All Questions
50 questions
61
votes
14
answers
9k
views
What techniques, tricks or otherwise have you used to get upgrades on flights?
I've travelled a lot. Living in New Zealand or the UK means anywhere is likely a flight, but I've always flown economy. Twice between LA and Auckland I managed to get the exit row after talking ...
- 160k
55
votes
7
answers
8k
views
Would a non-business traveler ever benefit from collecting air miles, as compared to simply buying the cheapest ticket available?
Looking at various air miles programs around the world, it seems to me that they're only useful for business travelers, who basically get free flights out of their employer's pocket. However for a ...
- 81.7k
14
votes
3
answers
9k
views
What tips or tricks can you use to get "upgraded"/better hotel rooms?
(Inspired by this question on flight upgrades),
Most non-budget hotels have various categories of rooms - perhaps larger rooms, "Executive" rooms, suites, and so on. What tips or tricks can you use ...
- 12.4k
8
votes
1
answer
3k
views
How does the SNCF Voyageur program work?
I'm planning some TGV trips soon, but despite being a member of two different Railteam frequent traveller programs already, from this question it doesn't look like I'd be able to credit the journeys ...
- 63k
5
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Can I switch OneWorld airline loyalty schemes and retain my benefits?
I am currently American AAdvantage Executive Platinum, and am considering switching to earning through the British Airways Executive Club instead, with the hope of reaching Gold this year (the ...
- 12.4k
11
votes
2
answers
19k
views
Can you earn miles with different airlines for the same one flight, if they are part of the same loyalty program?
For example, I flew British Airways LAX-LHR. I wanted to get miles on Alaska Airlines so I sent in the boarding pass, etc and received credit.
I also have a mileage plan with American Airlines. ...
- 113
11
votes
3
answers
11k
views
Do you earn miles for trips that you flew, but you didn't buy?
I am being flown out by a company for an on-site visit. Will I earn miles for this trip, or will the company?
- 2,401
11
votes
2
answers
23k
views
Miles & More: What is a booking class?
I'm member of the frequent flyer program Miles & More. Now I wanted to request additional miles for a flight during summer 2011 when I wasn't yet a member. To fill out the online form, I have to ...
- 51.6k
7
votes
2
answers
3k
views
How to change my loyalty program online before check-in?
I have made a booking with Lufthansa and initially listed my Miles & More account for credit of eventual miles gained. However now I want to credit the miles that will be gained from the flight to ...
- 26.4k
6
votes
4
answers
42k
views
Is Spirit Airlines's $9 Fare Club worth it?
Has anyone tried Spirit Airlines's $9 fare club membership ($60/year)?
What do you get with your membership, and what makes it worth it?
- 217
0
votes
2
answers
727
views
Questions about MileSAAver Economy rewards
I'm looking into using AA rewards miles toward a family flight next summer. I've looked at the AA award chart and the MileSAAver Economy tickets sound appealing because of the low cost in miles, but ...
- 1
21
votes
6
answers
3k
views
How can I calculate the value of any given airline's miles?
Very often, I'm torn between taking a cheaper flight, and taking a slightly more expensive one where I will accumulate airline mile and loyalty status. I'm torn about how to decide in these ...
user65735
16
votes
3
answers
7k
views
Can I claim miles if I bought the tickets but didn't take the flight?
Due to odd circumstances I didn't have a chance to take a flight. I already bought the tickets and I wasn't able to cancel anything.
Can I still request miles (Miles & More)?
- 263
15
votes
2
answers
8k
views
On TGV (or other French long-distance trains), can you take the earlier/later train?
Last year I had a ticket on a certain TGV. I arrived let due to getting a coffee. I got on the next TGV, an hour later. I figured I'd have to buy a new ticket on board.
Surprisingly, the chef said, ...
- 6,354
15
votes
2
answers
4k
views
If an airline goes bust or insolvent, what happens to frequent flyer miles and reward tickets?
I have a good number of frequent flyer miles with Jet airways, which is running into financial troubles. This is getting me a little worried and I have the following questions about it:
I have used ...
- 4,167
14
votes
1
answer
5k
views
When you fly for free using miles, do you earn miles?
Two questions:
If I "buy" a flight using miles, will I earn miles on that flight? In my case, I'd be using American Airlines miles to buy an American Airlines flight.
What about if I use American ...
- 2,401
13
votes
1
answer
599
views
How can a private person put a SNCF train ticket on hold to combine it with its return journey later?
I usually travel to France for a weekend once or twice a year. Most of the time by train, the Netherlands to Paris by Thalys and Paris to wherever I go often by TGV and then the return journey a ...
