Help! Need Air Miles & Hotel Points

[SalandJeff]

I need suggestions on the best credit cards to earn air miles and hotel points FAST! What card will let me earn miles/points for a variety of airlines or hotel chains.

We are going to Russia to adopt a little angel and the costs are very high. Plus the travel is on short notice and subject to last minute change.

I don't suppose there are any organizations that anyone knows of that donate miles or points???? (I think I'm dreaming on this one)

TIA

 

[jenndisney]

Just a thought...My cousin adopted an angel from China last spring. Her church did a baby shower to help raise funds for the trip. Instead of gifts, they asked everyone who could to donate towards the cost of the trip. It was wonderful!

 

[05ChristmasSurprise]

Here's some good news for you

http://www.nwa.com/features/adopt.shtml/

Hope it helps!

 

[Cindy's Mom]

Here's some good news for you

http://www.nwa.com/features/adopt.shtml/

Hope it helps!

What a nice thing to post

Salandjeff - I'll put my thinking cap on too.

ETA - Ok it's 2 hours later and my suggestion is to write to the Airlines themselves to their PR or Communications Department tell them your story and see if they can donate a ticket(s) or some miles. If your friends/family are throwing you a benefit/fundraiser tell the airlines that you will mention their name in the flyers and have a sign at the event with their name on it. It can't hurt to ask - the airlines are always giving free things away - - I would give it a try.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

The best overall program is American Express. You get miles for all purchases and they can be converted to almost any airline mileage program.

 

[SalandJeff]

Thanks to everyone for the links and suggestions...we will try them all!

 

[cruiseonmagic]

I need suggestions on the best credit cards to earn air miles and hotel points FAST! What card will let me earn miles/points for a variety of airlines or hotel chains.

We are going to Russia to adopt a little angel and the costs are very high. Plus the travel is on short notice and subject to last minute change.

I know that the cost of tickets are high, but I'm not sure that you realize how much you are going to have to charge to get tkts. You are looking at a minimum of 50,000 miles/ticket or 50k per ticket charged on a card (give or take bonus miles). Heck, right now you can go on orbitz and fly this friday from BDL to moscow, if you needed to, and come back monday for $980.

United also has adoption fares. For more information call United International Reservations at 1-800-538-2929 and reference the code: S*UAL/INTL-Adopt.

 

[SalandJeff]

Heck, right now you can go on orbitz and fly this friday from BDL to moscow, if you needed to, and come back monday for $980.

Thank you for your suggestions. I've checked sites like Orbitz and Expedia and find them to be deceiving. I just went to orbitz, checked dates in May and it showed the prices in the $960-$1000 range. But then when you go to book, you get a message that says We're sorry, the fare for that itinerary is no longer available. The fare for that trip is now $2880. Same thing happened on expedia. I wonder if anyone ever gets any of the so called deals they show.

 

[aka-mad4themouse]

If you haven't visited FlyerTalk.com yet, then check it out. This site is to Frequent Flier as The DIS is to WDW Fans. You should find a wealth of information there.

Choose your preferred airline now. Ask friends and family members who might be giving you birthday or holiday gifts to buy you FF miles. Most airlines will sell them in 500 or 1000 mile increments. Those FF miles can then be banked in your accounts for your chosen flight.

If you have a number of points programs that you's like to combine points from, check out Points.com . This site will transfer points from one rewards program to another. It's usually not a 1-for-1 exchange and you lose some of the value in the process but if you have a few miles on one airline and and few miles in another program, you can trade around points so that they all end up some place that you can use them.

We like DH's Diner's Club card for the number of airlines and hotels that participate in their rewards program. He uses the card for business and covers a lot of overhead with it, so the points add up quickly. The only problem for personal use is that the card is not as widely accepted as VISA or MasterCard.

Good luck in your adoption journey. My DB and DSIL adopted an angel from Russia 6 years ago. She is an amazing child and such a joy to them. I wish you the best.

 

[CarolA]

Well, lets hit the BIGGER issue here.

Most foreign adoptions don't give you that much notice. So even if you get the FF miles getting a seat could be next to impossible.


My friends agency worked with NW and got them the adoption fares for a reasonable rate. Personally I think this is going to be your best bet

Good luck!