Thursday, May 22, 2008

British Midland Airways Diamond Club-Earning Part II

Last time, I talked about some basic earning opportunities for BMI program. There are more ways to earn miles.

1 Hilton stays: many people may already know Hilton HHonors program has double dipping benefit, which you can get Hilton points and Airlines miles at the same time. Most people will use flexible points + fixed miles option, which you will get 10 Hilton points per dollar and 500 miles (100 miles for Hampton Inn) per stay (a stay is defined as consecutive nights at same hotels regardless check in and check out). However, BMI airways is also one of Hilton partners, but the earning ratio is different. You will get 1000 miles per NIGHT up to 3 consecutive nights (3000 miles), this also applies at Hampton Inn hotels, so BMI is the best partner to earn miles for Hilton Double dipping

2 Hertz rental car: Many airlines have different bonus promotion for rental car. BMI will give u 1500 miles regardless number of rental days. However, you will only earn 475 miles if you use any CDP discount code other than AAA. This is not very good if you do a longer rental, but very good deal for some one day rentals at Hertz Local Edition.

I will talk about redemption deals on this program next time.

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

50% bonus miles on Northwest-Elite member only

Northwest just offered a new promotion for its elite only-50% more Redeemable miles for flight booked before June 20th and travel before Aug 31st,2008.

you need to register here before purchasing ticket

Friday, May 16, 2008

Will try to keep my Blog update

I am going to China for 2 weeks, but I will try to update my blog

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Triple or Double WorldPerks Miles to Shanghai from selected cities on Northwest

Triple for C, D, Z class

double for Y/B/M/Q/V/K

must register here before purchasing ticket.

travel must originate in all states except Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Maryland, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

For travel complete by June 8th.

15%off for hotel booked at orbitz.com

I got this email yesterday,


use promotion code EMSAVE15


Book by May 26, 2008 to save on travel through July 31, 2008.

Big Change!! No more 500 min mileage accural on UA!

"Effective July 1, 2008, all travel on United, United Express, Ted, Star Alliance and partner airline* flights credited to the Mileage Plus Program will accrue actual miles, with no minimum. This change affects only those flights that are less than 500 miles."

Here is the link

Before, all airlines credit the actual mileage flew or 500, whichever is greater. US airways changed the policy last year to actual mileage flew. now UA joins, I am sure within few months, all other ailrines will join together.

Another devaluation of mileage programs.

Monday, May 12, 2008

Earn up to 6,000 Bonus Miles for New Northwest Worldperks member

Mentioned in frugaltravelguy, New Northwest member can get up to 6000 bonus miles after completion of 2 RTs with Northwest Airlines or KLM within six months of enrolling. You need to enroll here between April 15, 2008 and July 15, 2008

Major ticketing & Mileage Plus fee increase effective 5/15

mentioned in Flyertalk:

Link: http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6722,50994,00.html

Following (and some other) fee increase takes effect on 5/15.

Revenue Ticket
Ticketing via reservation phone: $15 -> $25
Ticketing at airport counter: $20 -> $30
PNR service fee: $15 -> $25
(Applies for FIRST itinerary change if original booking source is not United
nor star alliance carrier (i.e. non-star alliance airlines or travel agency
) in addition to normal change fee.)

Mileage Plus
Handling fee: $15 -> $25 (reservation phone)
Handling fee: $15 -> $30 (airport counter)
(both at least 21 days before departure)

Close-in fees:
- 0-6 days $75 -> $100
- 7-13 days $50 -> $75
- 14-20 days free -> $75

Change/Cancel $100 -> $150

GS/1K waiver still applies.

Airlines just want to get every penny in order to keep their fare relatively low. This is understandable and I am glad GS/1K waiver still appies

Friday, May 9, 2008

One of the best online shopping bonus so far-Northwest Airline

Northwest airlines is offering 500 bonus miles for each $50 you spend at online shopping mall up t0 50000 bonus miles between May 1, 2008 and June 30, 2008, excluding Blockbuster, FTD, Gamefly, Netflix, Teleflora and Vinesse enrollments/purchases

You need to register here. This is a very generous offer. I bought $6000 worth item from saksfifthavenue.com, spent $3000 each for mine and my wife's account. we get goods we were going to get+ 36000 NWA miles each + 6000 Thank you network points each.


Those 72000 miles are enough for 2 business class ticket anywhere within Asia. What a great Offer! That's why I rarely go to mall

Thursday, May 8, 2008

British Midland Airways Diamond Club-Earning Part I

BMI is British Midland Airways, second largest carrier in UK, part of star alliance network. If you can understand how this program works, this can be one of the best programs in the world.

If you are PAID First or Business class flyer, or if you are economy class flyer, but not fly very often, or you are frequent flyer, but not fly UA and US very often, this maybe the program for you.

You can earn status miles on all star alliance partners and earn destination miles (redeemable miles) on star alliance partner and Qatar Airways and Virgin Atlantic

If you join now, you can get blue plus membership instantly, which will give u a complimentary meal and drink in-flight on Heathrow routes that operate a paid-for in-flight service, however, unless u live in UK, otherwise this benefit is not much for you.

BTW, u need fly 3000 miles on any Star alliance earning eligible flight to get Blue plus Status if you did not sign up via this promotion

Second tier is Sliver, which needs to fly 13000 miles in addition to 3000 miles on any Star alliance earning eligible flight. Primary benefits are use BMI lounge when you fly with BMI and 25% miles bonus and 20kg additional baggage allowance.

