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Six ways to get travel bargains with your frequent flyer plan

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The ultimate tools in a smart traveler's toolbox are the variousloyalty programs offered by airlines and hotel chains. Yet itabsolutely baffles me how many people ignore these goldenopportunities to get bargain travel deals. I was spurred to write about this topic after reading a greatarticle in the Fort Worth Star Telegram, called Staying powerfor frequent-flyer plans. It was about how American Airlinesinvented the frequent flyer program 25 years ago, and how theseplans have changed the travel industry. Following American's lead, all the other airlines quicklycreated their own loyalty programs, and later, the hotelindustry created their own versions as well, becoming a win-winfor both the companies who wanted customer loyalty, and thetravelers who wanted discount travel opportunities. But how can a traveler or even a person who wants to travel inthe future, make the most (ie get the most travel deals) out tof these plans? Here are a few tips" --Double dip whenever you rent a car or check into a hotel. Itboggles my mind how many experienced travelers neglect to dothis. If, for example, you are a member of the Hilton Honorsprogram and an airline frequent flyer program, you can earnhotel points and airline miles for the same stay. --Book your award flights well in advance. This is particularlytrue for flying to Hawaii or traveling anywhere in December. Itis not unusual to see people booking these flights nine toeleven months in advance. The best travel deals in the worldcan't help you if you can't get on the airplane. --It is your job to give the airline your frequent flyer numberwhen you travel. Believe it or not, they do not have the meansto magically know who you are and what your number is when youfly with them. If you don't identify yourself as a frequentflyer member, you won't receive credit for the


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flight. --Take advantage of every non-flight opportunity the airline orhotel gives you to earn miles or points. Become familiar withtheir websites and learn who their partners are. For example,most airlines are now affiliated with a credit card company.This means you earn miles for every dollar you spend on thatcard. Think of all the gas you pump, groceries you buy and otherexpenses you incur on a regular basis that you could be earningmiles for that trip to Hawaii. --Be VERY aware of the programs expiration policy. Most programswill allow you to go up to three years without activity beforeyour miles expire. Activity is defined as anytime you put a mileinto the program or take a mile out by spending it on a flight.Because the airlines offer you so many ways to earn milesthrough their partners and non-flight activities, don't expect alot of sympathy if you let your miles expire. In most cases theywill refuse to reinstate them unless you are willing to buy themback. The point here is that the program is called a frequentflyer program. A member who falls off their radar for threeyears is about as desirable to the airline as someone whorepeatedly bounces checks is to a bank. --Become familiar with the ins and outs of the program. Most ofthis information is available on their websites. For example,you will want to know how many miles are needed to fly tocertain places at certain times of the year. You will want toknow when new partners are added, so you can keep on top of newways to earn miles. COPYRIGHT (c) 2005, C.H. Brown, All rights reserved. About the author: C.H. Brown is a former attorney who now spends his timeindulging his passion for travel and shares the unique traveldestinations and unbeatable travel bargains he uncovers on hisblog, Guerrilla Traveler - Adventure on a Budget,www.guerrillatraveler.blogspot.com.

Written by: Charles Brown

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