Frequent Flyers - a question for you

[doombuggy]

OK, I got a notice from United yesterday that my miles will expire at the end of the year if I don't do something. I have around 6600 miles, but I also have around 8000 or so with US Air. I am flying US Air home to Philly in November, but I am trying to plan a trip to DL in February.

So, can I combine miles from the two airlines? I think they are both Star Alliance partners. I can't get a direct flight from MCO to SNA (I couldn't seem to find any to LAX either, but I would prefer to fly into John Wayne airport anyway), so my thought was to maybe use the miles towards some of the trip, since it is technically 2 segments each way. Is this doable?

Here's a seperate question:

Frontier has given me the best price in my research. The problem is that the connection from MCO to Denver arrives at 12:50p and my connection from Denver to SNA leaves at 1:15p! My dad thought this was a bit close and not even "legal." Mind you, this is a computer search...

Thoughts?

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

So, can I combine miles from the two airlines?

No.

the connection from MCO to Denver arrives at 12:50p and my connection from Denver to SNA leaves at 1:15p!

No way you could make this, even the the flight from MCO arrived at DEN on time.

 

[winterman]

If you go to the frequent flyer website, you can buy a magazine subscription thru that website and use some accrued miles or you can make some other small purchase thru one of their listed vendors using the links on the website.

Either one of these will either reduce or increase your mileage balance and thusly be considered a transaction. In United's rules, this will extend your mileage balance for another 18 months.

Thirdly, you could enroll a credit card in their dining program and receive some token miles. This will also give you an 18 month extension.

Have a great trip and may your miles never expire.

 

[debbiepump]

I've got all these miles on Delta and every single time I try to use them, can't find a flight! They've lost my business! IF I'm forced to fly them, I make sure they are 'partners' with Alaska Airlines, who I have most my miles with and just use my Alaska FF card on the Delta flight. ............remember the days of pillows, smiling attendents, flights on time..................

 

[snowbunny]

You can also donate the miles to a charity such as Make a Wish Foundation (asap I guess, so they can use them) and take a charitable deduction on your 2007 taxes.

 

[DebbieB]

I've got all these miles on Delta and every single time I try to use them, can't find a flight! They've lost my business! IF I'm forced to fly them, I make sure they are 'partners' with Alaska Airlines, who I have most my miles with and just use my Alaska FF card on the Delta flight. ............remember the days of pillows, smiling attendents, flights on time..................

That's true of most of the legacy carriers. You usually need 50,000 miles for a ticket to a popular destination. Sometimes you can get a ticket at saver miles if you take a connection or an unpopular time. I tried USAir on the first day FF tickets were available for early December PIT/MCO and there were no 25,000 mile tickets.