It seems that once any of the major U.S. carriers decides to woo the customer, the other five show up at the door with flowers and candy faster than you can say Platinum Elite. That’s certainly the case right now, but before you fall for any loyalty-program lothario trying to tempt you with double miles or EQMs, FCF will show you how to get elite status with five programs after one inexpensive vacation trip taken in the comfort of First Class.
The first step, is to choose from among the airlines now offering triple Elite Qualifying Miles (Delta, Northwest, and United as we go to press). Next, book a round-trip itinerary of more than 8,333 miles in First Class. To illustrate, we’ve picked one for you: Seattle to Atlanta, Atlanta to Bridgetown, Barbados. Delta’s fare for this flight is $1,228. Round-trip mileage is 8,588, which yields 25,764 EQMs—more than enough to get you bottom-tier elite status.
Now, give your other suitors a chance to prove their devotion. Inform the other five airlines of your elite card, and they will usually match it. And with the airlines, it’s always good to take your relationship to the next level.
Links to U.S. carriers’ latest mileage promotions:
American:
http://www.aa.com/aa/AAdvantage/viewAirlineSpecials.do?anchorEvent=falseContinental:
http://www.continental.com/web/en-US/apps/onepass/promotions/registrationDetails.aspx?promoCode=TB8M05Delta:
http://www.delta.com/skymiles/ways_to_get_miles/earning_miles_delta/triple_medallion/index.jspNorthwest:
http://www.nwa.com/offers/triple/United:
http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6722,52639,00.html?navSource=SidebarPromo&linkTitle=Earn+up+to+triple+Elite+Qualifying+Miles&pos=2&date=2009/03/31&time=16US Airways:
http://www.usairways.com/awa/profiles/dmpromotionsregister.aspx?promocode=2X09Free Double Upgrade to Asia
All Nippon Airlines, Star Alliance member and partner in Starwood/Amex Membership Rewards, is offering a great deal to Tokyo from Los Angeles or San Francisco: Business Class for 65,000 miles (or 70,000 from Chicago and Washington, DC)—the usual mileage cost for an economy award. But this is really a double upgrade because All Nippon updated its Business Class seats to a 170-degree recline. The special rate is available from April 6th through May 31st.
You can cash in on this deal, even if you have no ANA miles, by buying 65,000 miles from American Express Membership Rewards. At $1,625, the price is far less than a Business Class ticket ($4,920). If you’ve taken FCF’s advice to get a Starwood Starpoints Amex card, you only need to transfer 60,000 miles (5,000 miles bonus for every 20,000 transferred = 75,000). See the fine-print restrictions at: http://www.ana.co.jp/amc_e/news/cpn_discountmile2/kokusai.html
Great Seat from the East Coast to Hawaii
Do you have to make a connection on Delta’s service to Honolulu? Do it through Atlanta on flights 802 and 803 and enjoy Delta’s best Business Class seat to Hawaii, compliments of merger partner Northwest. Delta picked up 17 of Northwest’s B747s last year, bringing with them 20-inch- wide seats that recline 176 degrees.Delta is not selling this seat cheap, though: We priced mid-week travel in April at $2,614 (plus taxes). This is the perfect scenario for using miles (great seat, high fare, dream destination) to buy an award seat. Avoid upgrades, though, as Delta allows them only from its prohibitively expensive B or M fares.
If you don’t have SkyTeam miles, buy Amex reward points for $1,875, saving $739. Best deal: Transfer Starwood Starpoints to miles, as the 5,000-point bonus for every 20,000 transferred means only 60,000 are needed.