Earn 25,000 Continental OnePass Miles from Chase Bank

Pretty...pretty...pretty good offer here. Get 10,000 OnePass miles for opening a Chase checking account (minimum $100 opening balance), and either set up direct deposit or make (5) debit card purchases. Earn another 15,000 miles after your first qualified purchase on a Chase Continental Airlines Preferred Debit card ($25 or $65 annual fee applies - depending on dollar-to-point conversion you choose).

What I like about this offer: No long-term commitment: Give Chase a try, and if you are not satisfied, close your accounts and walk away with 25,000 extra miles in your account. Plus, baggage fee-waivers apply to debit card holders flying Continental Airlines. One more plus: 25,000 miles might just convert over to United Airlines miles next year as the merger process continues.

What I don't like: Very little: The annual fee, but it is fairly insignificant considering it is in exchange for 25,000 miles (a free domestic ticket in coach). The bank will probably need to run a credit report (read: inquiry) on you as well. And, must walk into a brick-and-mortar to open the account; no can do online.

Overall, seems like a pretty good deal! One I will be taking advantage of this week.

Should I Purchase an Air Ticket or Use Frequent Flyer Miles?

By Mike Grasso

"Should I purchase an airline ticket or redeem frequent flyer miles?" How many times I hear this question asked. Unfortunately, there is no single right answer. But let me offer some thoughts:

-If you are booking the trip "last minute" such as within a few weeks of travel: Some airlines may charge up to $100 for redeeming miles last minute.

-If your travel plans might change: Often you are allowed free date/time changes on award travel tickets (but not city or routing changes). Few purchased tickets allow fee-free changes.

-If you are flying to/from smaller regional airports: These fares often, though not always, cost more than through larger cities with more competition. It might make more sense to redeem miles if there is availability.

-If you want to earn banked and/or elite qualifying miles for your flight: Then you should buy your ticket. Typically you don't earn miles on award travel flights.

Then there is the cost factor. This will vary by person. Some people think 25,000 miles (the amount required for a free roundtrip domestic flight) is worth around $300, and will therefore use miles if the cost of a ticket is ~$300 or more. On the other hand, if the family budget is running a little tight this month, maybe redeeming miles makes good sense, regardless the price of the ticket. Again, this is more an individual/situational decision.

United Announces 2009 Mileage Plus Changes

In a press release Monday, United announced some fairly significant changes to Mileage Plus, its frequent flyer program. Depending on your specific travel habits, you will find the changes either favorable or as yet another example of the devaluation of frequent flyer miles. 

• Restoration of 500-mile minimum accrual for elite members. This past summer United eliminated this benefit for short-distance flyPublish Posters. The policy changes is retroactive for flights dating back to July 1, 2008.


• Mileage Award Adjustments. UA will maintain the 25,000 mile requirement for economy saver tickets for flights within the U.S. But, it will increase the mileage requirement between 5,000 and 25,000 additional miles for flights between the U.S and different regions throughout the world.


• Co-Payment and reduction in miles requirement for upgrades effective July 1, 2009. If you purchase an economy class ticket, United often allows you to upgrade that flight with miles. The airline will lower that mileage requirement, but institute a co-payment of up to $500 for this benefit. Additionally, the airline will allow international upgrades, regardless of the fare class purchased. Previously, only higher cost fares were upgradeable.

250 Bonus Delta Miles For New Shutterfly Customers

For a limited time, Delta SkyMiles members can earn 250 bonus miles for registering as a new customer at Shutterfly. In addition, a 1000 mile bonus will be awarded for purchases over $25.
Shutterfly is one of several online sites that enable customers to upload, share and print photos, among other services. Click this link for more information on this offer.

Options For Low Balance Frequent Flier Accounts

Perhaps you flew an airline once and never plan to again, or maybe you just don't fly that often. Those pesky frequent flier miles sitting around with only a few thousand miles may actually be worth something. Though you are probably far short of a free trip, many airlines allow you to redeem miles for other products and services, such as car rentals, magazines and gift cards. Visit your airlines frequent flier homepage to discover redemption opportunities other than flights.

