US Airways 2011 Grand Slam Promotion - Welcome to the Dedicated Grand Slam Forum!

Welcome to the 2011 Dividend Miles Grand Slam Sub-Forum. This temporary forum will be live in the US Airways forum through the duration of the 2011 Grand Slam promotion (which as of this posting, has not yet been launched – only ‘Tweeted’ about by US).

Why are we doing this?

US Airways has been running a Grand Slam Promotion for a few years now. Each year, it has grown in popularity and reach – well beyond the traditional US frequent flyers and regular posters in the US Airways forum. As the promotion has so many aspects to it, involving so many US partners, there are a multitude of topics and sub-topics to discuss. Historically, we’ve done this in a single Master Thread in the US forum. Most would agree that as the promotion increased in popularity and participants, that approach was far less than ideal. It became very difficult to follow the discussion and find information of particular interest to an individual member.

So, SanDiego1K, the FlyerTalk Community Director, agreed with a suggestion made by a member here in this forum, that a sub-forum be created to house the various discussions related specifically to this promotion. It will be temporary, and it will be a test of this theory to see how it works out for FlyerTalk and the users of the forum. Enjoy!

Don’t hesitate to contact one of us via Private Messages if you have any questions or concerns.

-AZ Travels the World, safetymom & aztimm
US Forum Moderators

Great service. Thank you very much ^

I propose that master threads be created for each of the Grand Slam partner activities.

I propose that master threads be created for each of the Grand Slam partner activities.

Feel free to go ahead and create them, here in the Grand Slam forum.

thanks for doing this....

Wooo. GS is possibly one of the best promos out there, and now we don't have deal with the superthread. Looking forward to the details.

Please only created Master threads if you are willing to update the first post as often as possible.

Great idea! Thank you for creating this sub-forum - I read through all 500-plus pages last year and I'm starting to go through the 2010 thread AGAIN to refresh my memory. The creation of master threads for each partner in the 2011 Grand Slam would be very efficient, given that someone continues to monitor/update each thread - as suggested.

Great idea! Thank you for creating this sub-forum - I read through all 500-plus pages last year and I'm starting to go through the 2010 thread AGAIN to refresh my memory. The creation of master threads for each partner in the 2011 Grand Slam would be very efficient, given that someone continues to monitor/update each thread - as suggested.

Given my personal experience with Master Threads, I suggest not doing one for every partner, especially if anyone is thinking along the lines of setting them up up-front, with no initial content.

We would end up having many essentially worthless threads, which would create confusion.

I recommend establishing master threads perhaps by a 'type' of of partner. (All Rental Car companies; All Hotels; etc.) Then if there are issues with individual companies, a separate thread could be created to address those.

You want real content in the master threads in order for them to be useful. Otherwise, you'll end up with little more than a different type of confusion and people won't bother to use them.

Also, a large number of master threads, which many people won't use, will result in lots of posts that need to be moved around. That's still the job of your volunteer moderators, who have lots of other responsibilities, day jobs, lives, etc., so keeping up will be frustrating and difficult. Please don't set us up to fail you in that regard.

Given my personal experience with Master Threads, I suggest not doing one for every partner, especially if anyone is thinking along the lines of setting them up up-front, with no initial content.

We would end up having many essentially worthless threads, which would create confusion.

I recommend establishing master threads perhaps by a 'type' of of partner. (All Rental Car companies; All Hotels; etc.) Then if there are issues with individual companies, a separate thread could be created to address those..

Yes! I really think this is exactly right. Actually, my view is that a single thread is all that's really needed, so long as it is kept clean and there are rules. I see that I am almost certain to be outvoted on that, but I would strongly urge people to think very carefully about 70 threads and how not useful that will be.

Where does the list of hotels that permit no shows go? Someone finds a super 8 in China that will do it. Only knowing about that if you go in the "Wyndham" forum seems ineffecient. Or, having a master thread that compiles all that information, but then requires you to break out into 70 subforums will waste time. Quite often lessons are learned from one vendor that are applicable to others.

I would seriously urge people to be very careful in adding too many forums or this is going to turn into a mess. Subforums could be added to deal with specific issues, but I would be really careful in how those are titled, and if you want to create one, you should be prepared to own it. For example, I bet we could easily get away with Hotels, Cars, Everything Else. Or maybe Hotels, Cars, Financial, Retail, Everything Else, with the exactl vendors we're talking about identified in the first post. If an issue comes up with a vendor, like last year, maybe a specific heading could be started that is more descriptive than just "Vinesse." Maybe something like, "Getting Miles Credited For Verizon Accessories." That way, people will understand that Verizon issues generally are still being discussed in the "Retail" subforum, but the specific issue we all are having getting x credited can be broken out. Or, perhaps, an "Assistance With Getting Hits For Non-US Residents."

