September 28, 2010
I got many questions asked about the promotions, let me answer them all on the separate post
1 Dining, there are many Burger king around my zip code, but it may not around yours, some may have Quizno, Wendys, just anything, you just go to any place on the dining list, to get something for $1.
2 Shopping, a reader posted out itune doesn’t earn miles, I did not use itune this year, I used last year, if you don’t feel safe, use “Gaiam”, donation of $2 to plant a tree will get you 8 miles. Or buy gift card-Nordstrom is an option
3 Hotel, You will earn miles on award stays with SPG, Marriott, Hilton(Flexible miles option), because miles are awarded per dollar basis. but not with Hyatt. With SPG, make sure you signup direct deposit to miles first. If you are Platinum with SPG on award stays, you don’t need to spend a single dime to get hit on award stays, because once you signup Direct deposit, your Platinum Amenity will be transferred out to miles, that’s more than 100 miles.
4 Points.com- It looks like AA to Asia miles transfer take too long, I am still waiting, if you don’t want to wait, your Platinum with spg, tranfer 5 miles to Asia miles then to DM or use alternative I mentioned in previous post.
5 Choice hotels- If you have no points with choice hotels, buy 5000 points for $55, then transfer to 1000 US airway miles
6 US airways Debit Card from BOA, if you have account with BOA, sign up US debit card here, $30 fee, $3000 bonus miles.
7 See comments section for tips posted by a reader on Sharebuilder, if you are not member yet.
Posted by Troy under US airways |
September 27, 2010
According to a person who is very familiar with *A, Ethiopian airline will make an announcement on Wednesday, it will be the third Africa Airline joining *A and currently serving to Washington DC.
Posted by Troy under Star Alliance |
September 27, 2010
United was my first mileage program that gave me Elite status on any airline, also the first program I got top elite status(excluding GS) on any airline, it was hard to say good bye to them, but after I re evaluate everything, I decided to give up.
1 Mileage Program- United has one of the most expensive award chart AND the least flexible program on routing, carrier, change, and availability among all Major North America Programs. You can only route via one direct, no mixed of *A and Non *A, no change on *A award, no one way except UA only, open jaw or stopover and MOST IMPORTANTLY STARNET Blocking.
2 In flight product- United has the most uncomfortable first class seat, agree? No in flight power(exclude PS and some 767 first class), no internet except PS, no PTV like Delta or Continental. I agree they have flat bed cross ocean, but others too such as US air, CO, DL, AC
3 Systemwide Upgrade certificate for 1K, Lucky mentioned today on their W fare, which is the lowest booking code you can use SWU, they are just getting more and more and more expensive.
I like Continental airline a lot, they have very good program, new FLAT bed seat and In flight entertainment program just amazing, but next year, or maybe 2, CO will merge with UA, I have no idea how the program will turn out. due to my limited presence in the States for next few years or may be forever, I decided to quite both together.
As for Delta, I have to agree they have done many little things better than others, they have upgrade list under my trip section, so you know where you stand before departure. they have better domestic in flight product. In general Skymiles program is rip off, but did you notice they have the generous offer for bonus miles everywhere? Also, Their miles are not as bad as you though, it can get very creative.
For people who’s living in the hub cities, you don’t have choice, but for those don’t live around hubs, maybe you should think again such as AA, US, DL or AC.
To Clarify : I was not trying to compare UA with Delta only, I was trying to compare UA with all North America carriers.
Posted by Troy under American Airlines, Continental Airline, Delta, General Frequent Flyer Advice, Skyteam, Star Alliance, United Airlines, US airways |
September 27, 2010
I just did a MR to PIT from PEK last weekend, first flight was reposition flight from PEK TO PIT via SEA and I did not expect to earn Delta PIT bonus, but after the flight, I saw
| Air Activity 25K miles for International Economy (posted on 25Sep2010) |
|
12500 |
0 |
12500 |
I also registered new route Double miles promotion, so I got extra 5000+ from SEA-PEK segment, this simple one way earn me 30K+ Delta pesos. Thanks for Delta MQM rollover, with this R/T being count, I will exceed Platinum by at least 15K, it goes next year
Posted by Troy under Delta |
September 26, 2010
Yesterday, I went to back to the States for a quick MR trip and had an afternoon to spend. I decided to look into the Grand Slam promotions that us airways offered this year, which you can earn up to 100K bonus miles for 36 hits. When promotion just launched, I wasn’t plan to do it this year because I thought it gonna cost too much time. After I took a brief look of FT master thread, I think it’s actually pretty easy, I finished them(except car rental and hotels) in an afternoon. below is the list for all my hits, some of them are from FT master thread directly
6 hits from hotels(max 6)– I have several paid and award reservation with starwood, those are money I would have to spent regardless. If you have paid stay with Hilton,use points+fixed miles, if it’s award stay with Hilton, use points+Flexible miles. If award stay with Marriott, change earning to miles, DON’T CHANGE to miles to paid Marriott stays unless you want to give up Mega bonus. Finally, if you really have no place to stay, find some cheap Knights inn, super 8.
