MilesBuzz! - How important is the plastic?

Hi everybody,

I wonder how come I haven't wondered such a lively forum so far!
I would like to get your opinions on the following: How important is it to you to possess a tangible plastic card when you join a program (even when there are no magnetic or chip functionalities attached)? How do you feel when a program sends you an account number by e-mail and that's it.

Cheers

I desperately need those plastic cards:
* I am looking forward for the flight sitting next to Merry and playing bridge with those cards
* at my age, and having missed all body-building courses lately, it is the only thing left for me to impress others when I (not very discretly) look at them - only when others are watching
* if I don't speak the local language, and may be even the writing is not latin, how could I communicate my so very important VIP-status?

I very much like the piece of plastic in my hand, this is for several practicle reasons:

1) I will loose the number if it is e-mailed.
2) If I don't loose the number I will forget I ever registered.
3) I have a 'business card' folder with all my FF scheme cards in, which my Travel Arranger holds. That way I don't have to bother about cards at all. But if there is no card there is no way she would remember a number from an e-mail.

I really appreciate those schemes which include a prober card in the application form. I strongly dislike those schemes who say they will send you a card after you have made a number of flights.

Now, what I would really like to see is a scheme which automatically sends you two cards. One for your secretary/travel arranger to hold and one for you when you travel.

Nick

Baysal: Ignore Rudi. He has been bitter and twisted ever since I got my Lufthansa super-Titanium, gold edged, platinum embossed, personalised number, VIP, invitation only, limited edition, super elite card. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Nick

When I applied for One-Pass for my 2 and 4 year olds this year using CO's on-line application, it put a full color "card" with the new one-pass number and their name up on the screen for you to print at the end. I printed them in color and put each one in their respective wallets, next to their gold Amercian express cards, airport tarmak ID passes, and their Playboy club ID cards.

Baysal: Ignore Merry: He "only" accumulates cards - but never flies.

By the way Merry: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif that LH (chatting) event with you - and the out-come - knocked me down. The chatting protocoll (and a copy of the LH letter when they denied to give me Senator free for a year) is in the hands of my lawyer - they think of sueing Lufthansa and you Merry for the psychological damage they/you have done to me and for the psychiatric treatment I need now.

[This message has been edited by Rudi (edited 04-27-99).]

Having the plastic is very handy when visiting lounges of partner airlines. The lounge reception staff cannot always know from your ticket or boading card that you are an elite member of a partner airline.

It also nice when checking-in at a hotel. Then there's no doubt that you are a member of the hotel's program even if it's not mentioned on the check-in clerk's screen.

You can even point out that the hotel actually has a program, as I've had to do more than once ...

[This message has been edited by Austman (edited 04-27-99).]

I like them cause they're pretty.

double post

[This message has been edited by SCMM (edited 04-27-99).]

Because of all the valuable metals involved, I have grouped the Platinums, the Golds, the super Titaniums, etc., and melted them into very handsome bricks of each individual metal. You might ask, "What happened to the Silvers"? Well, I just use them for belt buckles for all my ranch hands.

I like the cards. Actually, mine does have the magnetic stripe with account number, coded on there. Makes it useful when making reservations at the city ticket office or counter. Besides, without the card, how will I be able to break into my house when I return late on a Sunday night and have locked myself out and need to "jimmy" the lock out back??? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

What else whould I have handy to use to scrape ice off the windshield of my rental car?

I like the cards for a real reason! Northwest and United allow you to earn bonus miles for checking in at an E-ticket kiosk. The magnetic strip on my cards allows me to use this check-in method, bypass long lines and earn 250-500 miles in less than a minute.

I try to minimize the cards I carry, and keep a list of numbers in my e-diary. Also makes it a lot easier if I get bumped on another airline.

Mileage Addict, Please tell me which airports I can use this e-ticket check in and earn those bonus miles. THis is a great topic... May I suggest creating a new thread on this... this is a great tip~

Now getting to the topic at hand...

I keep ALL of my frequent flyer cards in a nice wallet folio with my U-A upgrade certnficates, business cards, a Ruth's Chris Steakhouse card and other stuff. It's fun to flash my wallet and impress people (especially of the female gender! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

But it's frustrating when like on MONDAY... I LOOSE MY U-A MIleage Plus PremEx card! Luckily I memorized all my ff and hotel #'s and the secret codes so I can't go wrong.

