Archive for December, 2009

Photo: A380 Flying Sydney to Auckland

One of our readers had two of his Chase credit card accounts closed for unintended use. Here is a copy of his email:

Hey Rick,

Bad news. Today I received mail that two of my Chase credit cards (United and Continental) were closed on Dec 21st due to “not being used as intended.” After I called in, I was told that it’s due to mint purchases. Also I got a nonsense statement that mint contancted United about those purchases and United contacted Chase asking to close the account. Also accounts cannot be reopened…….

Sounds to me like the Mint is proactively shutting things down. Be careful everyone.


Get on the fast track to VIP membership

Enroll in Hilton HHonors® now through March 31, 2010 and earn Silver VIP status after two qualifying stays (normally earned after 4 stays) within 90 days of enroll

ment. Double Dip® your way to earn both HHonors points and mile for the same qualifying stay at over 2,900 Hilton Family hotels worldwide. Enroll online or call 800-HHONORS (800-446-6677) from the U.S. or Canada and mention origin code USAB. (Existing HHonors members may call 800-548-8690 and request promotion code USAB to be eligible for the Fast Track VIP offer.)

It really has very little value, as you can get it from a credit card application with 0 stays, and the Silver bonus is so little, but some may have upcoming stays coming.

Corporate Card Fast Track to Gold or Silver

If you have a corporate Amex here is a link to either silver (two stays) or Gold (4 stays) within 90 days

Our Trip is Underway

This is a running account of our trip starting now in the Passport Club at Savannah airport.We are here at 9 AM for Jeff’s flight back to Michigan at 10:30. He is travelling viaa IAD and ORD. We are scheduled on he 2:30 flight to Dulles but are on the standby list to try for his flight as well. The flights are sold out.

We did not experience any difference in the checkin or security proceedures here in lihg tof recent developemnts and I have all our boarding passes except for Sydney to Christchurch. I guess I can pick that one up in Los Angeles before heading Trans Pac.

It looks like decent weather. I got an email from a blog reader in Christchurch offering a tour of the city but our layover is only two hours. Thanks again Alice. It is a beautiful city and we have fond memories of the Choice hotel we stayed in last time there. We got a 2 bedroom suite for about 15,000 Choice points. Of course points increases have really cahnged that redemption.

More from our next stop.

Washington Dulles

We got on the earlier flight to Dulles and had lunch at Five Guys in the airport A concourse. If you haven’t had a Five Guys Burger yet, you have not had a real hamburg.

Now the long layover for our 5:32 departure. I could have tried to move up an hour to the 4:42 flight but we are on a 777 with international configuration and hopefully layflat seats.At leas tit shows 55″ seat pitch which is far more comfortable than standard domestic first class.

The Red Carpet Club is empty, as is the airport this afternoon. Atwo hour layover in Los Angeles is just going to be stretch our legs time before the 14 1/2 hour flight to Sydney. I’m already tired and we’ve only travellled 515 miles. It will be a long haul.

Arrived at 8 Pm at LAX for 10:20 departure. We were given two drink coupons each and wifi access in the club for flying business to Sydney.

I slept half the flight from IAD to LAX and am sitting in the Red Carpet Club wide awake jsut before a 14 1/2 hour flight. The miles are adding up.

Bummed out about the Mint news and will have to decide if I go anywhere with them now. I can’t afford account closures.

Header Photo: Franz Josef Glacier South Island, New Zealand

The offer for 30,000 miles per card, no first year fee and $750 minimum spend has been extended until February 28, 2010.

The wording indicates that it is for first time Citi Aadvantage cardmembers. But so did the offer I did on my December 10th churn which earned me a quick 60K AA miles. I have had multiple Citi Visa cards.

Here is the link

If you decide to apply, please understand they (Citi) are constantly changing the application rules at Citicards. I can’t guarantee an approval, but the link does indicate no first year annual fee and 30,000 miles instead of the typical 25K.

