flyer points at no cost to us period! I would fly this airline anytime." [Bernice]

Until next week...