I also keep a picture of my cats in the wallet, which gets even more attention.

OMNI & way off topic: CATMAN - exactly what is the Ruth's Chris Steakhouse card??? Benefits? Free beef? I'm a red meat & wine guru so I'm sincerely interested... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Catman, the E-Ticket concept is real old, even older than your underwear. You just make your res for an E-Ticket, you walk up to the E-ticket machine, insert FF Card, and voila!, out comes a receipt, an E-ticket boarding pass and you're off to the gate. Depending on the airline you get 250-500 bonus miles for doing this.

Jaws:

I think Catman means (and I'm curious too), where to find E-ticket kiosks for United. I personally have never seen one (even at ORD) & would use it in a heartbeat to rack up even more bonus miles. Does anyone know where to find these elusive machines for UA?

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Regards,
- Anna

No - and there is very probably none (UA).

MAddict probably has NW on his mind and probably another carrier or two.

Rudi, It's still too late for you to be awake!

[This message has been edited by JAWS_II (edited 04-27-99).]

Relax, Jaws! Rudi is in the good hands of our friend baobab!

The only machines I have seen for United are for United Shuttle, which I have seen at SFO and LAX. I don't think that all airports served by Shuttle have these machines, and mileage bonus promotions for using these machines are sporadic at best and usually capped to 1K/year. The machines will also accept your credit card (like the Alamo Quicksilver machines) so you do not need your plastic airline card.

kyklin, So that's where "The Tree" is hiding. I know the "Eyes of Texas are Upon You", but the "Eyes of the Tree?", they can appear from anywhere!

it is "only" 1:30AM - and I hope baobab is sleeping at her hotel for hours already.

Alaska Airlines uses the kiosks also. They are easy to use and come with 500 miles attached. On a recent flight from Bellingham, WA to Seattle, I booked in advance online and received a 250 mile bonus per segment for using the web, another 500 mile bonus for booking the whole trip on the web, and the minimum 500 miles per segment. I love flying Alaksa/Horizon!

As to the NW kiosks (sp??) - can you choose your seat - window, aisle, emergency??

The eyes of the tree do appear from everywhere Jaws.
Rudi, I was awake (and far away from my hotel) as late and later than you...

I am here to *work*, after all http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Another thing for having a lot of cards: it impresses some of the ladies I meet in my travels! Almost as well as my picture of the cats. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

NOW TO GO OMNI: JAWS!!! GET back to keeping OMNI off the posts and the posts focused and not drowning in personal stuff!!!

I certainly know about the E-ticket machines. I use them all the time when flying CO out of EWR.

MY question was about this bonus miles promotion for using *UNITED'S* e-ticket machines!!! Since I'm going to JFK I could use this machine to save time!!!

Just setting the record straight!!!!1

RRRAAAAWWWWWWWWOOOOOOHHH!!!! (That's YAZ & EddiE HOWLING!)


[This message has been edited by Catman (edited 04-28-99).]

OMNI for Geo1004 and anyone else interested:
Ruth's Chris Steakhouse issued these free Steak House Gang cards a few years ago when they started going national. You generally get like a free appetizer or desert or drink.

Ruth's Chris in NYC told me they don't issue this card anymore but will honor it.

But you might want to call Ruth's Chris to see if they are issuing the card again.

Free Steak??? At the prices they charge they would go out of business! But that sizzling steak is SSSSOOOOO YYYYUUUMMM!!!

OMNI for Catman: Sorry to hear the Ruth's Chris card is a "promo from the past". And, yes, Ruth's Chris does a fine job with the sizzlin' steak. However, the best steak in the States IMHO is a 3-way tie between The Forge in Miami, Bern's Steakhouse in Tampa, and Peter Luger's in Brooklyn. Yummmmy. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

... and you don't get any miles at my favorite, the Metropolitan Grill in Seattle, either ...

mmmmmmm, the Priarie Oyster Cafe at The Forks in Winnipeg, cooked over an open wood fire, delicious.....

mmmmmmm, the Priarie Oyster Cafe at The Forks in Winnipeg, cooked over an open wood fire, delicious.....