Everyone thinking that a massive number of subforums will be easier, I'd really urge you to reconsider. I'm foreseeing that this is going to become an absolute mess, largely unuseable, and with the potential for the very best tricks of the trade to get caught and lost in the switches.

Just my $.02, but I perceive a very significant momentum developing that perhaps is not exactly that well thought out and I thought a discussion in order with my personal opinion.

Edit: I thought of another way to say what I'm not that articulately trying to say. Many of us don't care how we get our hits within certain categories, and in particular the repeat categories. If I can get 6 hits with the same company most cheaply, I don't care if it's Alamo or Sixt. Having to go to 9 subforums to figure out the answer to that question doesn't make sense. And, if it's going to posted in the main thread and then just repeated in the subforums, it doesn't help much -- the main thread stays what people seem not to want it to be.

Given my personal experience with Master Threads, I suggest not doing one for every partner, especially if anyone is thinking along the lines of setting them up up-front, with no initial content.

We would end up having many essentially worthless threads, which would create confusion.

I recommend establishing master threads perhaps by a 'type' of of partner. (All Rental Car companies; All Hotels; etc.) Then if there are issues with individual companies, a separate thread could be created to address those.

You want real content in the master threads in order for them to be useful. Otherwise, you'll end up with little more than a different type of confusion and people won't bother to use them.

Also, a large number of master threads, which many people won't use, will result in lots of posts that need to be moved around. That's still the job of your volunteer moderators, who have lots of other responsibilities, day jobs, lives, etc., so keeping up will be frustrating and difficult. Please don't set us up to fail you in that regard.

What you said.

Mike

Woot! I didn't want to run a site just for this promotion, but I also wanted more than a thread for all of the various details. Happiest I've ever been taking down a site!

Woot! I didn't want to run a site just for this promotion, but I also wanted more than a thread for all of the various details. Happiest I've ever been taking down a site!

Nothing wrong with having your own site. Many of our current bloggers do it and I've been thinking of it. But in terms of FT, it will make it much, much easier to sort through it here.

Mods, you mentioned in the other thread that you would consider removing all of the (well-intended) "Wow, great promo!" type posts. I would be in favor of that and, frankly, am happy to give you more than the usual level of discretion in terms of taking out the extraneous stuff.

Mike

Nothing wrong with having your own site. Many of our current bloggers do it and I've been thinking of it. But in terms of FT, it will make it much, much easier to sort through it here.

Mods, you mentioned in the other thread that you would consider removing all of the (well-intended) "Wow, great promo!" type posts. I would be in favor of that and, frankly, am happy to give you more than the usual level of discretion in terms of taking out the extraneous stuff.

Mike

I did it solely to fulfill a need. FT is fulfilling it in a better way than I can (similar layout with a dedicated forum, but FT has the established userbase), so there's no need for it.

OK, I may be a newbie, but I don't get it. Why is everyone so excited about this promotion? I am trying to understand by looking at this last year's link:

http://shopping.usairways.com/en-US/dividendmiles/grandslamrules.html

Maybe it's just me because I am in Canada, but I see no easy or cheap way to generate more than 4 hits. Maybe 8 at most, if I really try hard. For example, I can think of:

1. Buy miles
2. Dividend Miles Shopping Mall
3. e-miles
4. e-Rewards
5. Netflix

... and that's it! Anything beyond that would require to spend a lot of money (car rentals, hotels, etc), and the bonus miles thus earned would be extremely expensive. It would be cheaper just to buy miles, especially with the current 100% promo.

Or, am I missing something and there is a hidden easy and cheap way to generate 36 hits and get 100,000 miles?

OK, I may be a newbie, but I don't get it. Why is everyone so excited about this promotion? I am trying to understand by looking at this last year's link:

http://shopping.usairways.com/en-US/dividendmiles/grandslamrules.html

Maybe it's just me because I am in Canada, but I see no easy or cheap way to generate more than 4 hits. Maybe 8 at most, if I really try hard. For example, I can think of:

1. Buy miles
2. Dividend Miles Shopping Mall
3. e-miles
4. e-Rewards
5. Netflix

... and that's it! Anything beyond that would require to spend a lot of money (car rentals, hotels, etc), and the bonus miles thus earned would be extremely expensive. It would be cheaper just to buy miles, especially with the current 100% promo.

Or, am I missing something and there is a hidden easy and cheap way to generate 36 hits and get 100,000 miles?

Many here travel on their company's dime and thus earn enough hits to reach 100,000 miles without spending their own money.

I'm pretty sure transferring a point (or more) via points.com is different from buying points (even though it shows up as points.com). If it's there again, there may be some even better transfers this year. If I'm reading it right, you can get 1 US Dividend Mile by transferring 1 Phone Hog minute. I'm not a Phone Hog member, but a quick search gives you 10 free minutes just for signing up.

