Our reader Robert G. reports this interesting story.
He tried to use Amex points to get 2 Continental Airlines OnePass tickets to Europe.
Continental Airlines had no seats available.

To his disbelief, by placing his miles in Delta Airlines Skymiles, he was able to get the flights on Continental Airlines that he needed.
Robert is rightfully pretty fed up with Continental Airlines.

Pointswizard.com Spin: Our reader ran into the same problem we have had in the last few years. Continental Airlines is very stingy with frequent flyer tickets. Although Continental Airlines releases statistics stating how many rewards it redeems - this is not reality based for the average traveler.
Maybe these redemptions are for trips going to Alaska in January?

We earned those miles through travel and credit card purchases. We should be able to redeem them even on good flights for example Florida in the winter or Europe in the May or June.

If you’ve spoken to people less than 40 years old you know a large number of them are also totally fed up with Continental Airlines. Therefore they are switching to JetBlue and Southwest. They switch because they can buy one-way fares and not be penalized and for easy frequent flyer reward redemption.

Continental Airlines may be losing customers in the same way as General Motors lost customers in the 70’s and 80’s.

Will they ever come back or will they stay away like GM customers have done?

From Sept. 1 through Sept. 30, 2008, Continental OnePass® members can earn 8,500 bonus miles and save up to 20 percent on rentals of five consecutive days or more at participating* Budget airport locations in the U.S. and Canada.

To make a reservation:

* Sign in to your OnePass account.
* Go to the Advanced Car Search tab.
* Enter BCD Number U072500 and Coupon Number MUAZ041.

Pointswizard.com Spin: Click here for offer-don’t forget to sign into your OnePass account.

OnePass is turning 21, and we’re inviting our best customers to celebrate at our Texas Hold ‘em Tournament in Las Vegas. The winner will take home an astonishing 21 million miles.

You don’t want to miss the celebration of our landmark event - a Texas Hold ‘em Tournament at the legendary Golden Nugget Las Vegas, winner of the AAA Four-Diamond award. The Golden Nugget recently completed a $170 million renovation and expansion of its features and amenities. This event will be held from Aug. 6 to 10, 2008.

Try your skill against 420 other OnePass members and see if you have what it takes to win the grand prize —21-million-miles. The top 40 finalist will receive prizes. All players and their guests will be treated to parties with food, drinks and live entertainment on Aug. 6 and Aug. 7.

On Friday, Aug. 8 the top 40 players and their guests will be invited to join Continental executives for a wine dinner at Grotto Ristorante. On Saturday, Aug 9th, the top 10 players and their guests will join the executives for dinner at Vic & Anthony’s Steakhouse.

There are a lot of miles at stake

Lay your chips on the table and get on the player’s list for the 21st Birthday Texas Hold’em Tournament. There are millions of OnePass miles up for grabs, and your odds of winning have never been better.

If your luck holds out, here’s what you could win:

Prizes:
The top 40 players — 50,000 bonus miles
10th Place — 100,000 bonus miles
9th Place — 150,000 bonus miles
8th Place — 200,000 bonus miles
7th Place — 250,000 bonus miles
6th Place — 300,000 bonus miles
5th Place — 350,000 bonus miles
4th Place — 400,000 bonus miles
3rd Place — 500,000 bonus miles
2nd Place — 1 million bonus miles
1st Place — 21 Million bonus miles
Register now to secure your spot in the tournament

To register, enter your OnePass number here and then purchase the Golden Nugget Event Package**. To book the hotel package, call the Golden Nugget at 800-634-3454 and provide Registration Code TB2M63. This will secure your spot in the tournament. Entries are limited and will fill up fast. Book your hotel package before July 11, 2008 and you will receive 5,000 bonus miles.

Tournament Agenda

Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2008
Tournament registration begins at 12:00 p.m.
Hotel check-in at 3:00 p.m.
Evening reception from 7:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Welcome party event hosted by Fremont Street Experience for all players and a guest including food, liquor and live entertainment.
Thursday, Aug. 7, 2008
Tournament play 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Buffet lunch 12:00 p.m. (players only)
Evening reception from 7:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
OnePass birthday celebration party for all players and a guest including food, liquor and live entertainment.
Friday, Aug. 8, 2008
Tournament play 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Buffet lunch - 12:00 p.m. (only for players actively participating in the tournament)
Winner’s dinner with Continental executives at Grotto Ristorante - 7:30 p.m. (top 40 players and their guests)
Saturday, Aug. 9, 2008
OnePass Q&A session and airline update with Continental executives - 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. (attendance optional)
Tournament play 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Buffet lunch - 12:00 p.m. (players only for players actively participating in the tournament).
Winner’s dinner with Continental executives at Vic & Anthony’s Steakhouse+ 7:00 p.m. (top 10 players and their guests)
Sunday, Aug. 10, 2008
Hotel check-out at 12:00 p.m.
(Times are subject to change)

Attire

Tournament - casual
Receptions - business casual

Pointswizard.com Spin: Link to the offer then click on “OnePass is turning 21 and you could win 21 million miles”

Last sign up day Mon., Jun. 30, 2008

If you have a problem registering with Safari browser use Firefox or IE

OnePass® members can earn miles for every dollar spent with participating Thanks Again merchants. Simply register up to five credit or debit cards in the program. Then use your registered credit or debit card at participating merchants and your miles will automatically be credited to your OnePass account*.

