Notice of New Privacy Policy

FrequentFlier.com and the FrequentFlier Crier newsletter are now part of the Smarter Travel Media family, which in turn is part of the Expedia Inc. family of travel websites.

In the short term, we have adopted a privacy policy which is in keeping with the policies of other sites in the network. Longer term, the new relationship will allow us to provide even better service to our readers.

:: New Privacy Policy

"Up Front" Blog Entries

Following are some of Tim's recent blogs:

• Alaska Airlines discounts award travel
  Members of Alaska's program can spend fewer miles for free trips.
• Win a million hotel points and a million airline miles
  New Marriott sweepstakes is among the most lucrative ever.

FrequentFlier Forum Topics

As always, there's plenty of activity on the FrequentFlier Forum.

In the "Airline Programs" Forum, shortysnh is looking to make a change: "I am looking for a new loyalty program to join after 9 years with Northwest. I think it will be Delta." C'mon folks, weigh in this one!

Also in the "Airline Programs" Forum, KJG67 was taken by surprise when his elite-qualifying segments were zeroed out at year's end: "Probably general knowledge to most of you, but took me by surprise. I just started traveling again in 2007 - mostly short hops. Imagine my surprise when I checked my qualifying segments in January and saw they were reset to zero! I made Premier in United, so that didn't hurt as much, but on American I had 26 Elite Qualifying Segments by December. All gone on 1/1/08! Time to start over???"

Questions, answers, opinions? Post them to the Forum!

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Triple American Miles for Swissotel Stays

Through March 31, American AAdvantage members can earn triple miles (1,500 instead of the normal 500) for qualifying stays at participating Swissotel hotels.

To earn the bonus, bookings must be made through www.swissotel.com/offers/aadvantage.

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Delta Adds Hotels to SkyMiles Program

Effective immediately, SkyMiles members can earn miles for qualifying stays at 36 Grecotel and Classical hotels in Greece, Bulgaria, and Serbia.

To promote the partnership, stays between January 1 and June 30 will earn 1,500 miles. Thereafter, the earning rate will be 500 miles per stay.

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Marriott Brings Back the MegaBonus

Between February 15 and May 15, Marriott Rewards members can earn 5,000 MegaBonus points for every second paid stay at participating Marriott hotels, up to a maximum of 25,000 bonus points during the promotion period.

Registration is required.

NOTE: Described above is the default offer. Some Marriott Rewards members will receive personalized offers which differ somewhat.

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Northwest Sells Tickets for Cash + Miles

Through February 16, members of Northwest's WorldPerks program can combine miles and cash to purchase Northwest tickets.

Program members can combine cash with either 10,000 or 20,000 miles. Domestic tickets cost $198 plus 10,000 miles or $89 plus 20,000 miles. Europe and Asia tickets require greater cash outlays.

Tickets must be purchased at least 14 days prior to travel and no later than February 16, and travel must be completed by March 6.

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Deal Alert from SmarterTravel.com

1) London Winter Sale on British Airways from $358

British Airways is offering London sale fares and a free two-night hotel stay in London from $378 round-trip. You can save an additional $20 by registering on British Airways' website.

Travel is valid from January 22 through March 23. The free hotel offer must be booked at the same time as your flight, and is valid for stays from January 22 through May 31. Since the offer is based on double occupancy at participating hotels, single travelers are entitled to only one free night.

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2) Spirit Offers $24 Off Flights

Spirit has announced another $24 discount on round-trip flights departing from late January through October.

To take advantage of the deal, enter 24HOURS in the promotion code box. The discount is valid on round-trip flights from January 22 through October 31 and must be booked online by 11:59 p.m. ET tonight.

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Win a Trip for 2 Around the World

Enter American Airlines' "Travel the World" sweepstakes by March 7 for a chance to win a trip for two around the world (actually 660,000 AAdvantage miles) plus a $25,000 MasterCard gift card.

Two $10,000 gift cards will also be awarded as runner-up prizes.

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[Visit http://frequentflier.com/sweeps.htm for more travel sweepstakes.]

Feedback from the Frontlines of Travel

"A recent report in USA Today showed Frequent Flier miles expiring on many airlines after 12, 18, and 24 months of inactivity. Is this true and do any of the airlines notify you that the points are expiring?" [Dave M.]

[FrequentFlier.com replies - The new industry standard for mileage expiration is between 18 months and two years, as described in this article.

Some airlines will give you advance notice of a looming expiration date, some won't. To be safe, your best bet is to stay abreast of the expiration dates of miles in all programs in which you participate.]

"I am flying tomorrow on Southwest Airlines. I am using a Rapid Rewards tickets for my round trip travel. I wanted to move to an earlier flight, but Southwest said that all of the Rapid Rewards seats are taken on the earlier flights. I wasn't surprised by this - other airlines have the same policy.

"What surprised me, was that she told me that Southwest doesn't allow Rapid Rewards ticket users to standby for an earlier flight. There are still many seats available on two earlier flights tomorrow, but even if there are empty seats on them tomorrow when the flight leaves - Southwest doesn't allow Rapid Rewards users to standby on earlier flights. (I called three times and got the same answers.)

"I have flown on American and used my AAdvantage miles and was able to standby for an earlier flight - Is Southwest the only airline that does this? I thought they supposedly had the most 'flexible' rewards program." [Michael]

"Is it now IMPOSSIBLE to subscribe to ANY magazines with United frequent flier miles.

"I thought I had subscribed to about 5 business type magazines after talking for 30 minutes with the firm that does mags for miles for all the airlines about a month ago. I work in Iraq.

"I just got a postcard listing ALL of the magazines saying 'As a valued customer we want to thank you for your patronage. We certainly appreciate your business.

"'Unfortunately we could not process Barrons, Scientific American, Sports Illustrated and The Wall Street Journal as part of the order you placed through Untied Airlines in Exchange for miles (nor Wine Spectator).

"'We apologize for any inconvenience and ............'

"Is there any website where I can actually use United miles to subscribe to any magazine or newspaper or has United just quit doing this?

"United also cancelled more than 50,000 miles on me about 4 years ago in that change of policy so I really am getting to hate them but they are the only U.S. carrier that goes to Iraq so we have to use them." [Paul C.]

[FrequentFlier.com replies - Assuming you have attempted the redemption through United's own website, that's the final word on the subject. It looks as though United is now limiting mile redemption to a few newspapers.]

Until next week...