] The rest of us depend on this forum to help find the most efficient way to do so. For me, it was particularly difficult to find decent car rentals... until I flew to Seattle and realized I could rent a car at a low rate. I knocked off three rentals in one day.



I will be playing for the first time when it goes live. Have been messing around with car rentals and hotel stays in the lower Hudson River area. Have some interesting rates that I will post once we know the rules of engagement.

OK
Maybe it's just me because I am in Canada, but I see no easy or cheap way to generate more than 4 hits. Maybe 8 at most, if I really try hard. For example, I can think of:

Most who don't live in the USA have difficulties to get a reasonable amount of free/chep hits, that's no secret. It may, nevertheless, make sense to get some/all hits

2011 will be my first Grand Slam - it may be helpful for others to see the 2010 rules (for context)

http://shopping.usairways.com/en-US/dividendmiles/grandslamrules.html

I see a lot of people saying getting these hits are too expensive. I was able to get 36 hits last year for around $600 and I didn't have any company paying my hotel stays. I received around 130k miles so my cost per mile was about 4 tenths of a cent. This is an incredible value and doesn't come around often. Like the track it back promo... With a little legwork and everyone posting the cheapest hits it should be easy to hit 100k for under $500. This years promo is going to be bigger. I'm thinking 120k or 150k for 40 or 42 hits.

So club carlson (radisson) is having a 5000 mile promo for a 2 day rental. For grand slam you need only 2000 points to transfer to US. One hit for you and one hit for someone else. Transfer has to match the name on your club Carlson account...but you can edit the name and do a trade with someone else.

Or, am I missing something and there is a hidden easy and cheap way to generate 36 hits and get 100,000 miles?

If it was easy we wouldn't have been begging for a temporary forum to sort it all out! And if it was easy, what fun would that be? A lot of this is the thrill of the hunt.

As for cheap that depends on who you are and what you do on a regular basis anyway. If you don't utilize hotels, or rental cars, or the Shopping mall, or any of the other vendors for business you have to do then I suppose you really could rack up a lot of $ chasing this promo. Could you possibly utilize some of the vendors? Like do you buy office supplies? Then last year you could purchase them through Office Depot and then get a hit on the promo. Find a few of those and suddenly you have some miles on your hands.

If you look a little deeper into your buying habits you might discover there are ways to use what you might purchase anyway (and yes probably a few extraneous purchases too) AND score some nice miles and then you will know why a lot of us are addicted to this promo! Of course if you have no hotel miles, no need to rent a car, no need to buy anything or try something new, no need for the thrill of the chase then I suppose you could just go ahead and buy miles. Yawn....

Try it! It's really fun. Even for Canadians!!

We would end up having many essentially worthless threads, which would create confusion.

As opposed to one giant, useless thread, composed of 40% "This promo sucks!" vs. "No, this promo rocks!"; 20% "Guess what everybody- I have n hits so far, I think I can get m more. Yay for me!"; 20% "Will my DM Wireless activity ever post?"; and 19% (evenly distributed at regular intervals) "I just found this promo. How does it work? Can I just buy 36 items from the shopping mall and get all 36 hits?"
?????

I recommend establishing master threads perhaps by a 'type' of of partner. (All Rental Car companies; All Hotels; etc.) Then if there are issues with individual companies, a separate thread could be created to address those.
Any level of organization is better than none.

You want real content in the master threads in order for them to be useful. Otherwise, you'll end up with little more than a different type of confusion and people won't bother to use them.
I see two main functions of a master thread. In the most basic form, it is simply a de facto subforum for the compartmentalization of discussions so that people can more easily tune in or drop out as their needs/interests dictate. The more sophisticated role of a master thread is to serve as a clearinghouse of information, which ideally takes the form of an updated first post. The latter is not necessary for a master thread to be useful. There are some partner activities where an updated first post would be a good idea. For example, the shopping mall master thread should have a first page updated with the cheapest hit-earning activities as people find them and the warning list of shopping mall vendors/items that will not earn a hit (e.g., gift cards).

As for the the people who will just defecate a new thread with no regard for any preexisting threads, the mods don't have to go through the effort to move them. Simply lock the thread with a boilerplate message (e.g., "Find the right thread and try again."). The chaos level of a forum varies directly with our tolerance of it.

Try it! It's really fun. Even for Canadians!!

He, he, he :D

OK, I may be a newbie, but I don't get it. Why is everyone so excited about this promotion? I am trying to understand by looking at this last year's link:

http://shopping.usairways.com/en-US/dividendmiles/grandslamrules.html

Maybe it's just me because I am in Canada, but I see no easy or cheap way to generate more than 4 hits. Maybe 8 at most, if I really try hard. For example, I can think of:

1. Buy miles
2. Dividend Miles Shopping Mall
3. e-miles
4. e-Rewards
5. Netflix

... and that's it! Anything beyond that would require to spend a lot of money (car rentals, hotels, etc), and the bonus miles thus earned would be extremely expensive. It would be cheaper just to buy miles, especially with the current 100% promo.