- 62.6k
13
votes
1
answer
117k
views
What's the difference between MileSAAver and AAnytime reward tickets on American Airlines?
What's the difference between MileSAAver and AAnytime reward tickets on American Airlines, once they have been booked? Do they have different cancellation or change policies, for example?
I'm looking ...
- 12.4k
13
votes
2
answers
655
views
How to find an appropriate frequent flyer program?
In the last months I flew a lot with different airlines, mainly Swiss, AirBaltic, Aeroflot and AeroSvit. Now I was wondering if there is a frequent flyer program covering as much as possible of these ...
- 51.6k
12
votes
2
answers
12k
views
What's the difference between SkyTeam and Flying Blue?
I am going to reserve a flight with Air France and I just subscribed to the Flying Blue program (Air France + KLM).
Is this program the same as SkyTeam?
I mean, the miles I earn in Flying Blue ...
- 389
12
votes
3
answers
802
views
How to Reduce the Price of an Awards/Points 'Free' Flight?
Yesterday, I did a redemption for a flight on American Airlines using AAdvanatge points. The flight costs about $800 when booked normally though AA or aggregators like Expedia (tried several and there ...
- 46.3k
11
votes
4
answers
2k
views
How long before departure do I need to get to Lille Europe for a Eurostar to Brussels?
I'm booked on a Eurostar from Lille to Brussels (ie it's a London to Brussels Eurostar, and I'm getting on it after it has crossed the channel)
The PDF ticket that I've received from Eurostar says I ...
- 2,190
9
votes
1
answer
308
views
SNCF Bornes Libre Service with US Credit Cards
I want to use the self-service ticket machines in a French Railway station. I have a US Credit card with a chip ("puce"), but for which (in keeping with US credit card modalities), I don't get asked ...
- 193
9
votes
1
answer
735
views
I need some explanation about payment modalities on sncf-voyages.com website
I need some explanation about payment modalities on the sncf-voyages.com website.
These are the options:
Since I don't live in France, I can't use option 2.
It is not clear the difference between ...
- 3,809
8
votes
3
answers
15k
views
Can you get frequent flyer miles from all code-share airlines, or only same alliance ones?
For example, Qantas and British Airways are both One World. If you fly with one, you can usually claim miles with the other (except some award seats).
What about China Eastern Airlines, who code-...
- 160k
8
votes
4
answers
10k
views
What are "500 Mile Upgrades"?
On my American Airlines AAdvantage account, I see a lot of references to "500 Mile Upgrades".
I don't quite understand how these work. Can someone explain what these are for (and what does the "500 ...
user82
8
votes
2
answers
431
views
Is it possible to use one frequent flyer program for status and another for earnings?
Say I have elite status on one airline in an alliance but I want to accumulate miles in another airline in the alliance. Can I give one number for the purpose of status recognition and the other for ...
- 183
7
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Recurring roundtrip flights (every weekend)
As the title suggests, I am looking into the option of recurring roundtrip flights every weekend. Friday outbound, Sunday inbound. From Vienna to Paris and then back. To be with my family.
I found ...
6
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Collecting French (SNCF) "Ticket On Departure" tickets from outside of France?
For an upcoming trip, I've booked some TGV tickets through Rail Europe. They wanted a surprising amount of money for postage, so I opted instead for the free option of "Ticket On Departure", that is, ...
- 63k
6
votes
1
answer
501
views
Can Hostelworld Gold membership numbers be shared among multiple accounts?
Is a Hostelworld Gold membership locked to one particular account, or can it be used when make booking from separate accounts to get a discount? If the latter, then does Hostelworld invalidate cards ...
- 38.5k
6
votes
1
answer
166
views
Specifying a Eurostar or SNCF frequent traveller number when booking through Loco2?
Following the help given in this Travel.SE answer, I now know the trick for specifying my Eurostar or SNCF frequent traveller number when booking a ticket through the SNCB website. Now, I find myself ...
- 63k
6
votes
1
answer
4k
views
During a SNCF strike, how can I check what trains will run without going to the station?
It seems there's currently a national SNCF strike on at the moment, and I'm trying to work out if it'll affect my journey later.
The people I booked my TGV tickets with advised me to check infolignes....
- 63k
6
votes
2
answers
660
views
French Strikes: Using idTGV ticket for standard (SNCF) TGV
The French railways are on a strike. I know I can take another train if I fit in. However, can I use an idTGV ticket Paris - Toulon on a SNCF-TGV train? If not, do I have any other possibility since ...