Remember, most airlines require a transaction (earn or redeem miles) to your frequent flier account within a 18-24 month period, otherwise you risk loosing the account completely.

United Airlines Promo: Double Elite-Status Qualifying Miles

United Airlines just released a promotion offering double elite-qualifying miles for all flights between now and June 15th. This promotion is for those working toward achieving or maintaining elite status with United. These are not miles redeemable for travel.Click here to be directed to the UA promotions website and to register. This promotion matches one American Airlines offered earlier in the month.

American Airlines Promo: Double Elite-Status Qualifying Miles

American Airlines just released a promotion offering double elite-qualifying miles for all flights between now and June 15th. This promotion is for those working toward achieving or maintaining elite status with American. These are not miles redeemable for travel.

Click here to be directed to the AA promotions website and to register.

Purchasing Miles From the Airline - The Pros & Cons

By Mike Grasso

Purchasing airline miles directly from the airline is often a terrible method of accruing miles, both economically and practically. Some exceptions are noted later. First, the airlines usually price these miles at a premium, valued far higher than earning miles by most other means (flying, car rentals, credit cards, etc.)
For example, United Airlines will sell you 10,000 miles for $303 dollars. That $300 bucks could easily fly you to New York City for the weekend, and you'd earn 10,000 miles in the process. Therefore, there is no direct value added when buying miles from the airline.

Second, redeeming miles into a capacity controlled frequent flier program means the airline will limit your redemption opportunities on days, flights or routes it chooses. If it's a popular route, high-season, or holiday, you will have a tough time finding availability. They would rather sell expensive tickets than fill the plane up with people redeeming miles. And guess what? You are not the only person trying to redeem miles on a flight. Many people are competing for what is often limited overall availability. Thus, buying premium-priced miles for use on low-value flights with the added uncertainly seats will even be offered by the airline, isn't very practical.

But, buying airline miles can be situationally helpful. If you are 1000 miles short of 50,000 - enough for a free economy ticket to Europe, you may want to fork up the $50-$60 cost. In this case, call the airline first - check for award redemption availability before buying miles.

Another example is maybe you are 5,000 miles short of 90,000 - enough to fly Business Class on Singapore Airlines to Asia. The true value of that business class ticket is probably $6,000 or more. Paying $150 to cover your miles shortfall does seem tempting. Again, check for availability of award seats.

Lastly, as if they airline doesn't already have a strong-hold on these frequent flier programs already; buying miles is not a real-time exchange. United Airlines says it can take up to 48 hours to post to your account, American Airlines up to 72 hours. So while you are waiting for those purchased miles to post to your account, award availability may vanish from under your eyes. If you are in a situation like this, call the airline first, explain your scenario. They may do a courtesy hold if you provide them with your confirmation number of your miles purchase.

U.S Airways toughens Dividend Miles accrual

Beginning May 1, 2008, U.S. Airways will change the company's Dividend Miles program to award the actual number of miles flown rather than a minimum number of miles flown for each segment. The airline said the changes are necessary to offset record fuel prices and rising airline-related expenses.

The present policy of the Dividend Program, and many other airline programs, allows members to receive a minimum 500 miles for each flight segment flown, a benefit for those who travel on short-haul flights under 500 miles in distance. With the changes, passengers will earn only what they fly.

Consider a flight from San Francisco to Los Angeles: 337 flight miles rounds up and presently would earn you 500 miles. But, come May 1st you earn just 337 miles. For business travelers who frequent these short distance flights, the shrinkage in miles will definitely be felt.

Here's how the policy will be rolled out:
Accrual Tickets purchased on/after March 1, 2008, for travel on US Airways on/after May 1, 2008 will earn the actual number of miles flown and will no longer earn a minimum of 500 miles per segment. Tickets flown on partner airlines after May 1, 2008, will earn the actual number of miles flown. Tickets purchased prior to March 1, 2008, will continue to earn the 500-mile minimum for travel after May 1, 2008. Accrual on flight segments greater than 500 miles in length are not impacted by this change.

500 Delta SkyMiles for switching to online statements

Delta Airlines is offering 500 bonus SkyMiles for members who switch from paper to online statements. Visit www.delta.com/insiderbonus to sign up.