Must be really, really, good, good.

Rudi,

You are so right! I visited the Metropolitan Grill in Seattle last month and had a great steak! I will be back up there again this summer.

Dave

Merry-

Read my response under "Is United Quarter like the rest of the Worlds?"

I did manage to get three cards this year. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

OMNI: Well guys if you wanted to add a Ruth's CHris Steakhouse Gang member card to your portfolios... this is enough to make you cry in your beer:

An e-mail from www.ruthschris.com

Hello and thank you for contacting our web site. Your friends should be jealous indeed since we no longer issue these cards - the program is not an active one. However, if you still have a card then any perks you may have
been given (which was before my time here) you will still be offered.

Diane Ligi, guest services

So anyone up for steak??? I got the card!

duplicate post deleted...

[This message has been edited by geo1004 (edited 05-05-99).]

Catman, don't loose that card!!!

Omni: If you are in the DC area, the Ruth's Chris at Crystal City is in a high rise that overlooks the National Airport runways. Great view for airline/steak folks!!! Now THAT would be a place for a mini-flyertalk gathering. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

[This message has been edited by geo1004 (edited 05-05-99).]

Omni: Ruth's Chris (I never could say that with the 's') How packed does that place get & how far from the Grand Hyatt? I'll be there this weekend & will need a place to stuff my face on Saturday. Reservations required/recommended?

Cheers,

'toad

OMNI: I was planning to go to the Ruth's Chris Steakhouse in Downtown Washington D-C the weekend of 5-21. I did not know there was another one near National Airport.

I also do NOT plan to rent a car, the metro's fine for me.

I will have to keep this place in mind.

FYI: IF YOU HAVE PLANS TO RUTH'S CHRIS BOOK AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE!!! THE PLACE GETS PACKED FAST, ESPECIALLY ON WEEKENDS!!! SO if you want sizzling steaks, book as soon as you can pin down a time (At least 4=5 days is ideal!)

So what airline do you think will first catch wind of those "smart cards" that will make their appearance soon here in the states? They look like credit cards, very cheap to mass produce and have little chips that retain and update info on the fly.

All they would have to do is swipe when you disembark and presto, you'd get your miles on your card. Perhaps give bonuses and other credits as well?

Taken from April "consumer News" at http://www.cardtrack.com/

FULL STORY:

Do you fit the profile of the American who is ready, willing and anxious to start using smart cards?. According to a recent study conducted for the Smart Card Forum, those who have been the first to accept cell phones, PCs and other high-tech devices are looking forward to the convenience of using smart cards.

The study, consisting of focus groups and separate telephone surveys, defined the smart card as a “card-sized unit with a memory that can hold just about any kind of information, but requires some sort of reader to input or output data.”

The smart card industry is currently determining which applications would be most appealing to North American consumers.. A significant number of those polled indicated that they would want to use smart cards for functions including bank access and ATM service, to carry a record of driver and health insurance information, and as credit cards.. They also said that they would be willing to pay up to $50 for the card itself, plus a $25 annual fee.. Some of the other potential functions of the smart card include:

*prescriptions
*money for small purchases
*medical records
*other ID
*discount shopping
*money for larger purchases
*frequent flyer information
*other membership cards

The survey revealed that potential smart card users tended to be in their 30’s, had higher incomes, already carried an average of more than six cards in their pockets, and were heavily focused on convenience and security.. Many envisioned a card that would put multiple uses on a single device with the look and feel of a credit card, perhaps with a photo of the bearer on it.. They thought the security of the card could be heightened through electronic fingerprinting..

There’s a wealth of information about smart cards that you can access through links on the Smart Card Forum Web site, www.smartcardforum.org. (http://www.smartcardforum.org.) .The Smart Card Forum, based in Washington, D.C., is a non-profit, multi-industry organization of 200 members working to accelerate the widespread acceptance of multiple-application smart card technology...

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g'day


[This message has been edited by wanderlust (edited 05-06-99).]

Catman,

Ruth Chris's Steakhouse is 5 minutes from SNA in beautiful SoCal. Call me when you get here!

Dave