Or, am I missing something and there is a hidden easy and cheap way to generate 36 hits and get 100,000 miles?

I did GS for the first time last year. I was new to airline mile programs, flyertalk, and had no work-paid expenses that helped with any hits. But since I live in Charlotte and almost always fly US Air, I figured I should give it a go. I got to the 16 hit level (20K miles last year + 3-4K in misc. miles acquired through hits) with a total out-of-pocket cost of about $85.

Just wait til things get going. People will post creative ways to get hits. If you just want to get your toes wet like I did last year, start with the no/low cost stuff. Keep in mind that you have to get to the next tier of bonus to get ANY bonus (for example, if you're at 8 hits, you won't get anything until 12, so don't do 9,10, or 11 without knowing you can get to 12). This will make sure you get the most bang for your buck.

Just wondering if we have complete comfirmation that there is going to be a Grand Slam 2012. Can someone inside confirm?
Thanks.
I apologize if I missed a post about this earlier.
Safe travels, everyone.

Yes there is confirmation, USAirways tweeted that it will be back and bigger than ever. No other details at this point but it will happen.

OK, I may be a newbie, but I don't get it. Why is everyone so excited about this promotion? I am trying to understand by looking at this last year's link:

http://shopping.usairways.com/en-US/dividendmiles/grandslamrules.html

Maybe it's just me because I am in Canada, but I see no easy or cheap way to generate more than 4 hits. Maybe 8 at most, if I really try hard. For example, I can think of:

1. Buy miles
2. Dividend Miles Shopping Mall
3. e-miles
4. e-Rewards
5. Netflix

... and that's it! Anything beyond that would require to spend a lot of money (car rentals, hotels, etc), and the bonus miles thus earned would be extremely expensive. It would be cheaper just to buy miles, especially with the current 100% promo.

Or, am I missing something and there is a hidden easy and cheap way to generate 36 hits and get 100,000 miles?

Last year was the first for me, and I do travel on my company dime, so I was able to get 36 hits with my own out of pocket expense of $267.47 with total miles of 127,309, or $0.0021 per mile. Of course if I included what my company spent it would be a bit higher, but they would have spent that anyway.

Yes there is confirmation, USAirways tweeted that it will be back and bigger than ever. No other details at this point but it will happen.

My info is dated, the FAQ is up but not the actual rules or full list of participants.

Just wondering if we have complete comfirmation that there is going to be a Grand Slam 2012. Can someone inside confirm?
Thanks.
I apologize if I missed a post about this earlier.
Safe travels, everyone.

Grand Slam 2011, yes. Grand Slam 2012, we can only hope.

Any thoughts of things i can do to prepare to try to get a hit for points.com. I don't think I have any loyalty points for anything other than dividend miles and have no trips planed.

Any thoughts of things i can do to prepare to try to get a hit for points.com. I don't think I have any loyalty points for anything other than dividend miles and have no trips planed.

Sign up for a Continental account and see if there's a sign-up bonus, or take a Continental survey for 100 miles (any amount will do; surveys come around often on Continental's website), then transfer freely from Continental to USAirways on points.com; no minimum transfer.

DH and I both got to 36 hits last year, entirely on our own dime(s). We spent about $600 each, but also got to consume or gift hotel stays, car rentals, wine, cookies, flowers, USA Today subscriptions, Netflix, car cellphone chargers, hiking poles, etc. There are things we'd do differently this year, but we had a great couple of weeks traveling the Southwest maximizing Grand Slam and Priority Club's Crack the Case at the same time. Then, this March, we redeemed 110,000 miles each and spent 3 weeks in New Zealand and 10 days in Thailand. (LAX-AKL NZ business class; AKL-BKK and BKK-LAX TG business.)Last year was the first for me, and I do travel on my company dime, so I was able to get 36 hits with my own out of pocket expense of $267.47 with total miles of 127,309, or $0.0021 per mile. Of course if I included what my company spent it would be a bit higher, but they would have spent that anyway.

DH and I both got to 36 hits last year, entirely on our own dime(s). We spent about $600 each, but also got to consume or gift hotel stays, car rentals, wine, cookies, flowers, USA Today subscriptions, Netflix, car cellphone chargers, hiking poles, etc. There are things we'd do differently this year, but we had a great couple of weeks traveling the Southwest maximizing Grand Slam and Priority Club's Crack the Case at the same time. Then, this March, we redeemed 110,000 miles each and spent 3 weeks in New Zealand and 10 days in Thailand. (LAX-AKL NZ business class; AKL-BKK and BKK-LAX TG business.)

