Free Frontier Frequent Flyer Miles (Easily Transferable to Other Programs)

Need a few frequent flyer miles in the programs of Aeroplan, American, Continental, Delta, United, or US Airways?

Join Frontier's frequent flyer program!

Offer Details

Through August 31, Frontier is rewarding new Early Returns members with a 1,000-mile sign-up bonus. That's it—just sign up and the miles are yours.

If you plan to make future flights on Frontier or otherwise engage with the program, consider the miles a downpayment on more to come.

But for many, the Frontier offer is a backdoor opportunity to easily earn a few miles in other programs, by using Points.com to convert the Frontier miles.

After signing up for Points.com (free), you can transfer miles from Frontier to the programs of Aeroplan, American, AsiaMiles, Continental (convertible to United), Delta, US Airways, and Priority Club.

As always with Points.com transfers, there's a high price to be paid for the convenience—what I call conversion loss. Converting those 1,000 Frontier miles will net only 153 miles in American's program, for instance, a conversion loss of 85 percent.

Deal or No Deal

Some frequent flyer promotions are about racking up big numbers of miles. This isn't one of those.

Rather, this is about earning a few miles, for very little effort, that can be used, with a bit more effort, to trigger activity in other accounts and thereby extend the life of those other miles.

At least that's my plan.

I have a cache of United miles that's scheduled to expire next month. I've tried using their shopping toolbar to trigger an extension of my miles, but after several weeks, the miles still haven't posted. So here's what I'll do:

• Enroll in Early Returns to earn the 1,000-mile bonus.
• Use Points.com to convert the Frontier miles to Continental miles.
• Transfer the Continental miles to my United Mileage Plus account (permitted in the run-up to the merger of those programs).

At the end of that process, my United miles should have another 18 months of life. Thanks to one of United's toughest adversaries at Denver International Airport, Frontier.

Reader Reality Check

To you, is it worth the time and energy required to take advantage of this offer?

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Two Days Only -- 2,500 Bonus Hilton Points

A bonus, a discount, and an elite upgrade?

Combining this promotion with another Hilton offer could get you all three for an upcoming summer stay.

Offer Details

Hilton HHonors members who book a Great Getaway stay by June 16, 11:59 a.m. EST, through the Hilton HHonors Facebook page will earn a 2,500-point bonus. Qualifying stay must be completed by September 5.

Great Getaway rates are discounted up to 40 percent from Hilton's Best Available or Best Available Bed & Breakfast rates, but require non-refundable payment at least 14 days in advance.

In Hilton's words:

Full non-refundable prepayment required at time of booking. Your credit card will be charged immediately for the total amount quoted for the entire stay as reserved and refunds or credits will not be issued unless otherwise indicated by local law. Charges cannot be applied to other stays, services or merchandise. Booking cannot be changed. Must book at least fourteen (14) days in advance of arrival.

You'll have to "like" the Facebook page before using it to book the stay.

The bonus and discount can be combined with Hilton's instant elite offer to enjoy Gold elite perks during your stay.

Deal or No Deal

I'm always wary of offers that force consumers to rush their travel planning. Travel is an expensive proposition and should be approached with due deliberation.

And making a non-refundable prepayment exposes the traveler to considerable risk. If your plans change, you forfeit your payment.

Still, this promotion, in conjunction with Hilton's instant elite offer, makes it possible to enjoy a discount, bonus points, and elite perks for the same stay.

Reader Reality Check

Any takers?

Other Posts of Interest

• Visa Signature Cardholders Get Hilton Elite Perks
• From Best Western: a Free Night or Bonus Miles for Summer Stays
• Marriott Offers a Free Night After Two Stays This Summer
• Earn a 3,000-Point Bonus for Best Western Stays This Summer
• Choice Hotels Offers 8,000 Points After Two Stays
• From Priority Club: Double Points, Miles for Spring, Summer Stays
• InterContinental Offers $75 Rebate for Weekend Stays
• Your Choice: Airline Miles or Hotel Points?
• Priority Club Launches Discounted Last Minute Reward Nights
• Hilton's 2nd Quarter Promo: 1,000 Bonus Points Per Night
• Hyatt Offers 10,000 Bonus Points After Five Nights

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Visa Signature Cardholders Get Hilton Elite Perks

Unlike with airline-affiliated credit cards—just a few of which award a very limited number of elite-qualifying miles—hotel-linked credit cards often come bundled not just with elite-qualifying points but with full-fledged elite status.

