Why should you just have one Frequent Flyer Program?
Oct 03 '00 (Updated Apr 13 '01)
The Bottom Line There is really no need to choose one mileage program, when used wisely, you can get the things you want and need out of all of them.
Okay, just about everywhere I go, I always see these articles on choosing the right Frequent Flyer Program for you. But I have one very simple question, why decide at all? I only fly Delta, but I belong to EVERY Frequent Flyer Program that has let me sign up. (I even belong to Alaska Airlines, but I live in NY!) What is my point, you ask? Well, there are so many ways you can earn Frequent Flyer miles today, by spending money and by filling out surveys, etc... In other words you can get miles for free in so many places, BUT, the miles you may be able to get, may not be for your "primary" airline. What I do is get all of the miles that I can on every program, then trade them in for something I will use. For instance, my airline (Delta) participates with United. So when I have enough miles on United, I can use them for a Delta ticket.
As far as the rest of the programs go, I use them for cars and hotels. For instance, American Airlines participates with Hilton HHonors, so every time I get 5,000 miles with American, I convert them to 10,000 Hilton HHonors Points, that gives me one free weekday night at a few hotels. If I do this with more than one airline, or more than 5,000 miles at a time, I get full weekend stays, or even a week. I also use my "useless" airline miles for rental cars. If I am going somewhere and need a car, I use miles from one of the programs and transfer them to my Frequent Rental Car Program (like Alamo or Hertz or Dollar etc..)
So, my point is, why choose? I don't want to give up my hard earned miles on Delta or United, because I can fly with those, but I figure if I can get my hotel and car for free to, then why choose? Choosing means I have to give up an almost free trip, or waste "good" miles on making the trip free.
So far, in the last 2 years, I spent 11 days in Orlando, 6 days in Las Vegas, 8 days in Virginia Beach, 10 days in the Bahamas, 14 days in Scottsdale, 4 days in Hilton Head, and each time, my flight, car rental and hotel were free.
There are thousands of places online where you can get miles completely free, so it is not necessary to make purchases for these miles. In fact, I never have.
So, I say if you are going to do something anyway - such as shop at a certain store, or use a certain long distance carrier and they don't offer miles for your "primary" airline, then get the miles anyway on a different airline, then cash them in for something you WILL use! :)
Just one last piece of information: I am home for the last 2 years, out of work for a disability and up until last month, I was not yet collecting any money, so I assure you, you don't have to go around dropping cash to get these trips :)
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