Deal of the Day

February 14, 2012 - FrugalTravelGuy

JetBlue has another sale going with fares from $39 each way.

If you book a cruise through American, you can earn up to 12,500 bonus miles in addition to the normal mileage earned. Terms can be found here

You could win a 7 to 11 night cruise on Holland America!

Million Mile Secrets is giving away a $150 AA gift card!

United is offering miles for retail gift cards. The exchange rate isn’t great, but if you have any gift cards (there are 60 participating retailers) lying around that you won’t use, this is a great way to get some miles.

Anonymous

FYI, if you wanna go for that US Airways Premier card from Barclays that is currently offering 40k miles and no fee first year, don't worry too much if you send the application and it returns an instant approval for the lesser Platinum card (I believe I am getting the names right, but you get my drift). I freaked when I got approved for the lesser card, but after calling them up they assured me that even my lesser Platinum approval was still gonna get me 40k in points and no fee first year.
Anonymous

You are out of your mind to think DL SWUs are worthy Choice Benefits.
deltagoldflyer

@ Howie – Most DL flyers I find can not stand the SWU due to the hard time of finding a fare class and availability to redeem them. Now I know you fly a lot! So, it works for you. I each year always take the miles. Miles I know how to use and can use all the time. Just my 2 cents. Thanks for the post. – René
mrredskin

there is always a promo or two per year with SPG that will reward the hotel hop/stay patron. i know it's nice to get it out of the way, but if you know you will make the requal at least by mid-year, then why so much emphasis on getting it done so early?

take advantage of the promos as you get them, and worry about requal around mid-year if there's reason to be concerned.
Cornroaster

Yesterday, Daraius on http://www.millionmilesecrets.com mentioned that Capital One will have another "miles match" promotion in March. If you can pick up 100,000 points from that, you might want to consider it for your churn.
Howie

@Anonymous – I was thinking about the US Airways Premier too. Thanks!

@Anonymous – I think the SWUs are useful in the right circumstance. All of our circumstances are different but for me they have worked out quite well. In the overall scheme of things they are absolutely the worst valued SWUs across any program, but for last minute transcons on K+ fares or a B international fare they work quite well.

@René – You got it. I flip flop between SWUs and miles. I think when I did my last DM gift it was gold and 25,000 miles I took.

@mrredskin – I know but I just can't get past the possibility of change or trying out a new program. With the platinum amenity points I get it makes up for what is lost a little, even if not all of it.
Travel and Credit

That's awesome you got a 100k point targeted Platinum offer! I'd bite on that for sure.
Anonymous

@Howie – I qualified for Platinum last year for the first time. I picked the 20K miles for my benefit. Fast forward to 2012… When I go to pick my gift, it says I already picked the 20K miles. Do you not get the benefit in the new year? Do I have to wait until I qualify again this year for 2013 to get another pick?

Thanks!
Howie

@Anon – If you qualified for Platinum in 2011 you should have received an option to pick for 2011 and 2012. The first year you qualify you get the current year and next year.

Once you pick you no longer see the ability to pick … looks like a bug in the system perhaps. I would contact the PM line for assistance.
Anonymous

Can you call Amex and ask them to give/match the 100k mile bonus? Any success with that strategy?
deltagoldflyer

@ Howie – hate to tell you only get 1 pick if you made PM last year and you MUST pick it by the end of this month! You must earn PM again this year if you want another pick.

https://www.delta.com/skymiles/about_skymiles/benefits_at_glance/choice_benefits/index.jsp

Choice Benefits are effective immediately for members earning Diamond or Platinum Medallion status. Members who are awarded Diamond or Platinum Medallion status must fly a minimum of 14 or 8 Delta-marketed and -operated flights segments after status is awarded to be eligible for Choice Benefits, respectively.

Eligibility for Choice Benefits is based upon a status change to Platinum or Diamond Medallion within a given status year. Choice Benefits selections for 2010 status need to be made by February 28, 2011; selections for 2011 status need to be made by February 29, 2012; selections for 2012 status need to be made by February 28, 2013; selections for 2013 status need to be made by February 28, 2014.

For example my wife picked 20k for her choice last NOV2011 and here is how it reads on the Delta site:

You Have Previously Made a Selection.
We hope you are enjoying your Choice Benefit.

Thank you again for making your benefit selection. You chose:

2012 Platinum Medallion Choice Benefit:
20,000 Bonus Miles
Howie

@Rene – Thanks for the correction here. When I first received the benefit it was for current year and following year. Perhaps that was because I got it the first year they did it … I dunno.
deltagoldflyer

@ Howie – I think you just fly too much…. nahhhh that can't be it!?!
Howie

@René – deflated intelligence due to altitude

… and yesterday, two flights in coach! :O

Deal of the Day

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