Business Travel Tips

US Airways announced some changes to their Dividend Miles frequent flier program. The changes will be effective February 15, 2012.

The quick ticketing fee of $75 on awards booked now applies to reservations made within 21 days of travel (before the change the fee window was within 14 days of travel).

The free baggage allowance for Silver Preferred members has been reduced from two to one bag (for tickets booked on or after December 15, 2011 for travel on or after February 15, 2012).

About Mileage upgrades to First Class, you can redeem from 5,000 miles plus a $25 fee and now, you pay only for flights where upgrades are available.
You can see the new mileage upgrade chart here.

American Airlines frequent-fliers have the opportunity to earn double elite qualifying miles for travel on all flights operated by American, American Eagle or AmericanConnection between Dec. 13, 2011 and Jan. 31, 2012.

AA says this offer enables customers to reach elite status in the AAdvantage program faster than usual.

AAdvantage members can qualify for elite status in the program by earning 25,000 elite qualifying miles for AAdvantage Gold status; 50,000 miles for AAdvantage Platinum status; and 100,000 miles for AAdvantage Executive Platinum status in a calendar year.

Customers must register for the promotion prior to travel at www.aa.com/offers using promotion code DEQAA.

Marriott Rewards MegaMiles promotion is back for stays between January 1 and April 30, 2012. The promotion gives the opportunity to earn 2,000 bonus miles with every hotel stay, beginning with second stay.

Up to a total of 50,000 bonus miles may be earned — in 26 stays — during the promotion period.
That in addition to usual base miles regularly earned with every stay.
Registration is required and members must update their profile by choosing miles for their earning option.

The list of 25 participating airlines programs includes: Aeromexico Club Premier, Aeroplan (Air Canada), Air China PhoenixMiles, Alitalia MilleMiglia, Asiana Airlines Asiana Club, Avianca-TACA LifeMiles, British Airways Executive Club, Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, China Eastern Airlines Eastern Miles, China Southern Airlines Sky Pearl Club, Delta Air Lines SkyMiles, Emirates Airlines Skywards, Frontier Airlines EarlyReturns, Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles, JAL Mileage Bank, JetBlue Airways TrueBlue, Jet Privilege, Kingfisher Airlines King Club, KLM Flying Blue, Lufthansa/Miles & More, Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards, TAP Air Portugal Victoria, US Airways Dividend Miles, United Airlines Mileage Plus, and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club.

You find detailed information, about the earning rate for specific programs and Marriott hotel brands involved in the promotion, at this link.

To frequent fliers who are wondering about how the AMR’s bankruptcy filing will impact on their miles, American Airlines says its frequent-flier program will be unaffected.

AMR Corporation, the parent of American Airlines and American Eagle that just filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, says passengers of both airlines will not see any changes.

Over the frequent flyer programs they ensure they will maintain AAdvantage frequent flyer and other customer service programs. Also AMR says that all AAdvantage miles and elite status earned by members remain secure and intact.

Delta, United, Continental and US Airways have all gone through Chapter 11, but their frequent flier programs were not affected from that.

US Airways will be giving a 100% bonus on purchased miles during the month of December 2011.

That means when you buy US Airways Dividend Miles December 1 – 31, 2011, you’ll automatically earn a 100% bonus.
You can earn bonus up to 40,000 miles.

US Airways recently raised the price of purchased miles.
Details of the US Airways’ Buy miles program are available here.