Keep on Flying With Frequent Flyer Miles
In an attempt to encourage customer loyalty, most major airlines these days have whats called a "frequent flyer program.
" These programs reward customers with points, or "miles" as they like to call them, that can be redeemed for free flights, upgrades, and other nice perks.
As you can probably guess, miles are earned by flying on the program's carrier.
Most programs give you one "mile" for each actual mile spent in flight.
There's usually a minimum number of miles that you will earn per segment, which would apply to short puddle jumper flights.
Also, you will usually earn more points when you buy a first class ticket.
The major frequent flyer programs in the US are American Airlines AAdvantage, United Mileage Plus, Northwest WorldPerks, Delta SkyMiles, Continental OnePass, and US Airways Dividend Miles.
Frequent flyer programs are free to join.
You can usually fill out an application right when you check in for a flight.
The best program for any given person depends on multiple factors, such as who the carriers are at your local airport or the airports you visit most frequently.
For example, if you lived in Detroit, where Northwest has its hub, it would make sense to join the Northwest WorldPerks program.
Its best to join one program and do all of your flying on that program's carrier.
This is because you generally cannot transfer mileage you earn from one program to another.
There are several things you can do to maximize the number of miles you earn.
For example, intentionally booking an itinerary with more segments can in some cases get you more miles with little or no difference in the price of the tickets.
Booking an itinerary with connections that are further away can also make a difference.
Also, be sure to use your frequent flyer account on business trips; even though the boss is paying, you are still the one who earns the miles.
One last piece of advice: be sure to check the expiration rules of your program carefully.
In recent years, the airlines have quietly reduced the amount of time of inactivity before your miles go poof.
For example, on December 31st 2007, United Mileage Plus miles will expire after 18 months of inactivity instead of 36.
American Airlines AAdvantage and Delta Skymiles have taken similar steps this year.
The phrase "use them or lose them" fits nicely here.
If you have enough miles for a trip, put them to use sooner rather than later.
" These programs reward customers with points, or "miles" as they like to call them, that can be redeemed for free flights, upgrades, and other nice perks.
As you can probably guess, miles are earned by flying on the program's carrier.
Most programs give you one "mile" for each actual mile spent in flight.
There's usually a minimum number of miles that you will earn per segment, which would apply to short puddle jumper flights.
Also, you will usually earn more points when you buy a first class ticket.
The major frequent flyer programs in the US are American Airlines AAdvantage, United Mileage Plus, Northwest WorldPerks, Delta SkyMiles, Continental OnePass, and US Airways Dividend Miles.
Frequent flyer programs are free to join.
You can usually fill out an application right when you check in for a flight.
The best program for any given person depends on multiple factors, such as who the carriers are at your local airport or the airports you visit most frequently.
For example, if you lived in Detroit, where Northwest has its hub, it would make sense to join the Northwest WorldPerks program.
Its best to join one program and do all of your flying on that program's carrier.
This is because you generally cannot transfer mileage you earn from one program to another.
There are several things you can do to maximize the number of miles you earn.
For example, intentionally booking an itinerary with more segments can in some cases get you more miles with little or no difference in the price of the tickets.
Booking an itinerary with connections that are further away can also make a difference.
Also, be sure to use your frequent flyer account on business trips; even though the boss is paying, you are still the one who earns the miles.
One last piece of advice: be sure to check the expiration rules of your program carefully.
In recent years, the airlines have quietly reduced the amount of time of inactivity before your miles go poof.
For example, on December 31st 2007, United Mileage Plus miles will expire after 18 months of inactivity instead of 36.
American Airlines AAdvantage and Delta Skymiles have taken similar steps this year.
The phrase "use them or lose them" fits nicely here.
If you have enough miles for a trip, put them to use sooner rather than later.
