Last Week: New Mileage Manager; Next Week: Retailer Rewards Search

Last week, we announced the official release of a new mileage manager, MilePort.

MilePort consolidates account information from more than 105 airline, hotel and other points programs into a single statement, making it simple to review balances and manage program activity to maximize earnings and awards.

This week, we're testing another new addition to the site: a searchable database of retailers which offer miles or points for purchases, and the airline, hotel and other loyalty programs which have partnerships with those retailers.

Want to see which retailers offer miles in United's Mileage Plus program? Search on "Mileage Plus." Or, if you're wondering which airline or hotel programs award miles for purchases made at Circuit City, run a search on "Circuit City."

We expect to have the retail-rewards search function up and running shortly, possibly in time to announce in next week's newsletter.

Stay tuned.

FrequentFlier Forum Topics

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

In the "Airline Programs" Forum, sftravel wants to redeem miles for a free flight on a partner airline: "What is the (easiest) process to purchase a Delta ticket using NWA miles? The NWA site shows that you can redeem for Delta tickets, but gives no explanation as to how to do it.... help?"

And in the "Hotel Programs" Forum, joshua362 is aware of Starwood's policy of expiring points after 12 months if there's no account activity. But what about credit card points? "I have the Starwood Amex card and get 1,000's of points added on a monthly basis. Would anyone know for sure if that activity prevents the account from expiring?"

And much more. Questions, answers? Post them to the Forum!

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Alaska Discounts Award Flights

Mileage Plan members can redeem 5,000 fewer miles -- 15,000 instead of the 20,000 normally required -- for award flights on Alaska or Horizon Air between Seattle and Calgary, Edmonton, Sun Valley or Kelowna.

Discount is valid for travel between June 9 and Aug. 31.

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Priority Club Bonus at Orlando Holiday Inn

Through Dec. 31, Priority Club Rewards members can earn 5,000 bonus points or 1,000 bonus airline miles for stays of four or more nights at the Nickelodeon Family Suites by Holiday Inn in Orlando.

Booking must be made online via a dedicated link to receive the bonus.

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Red Lion Offers Summer Bonus

Between June 15 and Sept. 30, Red Lion GuestAwards members can earn up to 30,000 bonus points for stays booked through redlion.com.

Earn 5,000 bonus points for the first stay of two or more nights, 10,000 for the second, and 15,000 for the third, for a total of 30,000 points for three qualifying stays.

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TripRewards Bonuses at AmeriHost, Wingate Inns

Through Aug. 31, TripRewards members will earn 1,000 bonus miles for stays including a Saturday night at Wingate Inns in the U.S. and Canada.

Also through Aug. 31, TripRewards members can earn a 500-mile bonus for stays at AmeriHost Inn hotels.

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United Doubles the Miles

Between June 15 and July 31, Mileage Plus members will earn double miles for flights between Washington D.C (IAD) and Phoenix or Miami; Denver and Ft. Lauderdale, Las Vegas, Miami, Ontario, or Phoenix; Chicago (ORD) and Las Vegas, Miami or Phoenix; San Francisco and Phoenix or Las Vegas.

Offer is valid for fares in the following booking classes: Y, B, M, E, U, H, Q, V, W, S, T.

Registration is required.

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Earn United Miles for Vonage Service

Mileage Plus members can earn a 7,500-mile bonus for signing up for Vonage Internet phone service. Members earn 2,500 miles after the first 30 days of new Vonage service and an additional 5,000 miles after 90 days.

Service includes unlimited local and long-distance calls for $19.99/month for the first six months, $24.99/month thereafter.

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Deal Alert from SmarterTravel.com

1) Fly to Maui, Oahu, and the Big Island on Delta from $338

Fall flights to Hawaii are on sale from Delta starting at $338 roundtrip. Destinations include Maui, Oahu, and the Big Island.

Travel is valid Sundays through Fridays from Sept. 6 through Nov. 15. Book tickets at least 14 days in advance, and by June 30. Fares require a three-day minimum stay, and the maximum stay is 60 days.

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2) United Fares from $59 Each Way Plus Double Frequent Flyer Miles

United is offering a new deal that combines one-way domestic sale fares with double frequent flyer miles (see "Miles & Points" for more on the mileage promo). The sale prices start at $59 one-way, and include Chicago, Denver, Las Vegas, Miami, Phoenix, and Washington, D.C.

United has not listed travel dates or a booking deadline for the sale fares, but to earn bonus miles, flights must be booked and flown by July 31. Book tickets at least 21 days in advance.

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Win a Trip for 2 to Aruba

Enter American Airlines' "Getaway to Aruba" sweepstakes by July 15 for a chance to win a seven-night Radisson Getaway Package for two at the Radisson Aruba Resort & Casino, including roundtrip air transportation.

Entries are awarded automatically to customers who purchase tickets through July 15 on AA.com and fly by Aug. 15. Enter without making a purchase by filling out an online form.

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

Feedback from the Frontlines of Travel

"I recently received a summary statement from United Mileage Plus, covering the time frame from 2000 to 2006. I had not received anything from them in the interim. On the statement there was a deduction of miles, their reason being that i had not used United or its partners for a 36 mo. period. They summarily deducted miles without warning. I was under the impression that there was some recent information about the regulation of frequent flier miles and awards. Is there an entity that oversees abuses on both sides of frequent flier programs?

"On the same summary, I was missing miles from a flight, again, I did not realize this until I received this once-every-6-years statement. My husband had miles credited for the same flight and we both checked in using our United Mileage Plus cards. To receive credit, now over a year later, they require a boarding pass. Would anyone keep a boarding pass after a flight (except for proof if miles were not credited)? Why should one suspect the miles would not be credited if the member card was used at check in?

"Anyway, is there a regulatory agency for frequent flier programs and an advocate for members who feel they have not been fairly treated?" [Karen G.]

[FrequentFlier.com replies - Frequent flyer programs have been called unregulated lotteries. That's about right. While the Department of Transportation (DOT) theoretically oversees the industry, that agency has elected to allow mileage programs to operate without any meaningful guidelines or accountability. You can file a complaint with the DOT's Aviation Consumer Protection Division, but it's not likely to yield results.]

Until next week...