That is just fantastic. The hope is wifey and I will be spending the miles on honeymoon either in Israel or Australia/New Zealand/Fiji

Sign up for a Continental account and see if there's a sign-up bonus, or take a Continental survey for 100 miles (any amount will do; surveys come around often on Continental's website), then transfer freely from Continental to USAirways on points.com; no minimum transfer.

are they still offering these, even though onepass is going away?

I've completed several of those Continental surveys over the years, and never received the 100 mile credit. The surveys seem to be tied to a Continental associated credit card, which I do not have.

transfer freely from Continental to USAirways on points.com; no minimum transfer.

Is this true?

points.com always seems to show me that it's a 10,000 mile minimum?

It may be helpful to start a list of the various hotel and car chains activity dates postings for people traveling around the 14th of Sept and Nov. I think most if not all hotel chains use the check out date but I remember from last year car rental activity dates vary by company.

Hopefully they will have another club sale during this seeing how i have to renew by the end of sept.

This is my first GS promotion and I'm looking forward to having some fun! I don't travel on business much so it will take more effort to get to 36 hits but I figure it can be done for $500-$600 in cost. I already have a couple of mattress runs planned at the local Econo Lodge for $35 all in.

I also have 6 Thrifty car rentals planned one afternoon at my local airport (TUS) to max out the car rental hits. These will be $21 all in each which is not bad. I called up and asked if I can just process the paperwork for each rental and not leave the lot with the car, which would waste more time and effort. The station manager was unsure and they had to find out from the GM who wasn't in and I will have to call back and talk to the GM. The rep who answered the phone initially said in all the years he's worked there he never heard of someone wanting to rent a vehicle just for a frequent flyer promo and not actually take the car. :D Worst case is I will take each car off the lot, fill it up with 25 cents in gas down the block (so I have a gas receipt for the return). Rinse and Repeat 5 more times. Hopefully I don't have to waste an hour doing that!

I was hoping to get some feedback for E-rewards. I recently got an offer to sign up and it states "You’ll receive a welcome gift when you complete your profile and get 250 miles after you complete your first survey within 2 months of enrolling.* " In the terms and conditions which the offer refers to it also says "Bonus miles are only available to newly enrolled e-Rewards members. A minimum accumulation of $25 in e-Rewards Currency is required before miles can be redeemed." I'm unsure if I should sign up for e-rewards now or wait till the promo starts since it seems I'll get 250 miles but I'm not completely sure since it states in the terms I will have to have $25 accumulated first. Any input here would be appreciated.

...
I was hoping to get some feedback for E-rewards. I recently got an offer to sign up and it states "You’ll receive a welcome gift when you complete your profile and get 250 miles after you complete your first survey within 2 months of enrolling.* " In the terms and conditions which the offer refers to it also says "Bonus miles are only available to newly enrolled e-Rewards members. A minimum accumulation of $25 in e-Rewards Currency is required before miles can be redeemed." I'm unsure if I should sign up for e-rewards now or wait till the promo starts since it seems I'll get 250 miles but I'm not completely sure since it states in the terms I will have to have $25 accumulated first. Any input here would be appreciated.
You can sign up now. The 250 bonus miles post only to your e-Rewards account, not to your Dividend Miles account. You then have to take a separate step to initiate the transfer of the e-Rewards miles to your US account. Do this second step after Sept. 14.

You can sign up now. The 250 bonus miles post only to your e-Rewards account, not to your Dividend Miles account. You then have to take a separate step to initiate the transfer of the e-Rewards miles to your US account. Do this second step after Sept. 14.

Does it work the same way with e-miles? Should I sign up now?

Does it work the same way with e-miles? Should I sign up now?
You can sign up for e-miles now. I'm not aware of any signup bonus. Just be sure to wait until after registration and Sept. 14 to transfer e-miles to US.

This is great. I just worked out thanks to the tracker spreadsheet I can get to 37 hits for an incremental spend of $240. In fact I think I will earn that back in that it this promo made me look at cheap alternatives to my usual Four Points Long Island NYC and found La Quinta is around $30-50 a night cheaper! So over 6 stays of 3 nights each I basically just found I was probably overpaying $720 :)

I am also not including the cost of buying and sharing miles in incremental, but that's because I'm ok with the cost rate of acquiring US miles through the promo.

I only managed a handful of hits last year but this year by laying it out all up front with the spreadsheet I ought to be able to get there very, very quickly!

This is great. I just worked out thanks to the tracker spreadsheet I can get to 37 hits for an incremental spend of $240. In fact I think I will earn that back in that it this promo made me look at cheap alternatives to my usual Four Points Long Island NYC and found La Quinta is around $30-50 a night cheaper! So over 6 stays of 3 nights each I basically just found I was probably overpaying $720 :)

I am also not including the cost of buying and sharing miles in incremental, but that's because I'm ok with the cost rate of acquiring US miles through the promo.

