No miles for the deep discounters

I am one of those fliers who have bought into the frequent flier program … I know it’s a ploy by the airlines to create and maintain loyalty at the expense of most fliers, especially those who do not take advantage of the perks and benefits.

So, after each trip, I check to make sure that the airlines correctly credit me my miles.  A couple of days after returning from my Memorial Day holiday, I notice that United had not credited my my miles.  So, I wait a little longer, but eventually call.

United does not award frequent flier miles when you make your reservations on Priceline or Hotwire.  The agent told me that these deeply discounted fares are not available for  mile credit, because they are so deeply discounted.  Oh!  Although, I have not done so yet; maybe, I should take my advice and seek a second opinion.  However, it makes sense that the airlines would not count these fares.  I got an amazing bargain on my fare … I guess it was worth foregoing the miles this time.

Always get a second opinion

I just recently returned from my Memorial Day travel and have to say that that was one of the better traveling experiences I have had … not because of where I went, but because there weren’t that many people traveling … at least through Cincinnati and Washington Dulles and Raleigh.

So what am I complaining about this time?  I decided to arrive at the airport early since I live about 80 miles from Cincinnati’s airport and I thought that I would go to one of the airport lounges and work … there are just so many distractions at home.  I had already checked-in and thought that I would just head off to the club, which is in a different terminal with a different security.  In other words, there’s no way to get from one terminal to another once going through security.  So, I asked the United check-in personnel [mistake number one] if I could enter any terminal with my ticket.  I told her I wanted to go the Delta club … she said empathically, no, absolutely not, can’t be done, don’t even try.  Okay!

Despite her confidence in answering my question.  I was not confident, probably not satisfied, with her answer, so I asked a TSA agent.  He said, you can absolutely go to any terminal you like as long as you have a valid ticket for the airport.  So, off I go, trouble free.  TSA, did ask me, hey, you know you are at the wrong terminal, and I replied, yes, I just want to visit the Delta club, and the agent said okay.  FYI, the Delta club in Concourse A is closed on Saturdays, fortunately the club in Concourse B is open.  I had the club practically to myself!

Last word, always get a second opinion.

Airport lounges … is it worth it?

Are you a frequent traveler? Do you like to work when you travel? How do you deal with noise and crowds? Yes. Yes. No well!

I like to wait for my flights in airport lounges. I belong to both Northwest and United, but not all lounges are the same. All the lounges run the airlines have agreements with their code share partners to club members in their partnership to visit their loungers … typically, only if you are flying on a code shared airline. In other words, club memberships are about as complicated as everything else that the airlines do.

But like airlines, not all clubs in all airports are created the same. Sometimes, alcoholic beverages are included in the membership, other times they are not. Some offer very basic snacks, others offer warm and cold hors d’oeuvres. Some include wifi, others make you pay for the services. These aren’t differences between different clubs, but are can be differences that you find in just one club membership.

For me, I like my clubs and quiet space.

United and US Air … courting

It seems that Delta and Northwest have set off a renewed effort by the airlines to merge and get larger in the name of better service.  These mergers also are supposed to make the industry more stable and efficiently operated.  Maybe.  United and others have said that bigger is better.  Maybe.

Perhaps with fewer airlines, the industry will have fuller flights and operate more profitably than they currently do, but I remain skeptical.  Surely, the industry can be more efficient even with the current number of carriers.  On my recent flight from Atlanta to Memphis, the flight was not very full.  How might this change if there are only two or three larger carriers?  Fuller flights, more expensive tickets, and fewer options and times.

Well, one thing is certain, the airlines probably do not want to let Delta and Northwest drawf them.  So, who is American going to merge with?

Why do awards program work?

I have shameless bought into the awards program.  I overuse my American Express, I only fly Star Alliance and Northwest and their partners, and I always stay in Hilton owned hotels.  Why?  Because I’m a Rewards, frequently flier, and Honors member.  I must say that I’m a fairly loyal member too.  But what do I get from being a loyal member?  Supposedly, you get to redeem points and miles for things.  At least with American Express and Hilton, it’s not a nightmare to redeem your points.  The airlines are another story.

I have lots of airline miles with both United and Northwest.  In fairness to Northwest, I redeem miles in 2007 for two tickets to Cozumel, Mexico.  I only had to pay about $94 in taxes per ticket.  That’s a bargain and I was lucky.  The way that miles work is that the airline provides a number (supposedly) of seats on a number (supposedly) of flights that are available to fliers who want to redeem miles.  In other words, if you want to redeem miles you need to be going somewhere where their are “miles” seats.  There are not always “miles” seats.  I thought that I would use some miles for a trip to Vienna, Austria this summer, but so far, United is not offering any “miles” seats.  So, if I go, I will be paying full price, but I will get more miles!  Maybe, I’ll find what their least popular flights are and take a trip there.  I am sure that there will be “miles” seat on that flight.

So, why am I such a loyal flier?  Oh, it must be because of my elite status … that’s an issue for another day.  Last words, …  Dear Airline Executive, what have you done for me lately.