Mileage Programs

What we’re watching: CNBC’s ‘Now Boarding’ on airline frequent flyer programs

Do you play the airline miles status game?

If you fly a lot or know someone who does, you know that achieving status on an airline through actual miles flow plus, increasingly, credit card spending can open the door to travel perks such as free checked bags, upgrades, free drinks, extra legroom, and more.

But is playing the game worth it?

On the latest edition of their weekly ‘Now Boarding’ podcast, CNBC airlines reporter Leslie Josephs and CNBC senior producer Erin Black do a very nice job of discussing frequent flyer status, airline perks, and whether it’s really worth it to play the game.

Adding their expert insights to the discussion are Tom Stuker, who has flown more than 23 million miles (23 million!!!) on United Airlines, and Brett Snyder, who is the founder of the Cranky Network Weekly, an industry analysis site, as well as a travel agency.

Travel Tidbits from an airport near you

Boston Logan Airport – and others – are reminding travelers that Uber & Lyft driver are planning a strike today, which might make getting to and from this and other airports a bit more complicated.

Delta Air Lines announces a “Reclaim My Status” loyalty benefit for its customers. Nice.

And the newest exhibit at St. Louis Lambert International Airport is curated by the Griot Museum of Black History.

Batik Story Quilts: Yoruba and Other Cultural Proverbs, displays Batik tapestry quilts made by artist Tunde Odulande.  

The exhibit includes seven quilts:

The Fairytale of the Blue Ghosts and Their Magical Spree,” Musicians Make Music While the Audience Makes Orchestration,” “Has Man Finally Arrived?,” “If you Don’t Know Where You Are Going, Any Road Will Do,” and “Our Heritage” are on display across from carousel 1 in the Terminal 1 Baggage Claim area.

Sweet Mother” and “Mask of Peace” are on display near the A Concourse entrance. Batik Story Quilts: Yoruba and Other Cultural Proverbs is on display at STL through October 23, 2019 

Donate to disaster relief: do good get bonus miles

Donate to disaster relief; get bonus miles.

Want to help the people and communities trying to deal with the aftermath of Hurriance Florence, Tphoone Mangkhut, the flooding in western Japan, the California wildlfires and whatever comes next?

See below for campaigns United Airlines, American Airlines and Delta Air Lines are spearheading to  raise funds for a variety of humanitarian and disaster relief efforts.

 

United’s Crowdrise campaign is raising funds for six groups: the American Red Cross, Airlink, Global Giving (Hurricane Florence), Feeding America, Americares and Global Giving (Typhoon Mangkhut).

United has pledged to match the first $50,000 raised and to provide up to 5 million bonus miles as thank-you gifts to MileagePlus program members who pledge at least $50 or more before October 31, 2019.

Donate $50-$99  and get 250 miles; donate $100 to $249 and get 500 award miles; donate $250 or more and get 1,000 bonus award miles.

American Airlines if also offering bonus miles as a  thank-you to AAdvantage members who donate to the American Red Cross by October 5.  American is offering 10 miles for every dollar donated with a minimu donation of $25 dollars.

Through Delta Air Line’s SkyWish program SkyMiles members can donate miles to help get volunteers helping with disaster relief get where they need to be.

Whether you’d like bonus miles or have lots of extra miles to share, this is a pretty good time to be generous with your cash or your miles – or both.

Changes for the JetBlue TrueBlue program

JetBlue has announced a batch of changes to its TrueBlue mileage program. 

Today JetBlue is sharing a bundle of changes to its TrueBlue mileage program.

In addition to a refreshed TrueBlue digital interface, the carrier is making these changes:

Family Pooling will become Points Pooling:

*Now a pool can be made up of 2 to 7 members of all ages. Anyone can be in the pool- not just people in your ‘real’ family.

*Instead of contributing a set percentage, members will now contribute 100% of their points to the pool. Members will be able to redeem or leave the pool with their unused points when they want to.

*The Pool Leader, formerly called the Head of Household (21 years of age or older), will be able to give other members in the pool privileges to redeem points from the entire pooled balance.

JetBlue also said its TrueBlue Badges – which give bonus points for a variety of activities – are “going on vacation” for a bit while that part of the program is revised.

JetBlue raises baggage fees 

JetBlue recently made some changes to its list of baggage fees, raising some fees above what other airlines currently charge.

For tickets purchased after August 27, 2018, the fee for checking the first bag goes up to $30 (from $25) and the fee for the checking a second bag goes up to $40 (from $35). The fee for checking a third bag (and any additional bags) will go up to $150 (from the current $100).

Message: Pack light!

See this chart for the other changes to the fees for checked bags on JetBlue.

What do you think of all these changes?

Donate (and earn miles) to help Hurricane Harvey victims

The devastation in Texas caused by Hurricane Harvey is still being tallied, but it is clear many people lost their homes, their business, their livelihoods and, in some cases, their lives.

Donating money to groups such as the Red Cross is a great way to help right now and American Airlines is encouraging you to do so by offering you some bonus miles when you do.

Through September 24, 2017, AAdvantage members can earn 10 miles for every dollar they donate to the Red Cross, with a minimum donation of $25.  Donate here.

United Airlines is also encouraging you to donate to hurricane relief efforts and has set aside 3 million bonus miles and $100,000 to match contributions from Mileage Plus members made to the American Red Cross, AmeriCares, Airlink, or Operation USA through this fundraising page.

Donate $50-$99 to earn 250 bonus miles; $100-$249 to earn 500 bonus miles and donate $250 or more to earn 1,000 bonus miles.