I only managed a handful of hits last year but this year by laying it out all up front with the spreadsheet I ought to be able to get there very, very quickly!

According to the rules as of 8/24, La Quinta counts neither as a stay hit nor as a transfer hit.

I have a question about their Mastercard. Should I get it now or wait until 9/14?

E-miles works the same - miles stay in the e-miles account until you request a transfer out

I keep reading you need an invite to E-miles. From whom? E-miles? Someone in the program? I feel like a sixth grader at their first dance, sitting on the side waiting to be asked to dance. ~sniff~

I keep reading you need an invite to E-miles. From whom? E-miles? Someone in the program? I feel like a sixth grader at their first dance, sitting on the side waiting to be asked to dance. ~sniff~

No, it's e-rewards that it only by invitation.

I have a question about their Mastercard. Should I get it now or wait until 9/14?

I would get the card as early as possible. You earn the hit when your miles from spending post to your account, whence it could take more than a month from acquiring the card till you earn a hit. In other words: If you need hits from credit or debit cards then you need to get them sooner than later.

Thanksagain is a hit again. Does anyone remember if you accumulate points at TA's website, which can be transferred at a future date, or if it hits your FF account immediately (like iDine)?

E-Rewards: Does anyone remember how long it takes E-R to transfer points from your E-R account to your program of choice? I will be going ER-Choice-US and need to figure out how long I have to get it done.

Thanks!
Mike

E-Rewards: Does anyone remember how long it takes E-R to transfer points from your E-R account to your program of choice? I will be going ER-Choice-US and need to figure out how long I have to get it done.

ER to Choice is quick (it might even be instant). ER to US was slow last year. I think it only happened on the 25th of each month and it had the 25th as the posting date. Hence ER-US gave some people problems. Remember that ER-US is a hit so you definitely want that one as well as other ER-hotel program-US transfers.

ER to Choice is quick (it might even be instant). ER to US was slow last year. I think it only happened on the 25th of each month and it had the 25th as the posting date. Hence ER-US gave some people problems. Remember that ER-US is a hit so you definitely want that one as well as other ER-hotel program-US transfers.

Thanks! Lots of ER points are being built up.

Mike

Thanksagain is a hit again. Does anyone remember if you accumulate points at TA's website, which can be transferred at a future date, or if it hits your FF account immediately (like iDine)?

E-Rewards: Does anyone remember how long it takes E-R to transfer points from your E-R account to your program of choice? I will be going ER-Choice-US and need to figure out how long I have to get it done.

Thanks!
Mike

Thanks again posts automatically, to you DM miles account. This is another one that can be done very easily if your airport uses Republic Parking. I'm going to go park for an hour walk around the airport then leave.

Thanks again posts automatically, to you DM miles account. This is another one that can be done very easily if your airport uses Republic Parking. I'm going to go park for an hour walk around the airport then leave.


I just signed up for a Thanks Again account. Please tell me if I understand how it works in relation to this promo:

1. I can buy a restaurant coupon for my wife's favorite restaurant, advertises as receiving 3 miles per dollar spent.
2. The miles automatically transfer.
3. Check my US Airways account for the hit.

Is that correct? Is there a minimum purchase to get credit for a hit?

I just signed up for a Thanks Again account. Please tell me if I understand how it works in relation to this promo:

1. I can buy a restaurant coupon for my wife's favorite restaurant, advertises as receiving 3 miles per dollar spent.
2. The miles automatically transfer.
3. Check my US Airways account for the hit.

Is that correct? Is there a minimum purchase to get credit for a hit?

A free, easy way: "Like" ThanksAgain's Facebook page for a free 100 miles. Once only though. Those of us who "Liked" last time can't again. Info here: http://www.facebook.com/ThanksAgain#!/ThanksAgain?sk=app_10442206389

Since I'm ineligible for those 100 miles this year, I'll just purchase a restaurant coupon as you describe above, but I'm new to that also, so I look forward to others' tips on your questions.

A free, easy way: "Like" ThanksAgain's Facebook page for a free 100 miles. Once only though. Those of us who "Liked" last time can't again. Info here: http://www.facebook.com/ThanksAgain#!/ThanksAgain?sk=app_10442206389

Since I'm ineligible for those 100 miles this year, I'll just purchase a restaurant coupon as you describe above, but I'm new to that also, so I look forward to others' tips on your questions.

Awesome! Thanks!:)

I just signed up for a Thanks Again account. Please tell me if I understand how it works in relation to this promo:

1. I can buy a restaurant coupon for my wife's favorite restaurant, advertises as receiving 3 miles per dollar spent.
2. The miles automatically transfer.
3. Check my US Airways account for the hit.

Is that correct? Is there a minimum purchase to get credit for a hit?

For some reason, I thought there was a minimum, but I cannot find printed evidence to prove it.

