The Case for Delta and US Airways Miles

September 25, 2010 - Rick

As many of you know, I’m really not a fan of these two programs. Skymiles have little value for me other than they fly out of Hilton Head in the spring, summer, and fall. The reward chart is full of mid-tier availability (40,000) domestically. But, but , but, they do fly into my closest airport. I’m doing the Suntrust deal, but have not been actively pursuing their miles.

I have the same situation with US Airways. They fly out of Hilton Head year round. They are a Star Alliance carrier, do not block award availability on other carriers, and everyone tells me the miles are dirt cheap (the 100% bonus promo going on now).

So why don’t I fly them? No status and no way to fly for free. I don’t have any vouchers with either airline. I’d be starting from scratch. The concept of loyalty seems to be working with me. I have lifetime Platinum status with AA, but never fly them domestically or buy any tickets on the airline??? I’ve had $1000 of their gift cards for 3 years? I collected their miles only because their was a goal in front of me. Lifetime status.

Are you in the same boat? Do you fly on one airline with revenue tickets for status, and just collect miles in the others for free trips or positioning flights? Are your decisions made without taking into consideration rationale thought, like flying from your closest airport? Or the airline with the best schedule?

I got comped to Diamond status with Hyatt yet have only stayed at one Hyatt since. That, I think, is an availability issue for me. I have unused gift certificates with them as well? Crazy thinking?

Why do I do the things I do? Is there any rhyme or reason to my collecting methods? I know I should diversify for availability reasons when I need it, but is that enough?

A ticket to Reno is $456 for this April. Do I use miles? or $250 vouchers to reduce the cost and earn the miles?

Do you ever second guess what you are doing or why you are doing it that way? I need to call my mileage mentor and take a walk on the beach.

Are you ever in this spot? I’d love to hear how you work through it.

Susan

To comment on your post today – yes, it is always good to know that banks actually do monitor accounts. I have had it happen more than once with BOA where my card or debit card has been compromised and it's been the bank that cathes the mistake.

As for Josh and his planned trip – what a great way to surprise his wife! And I have already learned that much from you and other bloggers that I have a trip of my own in the works

And yes, I do think you have earned the title of Expert. YOu give so much information to your readers – practical information on how to maximize points with CC card sign-ups – what to watch out for – how to keep those credit scores high – not to mention havng taken several trips of your own. Yes, Gary and Lucky have wonderful blogs – andf yours and theirs are the three I read every day. You all have a different approach and different personalities. So if you proclaim yourself to be one of the World's Greatest, then I have no problem with that – and I don't think Gary or Lucky do either.

You just keep doing what you are doing. (and I think it is wonderful that you have a pet name for your wife – makes for a strong marriage!)

Some people just can't handle the success of others.
Cheers.
Gary

To be clear and for the record, it was not the View from the Wing blog that mentioned you with disdain. It was some guy on the internet who commented there. I take my fair share of flack from random idiots on the web as well. But it certainly did not represent the position of the View from the Wing.
FrugalTravelGuy

Gary: Sorry I never meant to suggest you said it. I will correct my wording immediately. See you in Chicago
beltway

That's great that Citi was on top of the unauthorized card use, but you didn't answer the question undoubtedly on the minds of your regular readers: did the cardholder get miles for those transactions?
Michael Murray

If I have a criticism of you, it is that you have been doing this well enough and long enough that you should know not to worry about what some random person on the internet says. This is my favorite blog, so please don't screw it up by becoming overly sensitive to anonymous people!
Vinyl Slider

I concur with Susan; your blog and Gary's are great. While you sometimes overlap each other (mainly to ensure we're aware of the really sweet opportunities), you each have a niche and fill it nicely.
FrugalTravelGuy

Michael: Thank you for your comment and words of support. The positive far outweighs the few negative comments I get. I'm not going anywhere

Rick
Michael W

I agree with Michael M. You write my FAVORITE travel blog and I look forward to reading it every morning. Your posts/info has helped me increase the miles in my accounts. Keep up the great work!
Anonymous

Rick, I second Michaels comments. I wouldnt worry about it. There are always haters out there. I read both yours and Garys blog everyday. Thanks for doing what you do — I love your passion for travel and you willingness to share it. If it werent for people like you I would think I was a freak and the only person who thought and acted like we do !!! Ken
mlachance

You totally deserve your title. I follow many travel blogs because they each provide something a little different. What is great about yours is it shows people how to put together everything to travel for nearly free. It is the main blog I follow and the one I always refer new people to.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for your blog!
Anonymous

Just wondering how can this person already book for 2012? I thought you can never book a ticket farther than 331 or 355 days out. Just wondering, how they are so certain about these dates and classes and ticket availability.
Anonymous

Hello Rick,

I haven't read what your critic said but may want to put in lighter way. Please take it it good sense and my understanding is wrong , point out.

"world expert is flying for free" has I think has a lot of disclaimers and may not be be everybody's cup of tea.

You are in a stage of life where you have already made excellent credit history,flown enough to be a valuable customer, racked up enough amounts in credit cards.

But not everybody will be in the same boat. Not everybody will be able to fly the world for free. Because not everybody will have great credit , even if they have they may not have had for so long ,companies may not see them as profitable since they don't charge much on card to give them credit again and again. Moreover future effects of closing cards and applying other in future may be unknown especially to your young readers. Age of cards will also get lower and lower.

Not every body will be be flying enough or in positions where they have bump opportunity.

Please remember you have mature as well as young audience base.
Things applying for prob mature may not apply for young.