We Are in The Air to Queenstown New Zealand

The routing is as follows: SAV-IAD-LAX-SYD-CHC-ZQN

We depart Savannah at about 2:30 PM and the connections are about every two hours until we get to Queenstown on December 30 (USA the 29th) at 5 PM. It seems like the long way, flying to Australia first, and it does add 1300 miles to the routing, but the ticket is on United and the result of the residual value of a cancelled ticket from the past. In other words (free)

The actual flight miles total 11,829 and with my 1K status will earn the close to 24,000 United miles. Best of all, Katy will hit 50,000 Elite Qualifying miles this year and earn Premier Executive status all on her own for the first time. She’ll now be earning double in 2010 as well.

And the long haul, Los Angeles to Sydney is on a 747 equipped with the new International Business Class seats. The estimated flight time is 14 1/2 hours and covers a distance of 7487 miles. We depart Los Angeles at 10:30 PM so we’ll sleep a good portion of the flight and still have a chunk of the Pacific to go at breakfast time.

I can’t wait to get back to NZ. It is my favorite place on earth and I’m catching another rainbow trout. Photo forthcoming.

I may miss posting on the 29th. As for us, the 29th will not exist. We’ll be Up in the Air.

We saw the George Clooney airline movie Christmas afternoon and the grades on a 10 scale were 6, 6 and I gave it a 7 for the frequent flyer tie ins.

When I see a movie and wonder when it is going to be over, I’m not that excited. And when it did end, it seemed like a dumb place to finish.

There are some cute lines about our hobby that brought a chuckle to Katy and me, but not what I had anticipated.

American Airlines Free WiFi Code

UpintheAir is the code for free wifi

You can also use 2473990572aaq until 1/7/2010

Gary Adds to the Frontier Sign Up Deal

Multiple blogs are a good thing. You should read more than one. Here’s why:

I posted several days ago about a free 1500 Frontier Airline miles for joining before 12/31/09. Gary from the View from the Wing blog, read my post, shared it with his readers, and added that Frontier miles can be transferred through Points.com

1500 Frontier miles yields your choice of:
372 Air Canada Aeroplan points
311 Alaska Mileage Plan miles
329 American
637 Cathay Pacific AsiaMiles
296 Delta Skymiles
592 HawaiianMiles
348 Midwest Miles
637 Priority Club Rewards points
296 US Airways Dividend miles

I forgot it, as I do many things, and Gary saved our bacon. Enjoy the free miles in the account of your choice. Thanks Gary for covering my back.

I’d like to start a movement amongst us frequent travelers to donate our unused Systemwide upgrades to the men and women of our military.

I try to always buy a serviceman a meal in an airport, or on board beer if they want one, and if we can get them in first class when available, well, more power to them. They certainly deserve it.

Regardless of your position on our military presence in other countries, (we could spend days on that), our guys and gals need to know that we appreciate their efforts on our behalf.

I’m be writing the United 1K desk and the Customer Relations department at United.

If there are any of you that fly American where they have a similar upgrade system, any efforts you can make with American would also be appreciated. And any other airline that lets you sponsor another individual with an upgrade.

And to my fellow blogging community, I ask for your assistance in spreading the word and thanking those that serve us so bravely.

Here is a copy of my letter to the United 1K Desk and also the Customer Relations Department

“Many of your best customers, 1K members, at times have extra Systemwide upgrades that will not be used. Is it possible to form a partnership with United Airlines to donate these unused Systemwide upgrades for use be our active military?

I realize we can sponsor anyone with our upgrades, but finding an active service person at times could be difficult.

Can you help establish a Systemwides for Soldiers program whereby we can donate our unused systemwides with your assurance that they will be given to active duty military?

I look forward to your response, and I’d like to be the first to offer my January 2010 Systemwide in appreciation for the sacrifices our service personnel make on my behalf.

