Media Query (extended from last week)

Have you ever done your holiday shopping using the malls or retailers that are partners in your airline or hotel loyalty programs? Do you find their holiday-related offers for bonus miles or points attractive? Will you take advantage of these offers or shop this way this year?

If your answer to any of these questions is yes and you are willing to discuss your experience with a reporter from a major newspaper, please submit your name, office and cell phone numbers and email address to this email address by Friday, December 1.

FrequentFlier Forum Topics

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

In the "Airline Programs" Forum, ronald has details and links to a host of little known AAdvantage mileage promotions, from miles for cheese to miles at FedEx Kinko's.

Also in the "Airline Programs" Forum, ronald (yep, the very same) lends Max a helping hand in having missing Opinion Place miles credited to his account. Look for the thread titled "Opinion Place and AA."

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

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American Offers 1 Free After 3

Between November 16, 2006, and January 31, 2007, AAdvantage members can earn up to 25,000 bonus miles for flying between Chicago O'Hare and other cities in the continental U.S. and Canada. (This is a selective counter-response to United's offer -- see below.)

Bonus is 5,000 miles for the first roundtrip (which must be completed by December 31), 10,000 for the second, and 25,000 for the third.

Registration is required before December 31, 2006, using promotion code FLY06.

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Lending Tree Is New ATA Partner

ATA Travel Awards members can now earn 300 points for every $10,000 in mortgage and home equity loans financed through Lending Tree.

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Earn Continental Miles at Hickory Farms

Through December 31, OnePass members can earn 15 miles for every $1 in online purchases at Hickory Farms.

Be sure to enter a OnePass member number prior to placing order.

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Double Points at the Marriott Mall

Through December 31, Membership Rewards members will earn double points at selected Marriott Rewards Mall retailers.

With the bonus, members can earn eight points per $1 spent at Target, Nordstrom, and Lands' End, six points at Overstock.com, four points at Home Depot and Staples, and two points at Apple Store, Circuit City, Dell Home, and Sony Style.

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Open for Business: Shop4Miles

Miles-for-merchandise is the growth area for airline and hotel programs, with most major programs now offering members the opportunity to earn miles and points for purchases made through extensive networks of online merchants.

Beginning this week, with the launch of Shop4Miles, mileage collectors have a new option.

What Shop4Miles brings to the table is comparison shopping. Where the airline and hotels' mileage malls simply direct shoppers to participating retailers, Shop4Miles permits consumers to compare price and mileage pay-out for selected items.

For now, miles are awarded in the programs of Alaska, Delta, and US Airways. But the company's long-term goal is to expand the partner roster to include all major travel loyalty programs.

Through the end of the year, Shop4Miles is offering a 100-mile bonus for signing up on the site.

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United Extends Mileage Purchase Bonus

United has extended through December 31 the bonus for purchasing or transferring miles. Until then, Mileage Plus members will receive a 10% bonus for every purchase or transfer of miles.

Up to 40,000 miles may be purchased per calendar year in 1,000-mile increments. Prices start at $64.57 for 1,000 miles.

Registration is required to qualify for the bonus.

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25,000 Bonus United Miles After 3 Roundtrips

Between November 10, 2006, and January 31, 2007, Mileage plus members can earn up to 25,000 bonus miles for qualifying United, United Express or Ted roundtrips.

Bonus is 5,000 miles for the first roundtrip (which must be completed by December 31), 10,000 for the second, and 25,000 for the third.

Registration is required before December 31.

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Double US Air Miles for Europe Flights

Dividend Miles members can earn double miles when flying coach class roundtrip between the U.S. and four European destinations: Paris, London, Amsterdam, and Milan.

Tickets must be booked by December 15 and charged to a MasterCard. Travel can take place between December 1, 2006, and February 28, 2007. Blackout dates apply: December 13 through 23, 25 to 29, and January 1 through 9.

In addition to the bonus miles, US Airways is discounting coach tickets to Paris by 15%, and by 10% to London, Amsterdam, and Milan. Use promo code "MCWINTER1" to get the Paris discount, "MCWINTER2" for the discount to the other three destinations.

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Deal Alert from SmarterTravel.com

1) Spirit's U.S., Caribbean, and Mexico Fares from $138

Spirit has announced a sale for travel within the U.S. and to the Caribbean through early March. Prices start at $138 roundtrip, and destinations include Myrtle Beach, Cancun, Punta Cana, and Nassau.

Travel is valid Tuesdays and Wednesdays from February 15 or March 15 through March 31, 2007. Book tickets at least seven days in advance, and by December 15, 2006.

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2) Caribbean and Mexico Fares on United from $216

Flights to Mexico and the Caribbean are on sale from United for travel through early March. Prices start at $216 roundtrip, and destinations include Los Cabos, Nassau, and Montego Bay.

Travel is valid Mondays through Fridays through March 7, 2007. Book tickets at least three days in advance, and by December 8. Fares require a two-night stay, and the maximum stay is three months.

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Win a Hotel Stay in Mazatlan

Enter the McDonald's Family Wellness Sweepstakes by December 31 for a chance to win a trip for four to Mazatlan, Mexico, including six days/five nights all-inclusive hotel accommodations in a Master Suite at the El Cid Marina Beach Hotel & Yacht Club. Trip does NOT include air.

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

Feedback from the Frontlines of Travel

"What is your advice on the following.

"Husband is Gold on CO and needs roughly 4,500 miles to get to Platnium before 12/31/06. Home airport is IAH.

"My thoughts were to buy full fare coach to SFO once perhaps twice if needed or an international flight.

"I enjoy your insights and valuable information on the web-site." [RW]

[FrequentFlier replies - The goal in making mileage runs is always to earn the elite-qualifying miles you need as cost-effectively as possible, and to spend as little time as possible in doing so.

The nonstop flight distance between Houston (IAH) and San Francisco is 1,635 miles, so you'd need two roundtrips in most restricted-fare coach classes to reach the goal. If you paid extra for an unrestricted coach ticket, you'd earn 4,905 for one roundtrip (full-fare coach earns 150% EQMs), enough to reach Platinum. You'd have to compare prices for restricted and full-fare coach tickets to determine which is the more efficient expenditure.

You might want to post your query in the "Airline Programs" Forum. One of our savvy resident Continental experts might have an alternative suggestion for you.]

"Given the changing deadlines for miles to expire, and given that some of us just have no chance to travel before they do, could you do a piece soon on how to donate miles to charities? I'd rather do that than lose them or pay money to keep them on some airlines." [Jude]

[FrequentFlier replies - We touched on this subject in a recent Extra Mile feature. But admittedly it merits more in-depth coverage.]

Until next week...