Mike

I just signed up for a Thanks Again account. Please tell me if I understand how it works in relation to this promo:

1. I can buy a restaurant coupon for my wife's favorite restaurant, advertises as receiving 3 miles per dollar spent.
2. The miles automatically transfer.
3. Check my US Airways account for the hit.

Is that correct? Is there a minimum purchase to get credit for a hit?

For some reason, I thought there was a minimum, but I cannot find printed evidence to prove it.

Mike

Last year I purchased a $10 restaurant.com gift card with %80 off, i.e., a $2 total, and got a hit. So I don't think there is a minimum. And I haven't seen anything about a minimum on Thanks Again miles from US Airways.

You can sign up now. The 250 bonus miles post only to your e-Rewards account, not to your Dividend Miles account. You then have to take a separate step to initiate the transfer of the e-Rewards miles to your US account. Do this second step after Sept. 14.

I beg to differ. I signed up after an invite from US Airways a few months ago and got the initial 250 miles bonus. I thought great, an easy hit, I'll transfer when GS2011 starts. But those miles got transferred automatically after a while. I can't remember how long, maybe a couple of months, so if you sign up now you should be OK though.

Last year I purchased a $10 restaurant.com gift card with %80 off, i.e., a $2 total, and got a hit. So I don't think there is a minimum. And I haven't seen anything about a minimum on Thanks Again miles from US Airways.

^

And as an added bonus, you answered my other question about whether the hit would count if we used a discount code.

Mike

A free, easy way: "Like" ThanksAgain's Facebook page for a free 100 miles. Once only though. Those of us who "Liked" last time can't again. Info here: http://www.facebook.com/ThanksAgain#!/ThanksAgain?sk=app_10442206389

Since I'm ineligible for those 100 miles this year, I'll just purchase a restaurant coupon as you describe above, but I'm new to that also, so I look forward to others' tips on your questions.

Thanks for the link! TA also partners with those overpriced convenience stores in PIT, it seems -- anyone know if I could just buy a pack of peanuts or something and have that work as well? I will be flying out anyway, might as well have some food. Just in case their facebook hits 10,000 before I get to it in September...

Last year I purchased a $10 restaurant.com gift card with %80 off, i.e., a $2 total, and got a hit. So I don't think there is a minimum. And I haven't seen anything about a minimum on Thanks Again miles from US Airways.

Yup. Same here. Great deal! ^

A free, easy way: "Like" ThanksAgain's Facebook page for a free 100 miles. Once only though. Those of us who "Liked" last time can't again. Info here: http://www.facebook.com/ThanksAgain#!/ThanksAgain?sk=app_10442206389

Since I'm ineligible for those 100 miles this year, I'll just purchase a restaurant coupon as you describe above, but I'm new to that also, so I look forward to others' tips on your questions.


thanks for the tip..
however is this ok to do now if they autotransfer or should i wait till sept 14th

ThanksAgain miles autotransfer, so I'd wait.

A free, easy way: "Like" ThanksAgain's Facebook page for a free 100 miles. Once only though. Those of us who "Liked" last time can't again. Info here: http://www.facebook.com/ThanksAgain#!/ThanksAgain?sk=app_10442206389

Since I'm ineligible for those 100 miles this year, I'll just purchase a restaurant coupon as you describe above, but I'm new to that also, so I look forward to others' tips on your questions.

may open a new facebook profile and after the like not use it anymore

Last year I purchased a $10 restaurant.com gift card with %80 off, i.e., a $2 total, and got a hit. So I don't think there is a minimum. And I haven't seen anything about a minimum on Thanks Again miles from US Airways.

you are right, others are wrong. so simple. there is no minimum and you did a good job ^

may open a new facebook profile and after the like not use it anymore

Creative idea, but ThankAgain could recognize DM numbers as the same from last year, so even a new Facebook profile can't disguise DM accounts.

Last year I purchased a $10 restaurant.com gift card with %80 off, i.e., a $2 total, and got a hit. So I don't think there is a minimum. And I haven't seen anything about a minimum on Thanks Again miles from US Airways.

I haven't really looked at Thanks Again since last year, but from what I recall the online clickthru purchases (like restaurant.com gc) posted based on the single transaction alone (x miles/$). Shopping at the brick and mortar locations (the Paradies Shops in the airports) required accumulating $X in purchases before miles were awarded.

Has anyone had any success getting hits via car rentals if under age 25? Seems like the lack of availability/surcharges would make those hits rather expensive.

Any thoughts of things i can do to prepare to try to get a hit for points.com. I don't think I have any loyalty points for anything other than dividend miles and have no trips planed.

Join American's AAdvantage and take a survey at opinionplace(.com) for ~100 miles. Last year I beleive the transfer ratio was 31AA:1US and 1 US mile is all it takes. :) Frontier and Alaska also give you a token amount of miles for joining their programs but I am not certain how the mileage alchemy works for those programs.

