I Have 110,000 Unused Flight Points from the Thank You Points Program

I was going through my open credit cards and came across my old beloved Thank You Points Premier Pass Elite Card. It has a $15,000 credit limit that I am not using and I thought I'd just close it to free up some credit and availability to churn some more Citi Aadvantage credit cards.
I had completely forgotten about the flight points in the account, which according to the representative never expire on the Premier Pass card.

Now I've got to start thinking again. Do I use the card to capture these flight points? Do I continue with the SPG card that has been performing admirably and racking up that total?

For every $ I spend on the Premier Pass card I will capture one flight point so in essence I get 2 thank you points for every dollar I spend. I was on a promotion for 4 bonus points for gas, grocery and drugs up until April of this year.

My back up card right now is the Citi Aadvantage card which earns me one AA mile per dollar spent, when I can't use the Amex card.

I hate to admit it, but at times some of these decisions require a nap. Is anyone else facing this dilemma? Not the nap? I can handle that as a must do event, but continuing earning thank you points?

New Hyatt 6 Times Earnings with American Airlines

Hyatt is the one program I have neglected over the years, but they just enticed me aided by a friend of mine in Ann Arbor that suggested I check it out for the Free Faster Nights Promo.

The current promo pays 3000 American Airlines miles for staying two nights at any Hyatt chain hotel before August 31st. It cost nothing to sign up and then I called and had us upgraded to Platinum status as per my post of June 22, 2009.

Many friend rave about the free nights deal and we'll see what happens. As with every other program we belong to, they are free to join. Why not?

Here is the link to the 6 times earnings promotion.

Mileage Run Time and Maybe a Bump Run

Photo: Norway in a Nutshell Tour

I booked this ticket 6 months ago when the fare from Traverse City to Salt Lake came out at $187 all in. I had a "$100 lousy service by United" coupon so my cost is $87. My plan was to take advantage of the triple miles promo from my Elite Choice from 2008 and I had hoped it would be a bump run as well. The National Cherry Festival begins this week in Traverse City and that combined with the Fourth of July holiday I was sure would lead to a bump o rama.

It is not looking promising for the bump, but the triple miles will be nice. My routing is TVC-ORD-SFO-SLC-LAX-ORD to TVC. I'll be credited to with 5,678 Elite Qualifying miles with the 500 minimum for TVC to ORD and the $87 will earn 17,034 revenue miles. That will help one of the kids for some trip somewhere.

Update 9:45 AM Frustrated in Traverse City

I know they mean well but the staff at TVC for United is just not properly trained. I got here early to volunteer and went to the counter to ask about the loads and it took the first kid, getting somebody else to tell him what the load was on the next flight out. (23 of 60).

When I asked the more senior agent to check the Chicago to San Fran flight I was informed it was indeed oversold, and I mentioned that I wanted to volunteer. Several attempts to put me on the list were unsuccessful and another more senior agent was brought in. He tried to avoid putting me on the list as he has in the past and it came right down to he had no idea how to add me to the volunteer list for a flight from Chicago to San Francisco. I wish they trained these folks better.

It actually took a call to the help desk to get me on the list. The flight is not way over, so being first on the list is important if I'm to be successful in getting the VDB.

I am now first on the volunteer list, hopefully the guy will remember how to do it and now it's time to check my flight alternatives. The wonderful thing is, if I do get bumped it really doesn't matter where they send me. I can cancel my hotel reservation (free) and go wherever they want to send me :), with their voucher in my pocket.

Hilton Honors Offers Delta Elite Medallion Qualifying Miles as well as Northwest Qualifying Miles

The link is now up and working. This seems like a reasonable way to help boost your status with Delta or Northwest.

Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines have teamed up with Hilton HHonors to offer you an exclusive offer that will put you closer to your next tier upgrade. For a limited time, earn Delta Medallion Qualification Miles or Northwest Elite Qualifying Miles AND double miles when you stay two or more nights at any of more than 3,300 Hilton Family hotels worldwide from July 15, 2009 through October 15, 2009. To start earning miles, you must register for the promotion and have Delta Air Lines or Northwest Airlines selected as your HHonors Double Dip earnings partner.