Respectfully

Rick Ingersoll

And I Got a Positive Response from United Airlines

Dear Mr. Ingersoll;

I’d like to thank you for such a great idea! I am forwarding this
suggestion to our management team. Mr. Ingersoll, personally I think a
program such as “Systemwides for Soldiers” could be something United
would consider. If customers can donate their miles to charity, I can’t
see why we could not donate systemwide upgrades to active duty military
members.

Thank you for a wonderful idea. Happy holidays, Mr. Ingersoll.

Regards,

Jan M. S.
Airlines Customer Relations

If you support the idea with or without having upgrades to donate at this time, can you drop Jan S. a note via United Customer relations. A squeaky wheel is one that got the most grease

Join Frontier Airlines Program by 12/31 and Get a 1500 Mile Bonus

Here is the link to a free start to your Frontier Airlines account.

Being from a predominately Christian country, it is the biggest holiday of the year, and we are taking the day off from the Frugal Travel Guy Blog.

Katy and I will be helping prepare a Christmas meal for over 900 less fortunate than us here on the island. It is a tradition I started 16 years ago in Michigan and I’m so glad I found a group that does the same thing here in the south.

Katy has spent every major holiday working so other Moms with little ones could have their time at home with the family. This year, now that she is out of the Emergency Room setting, she be carving and serving turkeys along with me.

And our friend Jeff will be visiting from Michigan, another tradition that is continuing now that we have moved here and a friendship we are truly grateful for.

All our kids are spread out with other family members, be it in laws or ex’es and that is OK. We’ll all call one another and see one another soon. Thanks to our travel hobby, we can make any day of the year a holiday. We will be spending Christmas in Australia with Andrew on the way back from our next adventure to New Zealand, which starts in 3 short days. After dinner I guess we should find our passports again and start packin’.

To all our new found friends of whatever beliefs or persuasions, we wish you all a healthy and happy holiday season.

Rick and Katybug

January 1st is the big day for a new calendar year and your chance to pick up another 50,000 Continental miles with their personal and business debit card promotions.

They have already updated the offer to expire on March 31st 2010 and the terms and conditions clearly state you can qualify for one business and one personal promotion per calendar year.

Katy and I will be ready for 50K CO miles each on January 1st, 2010.

As always, Chase takes the sting out of losing all our elite qualifying miles in our programs, by making this an annual offer.

Here is the pertinent wording from the Business Debit card offer. Be sure to read them all and keep a copy for your records.

“2 Offer valid through March 31, 2010. To qualify for the reward you must open a new Chase BusinessClassicSM Checking account and deposit a minimum of $500 or more into your new business checking account within 30 days of account opening with funds not currently on deposit with Chase or any of its affiliates. Account opening and award of premium are subject to approval. Limit one business checking account-related premium per customer per calendar year. Chase reserves the right to withdraw this offer at any time without notice. Attempts to earn multiple premiums may be voided by Chase, at its discretion. Offer not available on account conversions or in combination with any other offer and is non-transferable. Employees of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and our affiliates are not eligible. Initial 10,000 bonus miles will be deposited in your OnePass® account 6-10 weeks after the initial $500 in deposits have posted to the new account. Chase BusinessClassicSM Checking is available only at Chase branded branches.”

And the pertinent wording on the personal debit card:

1 Offer valid through March 31, 2010. To qualify for the reward you must open a new Chase CheckingSM account with a $100 minimum opening deposit of new money (money not currently held by Chase or its affiliates). Also, to qualify for the first 10,000 bonus miles you must make 5 debit card purchases with any Chase debit card linked or used to access the new account or initiate a repeating direct deposit such as payroll, Social Security or other government benefits. The 5 debit card purchases or first direct deposit must be completed within 60 days of account opening to earn the bonus miles. Initial 10,000 bonus miles will be deposited in your OnePass® account 6-10 weeks after the 5 debit card purchases or initial direct deposit has posted to the new account. Limit one personal checking account-related reward per customer, per calendar year. Limit one 10,000 bonus miles per checking account. Offer not available on account conversions or in combination with any other offer. Customers are still eligible for the first 10,000 miles even if they do not get the Chase Continental Airlines Preferred Debit Card. Account is subject to approval.