You may have already known that. What you probably didn't know is that you can, for a limited time, get Gold status in Hilton's HHonors program with any Visa Signature credit card.

Offer Details

Through August 31, HHonors members who register their U.S.-issued Visa Signature credit card here will be granted Gold elite status and enjoy elite benefits during any Hitlon stays for the period.

And if they stay three times between now and August 31, and charge those stays to a Visa Signature card, the Gold elite status will be extended through March 31, 2013.

Normally Gold status is earned after completing 16 stays or 36 nights, or earning 60,000 Base points during a calendar year.

Gold elite perks include: a 25 percent points bonus; complimentary Internet access; and, depending on the Hilton brand, a choice of other benefits including room upgrades, bonus points, and complimentary breakfast.

Deal or No Deal

If you're not already an elite member of HHonors, have a Visa Signature card in your wallet, and plan a Hilton stay by August 31, it's well worth the two minutes required to register your card to get instant status.

And if three Hilton stays are in your summer plans, the ability to easily extend that status through the first quarter of 2013 makes a good deal a great one.

Reader Reality Check

Elite status, anyone?

Other Posts of Interest

• From Best Western: a Free Night or Bonus Miles for Summer Stays
• Marriott Offers a Free Night After Two Stays This Summer
• Earn a 3,000-Point Bonus for Best Western Stays This Summer
• Choice Hotels Offers 8,000 Points After Two Stays
• From Priority Club: Double Points, Miles for Spring, Summer Stays
• InterContinental Offers $75 Rebate for Weekend Stays
• Your Choice: Airline Miles or Hotel Points?
• Priority Club Launches Discounted Last Minute Reward Nights
• Hilton's 2nd Quarter Promo: 1,000 Bonus Points Per Night
• Hyatt Offers 10,000 Bonus Points After Five Nights

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Earn Extra Southwest Points for Mexico Flights

Southwest isn't known for their frequent or generous flight bonuses.

Nor are they known for their international flights.

So this bonus is unusual in two respects. It may or may not be a double delight.

Offer Details

Through September 30, Rapid Rewards members whose Southwest flights connect to Volaris flights to or from Mexico will earn 1,000 bonus points each way, 2,000 bonus points round-trip.

To earn the bonus, program members must register in advance, by July 31, and purchase their tickets at southwest.com, also by July 31.

If you're not familiar with them, Volaris is a Mexican low-cost carrier, the second-largest airline in Mexico, with code-share connections to Southwest flights from more than 50 U.S. cities via Las Vegas, Chicago, Los Angeles, Oakland, and San Jose.

Deal or No Deal

The bonus is a positive, obviously. But it's a positive that's undermined two ways.

First, it's travel to Mexico. Several years ago, I routinely promoted Mexico as a great destination bargain. Sure, there were areas of the country that had to be avoided lest you expose yourself to the drug-related violence. But several tourist areas remained relatively trouble-free, and airfare and hotel rates were low.

Today, if a friend or family member asked me for my thoughts on a Mexico vacation, I'd tell them to look elsewhere. It's just not worth the risk and attendant anxiety.

Overly cautious? Perhaps.

The second negative is Volaris's sketchy flight network, especially in the U.S., where they connect with Southwest. A flight from a secondary Southwest city to a secondary Volaris city could require as many as separate four flights and three plane changes in each direction. That's a lot of inconvenience to be endured in exchange for those bonus points.

That's what frequent flyer bonuses are for, of course.

But American, for example, is offering double miles for new flights to Morelia and Mazatlan, through August 31, and up to triple miles to Guadalajara, Mexico City, and Monterrey, but only through June 15.

In other words, if you're Mexico-bound, there may be comparable frequent flyer deals, and more convenient flights, available elsewhere.

Reader Reality Check

Is Mexico on your list of vacation destinations? Why or why not?

