The Airline Rewards Program Is Changing
It’s official! American Airlines, which presented the first airline rewards program in 1981, is actually the only remaining airline rewarding miles based on actual miles traveled. United was the latest airline to cross over with Delta, Jetblue, and Southwest. These airlines are rewarding miles based on dollars spent rather than miles earned. This can either be a good or a bad thing for loyal clients who have been a part of an airline rewards program for the last several years… If you spent $750 on a ticket between West Palm Beach, Florida & Newark, New Jersey, this would be a very good thing! But if you were spending the same amount on a flight to London from New York, that wouldn’t be to your advantage as there are more miles to be earned than dollars spent.
Overall, Is This Good News? Who Benefits From This Change?
Did you know that over 90 million travelers have participated in an airline rewards program in the United States since its inception? I for one am interested in learning whether overall, is this good news for you… Delta received a lot of grief for the change, but there have been no signs of them recanting their decision. Correct me if I’m wrong, but one BIG group this change will benefit would be the BIG spenders. Flights to destinations like Asia are the ones to benefit the most as the face value for these tickets are HUGE! Refundable ticket buyers are another big group of people who would benefit from this change.
Are Credit Cards My Best Option? If So, Which Ones?
If you aren’t crazy about this development, but wish to continue collecting all the points you can, credit cards are a viable option. Brian Kelly, aka “The Points Guy” is a real pro when it comes to using miles. Brian purchased round-trip flights to the Maldives worth $4,000.00. By transferring 60,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards Points aboard EVA Air & Singapore Airlines, Brian got away with paying only $24.00 in taxes & fees. You can too by enrolling with credit cards offering the most bonus miles on all purchases while paying the lowest annual fee. Here are a few credit cards you may want to look into: Chase Sapphire Preferred, Barclaycard Arrival, and Citi Platinum Select AAdvantage World MasterCard.
How Long Do I Have To Collect Miles With My United Airline Rewards Program?
For all of you Mileage Plussers in United’s airline rewards program that want to take advantage of the limited time to still collect on rewards on actual miles traveled, you still can until March of 2015. Keep in mind that collecting miles is not only done via purchasing flights for business… Many don’t know that booking vacations in conjunction with flights with one vacation consolidator can also be a great way to collect miles! Did you know your travel agency can easily collect your information & submit? Your travel agent can submit your airline rewards program number to the operator’s air department, which will in turn send the info to the airline. This way you and your family can be locked in to collect deserved rewards. Purchasing promotional flights with tour operators like Globus, Trafalgar, or Insight while collecting miles or points on your airline rewards program could not be any easier!
In conclusion…
In conclusion, the airline rewards program is quickly changing, but you can adapt to these changes by having the right information on hand. If the airline rewards program you’re affiliated with is linked to any of the four airlines mentioned, enroll with the right credit card. This way you’re maximizing on the most amount of points or miles while abiding by their new rules. Also, if you’re set to take a cruise with let’s say Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, you don’t have to purchase your flights on your own. Choice Air is an option your travel agent can easily suggest, which could result in better airfare while collecting miles & points.