And the wording that allows the second 15K bonus for the cheaper debit card:

4 The Chase Continental Airlines Preferred Debit Card has an annual fee of $65 per checking account. If you choose the lower fee option of $25 with the Chase Continental Airlines Debit Card, you earn 1 mile for every $2 in qualifying purchases. Customers choosing the lower fee option will still receive the second 15,000 bonus miles after the first qualifying purchase.

Bingo; There we go 50K each to start out the New Year.

Nick: Thanks for the meail and the tips on half way to a ticket on Southwest. Here is Nick’s email:

Southwest Airlines – Sign up for Rapid Rewards Get 8 FREE Credits (halfway to a ticket) NEW Members ONLY! Boston Celtics FANS ONLY!

http://www.southwest.com/celticsrapidrewards/

No purchase necessary.

Sign up for Rapid Rewards and get up to 8 credits—that’s 50% of the way to your first free flight*. Simply enroll in the program and you will get 6 credits. Provide your e-mail address and subscribe for Rapid Rewards communications; Rapid Rewards E-mail Updates and the Rapid Rewards Report—stay subscribed for three months, and you will get up to 2 more! It’s that easy!

So basically sign up for ALL email and keep subscribed for 90 days and you will have the 8 credits (the first 6 are instantly credited to your account).

Need more credits??

If you wait long enough, they often offer 16 Credits for New Credit Card SignUp (currently offering 8 + 8 for balance transfer, $59 annual fee, ridiculous fees for transfer).

You have two years to accumulate the 16 so I would wait. Getting on their mailing lists should get you a targeted offer fairly quickly.

They also have a Partner shopping promotion (winter bonusland) that I don’t seem to qualify for yet (I imagine I will next year).

Thanks Again Nick

Midwest Miles Points

As a Midwest Miles Executive member, you’re one of our most valued customers. As 2009draws to a close, we’ve noticed you haven’t flown enough to requalify with your current membership status, and we’re hoping you’d have a minute to share some of the reasons why. Because your time is valuable, we’ll be happy to credit your Midwest Miles account with 2,010 miles for completing a short survey. To begin, simply click on the survey link below.

LINK

Reward Travel Credit Card Database

Thanks to all that have submitted info on good credit card offers. Howie is currently working on the formatting of the information that will be available one click away.

If you have a minute to submit info on a credit card we should all look at, please refer to the blog article of December 21st for the information we are requesting.

Thanks for all your help. This is a group project.

There is a link that showed up on Flyertalk which extends the application deadline for the 100,000 mile bonus on a targeted basis until January 21, 2010. The link provided offers an application that is pre populated with the posters name and email address. I can’t post that info.

If you have not yet taken advantage of this offer, here may be your last chance. What I’m suggesting is Google Chase British Airways credit card and find a phone number for the card application center. I’d call them and indicate that you want to be considered for the targeted offer.

If the phone call doesn’t work, then I’d join the Executive Club program from BA and hope they send you a targeted email before the 1/21/10 deadline

You have nothing to lose but a few minutes of your time and possibly 100,000 miles to gain.

And David, Bless his soul, sent me this link this morning which does not have the targeted wording.

NOTE: Limited time offer

Update Our 100,000 miles posted in each of our BA accounts 2 days after the statement cycle ended at Chase.

The End of the Citicard Churn

Here is the link I used for my successful Visa applications on December 10th. I was approved for both the business and personal with no annual fee and $750 minimum spend on each. I have had each of these cards multiple times in the past.

The offer expires on December 31, 2009

With Christmas shopping for the kids, villa renovation and paying my new property tax bill, I have already met the minimum spend on both of these cards.

1,800,000 American miles, here I come.

The Rewards Credit Card Database

Howie and I are creating the database today at 2PM and I’d appreciate your favorite links for travel rewards cards. Yesterday’s blog post shows the info we are looking for.

Please send your info to me at ingy104@gmail.com