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Earn a Bonus, Elite Miles for Transferring Amex Points to Delta

Through May 31, Delta SkyMiles members could earn a 50 percent bonus when transferring American Express Membership Rewards points into their accounts, plus 25,000 Medallion elite-qualifying miles for transferring 50,000 or more points.

Nice. But like all good things, it came to an end.

Almost as nice, however, is the new offer for Membership Rewards exchanges.

Offer Details

Through September 30, Delta SkyMiles members can earn a 50 percent bonus when transferring American Express Membership Rewards points into their accounts, plus 25,000 Medallion elite-qualifying miles for transferring 100,000 or more points.

As with the previous promotion, the offer is only available to SkyMiles members who have never before made a transfer from Membership Rewards. (If you've already made a transfer, there's a separate offer in place through June 30—a 40 percent bonus for transfers of 100,000 points or more, but no elite miles—that may be of interest.)

Registration is required.

Deal or No Deal

The offer is identical to it predecessor, except that the elite bonus kicks in after 100,000 miles rather than after 50,000.

So, as I said about the other promotion, Delta partisans with Membership Rewards points to burn shouldn't miss the opportunity to add to their account balances at an accelerated rate. And if you have enough Membership Rewards points to qualify for the elite bonus as well, that would make a good deal a great one.

The question for non-partisans concerns the value of Delta miles, which turns largely on the availability of awards. I still hear complaints about the lack of award seats in the lowest of Delta's three award tiers. While such anecdotal reports fall short of hard evidence of a systemic problem, the element of uncertainty does call into question the value of miles earned in Delta's program.

Reader Reality Check

How much are Delta miles worth to you?

Other Posts of Interest

• Transfer Membership Rewards Points to Reach Delta Elite Status
• Just How Rewarding Is Your Airline Rewards Program?
• Earn 50% More British Air Miles When Converting American Express Points
• With US Air's Discounted Miles, Fly Business Class to Europe for $1,375

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From Best Western: a Free Night or Bonus Miles for Summer Stays

Best Western is giving away 3,000 bonus points (5,000 for elite members) for stays purchased with a Best Western travel card completed by August 31. But you had to have purchased the travel card by May 31. So if you missed the deadline, that promotion is a non-starter for you.

If you did purchase the travel card by May 31 and haven't yet used it for a stay, you may be able to combine those bonus points with either a free night or bonus miles on offer in these two newly announced Best Westerns promotions.

Offer Details

Between June 19 and August 14, Best Western Rewards members can earn a free night voucher after completing three separate stays.

If the three qualifying stays are charged to a Best Western Rewards MasterCard, the member will receive 6,500 bonus points in addition to the free night.

And elite Rewards members who qualify for the promotion and complete two of their three required stays at different Best Western branded hotels (Best Western, Best Western Plus, and Best Western Premier) will also earn 6,500 bonus points.

Only one voucher may be earned per member, and the voucher must be used by January 31, 2012. Advance registration is required.

Alternatively, Rewards members who have chosen to earn American AAdvantage or Aeroplan miles can earn 750 bonus miles for every stay during the same promotion period. The normal earning rate is 250 miles per stay, so the bonus brings the total per-stay earnings to 1,000 miles.

There's no limit to the number of bonus miles that may be earned. Again, advance registration is required.

The free night and bonus mile offers can't be combined; but either may be combined with the travel card promotion if all conditions are satisfied.

Deal or No Deal

On the face of it, a free night after three stays isn't the most generous of this summer's hotel promotions. But where Marriott and Choice are offering a free night after just two stays, those free nights may only be taken at one of their lower-tier (read: less desirable) properties. The Best Western voucher, by contrast, may be used "at any Best Western branded hotel in the U.S., Canada, the Bahamas or the U.S. Virgin Islands."

For mile-collectors, quadruple AAdvantage or Aeroplan miles are solid bonuses.

And the option to choose between a free night and bonus miles is a plus in itself.

Reader Reality Check

There are plenty of hotel offers this summer. Which are you planning to take advantage of?

