December 2, 2010
I just redeemed 2 awards in business class to Europe on Us airways using their off peak business class award, total 120K+369 in taxes. amazingly cheap.
In addition, I guess because of US airways MasterCard, award was future reduced by 10K+ $100, so total 110K miles for 2 people.
I know this off peak award long time ago, but never had chances to try one and always thought US airways flight seats are very limited. I guess it’s better than what I thought, seats are not too hard to be found!
Posted by Troy under Award redemption, US airways |
October 29, 2010
As I mentioned yesterday, United starts to offer one way redemption on *A partners effective today.
1 Book by phone only
2 cost half of R/T
3 no stopover permitted
Finally, United offers this benefit and I can pretty much guarantee that even after the merge of two programs, the benefit will remain, but I also think CO stopover+open jaw benefit will be gone. Personally, I think Delta will eventually offer the same thing because it becomes “Industrial standard” now. Let leave US airways, because they are always on their own.
Posted by Troy under Continental Airline, Delta, Star Alliance, United Airlines, US airways |
October 22, 2010
According to this FT thread, you can get 2000 GoldPoint plus points just for sign up, you better do it now because 2000 points will take up to 14 days to post.
You can transfer 2000 points to 250 US airways miles to get 1 Grand Slam hit.
Offer only valid for new members without an existing account.
Posted by Troy under Club Carlson(Formally Carlson Hotels Gold Points Plus), US airways |
October 14, 2010
You must use AAA CDP, a easy to remember one is 123 and coupon code 145935. It may not work at all locations or time, but if it works, it will knock out $10 per day!
Also, many people have reported hertz local edition rental will get US airways miles too.
Posted by Troy under Rental Cars, US airways |
October 13, 2010
From Oct 1st-Dec 15th, 2010, earn 50% bonus on all US airways flight booked with mastercard or 100% bonus booked with US AIRWAY mastercard.
registration required prior to booking and it’s stackable with this double miles promotion
Posted by Troy under US airways |
October 12, 2010
Sorry for lack of updates lately, I was in Europe with my mom and grandma, it’s not easy to be a tour guide+ a driver!!
Anyway, Few updates on Grand Slam.
For SPG stay hit with Direct Deposit, you platinum Amenity must post with stay in order to be D. D into US airways account, if you request them later, it will stay with your SPG account
IF you want to turn off Direct deposit and back t o points earning, you just need to delete your US airways number in your SPG profile.
Also, US airways changed award chart, move Russia to Europe from North Asia and Thailand and Philippines to North Asia from South Asia, no more cheap first class from China-Russia
Posted by Troy under US airways |
October 2, 2010
I post here and here step by step instruction on US Airways Grand Slam promotion, this is one more update, I suggest you read all three posts before plan your own Grand Slam
Recently, there is a promotion from Country Inn , where you can get 15000 bonus points as long as your stay Sun – Thursday, I checked the rate, a single Sun night stay at certain hotels are pretty cheap, you can change your earning preference to Miles for your stay, this will count as one hit, then once you get your points, you can transfer your points to US airways for one more hit.( I am double checking on this now), if you don’t feel safe while I am checking, you can just do the points earning, once you get 15000 points, you can transfer to your US airways account. IF you have family member with same last name, you can transfer 2500 points to each of your family members to get hits for them,
In addition, I have mentioned super shuttle before, if you don’t need the shuttle, but still want to get the hit, find a $8 rate with $3 discount code UYR59, then no show. You will still get 50 miles. Most $5 can be get from selected airport to nearby airport hotels.
I hope everyone can benefit from the post to hit Grand Slam with min effort and cost!
Posted by Troy under Other Deals and Promotions, US airways |
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
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 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 |
