OT: Frequent Flyer Programs--worth it?

eric · Since 13 Jan 2006 1871 Posts XTreme Poster

On the teacher schedule: vacations Dec 15-Jan 2; March 22-29; Summer.

Some say, "too many black-outs," "too few seats for FF.."

Thoughts?

Thanks,
Eric

registered · Since 12 Jul 2005 1319 Posts tsunami Sandbagger

north west frequent flyer miles blow the big dong......
if doing credit card aquiring much better with cash back IMHO.

eric · Since 13 Jan 2006 1871 Posts XTreme Poster

Yeah, I do the 1% REI card, and have thought of that as "a ticket."

rich · Since 30 Nov 2005 306 Posts portland Obsessed

I do united, it is ok. I've gotten a ticket everytime I've tried, though I can't get a direct rewards flight for sh!t.

Kraemer · Since 24 Apr 2006 1736 Posts Sky Pilot Unicorn Captain

Delta miles aren't worth a wooden nickel. That's my 2¢.

tonyb · Sun Dec 09, 07 4:09 pm

I've had great luck with Alaska miles. You can get free tickets pretty easy or use less miles on any ticket to discount it up to $200 or $250. Southwest's program is pretty good too. All in all, if you're traveling try to get something for all that time spent in the air and in hotel rooms.

Tony

broadbandito · Since 26 Apr 2005 342 Posts CSO headwaters WheatHead

Any FF program is better than nothing. That is, if you fly much you might as well join and get the miles credit for flying. If you travel several times per year you will get upgraded eventually and the miles can come in handy for class upgrades even if you never score a free seat to your dream vacation. It also makes sense to pick your horse and ride it. SW doesn't partner much, but most of the airlines partner with a group of others so you can get credit for flights on partners and credit all those miles to one or two airlines. I travel a lot for work and put all my flights into either NW or United, even if I fly Delta (NW partner) or USAir (United partner, tho still a POS airline today) so I can build up meaningful miles. 10,000 miles with 10 different airlines is worth nothing, but 100K with one will get you something. I know some people get crazy and fly extra legs to get miles, or buy crap they don't need with the FF credit card just a mile up--that's just psycho. Air miles are worth somewhere around 1-1.5 pennies each. It takes a lot to make a party.

rich · Since 30 Nov 2005 306 Posts portland Obsessed

for united, it is usually 35k miles to get a rewards ticket. I just booked my cozumel trip w/ miles (plane ticket only). The bummer is that it is a 3 leg flight and will take about 15 hours in all w/ layovers.

You might also consider the places you'd be interested in traveling to the most using rewards miles. Then take that info and see which airlines have the best flights to those destinations. Because I'm w/ united, everything I do has me in sfo, ohara, denver, or dulles. I've flown back from singapore all the way to DC, just to catch my connection back to portland.

Joshiebaby · Since 14 Oct 2007 569 Posts Vancouver, WA Addicted

Alaska is good for domestic. Delta isn't bad for international. NWA blows. If you do the delta one you can get the first year annual fee free if you do the AMEX one. Then switch out to Alaska right before the annual fee hits. You get downgraded from 1 mile/dollar to 1 mile per 2 bucks but don't have to pay the annual fee. Delta has a good website for their award travel.

registered · Since 12 Jul 2005 1319 Posts tsunami Sandbagger

after trying to talk with some one today at nwa= Nations Worst Airline I thought I would reslam them publicly...................

don't waste your time acumulating nwa miles they won't even staff people to book them and the .com option is a total rip off...

could buy the ticket from any website for 700 but my miles would hook me up for 750 plus 35000 miles plus some fees. same flight and everything...................................

nwa sucks ....

trevorsmith · Since 25 Apr 2005 501 Posts PDX Addicted

I fly United all the time..and once you get premier or 100k status its great as you get auto upgrade to economy plus for free. then I use my free 500 mile upgrades to bump myself to first class.

I just booked two tickets to St. Marteen off mileage..and cost 75 bucks plus 35000 miles each ticket. so I think its worth it.

only problem with United is they don't have great flight choices to central america.

Mark · Mon Dec 17, 07 4:03 pm

Southwest is great for local stuff. Just booked a flight to Utah for $5 Got to love the reward miles! Ps Southwest goes off of flights not distance. So 8 trips to spokane or Seattle or Vegas gets you a freebie. Also if you get a Southwest visa, you rack miles for dollars spent.

I use the Alaska miles for trips accross the country or out of the country. They are partners with quite a few carriers.

Mark
Ps Nak has the best deal! Wink

Nak · Tue Dec 18, 07 4:46 am

jcohenx · Since 28 Aug 2007 250 Posts Portland Obsessed

As previous posters note, not signing up gets you nothing, signing up gets you something. If you don't fly a lot it's going to take a long time to accrue any bennies from any airline.

I agree that NWA's program stinks but a better option, if you fly NWA a lot, is to sign up with the Continental Airlines program because they share reciprocity with a large number of airlines. I fly about 100k a year and it took me nearly a year before the program began to start to pay any real dividends.

Nak · Fri Dec 21, 07 1:47 pm

Probably more important than how good the FF program is would be what extra charges for kiteboarding gear the airline levys... At this time NWA still charges 0 for kiteboarding gear as long as you stay under the 50 pound limit. Some of the other carriers have a pretty hefty charge...

Its a good idea to sign up for the frequent flier program of any airline you fly, even if you'll never get a FF ticket. It costs nothing, and sometimes you'll get a nice perk for being a member. If coach is oversold and First Class is open, frequent flier members will be the ones upgraded to First. You may get nothing, but you might get something...