Welcome to Your Only Stop for Best Airline Ticket Information
Business Class Discount Airline Ticket Article
. For a permanent link to this article, or to bookmark it for further reading, click here.
You may also listen to this article by using the following controls.
How to Maximize Frequent Flyer Points
from:Rick Abbott
Today, even infrequent flyers are enrolled in one or more airline frequent flyer programs. With the volume of air travel reaching and surpassing pre-9/11 levels, more and more people are hitting the skies. This article provides some tips and tricks to maximize those frequent flyer miles given out by most airlines as a reward or incentive for flying their airline or within a given airline group.
First a brief history of the airline frequent flyer program. Two events were key to the creation of the frequent flyer program, deregulation in 1978 which created a marketing environment and computerization which created the necessary infrastructure to support these programs. Without these two events frequent flyer
programs would be either unnecessary or impossible to implement. In May 1981, American Airlines introduced AAdvantage, the first frequent flyer program. The goal was to retain their best customers by rewarding them for their loyalty. The program tracked member's miles flown, and provided incentives in the form of free flights and upgraded amenities. Today, there are more than 70 frequent flyer programs, with over 100 million members. Members receive over 10 million awards per year.
The keys to maximizing your frequent flyer awards are as follows:
#1. Join the program - you can't accumulate miles if you're not a member, and there is generally no cost to join.
#2. Consolidate - focus your travel on as few airlines as possible, so that your miles accrue in one account, and you attain elite levels faster. Also, be aware of any alliances that airlines have, which allows you to fly on one airline but credit the points to another airline.
#3. Keep track of expiration dates - most frequent flyer programs expire miles after a period of time, usually 2-3 years after being granted.
#4. Credit card promotions - airline credit cards are a popular way to put an extra 5-10,000 miles in your account when you sign-up, which on some airlines is 50% of a round trip ticket. As long as the credit card doesn't have an annual fee, this is a great way to close the gap on a free ticket. Plus some airline credit cards provide bonus miles for each flight.
#5. Hotel and rental car accelerators - check hotel and rental car agreements, you can pick up extra frequent flyer miles based on where you stay on the car you rent.
#6. Elite levels - Try to achieve and maintain elite levels with the programs. Besides other amenities such as upgrades and preferential boarding, elite levels frequently get bonus miles. If you're elite in one airlines program, one trick is to send a letter to another airline requesting a bump into their elite program. Most airlines will do this to get you hooked on their programs.
#7. Leverage merchant partnerships - airlines have signed agreements with various merchants (e.g., FTD) to provide frequent flyer miles for purchasing partner products. Find out which merchants your airline has partnered with and adjust your spending.
In summary, the quickest way to a free flight isn't necessarily through the air. Make sure you focus your travel, if possible, with one or two airlines. And make sure you understand all of the partnerships that airline has entered into, so that your non-flight dollars can be channeled into that free ticket to the Bahamas.
About the author:
Rick Abbott is an experienced business traveler, part time author, and consultant in the IT field. For more road warrior articles and tips, go to www.roadwarriorarticles.com.
Business Class Discount Airline Ticket Specific links
Business Class Discount Airline Ticket News
Dubai's Emirates offers up to 30 per cent off on ticket prices - Emirates 24/7
 Arabian Supply Chain | Dubai's Emirates offers up to 30 per cent off on ticket prices Emirates 24/7 Dubai's Emirates airline has announced a three-day sale offering customers discounts of up to 30 per cent to select destinations across its network. The airline intends to maximise available seats on its flights to these destinations during this 'slow' ... Emirates offers up to 30 per cent discounts on routes Emirates offers up to 30% discounts on top routes |
Debunking the 'economy-class syndrome' - Times of India
Debunking the 'economy-class syndrome' Times of India There's nothing like traveling business class with its sprawled out seats, personal entertainment options and enough space to stretch your legs. But if you aren't that lucky, an economy class ticket on a long-distance flight (more than six hours) might ... |
Alaska Airlines adds Philadelphia routes - Cherry Hill Courier Post
Alaska Airlines adds Philadelphia routes Cherry Hill Courier Post Introductory fares already are available on the airline's website, alaskaair.com, starting at $380 round-trip. Fares include taxes and fees but don't cover food or entertainment outside the 14 seats in the first-class cabin. |
Seniors on the Go: Where can I buy discounted business-class tickets? - Chicago Tribune
Seniors on the Go: Where can I buy discounted business-class tickets? Chicago Tribune A reader recently asked about where and how to buy the discounted business-class tickets to Europe or Asia I sometimes mention. Although most of you are clearly interested in finding the cheapest airline ticket available, no matter what, ... |
Singapore Airlines begins codeshare flights with Virgin Australia - Australian Business Traveller
 Australian Business Traveller | Singapore Airlines begins codeshare flights with Virgin Australia Australian Business Traveller Another need-to-know in the Virgin/Singapore alliance are the rules regarding lounge access: only passengers travelling in Business Class or First Class on a Singapore Airlines-operated flight are allowed entry to SQ's swanky SilverKris Lounge at ... |
Alaska Airlines: New Seattle to FLL service starts July 16 - Sun-Sentinel
Alaska Airlines: New Seattle to FLL service starts July 16 Sun-Sentinel The flights will be operated on Boeing 737-800 aircraft, accommodating 16 passengers in first class and 141 in the main cabin, the airline said. Alaska Airlines plans to discontinue service between Miami and Seattle with the launch of the new Fort ... |
Frequent fliers to stick with Delta - Atlanta Journal Constitution
Frequent fliers to stick with Delta Atlanta Journal Constitution And with Southwest's plan to eliminate AirTran's popular business class, they worry about losing the ability to upgrade (or afford) to fly at the front of the plane on long flights out West. Time-deprived executives will be irritated at the extra step ... |
One dollar flights gone, but business travellers have it good - Sydney Morning Herald (blog)
 Sydney Morning Herald (blog) | One dollar flights gone, but business travellers have it good Sydney Morning Herald (blog) But, at the front of the plane, business travellers have rarely had it so good, with the cheapest fares since 1994, according to the BITRE index. It's all about competition, which ebbs and flows. In business class, Qantas now has its first formal ... |
Emirates lures Seattle travelers with low fares, bonus miles - The Seattle Times
Emirates lures Seattle travelers with low fares, bonus miles The Seattle Times The fare went up to $1200 the next day. That flight and many others require an overnight in Dubai in both directions, but for layovers of more than eight hours (six hours for business-class passengers), the airline provides a hotel at no extra charge. |
New regulations may lead to airline ticket 'sticker shock' - Los Angeles Times
 Los Angeles Times | New regulations may lead to airline ticket 'sticker shock' Los Angeles Times Travel experts say rules requiring airlines to include taxes and fees in their advertised prices may reduce ticket sales by scaring away passengers with prices that seem much higher than before. This handout provided by Alaska Airlines shows the type ... |