1 hit from SPG transfer- I am platinum, transferred 100 points.
1 hit from Goldpointplus tranfer- I transferred 2000 points for 250 US airways miles
1 hit from Hilton transfer-10000 points for 850 miles(I decided to use this because this is my last hit to reach 36)
1 hit from Goldpassport- 5000 points for 2000 miles
1 hit from shopping- If you really have nothing to buy, use itune, $1. see more notes here
1 hit from miles for magazine, the lowest 300miles is not longer on the list, so I choose 400 one. Do it early because miles don’t get deduct until 2 weeks later.
1 hit from points.com. I swap 20 miles AA to 5 Asia miles then swap to 1 US airways miles. Alternatively, you can swap 53 US miles to 18 Greenpoints, then swap back into 1 US airways miles
1 hit from Dinning- Plenty of Burger Kings on the list, just but a kid drink. $1
1 hit from 21 Century Insurance
1 hit from Supershuttle– Google” Super shuttle discount” $3 off coupon everywhere.
1 hit from Network Solutions- I need it.
1 hit from thanksagain- buy a $10 restaurant.com certificate for .80 cents during 80% off
Above are hits I would have to spend or cost nothing, below are hits I spend my money to get.
1 hit from Vinesse– buy pocket wine tasting guide, 4.95+2.5 shipping, you go to their website, find Gift section, then find book &CD section, this guide is there)
1 hit from Dividend Miles Wireless-Again, like last year, Cellphone wipe, 3.49+4.99 shipping
1 hit from OfficeMax– MMF wedgy scabbard antimicrobial pen refill – $0.59 + $7.95 shipping
1 hit from Netflix– If you want to do it, do it now, please miles won’t post until after the 1 month trial period, $9.99
1 hit from Lifelock- Same as above, miles won’t post until after the trial period.
1 hit from Skymall– Search “Improvements”, then sort by price, you will find a item with $2.99 + $7.95 shipping
1 hit from Biscoff– cookies #0213 – $13.56 + $7.95 shipping
1 hit from Buy Miles– I have not done it yet because I haven’t decide to buy 1K or 100K. will do at last minutes
1 hit from Share miles- $40, but both my and my wife account got a hit
1 hit from FTD.com– boutonniere #D11-3904 – $16.95 + $14.99 shipping
1 hit from ChronoMed– Frequent Flyer Support Pack – $29.95 + $6.95 shipping
1 hit from Trackitback- 19,99 +4.95 shipping
and Finally 6 hits from car rental– I only have limited presence in the states before end of the year, but one of them is weekend day in PIT, so I rent 3 times from 3 diff company on 4 hours interval. With budget, use COSTCO BCD W852800, With Hertz, use CDG 706900 with Coupon code, 137771, with Alamo, use this link, all three cost $20 eachthe rest three I will rent from other places with $30 each. Total cost, $150 for 6 hits
So my total extra cost are less than $400 USD, I will get 100K bonus miles+ 10K from various sources. Not bad for an afternoon work, isn’t it?
Posted by Troy under US airways |
September 22, 2010
Few months ago, I talked about Fidelity Amex card in here, basically, you earn 2%(2 points) for every dollar you spend, those are BOA world points, you can redeem them for travel or other rewards or direct deposit into Fidelity my smart cash account as cash. The card only carries 1% foreign transaction fee
Today, I went to the website again, found out a new redemption partner-Air Canada Aeroplan, you can now transfer you worldpoints into Aeroplan miles on 1:1 basis, that means you earn 2 miles per dollar charge to this credit card. 120K miles will get you First class to some Asia countries, one stopover+ one open jaw or 2 stopovers permitted
Air Canada Award Chart
If you just get a card, make sure to call the number on the back to TURN OFF auto deposit into Fidelity account function.
Posted by Troy under Award redemption, General Frequent Flyer Advice, Other Airline Reward Programs |
September 19, 2010
Soon, China eastern airline will join Skyteam and merge with Shanghai airline, which will build an extremely strong base for Skyteam in Shanghai and China.you can redeem Delta miles for all China Eastern flight, even now and availabilities are very good.
