US Air Dividend Miles, Anyone a Member?

[Piecey]

I've been a member of their frequent flyer program for about a year now. I don't have that many miles but I did get just get approved for the Dividend Miles Credit Card...

I'm hoping to earn enough to either pay for the flights down for my cruise or in December.. Even just getting one paid off would be great, except that we might get stuck paying a TON to get the second person on the same flight..

Just wondering if anyone else is a member and how bad black out dates are?

Also, if anyone has the credit card... the 50 cent flights? Anyone ever gotten one of those??

TIA!

 

[DebbieB]

I have about 45,000 miles in my account and have not been able to find an award ticket for any of my upcoming trips, even my one in late October. You can sometimes get them if you want bad times, late afternoon or evening flights to Orlando and early morning returns. Or connecting flights.

I am kind of disgusted with USAir. I had to fly from Pittsburgh to Richmond this week for work. I was only staying one night, a non-stop was $900! My boss didn't go for that, so I had to take a connection through Charlotte each way, it still was over $400, which is crazy. This wasn't last minute, I booked it about a month ago. I also have a ticket with America West to LAX that I have to cancel, it cost $314. I want to use it to go to Orlando instead, their flights are $434! So with the $100 cancellation penalty, I would have to pay another $200! If you look at the seat chart, almost all of the seats are empty! I can get a ding with Southwest for $97! It doesn't seem that USAir wants to compete for leisure travelers on the PIT/MCO route.

 

[keishashadow]

One of the reasons we switched from USAir to AirTran was inability to utilize the miles we did earn on USAir - way too restictive compared to AT's rewards program which we've been able to actually use our vouchers despite odd black-out dates.

 

[DebbieB]

One thing I just found out about Air Tran, your credits expire in 12 months! I flew them to Orlando last week and wondered why my account showed 10 available credits, 14 lifetime. When I started reading their rules, credits expire in 12 months, so the 4 credits I got in 12/04 are gone.

 

[dis-happy]

ITA agree about the AirTran tickets---dh earned a bunch of them last year and one expires this spring and I haven't been able to use it. Plus, you can't check their website for availability--you have to call and ask each time. It's a pain.

USAir can be tricky to book free flights on, but dh hit Chairman's Preferred with them for a few years and we had a LOT of points. We also booked a lot of tickets over the years as well, just recently got 3 for a flight out to CA. in January. So it's possible, holidays are difficult. Sometimes flights open up just one to two weeks ahead of time, so keep trying.

As far as the CC goes, we also put everything on it for a few years and that added to our points as well. Great deal. Plus if you book a paid flight with the CC you get extra points per mile flown.

That Pitts. to Richmond story is funny (sort of) DebbieB. You see, we live in Clt. and my dh always paid outrageous amounts for his flight to end in Clt., but if he just flew through Clt and ended in Hilton Head (to meet me at the beach) it would always be cheaper. UGH. Needless to say, he's pretty much switched to AirTran for the cost, but that always puts him through Atlanta first. If you're in a hub, flying nonstop on USAir can be nice, but only if you're flying for free (or on someone else's dime).

 

[Piecey]

It's weird, I guess.

USAir is all I've ever flown, never really had a problem with the prices I've paid or the flight times.
The first time I flew, I flew USAir because they were they only airline out of my town (PKB) with a connection in PIT, straight to Orlando from there.

The last time (Christmas time) I drove to meet my brother in Morgantown WV (He goes to West Virginia University) and we woke up the next morning to drive to PIT (about 45 minutes..)

dis-happy, you say you had the card. What are the $99 Companion Airfare you get every year? Really interested in hearing about this.

If I don't fly USAir, I'll watch Ding! Fares on Southwest... For both my trip in September and December.

 

[dis-happy]

We got them, but never used them. It sounds pretty good though: purchase a r/t ticket of $250. or more and bring two compaions for only $99. each--you have to use your card to purchase the tickets. There are some blackout dates, mainly for holidays. HTH

 

[johnnyr]

My entire family are DM members. We recently all cashed in our miles for airfare for a trip to the Carabbean we are taking in July. Had no problem redeeming miles. You just have to do it right at the 330 day mark. They don't last long.

Every year, they attach the companion ticket voucher to my DM Visa statement, but I have never been able to use it. The blackout dates get us everytime.

All in all, I like the DM program. I've been able to secure free air tix utilizing miles on a number of occaisions. The good thing is they never expire. I just wish they would ease up on the $99.00 companion restrictions.

 

[Piecey]

Looks like I'll be using the card and just building up miles to hopefully get some flights for next year.. Oh well. I'll just keep using the Disney Visa for now

How much is the annual fee? My application didn't say, just that I didn't have to pay it for the first two years...

 

[CherCrazy]

We have a USair DM credit card. Have had it for several years. We got lots of free air travel because of the build up of miles. We put everything on it though to build up the miles. I would charge my kids college tuition to it, then pay it off right away so I didn't pay the interest charges.

A friend got me hooked on using it after she told me that she and her family all flew to Disney for free. She even charged her groceries to the card.

I will say that it's not always easy to use your miles though. You have to be very flexible. Did you ever see the capital one commercial where the guy always says "NO"?? It applies sometimes.

 

[Piecey]

Haha, wow.
So anyone know how many miles do you need to fly to Orlando.. say, from Pittsburgh?
Is it just a set amount for US-US travel or what?

 

[Disneynutbsv]

I've usually flown on usair or southwest. Last year I got enough for one free ticket and didn't have a problem using it. Now I'm around 9807, so it will be awhile before I get to use it again. This time around I'm flying allegiant air, hoping for good service!

 

[MariettaC]

I have flown US Air for years because it is the nearest air carrier to my home.
However, for years and years I have built up points and have NEVER been able to use them. I travel approximately 2-3 times a year and each time I have tried to use my points to no avail. I am planning a trip to Disney World for the end of July and once again tried to use my points AND I COULDN'T BELIEVE MY EYES WHEN I SAW THAT I COULD USE THEM

 

[DebbieB]

Haha, wow.
So anyone know how many miles do you need to fly to Orlando.. say, from Pittsburgh?
Is it just a set amount for US-US travel or what?

It's 25,000 miles for anywhere in the Continental US (limited seats). 50,000 miles will open up the flights with capacity controls, so you would have a better chance of using them. 50,000 for first class (limited seats).

Sometimes you can luck out if they open up a new flight, that happened to me 3 or 4 years ago.

 

[travlnman1]

I have the Juniper Master Card for Usairways Dividend Miles.
I haven't won any $.50 cent flights yet. I tried like crazy for the Orlando tickets.
Aside from the $.50 cent flight promo, I earn 1.5 miles on the $$ rather than the typical 1 for 1.
I felt it was the best cc out there for miles.
I've already earned my max benefits on 2 Disney visa cards so now i'm going for miles.

 

[travlnman1]

I won a $.50 cent flight to Las Vegas today.
It really does work!