Feast on Miles

The new year has meant slimmer pickings for those who have gotten used to bulking up on dining miles.

For 2008, the most that can generally be earned through the airlines' dining miles programs (all of which are operated by Rewards Network) is five miles per dollar spent at participating restaurants. That's not bad, but it's only half the 10 miles per dollar widely offered in previous years.

In this week's "Miles & Points" section, we report of four current bonus offers that restore some of the lost value to dining miles, plus one fast-track to elite dining offer.

As good as the offers are, they're even better when combined with a separate bonus, reported here, for submitting restaurant reviews.

Cheers.

"Up Front" Blog Entries

Following are some of Tim's recent blogs:

• United's new bag fee hits infrequent flyers hardest
  The surcharge is bad news for flyers who can least afford it.
• No extra points for JetBlue-Aer Lingus partnership
  New airline partnership will not include mileage program links.
• Top five award destinations for February
  Your five best bets for award travel this month.
• Earn 20,000 Continental miles for new debit cards
  As debit card bonuses go, this one is uncommonly rich.

FrequentFlier Forum Topics

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

In the "Airline Programs" Forum, maverick83617 wonders what the current mania to merge might mean for the airlines: "Has anyone heard how a merger would affect miles? For example, if Delta and Northwest merged, and i had 50,000 miles in each of their ff programs, would I suddenly have 100,000 in the new airline? Or better yet, what if a merger happened with airlines in different alliances, like United/Continental or United/Delta? Would my SkyTeam elite transfer and I would be elite in Star (if that is the direction of the merger)?"

Also in the "Airline Programs" Forum, carlinrob finds himself in a situation familiar to most mile-earners: "I just learned that I am 1,000 miles short on a OnePass award for a flight on Qantas. Unfortunately, the mileage for the award will go up by 15,000 on Feb. 12th... Any suggestions on what the quickest way to get miles for this award?"

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

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AAdvantage Dining Bonus

Through March 31, AAdvantage members can earn 250 bonus miles for every qualified dine of $25 or more, including tax and tip. Bonus is open to Online and VIP Members only.

Registration is required.

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More Delta Miles for Dining

SkyMiles members can earn a 2,000-mile bonus for completing $250 or more in qualifying dines between January 28 and March 31. The bonus can only be earned once.

Registration is required.

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Northwest Offers Fast Track to VIP Dining Status

If you're not already a VIP member of the Northwest dining-for-miles program, you can become one by spending at least $250 on qualifying dines between January 28 and March 31.

VIP dining status is normally awarded for completing at least 12 dines during the calendar year and qualifies the member to earn five miles per dollar spent at most participating restaurants.

Registration is required.

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Earn Up to 10K United Miles for Dining

Between January 28 and March 15, Mileage Plus members will earn 500 bonus miles for every $100 spent on qualified dines, up to a maximum of 10,000 bonus miles. The offer is limited to Online and VIP Dining members.

Registration is required.

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Earn a 1,000-Mile US Air Dining Bonus

Between January 28 and March 31, Dividend Miles members can earn 1,000 bonus miles after completing $250 in qualifying dines. The bonus may only be earned once during the promotion period.

Registration is required.

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Deal Alert from SmarterTravel.com

1) New JetBlue Fares from $49 Each Way

JetBlue is offering domestic and Caribbean sale fares starting at $49 one-way or $98 round-trip. Destinations include Oakland, San Diego, Aruba, and Nassau.

Travel is valid from February 6 through March 12. Book by February 12, 11:59 PM MT.

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2) Spring Europe Fares on United from $446

Spring flights to Europe are on sale from United. Fares start at $446 round-trip, and destinations include London, Vienna, Munich, and Istanbul.

Travel is valid from March 31 through May 30. Book by February 7, 11:59 PM ET.

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Win a Trip for 2 to Hawaii

Enter the Country Living "Hawaii Winter Getaway" sweepstakes by February 29 for a chance to win a trip for two to Hawaii, including air and five nights at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa.

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

Feedback from the Frontlines of Travel

"I am really concerned that the $25 charge for second bag implemented by United Airlines will become a safety issue. Already, passengers carry on oversized, overweight luggage which violates standards. I have yet to see anyone stopped/told to check in the huge pieces of luggage, guitars, skis, luggage disguised as "purses", etc. My fear is that with the new reg, even more passengers will stuff even more into an ostensibly carry on piece of luggage.

"I have been hit by passengers with backpacks as they swung around in the aisle ( no, the backpacks were NOT counted in number of carry ons when attached to the back!!!), have been hit by luggage, water bottles, etc. falling out of overhead bins while in transit, hit by all the above while deplaning as people struggle with their immense, overweight luggage in the overheads. I have expressed my dissatisfaction with the lack of concern in enforcing luggage weight and size by check-in personnel to the airlines. They do not respond.

"How can we encourage/force airlines to enforce the regs they already have??? How can we prevent passengers from super OVER stuffing their luggage in response to this new charge????

"Of note: Airline attendants on board the plane often share in my concerns." [Marjie D.]

[The following refers to the note by Bruce S. in last week's newsletter.]

"We had the same experience with Bank of America and Alaska Airlines!

"We were told by the Cabin Personnel 'if we applied for the Alaska Airlines card we would receive 25,000 miles of Alaska Airlines Miles -- but only if we did it using the specially marked applications which they would give us.' Both my wife and I did so and we applied with the specially marked applications.

"We have never received the 25,000 miles to our account. In talking with BofA we were told that we did not qualify for the 'signature card' so they sent us a lower ranked card.

"AFTER A NUMBER OF PHONE CALLS, I (WE) STILL ARE UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE SITUATION." [William R.]

"First off, many thanks for all the bonus points (i.e. many free trips to the Caribbean) you enabled me to get by delivering succinct, lucrative and up-to-the-minute summaries of ongoing promotions.

"Here was one I was very intrigued by in issue 488: Earn Up to 20K Continental Miles with Chase Checking.

"However, when I clicked on more, I got this: 'Error Message'

"Can you provide me with the 5 digit promotion code?

"Thanks from a loyal reader." [Nobel]

[FrequentFlier.com replies - Apologies to all for the misprint. Here is the correct link.]

"At risk of being repetitive, just returned from cross-country on Southwest Airlines. As usual, we arrived at final destination (and all intermediate stops) early. Bags at the carousel by the time we got there. What else to say?" [Ed N.]

Until next week...