Again, if I mentioned anything wrong , my apologies and point out my mistakes.
Anonymous

You never said you were the #1 World's Expert, or Top Expert, or Best…

Just World's Expert…

Leave it and let the whiners whine!
kim

I am what I would consider a younger audience – 30 years old, and my husband and I are flying 100% free thanks to YOUR BLOG for our anniversary trip this year. We are not paying for a single plane ticket or hotel along the way. So yes, I think you can call yourself the expert on free flying to ALL age groups, because the younger end of the spectrum just proved it right!
Marie

I can't start my day without seeing what "the Frug" has to say. Then it's on to Gary's blog. You guys just keep doing what you're doing and tune out the nay sayers.

If they don't like what you are doing, they don't have to read you.
Anonymous

To Anonymous at 10:59AM: Josh here – The dates I provided are just an idea of when we will be doing our trip. It will be booked in the beginning of May 2011 for the 2012 dates. Thanks.
Senorric

Rick,
Don't let the people who have nothing better to do get you down or defensive. "You the man!"
Anonymous

+1 for Michael M's comment. Love the blog. First page loaded whenever the browser gets opened. Flying to London and Hong Kong business class on BA and staying almost exclusively for free in Asia for 2.5 weeks because of you.
Jim

Rick, just a few items I would like to address concerning your recent blog posting if I may.

1) It wasn’t “Protector” who questioned your choice of terminology used to refer to your wife, but a subsequent poster (unless you have reason to believe that “Protector” and that subsequent poster are one and the same). That being said, as that poster stated that he had trouble with what you called your wife, the “problem” is apparently his and his alone. For the record, I think it’s an absolutely endearing name.

2) Putting aside for now the argument that who, if anyone, deserves to be recognized as the top dog in cost-free flying, both posters (referred to above) stated their problem with the heading “The World’s Expert on Flying Free,” not “the ‘World’s Expert on Flying Free’” as typed in your recent blog posting. This may seem like a minor point of linguistics, but there is a difference. Inserting “The” in the heading (“The World’s Expert on Flying Free”) does imply considering oneself to be number one in the world. Use of a heading such as “World Expert on Flying Free” or “World’s Expert on Flying Free” would not carry as strong an implication.

To be honest, Rick, when I first saw the new heading, I also had a second of being taken a bit aback. Perhaps it’s because I’ve been chasing miles myself for some time, and have gotten to know quite a few people proficient in the accumulation of miles—free, BIS, or what have you. Of course, you and your blog are definitely in the running for the title of The World’s Expert on Flying Free and I do look forward to more informative posts in the future to further strengthen your claim!
Als

You are absoloutely the world's expert in flying and you have always been so helpful not only through your blog but by talking time out to answer all emails i sent you regarding my family vacations.

Please ignore idiots!! I had to speak up! You are helping my many travel dreams come true… keep up the awesome work!!
Tom

I concur with Jim's comments. To me, it just seems gauche to say "The World's Expert . . ." It's your blog, and you can say what you want to say, and you can call yourself anything you want. And I have read your blog long enough to have formed an impression that you are motivated by a desire to HELP others. But if I were to have read it today for the first time, my initial impression would have been that you are either supremely arrogant or a blowhard. I don't mean to offend. That's just how it would look to my eyes. "A World's Expert . . ." or, better, "An Expert . . ." looks different.
mojonisa

Rick,

I think people use rude or abusive language because they are insecure and have issues. It is a shame that these few bloggers can't celebrate what is good about your work and how it makes ordinary people's dreams come true.

I applaud your dedication and unselfish spirit. Keep it up!
Bill

Rick,

You're doing a great job and I think the blog title is fine. Keep up the good work!
Anonymous

In New York City alone, there are at least 20 places where you can get "The World's Best Cup Of Coffee", according to the sign in the window. I say, fuggadaboutit!

Even more endearing than the pet name "Katybug" is the fact that you refer to her as "my bride". My Grandfather carried a photo of his bride (wearing her wedding gown) in his wallet until the day he died. She was his bride for 72 years.

PS: Thanks for the blog!
Faith

Rick,
You have a fabulous blog! I am so delighted to have found it! Don't let those nasty comments get you. Just jealous! Your blog is great and so is your title! Besides, it your blog and you can title whatever you want. Why are you "NASTY COMMENTS" reading. GO AWAY and bother someone else!
You are super Rick and have helped me so much. I wouldn't be going on such a fabulous 10 year anniversary trip with my husband if it wasn't for your advice and blog.
THANKS A MILLION
Aktchi

Both you are Gary are doing great jobs and such snafus are to be ignored. Few can deny that you are an expert in flying free; as for "World's Greatest", we live in an age of marketing and you have every right to market yourself as such! As for Katybug, anyone who has an opinion on what nicknames husbands and wives use for each other, the kindest thing is to leave such a person alone and not draw others' attention to him. Keep up the good job.
Pat

Rick,
I do appreciate all that you do to keep us informed. I'm amazed that you blog EVERYDAY! You hardly ever miss and that is awesome. You're information is always worth checking out. Thanks a million!
and… give Katybug a big hug for sharing her husband with all of us!
Pat
Aktchi

Just wanted to add that I do find it a little suspicious that you don't reveal what Katy calls you in retaliation.
Pam

The person with the problem that posted the ugly comments has only given me the opportunity to again thank you and add to your title. My friends are very used to hearing me call you my FF guru, my FF hero and my mentor. So there, to that goof. Beyond that, your blogging style is one that I would love to emulate. It is very personal and unselfish. I can almost bet you that you will have FTG groupies at the Chicago DO because we all feel we know you well. It is one of the hazards of your style! Congratulations on your well deserved fame! Once you become a target, you know you have arrived.

The Case for Delta and US Airways Miles

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