Regular travelers to Seattle will appreciate Alaska Airlines latest promotion: Earn double MileagePlan miles for flights to/from San Francisco and Seattle for the rest of the year. This is a qualifying promotion whereby you need to fly this route twice prior to being eligible for this promotion. Details here. This offer is likely in response to competitor Virgin America, who announced service into Seattle will begin in March.

Effective today, American Airlines AAdvantage accounts must have a qualifying activity at least every 18 months, otherwise the miles will cease to exist. From the AA website:
"AAdvantage members now must have mileage earning or redemption activity once every eighteen (18) months in order to remain active and retain their miles. Effective December 15, 2007, mileage balances will expire from AAdvantage accounts that have not had miles either earned or redeemed within the previous eighteen (18) month period. If the last activity in your AAdvantage account was prior to June 15, 2006, all miles subject to expiration will expire on December 15, 2007."

Earn 1,000 bonus Delta SkyMiles when you spend $20 or more with Shutterfly. Great for uploading & printing holiday photos, greeting cards and more.
Offer expires December 31st. Visit Shutterfly for more information.

Budget Car Rental: 3000 Delta Skymiles and 20% off when renting a car for 3 days or longer, through December 15th. Click HERE for the offer and T&C

Delta Airlines: Changes to frequent flyer redemption's effective December 1st. "SkyChoice Award Ticket Reservations will no longer be available on every Delta flight in which a seat is available for sale. SkyChoice Award Ticket Reservations will continue to be available on most Delta flights, but seats will be limited and possibly unavailable on some flights."

Translation: Under the current policy, a "SkySaver" award redemption for travel in the U.S is 25,000 miles, subject to capacity control (hard to find an available seat). You still had the option of spending 50,000 miles though "SkyChoice" and you could choose any seat on any flight. New policy states "SkyChoice" will now also be capacity controlled (you can no longer have any seat, any flight), but you will have more options than a Saver ticket.

Alaska Airlines: Effective April 1, 2008. Mile balances in your Alaska Air frequent flyer account will expire after 2 years of no activity (down from the existing 3 year requirement).

Bad (very bad) U.S. Airways Dividend Miles "promo"

Bad promotions are typically not posted on inFLIGHTout, but this one is so ridiculous, it must be reported on. In an email to dividend members, U.S air says it will permit passengers to redeem 10,000 dividend miles for $50 bucks off a flight during the months of January and February.

A) January and February are slow travel months, they should be enticing people to fly with double mile promotions and fare discounts

B) The value of 10,000 miles is is worth A LOT more than $50.00. The most basic measure is a free roundtrip ticket in the Continental U.S; 25,000 miles on U.S. Air. So dumping 10,000 of your miles is worth almost a free 1 way ticket across the country, which is worth far more than $50.

If you have miles "just sitting" in your U.S air account (or other airlines for that matter), even if your not close to a free ticket yet, I recommend you "let it ride". You need to have activity in most frequent flyer programs within 18-36 months otherwise you forfeit your miles. Simply renting a car from Avis for example can earn you frequent flyer miles, and count as activity in your frequent flyer program. In my opinion this is a wiser choice than falling for this U.S Airways "promotion".

From the email: Coming soon! Starting October 22, you can reduce the fare of a US Airways roundtrip ticket by $50 by redeeming 10,000 Dividend Miles. This offer will be valid on all published US Airways roundtrip fares flown in January and February 2008 with a 14-day advance purchase.

Cathay Pacific 15,000 mile bonus flying SFO-Hong Kong

Likely to promote the additional San Francisco to Hong Kong flights beginning in October, Cathay Pacific is offering a 10,000 Asia miles bonus (economy class) or 15,000 Asia miles bonus (business or first class) for upcoming flights. Click here for more details and to register.
Cathay Pacific has been ranked one of the top airlines in the world for onboard product, cabin service and lounge access, and is part of the OneWorld alliance.

250 American Airlines miles for completing a 3 minute survey about AAvacations
Click here
Thank you for taking the time to fill out the AmericanAirlines VacationsSM Travel Survey. In appreciation of your participation we will credit your AAdvantage® account with 250 bonus miles within the next 8-10 weeks.