Off-Price Awards Stretch Value of Miles

Some frequent flyer awards are freer than others.

July 20, 2001 - In the frequent flyer universe, free is good, and freer is better.

Of course, frequent flyer award tickets aren't really free. You earned the miles for the award ticket by paying real money, for real goods and services. So the award is, effectively, a rebate. And like all rebates, it's either a big one or a small one. Clearly the former trumps the latter.

Hence the topic of this article: discounted frequent flyer awards (i.e. award tickets offered for fewer than the normally required number of miles). In the 20-plus years that frequent flyer programs have been entrancing consumers with their earn-and-burn magic, the summer of 2001 takes the prize for the most available discounted awards. That's for several reasons--

• The economy is weak; travel is off; seats are plentiful.

• It's summer, and the public's thoughts turn to leisure travel.

• And the widespread perception (including that of influential Congressmen) is that award seats are few and far between; that in fact frequent flyer programs are little more than pyramid schemes.

(Never mind the "20th Anniversary Celebration" rationale being applied to some of these offers. I'm a proponent of honesty in marketing, and in that spirit, most promotions and discounts should simply be labeled as "Help, We Can't Sell These Seats!" offers.)

So, for reasons of supply, demand and the fear of government intervention, there's never been a better time to make more award seats available, and for less.

It's the "for less" aspect that concerns us here, bringing us back full circle to the idea that an award ticket available for 15,000 miles is "freer" (or certainly cheaper) than the same ticket at 25,000 miles. Following are some specific examples of these lower-mile awards currently available. Get 'em while they're cheap!

At Delta: Cincinnati, Denver Discounts

Between now and August 31, 2001, SkyMiles members can request award tickets between Dallas and 11 cities, and between Cincinnati and 16 cities, for 15,000 miles instead of the normal 25,000. Travel must be completed by August 31.

Cincinnati

The 15,000-mile reduced SkySaver award is valid for flights between Cincinnati and Austin, New York (JFK), San Jose, Dallas/Fort Worth, New York (LaGuardia), Tampa, Fort Lauderdale, Philadelphia, Tucson, Jacksonville, Phoenix, West Palm Beach, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Richmond, Washington, D.C. (Reagan National), New Orleans and San Antonio. Delta is also offering a reduced SkySaver award for nonstop travel between Cincinnati and San Juan, Puerto Rico for 20,000 miles.

Dallas

There's also a 15,000-mile reduced SkySaver award offered for flights between Dallas/Fort Worth and El Paso, Cincinnati, Louisville, Memphis, New York (LaGuardia), Raleigh-Durham, Phoenix, Savannah, Santa Ana, (Orange Co. Airport), Tucson, and Washington, D.C. (Reagan National).

Also on the value front, for a limited time, Delta SkyMiles members can redeem their miles for discounts on Delta Vacations packages. Members can save up to $200 with Delta Vacations when redeeming miles towards the purchase of a vacation package of three nights or more, as follows--

Award Certificates must be issued by December 31, 2001, and members have until June 30, 2002, to book their Delta Vacations packages. All travel must be completed by December 31, 2002. Promotion is only valid for U.S. SkyMiles members.

For more on Delta Vacations, go to Delta Vacations online or call 1-877-759-7949.

[Delta has discounted Atlanta awards as well. Details are here.]

Northwest: Save By Booking Online

In contrast to Delta's route-specific discounts, Northwest is offering its members an across-the-board 1,000-mile discount for awards booked on the airline's website.

WorldPerks members who redeem their miles online for award reservations at nwa.com by December 31, 2001, will automatically receive a 1,000-mile discount on their award booking. For example, an award that would normally require 20,000 miles can be had for 19,000 miles when the 1,000-mile discount is factored in. This discount is applied immediately upon purchase of award travel and is reflected in the online booking process.

Midwest Express: Big Easy for Less

Midwest Express is usually pretty prim when it comes to frequent flyer program offers, but the Milwaukee-based carrier pulled out the stops in promoting its new service to New Orleans.

Between now and August 31, 2001, Frequent Flyer members are being offered, predictably, double bonus miles for flights to/from New Orleans. During the same period, members can also take advantage of a compelling award-travel offer: redeem 25,000 miles for two roundtrip tickets between New Orleans and either Milwaukee or Kansas City. (Both travelers must fly together, on the same itinerary.)

Cathay Pacific: Asia for Less

If your sights are set on more exotic destinations, consider Cathay Pacific flights to Hong Kong and beyond, redeemable for American AAdvantage miles.

Through October 31, 2001, AAdvantage members can claim reduced economy class AAdvantage PlanAAhead awards on Cathay Pacific for travel from September 1 through December 15, 2001. Normal and discounted mileage requirements are as follows:

There's more on Cathay's site.

Aeroplan Awards: 20% Less

Air Canada is offering Aeroplan members selected award flights for 20% less than the normal mileage requirement.

Starting July 8, 2001, reduced mileage rates can be booked for reward travel on selected Air Canada routes when you fly between July 16 and September 30, 2001. To take advantage of this sale you must book on-line at least eight days in advance and have at least 15,000 Aeroplan miles in your account.

For 20,000 Aeroplan miles, you can request award tickets between San Francisco and Edmonton; Miami and Vancouver; Jacksonville and Toronto; Charleston, S.C. and Toronto; Norfolk, VA. and Toronto.

And for only 12,000 miles, you can fly between Greensboro, N.C. and Toronto; Kalamazoo/Battle Creek and Toronto; Cincinnati and Toronto; Indianapolis and Toronto; Albany and Montreal; Manchester, N.H. and Montreal.

See Air Canada's website for terms and conditions.

Hilton: Save 40% with Points Stretcher

Discounted awards are not the exclusive domain of the airline programs. Hilton, as an example, offers members of its HHonors program so-called Point Stretcher awards.

Point Stretchers let you book award stays for 40% fewer points than would be required for Standard Hotel Rewards at participating hotels.

Point Stretcher Rewards are valid only during specified time periods and availability is limited. You can check participating hotels during the desired period on the HHonors website, or by calling the HHonors Automated Account Inquiry Line and requesting the Faxback documents for the chosen hotel brands.

Diners: Doubles for BA Miles

Lastly, expanding our focus beyond airlines and hotels, there are as well the occasional credit card-related offers.

For example, through August 31, Diners Club Rewards members can redeem one Rewards point for one mile in British Airways' Executive Club, twice the normal 2:1 redemption ratio. In Diners' program, $1 earns two Club Rewards points, which normally can be redeemed for one frequent flyer mile. With the special BA offer, members are effectively earning two Executive miles for every $1 charged. Which in turn makes awards twice as easy to earn.