Most FTers likely already know this but for the relatively unnitiated:

Among companies providing the service you're looking for are MaxMiles and Biztravel.com. Each can be reached directly at its own home page- www.maxmiles.com or www.biztravel.com -or through links on other sites.

You'll likely find MaxMiles the more convenient of the two since it tracks miles and expiration dates for 32 programs regardless of where you booked your flight, hotel stay or car rental. Also, mileage reports are available on designated Web sites and E-mail as well.

Biztravel.com, which is a travel agency, tracks miles for six frequent-traveler programs- British Airways Executive Club, Northwest WorldPerks, TWA Aviators, Midwest Express, Starwood Preferred Guest and Hilton HHonors. Beyond that, Biztravel.com compiles information only for travel it has arranged on any of 40-plus frequent-traveler programs. A log of accumulated miles is free on its Web site and affiliated sites, but theres no e-mail mileage reports.

How much subscribers pay for information compiled by MaxMiles varies. It depends on which of many sites they signed up with. But cost does not necessarily reflect how much information is provided. For example, by logging on to a personalized www.excite.com home page, a subscriber can get mileage totals for each program free. For a more complete report showing individual transactions, expiration dates, mileage and special deals- there is a charge of $2.95 a month or $29.95 a year. Under this arrangement subscribers get reports on the Web and by e-mail.

If one joins via www.expedia .com, first year is free. After that, it's $9.99 a year, which provides a full statement online and e-mailed reports. But if 3 tickets are bought within a year of enrollment, the charge is waived.

If you are an AMEX cardholder, access to the info by MaxMiles is free as are the mileage reports found at www.rewardsmanager.com or www.americanexpress.com.

The best deal is by www.skymalltravel.com
Complete reports by e-mail and on the Web are both free.

Another good alternative is https://secure.verticalone.com/plugi...butor=MyPoints

Unlike www.maxmiles.com, verticalone allows you to keep track of multiple accounts for same program; I track all of my family member's accounts. It updates daily basis; I'm not sure about maxmiles. Lastly, it has quick login link which you can use it to login to each programs website.

If you have multiple web based email accounts, it allows you to keep track of those too. If you want, you could also track phone bill, credit cards, and brokerage accounts. But I use FF and email features...



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"It is not doing the things we like to do, but liking the things we have to do, that makes life blessed." - Goethe

I have been using maxmiles for the free 1st year trial. I didn't know it could remain free if you have AMEX card, so thanks. The only trouble is that they seem to be behind all the time. So, it's a good ball park figure, but I tend to check AA in addition since that has more activity than any others. I will check out the site you mentioned. thanks

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DtG

A little off topic - but how does one track the Hilton points given for United flights? Neither the Hilton web site nor the printed statements mailed have any flight dates for the points. It is easy if you don't have a lot of flights or if the actual miles flown for the flights are different. But if you have a lot of 500 mile flights on an ongoing basis, it seems to be impossible to find out if all the points have been posted. Maybe after the promotion is over, one could tally all the United flights and the Hilton points given.

[This message has been edited by PG (edited 01-30-2000).]

I have used Quicken to track my miles. While not elegant or complete (e.g., it doesn't warn about expiring miles - though I suspect that I could use bonds as a surrogate - or generate letters for missing miles) it produces great reports and is free (as I have already purchased it to track my finances).

freakflyer,

How are you using Quicken to track FF miles? I'd be very interested in earing since I'm a Quicken junky myself.

DH - I just tried Vertical One - pretty cool! Not only does it handle multiple freq. flyer programs, but my on-line bank, my on-line investments, as well as my email...

One place to check everything! I like it!

I use a program for my Palm V called "AirMiles." It is a program written specifically for the purpose.

It can be found at http://www.handshigh.com/html/airmiles.html

A demo version is available for download. The full version costs $29.99. Very nice product and interface.

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Two wrongs may not make a right, but three lefts do.

AirMiles for Palm has competition now. Evoyage has come out with a more performing software. I provide you the link below:
http://www.evoyage2.homestead.com/index.html

Hope that's useful.

Jean

http://www.milesandpoints.com provides the full maxmiles mileage program tracking and account summaries and detail for free.

One minor correction: The skymalltravel.com one was offered but that Web site was recently taken down. One that hasn't been mentioned so far that I think you might like is milesdirect.com There is a feature called AwardWizard which is pretty cool (it compares your balance totals against award charts and tells you how many of each award you have earned....like 144 free hotel nights, etc.) and it has a beta version of a reconsiler for those of you who like to track actual against posted. I understand that they have a whole lot more coming up real soon, so you may want to check it out.

I'm wondering why one should trust these sites to keep personal information private. Any promise to do so can be broken at will, plus most people can't tell if information on them has been sold or used.

I have Citibank accounts, and I use the "My Citi" page to track my FF miles. It also does other loyalty programs, and it's free.

I totally agree, Warrenlm. I would never post this type of info on any third party web site. I am too paranoid about privacy (with reason).

E,

You could use Quicken the same way you use it now. Set up a new file and just ignore the dollar signs. You could reconcile the accounts just like you do with your bank accounts. And you COULD manually set reminders to let you know before miles expire, although you would have to almost be bedridden for that to happen now that about everyone has eliminated expiring miles!

I don't like other people having access to my personal information and use Excel spreadsheets to track my activity and 'reconcile' the accounts when my statements are published. The key to this (or the Quicken method, for that matter) is that you should enter your activity IMMEDIATELY upon arrival at your destination or back home!!! The longer you wait to post, the more likely you will forget to, or misplace the boarding card.

I flew to PBI in June and US missed one of my segments. When I went to claim the missing segment/miles I found that the boarding card receipts, which had been left in my shirt pocket, were bonded together as they went through the washer and the dryer! Have you ever seen six boarding receipts stuck together? It's not a pretty site, but I attached a short note and dropped them in the mail to receive the proper credit. I would have paid admission to have watched them open that envelope.