OnePass members may also take advantage of the following special offers:
-Through 6/30/08, enroll now and get a 500 mile bonus after your first transaction at a participating merchant.
-Each time you spend $200 with a participating dry cleaner over a two calendar month period, you’ll get 200 bonus miles**

Pointswizard.com Spin: Click here to see if there are merchants near you or recommend some. Click here to register.

Offer valid through May 31, 2008

	Get 10,000 bonus miles when you open the checking account with Direct Deposit.
	Get another 10,000 bonus miles and earn 1 mile for every $1 in qualifying purchases with the Chase Continental Airlines Preferred Banking Card for a $65 annual fee per checking account or choose a lower annual fee option and earn 1 mile for every $2 in qualifying purchases with the Chase Continental Airlines Banking Card for a $25 annual fee per checking account.

Pointswizard.com Spin: Click here for all the details and the code you’ll need

Travelers have been complaining more often about frequent flier programs — namely, the lack of award seats on desirable flights, escalating fees for ostensibly free tickets and quicker expiration dates for miles.
The airlines counter that they are giving away more awards than ever, despite generally fuller planes, and that most programs allow members to book any open seat on any flight, albeit in exchange for more miles.

In a sense, both sides are right. But this debate misses a fundamental change that has occurred in the economics of frequent flier programs in the last decade. What began 27 years ago as a way to win the loyalty of travelers has turned into a lucrative business for the airlines.

Many airlines now earn hundreds of millions of dollars a year by selling miles to partners like credit card companies and hotel chains. Those companies, in turn, give the miles to customers as sign-up bonuses or rewards for hotel stays. That revenue is critical for the airlines in an era of escalating fuel prices. But it has also changed frequent flier programs into more complex businesses, where fliers are just one of the constituencies carriers are trying to please.
“The real change over the years has been the evolution from being a loyalty program for the airline’s best customers to today being a currency program for anybody’s best customers,” said Randy Petersen, publisher of InsideFlyer.com, which tracks frequent flier programs.
The currency is measured in accumulated miles, which consumers value so highly that thousands of companies now purchase them at prices ranging from one to three cents a mile. (About half of all miles given out these days, in fact, do not involve flying.)

One way that carriers are trying to reduce the mileage backlog is by adopting stricter expiration policies. Miles now typically expire after 18 months or two years of account inactivity, instead of three years.
Airlines are also offering more ways for members to use their miles, like bidding for things like Broadway tickets at online auctions, trading miles for merchandise or using a combination of cash and miles for air travel. (via nytimes.com)

Pointswizard.com Spin: CLICK HERE to read the whole article. Thanks to our reader Rob F. for the tip.

Get 10,000 bonus miles1 when you open the checking account with Direct Deposit.

Get another 10,000 bonus miles and earn 1 mile for every $1 in qualifying purchases with the Chase Continental Airlines Preferred Banking Card for a $65 annual fee per checking account or choose a lower annual fee option and earn 1 mile for every $2 in qualifying purchases with the Chase Continental Airlines Banking Card for a $25 annual fee per checking account. 

Pointswizard.com Spin: Click here to see the offer page 

Enjoy the savings and earn double miles on weekend rentals of 2 or more days, or rentals of 5 or more days, at a participating airport or off airport location in the U.S., Puerto Rico or Canada.

That’s 100 miles per day on weekend rentals and 1,000 miles on rentals of 5 or more days.

To reserve this offer online:
* Click on blue line above to go to offer page
Click on the applicable “Quote It” button
* Your Discount CDP Number 391867 and Promotional Coupon (PC) Number will automatically be applied to
your reservation.
* Select “Continental Airlines” from the drop down menu in the “Frequent Traveler” field,
and enter your OnePass number in the “Frequent Traveler Number” field.

Participating Locations in U.S., Puerto Rico & Canada

The Pointswizard.com Spin:
Save this one-good from Now through December 31, 2008

Select from our list of over 6,000 stocks and ETFs
Schedule investments on a weekly, biweekly or monthly basis
Invest any dollar amount on Tuesdays exclusively online

Open a new OnePass ShareBuilder account and you’ll receive 2,000 OnePass miles after your first stock purchase.

Plus, get a free iPod® shuffle when you subscribe to the Advantage Pricing Program for the first three months.

Open a new OnePass® ShareBuilder account and get 2,000 miles after your first trade. Also, subscribe to the Advantage Pricing Program for three consecutive months, and earn an iPod® shuffle or $50 in holiday cash (good for movies, DVDs, music and books)

The Pointswizard.com Spin:
Offer ends 12/31/07.

Plus receive 5,000 OnePass bonus miles.
Book a Continental Vacations package of three nights or more to Las Vegas by Dec. 17, for travel Sept. 20 through Dec. 20, 2007, and you will be entered to win:

* 1 Million OnePass Miles
* Round-trip tickets for two to Las Vegas on Continental Airlines
* Three-night stay at the Wynn Las Vegas
* Limousine transportation to/from airport
* Dinner for two at one of the Wynn’s award-winning restaurants
* A $1,000 shopping spree at the Grand Canal Shoppes

The Pointswizard.com Spin:
Book your Las Vegas trip today.