Just like most Asia FFP, China Eastern has massive blackout dates throughout year to various regions. Delta makes thing even easier for themselves, just blackout all MU flights as long as there is a blackout date to any region.
But this will be improved next year, China Eastern only has very few blackout date for upcoming year, only around Chinese New year(1.29-2.16), Labor day(4.28-5.3) and Most September-10.7.
I hope their availabilities still good after they join Skyteam.
Posted by Troy under Award redemption, Delta, Skyteam |
September 18, 2010
After I posted my frustration with AA for this Asia 2 to PPT award, I posted my route on FT AA forum routing Master Thread. PVG-HKG-AKL-PPT, which are considered as 2 awards. Another FTer posted different routing, which is PVG-xxx-xxx-SYD-AKL-PPT, F cabin all in 45K one way.
The only difference here is routing via SYD, though both routes last connection are AKL. I called AA one more time to test PVG-SYD-AKL-PPT in C, even I overnight in AKL, it priced out correctly with 70K R/T in C. so KEY here is SYD.
however, I did tried to add one more leg, PPT-IPC, it required 2 awards again.
Posted by Troy under American Airlines, Award redemption |
September 18, 2010
detail can be found here
book from Sep 15th-Oct 15th, for travel from Sep 15th- March 31st, 2011 on Air Tahiti Nui using AA miles from LAX, 20% off of standard awards. that’s 59,000 miles for Economy, 99,000 for business.
Please, valid on TN flight from LAX-PPT only, and business class blackout date:
Flights from Papeete, Tahiti to Los Angeles: December 18, 2010 – January 7, 2011.
Flights from Los Angeles to Papeete, Tahiti: December 18, 2010 – December 29, 2010.
Posted by Troy under American Airlines |
September 18, 2010
According to this FT thread, UA Visa card 50K signup offer is back, but you need to input your information to be a elite to get this offer.
Posted by Troy under United Airlines |
September 17, 2010
Based on my experience with all Delta call centers, SLC is truly the worst, extremely rude CSR, no idea what they are doing, only know how to screw up and refuse to admit.
Yesterday, I was helping a reader to book a complex itinerary that was held until 11:00pm, everything was good, we were ready to ticket it. In general, I asked where the agent located before doing anything, but my request was so simple, a tiny modification and issuing ticket, so I did not bother to ask, then it turned out to be a disaster to me.
Right after the agent modified the trip, I told her to issue the ticket, all of sudden, I heard she said”OH, MY GOSH”, then she placed me on hold. I felt something wasn’t right here, I then login to see the trip, the All segments were gone but one, I think that’s been done btw she said:” my gosh” and I login the account. She DELETED the entire itinerary , then trying to put everything back on, for the next 30 minutes, I was watching the trip was put back together one by one except TWO TRANSPACIFIC LEGS
After 30 mins, she came back and started to blame me by saying, those two transpacific legs were never confirmed. I was extremely angry and asked to talk to a supervisor, she then said, Wait until she finished with supervisor first. After another 30 minutes, the call was answered by supervisor, who was not helpful either, she insist that seats were never confirmed, even if it was confirmed, Korean Air took seat away because I did not ticket them. Unbelievable Customer Service!!!! She could not get seat back even if I told her to follow my step, she refused. I hang up eventually.
Then next call was even worse, right after I told him the confirmation number and wanted to modify the trip, he said:” Listen to me, if I touch this reservation and check the seat for you, regardless there is seat or not, you have to ticket rest of the trip or cancel them.”Again, SLC call center.
Next 2 calls, 1 transfer me to Online desk Support and another one hang up on me. I know some Delta agents are bad, but I did not expect to get them back to back.
Finally, I use my Skymiles account number to call, which connect to MI call center. I told agent to work on my reader’s confirmation, she was very happy to do it. She was willing to follow my instruction to put seat back together and issue both ticket together. All done in 15 minutes.
I normally don’t call US call center if the account is not Platinum or Diamond, because there are high possibility to be routed to SLC. I use China mandarin call center instead, but the ticket was only held until yesterday US time, I can not wait until today to call China call center. Sometimes when I call US call center in late afternoon, evening(Pacific time) or early in the morning, I don’t usually get SLC even account holder is silver.
My rating for Delta center is Hibbis, MI call center, Seattle Call Center, Dallas Call Center, Cincinnati, then SLC. so trust me, don’t waste your time, ask the agent where they are, if they are in SLC, hang up and call again.
Posted by Troy under Award redemption, Delta |