Other Posts of Interest

• Marriott Offers a Free Night After Two Stays This Summer
• Earn a 3,000-Point Bonus for Best Western Stays This Summer
• Choice Hotels Offers 8,000 Points After Two Stays
• From Priority Club: Double Points, Miles for Spring, Summer Stays
• InterContinental Offers $75 Rebate for Weekend Stays
• Your Choice: Airline Miles or Hotel Points?
• Priority Club Launches Discounted Last Minute Reward Nights
• Hilton's 2nd Quarter Promo: 1,000 Bonus Points Per Night
• Hyatt Offers 10,000 Bonus Points After Five Nights

Stay in Touch

For more news like this, sign up to receive our free weekly newsletter. You can follow us on Twitter, too.

Help, My Frequent Flyer Miles Expired!

Question--

Is there anything we can do to recover some expired miles from United? They say they notified me but I cannot recall anything telling me that my 60,000 miles which I had been sitting on are now gone!

Thanks for any insight you can offer.

Answer--

It often comes as a surprise to mileage-collectors, but the great majority of airlines do give their program members advance notice, typically via email, that their miles will soon expire. According to United, they do so between four and five months before Mileage Plus members' expiration dates.

I can't say for sure whether United followed their own standard procedure in your case, but since such processes are fully automated, it's likely they did. If so, you missed it. Perhaps the email got stuck in a spam filter. Or you may simply have deleted it without reading its contents. You might also have an outdated email address on file in your Mileage Plus member profile.

In any case, the miles have now expired. What to do?

As a first step, it's always worth calling the airline and pleading for mercy. They can exercise their discretion and return the missing miles as a goodwill gesture. But they are unlikely to do so unless there's a compelling reason. Are you an elite member of the program? Can you show that you're an extra-profitable customer some other way?

If not, you're left with two options.

As will most airlines, United will reinstate the expired miles for a price: 1.25 cents each, plus a $25 processing fee. So your 60,000 miles will cost $775 to reactivate.

Is it worth it? It could be, if you redeem the miles for tickets worth more than $775. On the other hand, there's a lot to be said for just using that money to purchase tickets through normal channels. Unlike award tickets, they won't be encumbered by capacity controls. And because they're paid tickets, you'll earn miles for the flights.

The other option is to throw up your hands and walk away, mile-poor but wiser in the ways of mileage programs.

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With US Air's Discounted Miles, Fly Business Class to Europe for $1,375

Since the summer of 2009, US Airways has been toying with various versions of discounted miles-for-sale offers, beginning with a simple 100 percent bonus on purchased miles, and most recently coupling the full bonus to the use of US Airways' shopping toolbar.

The original promotion, simple and generous, is still the best. And through the end of the month, it's back.

Offer Details

Through June 30, Dividend Miles members will earn a 100 percent bonus on up to 50,000 miles purchased for their own accounts.

Miles normally sell for 2.75 cents each, plus a 7.5 percent "tax recovery charge." The bonus effectively halves that, to about 1.4 cents per mile.

If you're not already a Dividend Miles member, note the following: "Dividend Miles accounts less than 12 days old are not permitted to Buy, Share or Gift miles."

Deal or No Deal

With the bonus, 100,000 US Airways miles will cost $1,375, not including fees and taxes. That's enough miles for a business-class award ticket to Europe on US Airways or on one of US Airways' Star Alliance partners.

A quick check online showed prices for Los Angeles-Frankfurt business-class tickets priced from $3,483 (one-stop on US Airways) to as much as $11,640 (non-stop on Lufthansa). So buying the miles and redeeming them for an award ticket would represent a savings of at least 60 percent, and as much as 88 percent, from the tickets' market price—assuming, of course, the award seats are available for booking.

In fact, the lowest coach price for the sampled flights was $1,371 (one-stop on US Airways). So if you purchased and used the discounted miles, you'd be paying for coach but traveling in business class.

Needless to say, comparing the cost of miles to the price of a paid ticket fails to incorporate the hassle factor of booking award seats in the equation. Still, for many the potential savings are well worth the difficulty of using the miles.

Reader Reality Check

Have you taken advantage of US Airways' previous miles-for-sale promotions? How many miles did you buy, and what did you redeem them for?

