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A Good Resolution - Use Your Frequent Flyer Miles
Back in November, the Washington Post highlighted a statistic that is downright sad: 92 percent of airline frequent flyer miles are never redeemed.Now I don't know how one comes up with all the data that would lead to this conclusion, but let's give them the benefit of the doubt and assume it's true. This means that only eight percent of all mileage actually gets turned into something useful. The rest is just numbers on statement, worth something in theory, but not really ever cashed. If you're looking for something to achieve in 2007, here's an easy target. Turn those virtual rewards into real ones!
I'm not saying it's easy. You may have to book a ticket 330 days before you actually want to travel. You may have to spend more than the minimum level to get the seat when you can really use it. You may need to buy a ticket and then use the miles to upgrade to business class (which actually makes the miles worth more anyway in most cases.) You may need to fly once or buy some things in an airline's virtual mall to get up to the right level, or you may need to top off the balance with miles from a Diner's or Amex card if you have one. In the end though, these actions will turn a paper reward into something tangible.
Of course a good portion of that 92 percent is probably "orphan miles." You sign up for a frequent flyer program on the first flight you take with that airline and then never do again. Or you have miles or points on an airline that lets them expire after a set amount of time, so you're back to zero eventually if you don't fly it enough. When that's the case, you're out of luck and they just vanish into the jet fuel exhaust. Keep an eye on your programs to see if you can keep that from happening. On Southwest it's pretty tough to do without flying, but on others you can sometimes just make a purchase online to start the clock again. If you really want to be sure you're getting your fair share and are gaming the system instead of it gaming you, check out the book Mileage Pro.
Source: http://travel.booklocker.com/
Abbott jokes about Bali travel warnings
News.com.au - Wed, 10 Mar 2010 03:32:41 GMT
OPPOSITION Leader Tony Abbott has made light of Australia's travel warnings for Indonesia at a lunch for Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
32 AUSSIE, KIWI TRAVEL-TRADE MANAGERS FOR CONFERENCE IN MALAYSIA
Bernama via Yahoo! Malaysia News - Tue, 09 Mar 2010 23:43:28 GMT
MELBOURNE, March 10 (Bernama) â- Twenty-three senior managers from Australia and New Zealand will attend Tourism Malaysia's second annual travel-trade product conference in Malaysia this month.
32 Aussie, Kiwi Travel-trade Managers For Conference In Malaysia
Bernama - Wed, 10 Mar 2010 02:04:49 GMT
MELBOURNE, March 10 (Bernama) -- Twenty-three senior managers from Australia and New Zealand will attend Tourism Malaysia's second annual travel-trade product conference in Malaysia this month.
Roger Dow: Travel Promotion Act: A Win for US Economy and Taxpayers
The Huffington Post - Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:42:11 GMT
With unemployment remaining high and concerns growing about a jobless recovery, Congress recently passed legislation that promises to jumpstart travel, a critical sector of our economy.
PREVIEW: Berlin travel fair marks 'new decade of travel'
EARTHtimes.org - Wed, 10 Mar 2010 02:21:00 GMT
Berlin - The world's biggest international travel show, the ITB in Berlin, celebrates a new decade of travel, as 11,000 exhibitors from 180 countries open their doors on Wednesday. A difficult year lies beh...
Residents to take travel survey
Abilene Reporter-News - Wed, 10 Mar 2010 03:41:00 GMT
Approximately 2,000 randomly selected Abilene families will be receiving a letter in about a week, asking them to take part in a travel survey.The Texas Department of Transportation and Abilene Metropolitan Planning Organization are conducting the survey. The purpose is to “help TXDoT and local officials prioritize local transportation projects as well as plan new roads needed to increase ...
19. Still no refund from travel firm
The Star - Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:42:35 GMT
KUALA LUMPUR: A group of holiday-makers seeking refunds for their cancelled trip to Shanghai, China, went home empty-handed after they failed to meet the travel agency's manager.
Avoiding travel scams during Spring Break
News 8 Austin - Tue, 09 Mar 2010 22:07:22 GMT
Vacation scams cost consumers more than $10 billion each year, and often rank in the top 25 for number of complaints in the travel industry.
Travel advisory against Thailand up
6:37 p.m.) (Sun Star - Tue, 09 Mar 2010 20:11:26 GMT
MANILA -- The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Tuesday issued a travel advisory against going to Thailand on March 12 (Friday) amid looming anti-government protests in key points of capital Bang read more
Travel ban breach contempt of court
The Age - Tue, 09 Mar 2010 16:19:37 GMT
A former Macquarie Bank fund manager will be sentenced for contempt of court on Monday after admitting he tried to leave the country in breach of a travel ban.