63
votes
Accepted
Is there a way to rescue orphaned and expiring Qantas Frequent Flyer miles?
Yes, there is: since transfers are free, unlimited and can be any number over 5,000 miles, you can transfer some miles to them, and transfer the combined sum back! Here's how it works:
Family member ...
- 99.7k
47
votes
Accepted
Would a non-business traveler ever benefit from collecting air miles, as compared to simply buying the cheapest ticket available?
To directly answer the title question, yes, non-business travelers can absolutely benefit from airline loyalty programs (i.e. earning points/miles as well as status.) Whether it's worth it for you in ...
- 12.8k
30
votes
Can I travel multiple one-way back-and-forth flights to the same destinations on one day?
Yes. There is the possibility you'll be questioned as to your motives, but in the end they're all domestic flights, so it's down to you and the airline for the transaction, and they've sold you the ...
- 157k
29
votes
Would a non-business traveler ever benefit from collecting air miles, as compared to simply buying the cheapest ticket available?
There are three things that set (some) frequent flier programs apart from other rewards programs. How important these are to you may determine whether they are worth doing.
The first is "Status" ...
- 73.4k
28
votes
What techniques, tricks or otherwise have you used to get upgrades on flights?
The #1 rule of upgrades is to not believe most of what is said and written about them. There may have been a time (decades ago) when upgrades were at the discretion of the gate or flight crew, and ...
- 3,670
26
votes
Accepted
If an airline goes bust or insolvent, what happens to frequent flyer miles and reward tickets?
If the airline is a part of an alliance (as in your first question), there might be some recompense in that other alliance partners might still recognise the points. But that's up to them and their ...
- 157k
26
votes
Accepted
Is it possible to add a Frequent Flier number after the flight is booked?
Generally, yes.
On almost all airlines you can select/change frequent flier accounts as often as you want until check in. Final selection typically happens during check in and most check in ...
- 64.4k
22
votes
Can I travel multiple one-way back-and-forth flights to the same destinations on one day?
Yes. The airline is a business, they are happy to receive your repeat custom.
Your concern should be whether this is feasible: if the same aircraft is used to operate all flights, then one flight ...
- 36.6k
22
votes
Accepted
Privacy disadvantages of 'frequent flyer miles' program
The main source of income for Frequent Flyer programs is not selling your information, but instead selling points.
Any time you earn points/miles from using a credit card that is affiliated with a ...
- 107k
19
votes
What are the disadvantages of joining United's MileagePlus program?
There aren't any major disadvantages. In particular, there's no requirement to apply for the credit card.
There are some possible subtle disadvantages.
Having a MileagePlus account might in the ...
- 37k
18
votes
Accepted
If you're evacuated on a flight paid for by your government (eg civil unrest, volcanic ash delays), are you ever entitled to the frequent flyer miles?
The phrasing "government funded flight" suggests that the flight was chartered by the Australian government. Charter flights are not usually eligible for miles. For example, Rule 9.3.1 of Qantas's ...
- 37k
17
votes
Accepted
Can I claim miles if I bought the tickets but didn't take the flight?
No
This is specified in the Terms and conditions of Miles and More.
Specifically (emphasis mine), section 2.3.2:
For each actually flown segment of a fully paid scheduled flight operated by ...
- 12.6k
17
votes
Buying United miles from third-party sites
From United's website:
The sale or barter or attempted sale or barter of any such mileage,
certificates, awards or benefits other than as authorized and/or
sponsored by United is expressly ...
- 157k
16
votes
Accepted
Can I gain mileage if I don't get on the flight but pass check-in?
No, you will not get frequent flier credit if you do not fly. Irrespective of whether you check-in or not. Even if you go on board and then decide not to fly, you will be unloaded from the manifest ...
- 28.2k
16
votes
How can I calculate the value of any given airline's miles?
It depends, but a really rough rule of thumb is that a mile is worth one cent. This means that you really shouldn't be paying more than $10 more to get 1000 miles.
That said, there's massive ...
- 99.7k
15
votes
Accepted
What's the difference between SkyTeam and Flying Blue?
Flying Blue is the airline loyalty programme of Air France, KLM, Air Europa, Kenya Airways, Aircalin, and TAROM. The intention of the programme is to encourage you to spend more money with these ...
- 36.6k
15
votes
Accepted
Booking a trip to earn airline status
When you book your flight, it'll tell you what your Premier qualifying miles (PQM), Premier qualifying segments (PQS) and Premier qualifying dollars (PQD) are. Attached is a screenshot of a sample ...
- 4,321
14
votes
Privacy disadvantages of 'frequent flyer miles' program
You need to read the privacy policy and terms and conditions of your specific airline's program as they should detail if they share any information and with whom.
Keep in mind some information ...
- 39.3k
13
votes
Accepted
Can you earn miles with different airlines for the same one flight, if they are part of the same loyalty program?
No,
in the specific case of AAdvantage Terms and Conditions as jpatokal has already noted, but also, no in general. Accrual of points in multiple programs is expressly prohibited by most programs in ...
- 42.6k
13
votes
Would a non-business traveler ever benefit from collecting air miles, as compared to simply buying the cheapest ticket available?
tldr: If you travel once or twice a year, on full-price airlines with frequent flyer progammes, sign up for them. But don't obsess over them, and focus on price and other benefits first.
Longer ...
- 12.2k
13
votes
What are the disadvantages of joining United's MileagePlus program?
Everything in the other answer is correct. There are really not much issues with being a member of the program itself.
However if you are a member of another program in the Star Alliance, you will ...
- 40.3k
12
votes
Accepted
Claiming miles that I have flown before registering as frequent flyer
Airlines have a certain time limit till which you can claim missing miles. I am a Qatar Airways frequent traveler and they have the following conditions
Time limit when becoming a new member = 30 ...
- 4,513
11
votes
Which miles rules apply in code share
When it comes to putting miles into your account with Frequent Flyer Program X, it is always Frequent Flyer X's rules that count. The fact that ANZ would give your their miles for the flight if you ...
- 73.4k
11
votes
Accepted
What happens to reward points/miles when you are rebooked?
Typically, you can claim Original Routing Credit (ORC) for the flights you were originally booked on. If you are rebooked on an airline on a different alliance, you can claim duplicate credit for ...
- 28.2k
11
votes
Is it possible to add a Frequent Flier number after the flight is booked?
In case you don't do it before the flight...
As alluded in other answers, pretty much all airlines allow you to "claim missing miles" even after the flight. If the frequent flyer programme is for ...
- 13.2k
10
votes
Earning miles using hidden ticketing?
Frequent flyer miles are generally only earned when there's a "butt in seat", to quote the charming term of art from frequent flyer forums. If you don't show up at the gate and get your boarding pass ...
- 99.7k
9
votes
Can you combine loyalty programs when flying on a multi itinerary flight?
Generally if you flew with an airline, and you have points with them or their alliance, whoever you hold the points with, you can credit.
So I had an itinerary last year that involved some major US ...
- 157k
9
votes
Can you earn miles with different airlines for the same one flight, if they are part of the same loyalty program?
No, you're not allowed to do that, and neither is it (usually) possible in practice. AAdvantage T&C:
Mileage credit cannot be earned for the same flight, hotel stay, or
car rental in more ...
- 99.7k
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