Will you purchase miles this time?

Other Posts of Interest

• US Air's 100% Bonus Changes the Mile-Buying Game
• Business-Class to Europe for $1375? Buy US Airways Miles!

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Earn 50% More British Air Miles When Converting American Express Points

With the string of recent 50,000- and 100,000-mile bonuses for new British Airways credit cards, it's a safe bet that the ranks of U.S. Executive Club members have swelled considerably.

Are you a member of British Airways' Executive Club? Do you collect American Express Membership Rewards points as well?

If so, this promotion merits your attention.

Offer Details

Through July 31, Membership Rewards members will earn a 50 percent bonus when exchanging points for miles in the British Airways Executive Club program. So for every 1,000 Membership Rewards points, you'll get 1,500 Executive Club miles.

As always with Membership Rewards points transfers, there's a fee:

For each conversion of points into the Frequent Flyer program of a U.S. airline, an excise tax offset fee of $0.0006 per point, with a maximum fee of $99 will be charged to your Card account. We charge this fee to offset the federal excise tax we must pay on such conversions. The fee may be more or less than the actual amount of the excise tax we pay on any individual conversion.

That's 60 cents per 1,000 points—not a deal-breaker, but an unfortunate lapse into nickel-and-dimeing on American Express's part.

The offer is available only to Membership Rewards and Executive Club members with U.S. mailing addresses.

Deal or No Deal

For active Executive Club members, a 50 percent bonus is definitely a difference-maker. If you need British Airways miles, or foresee needing them in the next year or so, this is as generous an exchange rate as you're likely to come across.

On the other hand, converting all your Membership Rewards points into Executive Club miles probably isn't a prudent move, unless your loyalty is exclusively to British Airways.

The issue, of course, that persistently dogs Executive Club is the outsized fuel surcharges on award tickets that undermine the value of British Airways miles. There are, however, ways to work around the fees and realize solid value from the miles.

But before completely depleting your Membership Rewards account to bulk up on British Airways, be sure to have a plan to use the miles that factors in the likely fuel surcharges the awards will incur.

Reader Reality Check

Did you earn a hefty cache of British Airways miles through their x credit card sign-up promotions?

Will you add to your account with this offer?

What's your plan for redeeming the miles?

Other Posts of Interest

• What Would You Do With 100,000 British Air Frequent Flyer Miles?
• Q&A: How Could a British Airways Award Ticket Cost More Than $500?
• British Air Card Now Offers 50,000 Bonus Miles, No Foreign Transaction Fees
• Q&A: Help, I Can No Longer Afford That "Free" Ticket!
• Your Choice: Airline Miles or Hotel Points?

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Southwest Shows the Luv with 40 Free Songs From iTunes

UPDATE - According to Southwest's website on June 8: We apologize, but due to popular demand the free playlist is no longer available.

Free travel? How 'bout some free music?

To mark its 40th anniversary, Southwest is giving away 40 free iTunes songs.

To be clear, these are 40 tunes of Southwest's own choosing, not 40 tunes that you would choose yourself. So while the nominal value of the music is around $40 (most iTunes songs cost $0.99 each), the real value to you will depend on how your taste and Southwest's line up. Which raises the question: How did Southwest pick those 40 songs?

According to an article in Southwest's inflight magazine, the principle guiding their music choices was as follows:

The birth of an airline and the launch of a music career involve dreams of taking off (and, yeah, some baggage). The 40 new artists featured here are not only ready to fly, they're doing what artists do: giving us the music to carry on.

In other words, they're tunes from musicians you've mostly never heard of. And they run the gamut, genre-wise, from country to hip-hop to jazz to classical. So should you even take the time to download them to your music player? It's a bit of a crap shoot.

I did, and I'm listening to them as I write this. While I'm not sure which of the tunes I'll ultimately keep and which I'll jettison, the collection overall is as enjoyable as any mix tape I've ever received.

Incidentally, the related inflight magazine article also includes a list of "High Flyers"—the top single and album on June 18 (Southwest's launch date) for each of the past 40 years. Talk about blasts from the past!

Reader Reality Check

Comments on the music?

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