Double Delta and Northwest Miles for Flying the Rest of 2009 for Card Holders

Strange coincidence?? I had just added an ad for creditcards.com which offers the 3 Delta credit cards along with others of interest to some, when Katy gets this offer in her email. It says the offer is good for those that hold any of the Delta cards. You must register by September 30th, but all flight miles will be doubled from the time you register until December 31, 2009.

Dear Mrs. Frugal Guy

,
We value you as a SkyMiles member and invite you to earn double flown miles on all of your Delta and Northwest flights through the end of 2009. That's right, double flown miles on all Delta and Northwest flights flown for the next six months.

To take advantage of this exclusive offer, follow the easy steps below: Register on or before September 30, 2009.

Be the Basic cardholder of a Delta SkyMiles Credit Card from American Express.Purchase and fly any Delta or Northwest flight on or before December 31, 2009.

Don't have the Card? Register now, then apply today for the Delta SkyMiles Credit Card.
Earning double flown miles on all Delta and Northwest flights can bring you that much closer to Award Travel. In fact, you can get an Award Ticket with as few as 25,000 miles. Delta serves more worldwide destinations than any other airline; so you'll be able to use those miles to bring you to even more places.

As always, if you use your Delta SkyMiles Credit Card to pay for your flight, you can also earn double miles on your Delta and Northwest purchases.

Terms & Conditions

Eligibility: To participate in this offer, you must be a new or existing Basic Delta SkyMiles Credit Cardmember from American Express and you must register online at delta.com/double by September 30, 2009. The SkyMiles account associated with the primary Delta SkyMiles Credit Card account is the only account eligible for this bonus.

Bonus Offer: Earn double flown miles on all qualifying Delta and Northwest marketed and operated paid flights flown between July 1 and December 31, 2009. Qualifying flights include any Delta, Northwest, Northwest Airlink (includes Mesaba, Pinnacle, and Compass) or Delta Connection® carrier flight. Codeshare flights operated by carriers other than the Delta Connection and Northwest Airlink carriers are excluded from this offer. Bonus miles are based on the actual flight miles flown or the 500-mile minimum, whichever is greater. Class of service bonus or other elite bonus miles are not applicable. Tickets purchased prior to July 1, 2009, but flown between July 1, 2009 and December 31, 2009 will also earn bonus miles. Delta and Northwest tickets may be purchased with any form of payment to qualify for the bonus offer.

Travel Period: Travel must be between July 1 and December 31, 2009. All travel must be completed by December 31, 2009.

Award Travel: Taxes and fees for Award Travel are the responsibility of the passenger and must be paid at the time the ticket is booked. Award Travel seats are limited and may not be available on all flights or in all markets.

Additional Restrictions: Promotion is limited to Basic Cardmembers with the Classic, Gold or Platinum Delta SkyMiles Credit Card, the Delta SkyMiles Options Credit Card, the Delta Reserve Credit Card, as well as the Gold and Platinum Delta SkyMiles Business Credit Card and the Delta Reserve for Business Credit Card.

Miscellaneous: Bonus miles will post to the SkyMiles account of the qualifying member 6-8 weeks following travel date. All SkyMiles program rules apply. To review the rules, please visit delta.com/memberguide. Offer void where prohibited by law. Other restrictions may apply.

Offers and benefits are subject to change without notice. This offer cannot be combined with other Delta/SkyTeam® offers. . © 2009 Delta Air Lines, Inc. All rights reserved.Delta Blvd. P.O. Box 20706 • Atlanta, GA 30320-6001

The BEST Weekly Email Subscription I Get

Upgrade Northwest and Delta Flights for One Mile International Only

Now that World Business Class has become BusinessElite(R), we're so convinced that you'll love this premium international service that we're offering a one-way upgrade for only one mile.

You can now upgrade to our award-winning BusinessElite cabin for one mile each way when you fly internationally on a paid Y, B orM Economy fare between June 30 and September 15, 2009.

Availability may be limited for these premium seats, so hurry!

Purchase your ticket or confirm your upgrade now through July13, 2009 at nwa.com

Then sit back, relax and enjoy our full range of premium BusinessElite products for a comfortable, relaxed and productivein-flight experience.