Final tier is Gold, which needs to fly 38000 miles in addition to 16K miles above on any Star alliance earning eligible flight. . Primary benefits are 35% bonus miles on BMI and 25% on other partners, use any star alliance partner lounge anywhere, upgrades on BMI award flights to the business cabin (or premium economy cabin on our long haul services) for you and a companion. For the first year, you need total 54K(3+13+38) status miles to get Gold, after that, only 38K to keep you Gold.

We all know that you don’t have any lounge access if you fly domestic within North America unless u purchase membership. However, with BMI Gold Status, you are free to use UA or US lounge even if you travel US domestically(must be on UA or US flight). There are many more benefits, those can be found here

Once you have Gold, then you fly another 17K status miles, after that, all your status miles will be convert to Destination miles on 1:1 basis. This can give you up to 625% bonus miles for a paid First class ticket for certain carriers or 425%/325% on paid business class ticket on certain Carriers or 225%/125% on certain Economy class.

Eg. ORD-MAN-ORD=7652 miles, in paid F, you get 7652*3=22962 destination miles+7652*3=22962 status miles (which will convert to Destination miles)+1913 Gold bonus. Paid First classes earn u 47837 for this RT.

Here is the earning table for different carrier, note: United discounted business class only earn 1.5 bonuses, which means 325% in exceed 55K threshold.

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Delta-Transfer miles in May without Processing fee

Delta will waive processing fee if you tranfer ur miles btw accounts in May. a $30 saving

Here is the link

Monday, May 5, 2008

Be aware of nasty Fuel charge at Budget car rental

I always use Hertz for car rental because I rarely hear any complaint from them. Last week, I rented once from budget due to Delta airline promotion. Although, I declined fuel options at my budget online profile, the counter guy still tricked me to initial next to fuel option, which I agree to buy a full tank of gas at a fixed price and no need to fill the tank at return. However, if u did not use the full tank, u still got charge for full tank price.

I did not pay attention when pick the car, but found out when I returned my car, I noticed on my receipt says"fuel option-yes." I went to its counter and told them this, they apologized and refund the fuel amount.

I have heard this before, so be careful when u sign something at the time of rental.

I probably will not rent from them again since hertz had been so good for past few years and no one ever asked me to sign anything with Hertz Gold.

2 New hilton family hotels will be open in Beijing soon.

Hilton Chain is a little bit slow in China Market, there are only 5 Hiltons and 1 Conrad(hongkong) in china, where SPG will have 60 and Hyatt will have 12 and countless Intercontinental/Holidayinn.

In next few months, 2 more hilton family hotels will be open in Beijing, Hilton Wangfujing and Doubletree Beijing.

Although it is still hard to compete with other major chains, it does offer some extra choices for China visitors

A great way to use ur Amex Membership Reward Points

I know many people tranfer its membership reward points to airlines program such as Delta or Continental because they are the only two Big US carriers you can transfer into. With new award chart from ANA airline, you will get a better value for points tranfer to ANA.

One Mile at a Time mentioned here

Most US airlines charge 90000 miles for a business class award ticket from US to EU, this maybe a good value if you travel from Central or Western US. However, for people live in East coast, a short 7 hours flights for 90000 miles is too much.

ANA award is distance based, from from JFK-LHR-JFK roundtrip is only 6902 miles, which is under 4,001~7,000 level, so 63000 miles if enough for Business class. or for some people in other east coast cities, you should fit under 7,001~9,000 level, so 68000 is good for a business class to Europe.

Another good part is not only you can redeem on any Star Alliance partner, but also Virgin Atlantic, which has one of the top business/upper class in the world.

If you want, you can add more than one, up to 4 stopovers en route. Most US carriers can only have one stopover for award ticket.

Does LGA airport every have a on time departure?

I always use LGA because it's close to my home, but for the past 8 months, I couldn't remember any ontime departure flight. Damn, I hope I can move out NYC area ASAP!!!

Thursday, May 1, 2008

Get prepaid Amex card valued at $50 from Delta!

Delta is giving $50 dollar Amex Prepaid card back for selected roundtrip purchased with ANY AMEX credit card.

Here is the detail

* Register for this offer
* Book and purchase a round-trip, nonstop flight between New York/JFK and Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Portland or Seattle at delta.com with any American Express® Card
* Complete travel from May 1 to June 30, 2008

This is no limit for the number of card you can get.

Hyatt signup bonus is back!

I saw this at hyatt Orange County front desk, you can sign up from online too.

Earn one free night at any hyatt after your first two eligible stays within 90 days of your enrollment.

To qualify, you must join Hyatt Gold Passport by May 31, 2008

earn 1000 bonus points at Hyatt Place until August 31, 2008

Use offer code G1, however, some individual Hyatt Places may offer a bonus better than G1,
check here before making ur reservations

Earn points and Miles together at Hyatt until June 30th

well, I think I forgot to mention this promotion by hyatt. register here

you will hyatt points and 1000 airline miles at the same time. start from ur second stay.

Earn up to 5000 bonus miles with Delta skymiles dinning

Here is the link to register

Earn 1,000 bonus miles when you spend* $50, plus 1,000 more miles for every additional $100 you spend* cumulatively (including tax and tip) at participating restaurants between 4/28/08 and 6/30/08 - up to 5,000 bonus miles. These miles are on top of the miles you normally earn with SkyMiles Dining.

$501,000 Bonus Miles
$1502,000 Bonus Miles
$2503,000 Bonus Miles
$3504,000 Bonus Miles
$4505,000 Bonus Miles