- 3,180
6
votes
2
answers
209
views
Cost-effective choices for lounges at Tallinn, Oslo, Helsinki airports?
In these lounges you pay about 30 euros for one visit. Assuming 15-20 travels per year between Tallinn, Oslo and Helsinki:
Are there any cheaper methods to stay in lounges like bonus programs or ...
5
votes
1
answer
334
views
Which frequent flyer programs allow pooling of status credits?
I know the Virgin Australia Velocity frequent flyer program allows pooling of travel into a single beneficiary for a whole family. This can be useful where one person travels a lot while the rest ...
- 14.5k
5
votes
1
answer
350
views
Would ANA still honour reward ticket if Jet airways goes bust
I have frequent flyer miles with Jet airways, with which I have booked a ticket with partner airline ANA.
Now Jet airways is struggling with finances and things are getting worse. I have a confirmed ...
- 4,167
5
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Is it still possible to find mileage run flights and if so, how?
I need about 8000 miles by the end of the year to retain my Elite status with Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles (and consequently my Star Alliance Gold level). In my mind, spending some money to do a ...
- 3,145
5
votes
1
answer
13k
views
Can I get miles for flights I pay for someone else Alaska Airlines
I traveled to Hawaii with my wife but I forgot to include my Alaska Mileage plan when I reserved the tickets. I submitted my request trough Alaska retro credit website and mine went trough but when I ...
- 235
4
votes
1
answer
217
views
Can I earn SNCF Voyager points, for a booking made without the membership number?
Having now worked out what the SNCF Voyageur program is, I've gone ahead and joined it, as I've a number of TGV journeys coming up in the coming months.
The slight wrinkle is that most of these TGV ...
- 63k
4
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Can I merge points from different flight companies to use in Star Alliance?
If I have points in multiple Star Alliance member companies, can I sum up all these points to get a Star Alliance flight ticket?
- 2,174
4
votes
2
answers
954
views
If I book a Eurostar ticket through SNCB, how can I attach my Eurostar Frequent Traveller details to the booking?
When looking to book a Eurostar ticket, I discovered that it was cheaper (for this one journey - no promises in general!) to book it via the SNCB English website rather than via Eurostar themselves. ...
- 63k
4
votes
2
answers
504
views
When buying flight with AAdvantage points do you still pay $ at the end?
So I am looking at signing up for the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® MasterCard®
However, I am pretty confused at how all of the miles redemption options work. I understand that the AAnytime ...
- 49
4
votes
3
answers
222
views
How early before departure can I reserve train tickets in France?
I'm trying to book a train journey in France for September. We are currently in May and the SNCF website does not allow me to reserve tickets such a long time (4 months) in advance.
So here is the ...
- 52.8k
4
votes
1
answer
121
views
Can I credit travel on one RailTeam member to the frequent traveller program of another?
I know that with airline alliances and partnerships, you can credit flights on one airline in the alliance/partnership to a frequent traveller program of another. Does the same thing apply for travel ...
- 63k
3
votes
1
answer
276
views
Will I receive Explorer card benefits if my employer pays for my flight?
My employer flies me out every couple of months and pays for my flight, and it always seems to be with United. I was wondering, if I get the Chase Explorer card, will I still be awarded miles for ...
- 31
3
votes
1
answer
662
views
Cancelling a mileage award ticket after check in American Airlines
If I booked a mileage award travel through American Airlines, and have checked in at the airport and passed security, can I still cancel my trip a few hours before I board, in the event of an ...
- 41
3
votes
1
answer
346
views
Delay due to strikes - can you claim on the SNCF Garantie Ponctualité?
Thanks to the question on checking SNCF trains during a strike, I was able to discover that one of my trains today was cancelled. Sadly though, the only alternative involved a very hefty delay and an ...
- 63k
3
votes
3
answers
2k
views
On what tickets or flights are Flying Blue XP earned?
I am not sure if this applies generally to other loyalty programmes, or if this question should be about Flying Blue specifically.
Flying Blue XP ("Experience points") are earned on flights with KLM, ...
- 1,753
2
votes
2
answers
1k
views
What is the difference between Saver and Standard awards on United Mileage Plus?
The Saver Award destinations are quite limited. Do the standard awards allow you to fly between any two cities in the continental U.S.?
- 1,025
-9
votes
1
answer
484
views
Which is the best frequent flyer program to join? [closed]
I am guessing it would be an airline in Star Alliance or One world based on the partner airline benefits. But which of these airlines would be better?
I choose United because it has quite a few ...
- 107