Update: Later in the day Delta Matched the Northwest Promo

Terms and Conditions:


Eligible Fares: Tickets cost $20 over the phone, $35 more at a Northwest ticket counter or ticket office, and these amounts are nonrefundable. All taxes, fees and blackout dates are governed by the rules of the Y, B or M economy class fare purchased.

WorldPerks members can request a 1-mile, one-way upgrade for paid tickets purchased in Y, B or M economy class between the continental United States, Alaska, and Canada and any international destination that offers J class fares (BusinessElite) where upgrade class of service is available on Delta or Northwest-operated flights only. WorldPerks members may go to nwa.com or call a reservations representative for upgrades.

Tickets: Must be purchased and upgraded no later than July 13, 2009.

Travel Period: Travel must be completed by September 15, 2009.

Restrictions: Availability of one-way upgrade inventory is limited and may not be available on all flights. Some markets may have more availability than others. Members may reissue existing tickets to be eligible for upgrade offer, but will need to pay applicable fees. Customers may combine this upgrade Award with other one-way upgrade Awards. Upgrades not available on Air France and KLM or any other SkyTeam® or codeshare partner operated flights. Tickets are nontransferable. WorldPerks accrual will be for class of service originally purchased.

Miscellaneous: All WorldPerks program rules apply. To review the rules, please visit nwa.com/worldperks/program. Fares, taxes, fees, rules, and offers are subject to change without notice. Other restrictions may apply.

US Bank FlexPerks Cards There May Be an Opportunity Here

Photo:Sydney in the Background

Katy got her two FlexPerks cards delivered within the last week. They replace the now defunct Northwest Airlines cards from US Bank that Delta has ended with the merger.

I called on her behalf for a sign up bonus on the personal card and was shot down completely. Her use with this card has been minimal and they would not budge on giving her an offer. In the sock drawer that card goes.

But they did offer her a total of 20,000 flexpoints as follows for the business card:

She must register the card for promo 37019 at flexperks.com/business15

She gets 15000 flex points after the first $500 in spend and 2500 more bonus points on the next $2000 in spend on the card for a total of 17,500 flex points. Plus she'll get the 2500 points for the actual spending on the card. Now she has 20,000 points which equals a $400 airline ticket.

I guess I'll be lugging $2500 worth of Native American Coins to the bank. Seems like a fair trade for a $400 airline ticket.

Watch your mailbox for the Flexperks card from US Bank and don't forget to register for any offer they give you.

Don't Forget Our Poll in the Right Hand Column

I Wiped Out My Frequent Flyer Miles Accounts, Well Almost

Photo: Three Sisters Katoomba, Australia

I've had all these darn Delta miles and finally found someone in need. Hooray for me and him. So my inventory is down to:

30K UA miles, 2 SWU, 13 e-500s and $2550 voucher

95K AA miles( I owe a friend 25K of those), 16-500 mile stickers and recently added $1300 in vouchers and gift cards :) for my assault on the Platinum Challenge and the 2 Million lifetime mark and Lifetime Platinum Status

140K Starwood Preferred Guest points, a nice round number.

I heard a great story today from an SPG rep. I asked him what was the largest balance he had ever heard of in SPG points. He told me he talked to a guy with 4.5 million SPG points in his account. When he asked the customer if he wanted to use some of them the customer replied, no he was paying cash and saving his points for a later date. At 3.5 cents per point, that is over $155,000 in SPG points. The fun I could have with that pile of points.

Back to my measly totals:

50K Marriott Points

135K Hilton Points

60K Priority Club Points

This is the first time in a long time I have been heavy on hotel points and it feels good.

The New Zealand trip in December is taken care of as far as the flights, and 16 of the 16 nights are paid for.

Hawaii in December for the Big Island and Kauai is also paid off with the flights and upgrades already confirmed and the hotels booked and covered.

And my recent addition of Hawaii again in April at $280 rt each is booked, upgrades accounted for and 7 nights at the Marriott Kauai booked and taken care of.

So I'm ahead of the travel game for another year. I'll rack up the airline miles for a spring trip to Eastern Europe in April and May 2010 and certainly have the hotel points covered already.

And Miss Katy already has 80K in AA miles with another 30K coming from a recent churn.

We have the correct status in airlines and hotels through all of 2010 and up to March 1 2011, except we are 3 nights short of Marriott stays to maintain Gold by year end.

