[Frequent flier programs have made it easy to accrue frequent flier miles without ever stepping on a plane.] But what airlines won't tell you is that when you try to redeem your free ticket you're competing with 40 million other frequent fliers for the same ticket, ... We all want to go to the same place and there aren't enough upgrade seats to go around. |
A lot of people said miles have become devalued, if you will. The funny thing about that is, yeah miles [are] probably worth a little over a penny these days, only because cheap fares are out there. The only way to get more expensive rewards is for airfares to go up. |
Actually, it's a pretty good deal. For most people, $25 is a very cheap price to get home hours and hours sooner. |
As a result of people buying tickets so often, there's not much room for people cashing in their miles. |
Australia ranks in the five top destinations in the world for using your miles. |
But what airlines won't tell you is that when you try to redeem your free ticket you're competing with 40 million other frequent fliers for the same ticket. We all want to go to the same place and there aren't enough upgrade seats to go around. |
Every frequent flyer program has a series of non-profit organizations that you can donate your miles to. |
For the past 18 years the Freddie Awards have honored the best among the airline and hotel loyalty programs, and I couldn't be more thrilled than to have Rolfe, Steve and Bob, men who were quite active in the start of these programs, share their experiences and insights with the audience. |
Hotel rates are going up, and hotels haven't yet adjusted redemption rates. |
If someone's got 400,000 miles due to expire and it's a choice between $4,000 and the possibility of losing them, the person might take the money. If he gets caught, he was going to lose the miles anyway. |
If US Airways survives, as that date gets closer, you can pay your $40 and put the miles back in your US Airways account, ... If they don't make it, you've got something you can use that far out. It might be better than having nothing at all. |
If you're feeling a little guilty at the end of the year and you got some extra miles, ... I highly encourage you to contact your local frequent flyer program and give. |
Instead of collecting trading cards and other memorabilia some have grown up and now air miles is the adults' collectable. |
Instead of probably redeeming an award next time going to L.A. or New York or Dallas, you'll probably start thinking of international destinations, like going to Australia. |
Midweek reward redemption has a lot more seats available the Saturday and Sunday. |