Is it possible we are looking ahead to 2011 travel already? I sure hope so.

It feels like we are starting all over after the Around the World adventure. That will be a tough one to top. But I am still ooking hunting and scrounging for more deals, points and miles.

Thanks for letting me take my inventory. It always feels better to put it down on paper.

Vote In Our Skype Poll

Look on the right hand column near the bottom. Do you use Skype?


Go Card for Attraction Savings in 13 US Cities

Lounge Access for American, Delta, Northwest and Continental

Photo: Bergen Norway

Several years ago when this offer was available I used it to gain inexpensive access to a variety of airport lounges. The offer is viable again.

If you apply for the Platinum Card from American Express you get 25,000 Membership Rewards points if you spend $1000 within the first three months. That will get you a domestic round trip ticket, or you can transfer the points into a variety of frequent flyer and hotel programs and top off more than one account.

In addition you get double points for the first $1000 in spending on gas and groceries within the first year.

And the feature I liked best was access to airport lounges for American, Continental, Delta and Northwest Airlines for a year.

If you were to buy a membership in any one of the above lounges, it would cost close to the Platinum Card membership fee of $450, but with this card, you get access to 4 different airlines and 25,000 Membership Rewards points. The 25,000 MR rewards points can easily cover a very expensive round trip in the USA and your lounge access would in essence be free.

Even if you value the Membership Rewards points at only a penny each, you gain lounge access for four airlines at a cost of $200 additional. No that is a bargain.

It is a one year thing as the 25,000 Membership rewards points bonus is not offered every year on a new sign up or renewal, but it sure makes the next year easier on you.



There are other fluffy benefits with this card, but the offer with the above 25K bonus points worked for me.

The First Annual Frugal Travel Guy Texas Holdem Tourney

George, my favorite marketing guru, has suggested we consider a Frugal Travel Guy and Gal Texas Holdem poker tournament. Pokerstars will set up a private tourney for us. Nothing big, maybe an Alexander Hamilton kind of event?

Date and time to be determined. Email me if you have an interest in such shenanigans. ingy104@gmail.com

Lucky Delta Flyers Internet GoGo Savings

"We were so excited about participating in the FT event in Atlanta, we wanted to do something special for the entire Delta SkyMiles community on FT....but only for a limited time....Save 50% on a single Gogo session (except segment pass and 24hr pass) until 7/19/2009.

Use code 156FLYDA.

To Use your discount on a wi-fi session:
1) Select 'gogoinflight' as the wireless network and launch you browser
2) Sign in or click 'Buy' to create a new account
3) On 'Payment Info' page, enter promo code in space provide (code is case sensitive)
4) Click 'Update Total'

Thank you!
And Happy Travels,
Gogo Inflight Internet

Hello: United????

Seat 22D Las Vegas to Chicago

Coming back from the World Series of Poker I was scheduled to depart at 11:35PM, but after my miserable showing I decided to try to catch the morning flights to Chicago on standby same day without charge. There were about 7 of us on the list and I think I was the only one to get on thanks to my 1K status. I was assigned a middle seat in the economy minus section.

The guy sitting next to me in the aisle was flying with his wife who had the other aisle seat. I offered to no avail to give her my seat so she could sit next to hubby. Ok, it was worth a try. My around the world adventure and flight on TAM in coach made this bearable. If I leaned back, my knees did not touch the seat in front of me and being the biggest guy in the row, I managed to claim both arm rests somehow. It was not that bad, although I will continue to avoid economy minus at all costs.

I did manage to sleep for half the flight and the computer kept me busy for the other half. I sure wish United would get wifi on their planes.

The interesting thing about this trip was when I arrived in Chicago and tried to standby for the next flight to Traverse City, I was told I could not as I was not scheduled to fly that leg until the next day?? and no standbys for next day flights??? (my original flight was a redeye getting me into O'Hare the following day) A quick trip to the Red Carpet Club and phone call to a supervisor took care of that problem and I was now on the standby list to Traverse City.

The whole thing taught me two lessons:

1. Be grateful for your status. It moves you up the list.
2. Anything, even E- on United, is better than coach on TAM.

I'm glad I made it home.

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