Join American's AAdvantage and take a survey at opinionplace(.com) for ~100 miles. Last year I beleive the transfer ratio was 31AA:1US and 1 US mile is all it takes. :) Frontier and Alaska also give you a token amount of miles for joining their programs but I am not certain how the mileage alchemy works for those programs.

Here's the F9 deal, this is a quote I posted yesterday on another thread:


I have 1000 orphan F9 miles. 1001 F9 miles will transfer to 184 DM. To get the 1 F9 mile needed to do the transfer I moved 5 AA miles over to F9
You too can get 1000 orphan F9 miles by joining their FF program by 31 August!

Hi,
I tried searching for anything about the Thanks Again hit but the search said it couldn't find anything because the words were too common.

Anyway, I know there is a hit for the partner Thanks Again but I don't know anything about it otherwise. Questions:

- Should I sign up the a Thanks again account now or after the GS starts?
- If I sign up now should I like it on Facebook to get the 100 points?
- If I sign up, now or after the GS starts, what do I have to do to get the hit?

Again, I did some searching and the US page for Thanks Again says the offer expired in December but then I clicked on the link and saw a deadline of 12/31/11.

I just want to make sure I don't blow the hit by signing up now and liking the FB page. Thanks (again)!

Has anyone had any success getting hits via car rentals if under age 25? Seems like the lack of availability/surcharges would make those hits rather expensive.
Your age doesn't matter in terms of earning a hit. You just need to earn miles from a car rental during the promo period.

Your age doesn't matter in terms of earning a hit. You just need to earn miles from a car rental during the promo period.

Sorry let me rephrase: success getting cheap hits?

Sorry let me rephrase: success getting cheap hits?

I believe if you join the Hertz # 1 club, they waive the under 25 fee.

Here's the F9 deal, this is a quote of what I posted yesterday on another thread:

Thanks! Great tip for a free hit and some free miles!

At the risk of sounding really dumb (not a new experience for me), is there a thread anywhere that explains to newbies exactly what this contest is all about? If so, even though this is a temporary forum, maybe it could be made a sticky?

At the risk of sounding really dumb (not a new experience for me), is there a thread anywhere that explains to newbies exactly what this contest is all about? If so, even though this is a temporary forum, maybe it could be made a sticky?
No need for a thread, you can get a good sense by reading various links from the promo registration page: http://shopping.usairways.com/promotion/dividendmiles/registration.aspx?PromoCode=GS11

It has links to:
Rules: http://www.usairways.com/en-US/dividendmiles/grandslamrules.html
FAQs: http://www.usairways.com/EN-US/FAQS/GRANDSLAMFAQS.HTML
T&Cs: http://www.usairways.com/en-US/dividendmiles/grandslam-tcs.html

Hi,
I tried searching for anything about the Thanks Again hit but the search said it couldn't find anything because the words were too common.

Anyway, I know there is a hit for the partner Thanks Again but I don't know anything about it otherwise. Questions:

- Should I sign up the a Thanks again account now or after the GS starts?
- If I sign up now should I like it on Facebook to get the 100 points?
- If I sign up, now or after the GS starts, what do I have to do to get the hit?

Again, I did some searching and the US page for Thanks Again says the offer expired in December but then I clicked on the link and saw a deadline of 12/31/11.

I just want to make sure I don't blow the hit by signing up now and liking the FB page. Thanks (again)!

anyone have a answer ?

I really didn't put a lot of time last year into this promo but I may this year if I can gauge how to optimize it for my current travel plans without compromising my Marriott points. Few details... I have around 140 segments in 2011 so for the 5th year in a row I have gotten Chairman fairly early. I travel Sunday-Friday each week. Travel averages about 2K per week in expenses. I use the Avis coupons and codes to get the 3k miles each week per rental. I have Marriott Platinum rewards status and am getting about 14k in Marriott Reward points per week. I pay zero per week including meals from the time I leave home Sunday to when I return late Friday. Everything is put on a Cap One Venture card and reimbursed 100% with a very quick turnaround.

Not applicable:

*The Club Membership (I will get free Club in about 2 weeks based on segments over 150).

*Credit Card (don’t own the US card + the Venture card seems to be a better deal because of the flexibility).

Has potential:

*Hotels (how does diverting points to US impact my Marriott point earning per visit? Can I get both? What is the best approach?

*Does converting Marriott points to DM’s make financial sense in the big picture?) I seem to remember that there is a huge disparity in taking DM's instead of Marriott rewards points.

*I assume I can continue to earn the 3k per rental via Avis and get a hit for each (max of 6)? This one seems to be a no brainer.

*Buy/Share miles (given my situation does this make sense?) I need to produce receipts for travel and if I am flying on points gained via buy/share am I getting an actual receipt with full fare breakdown that I can be reimbursed for?

anyone have a answer ?

I would wait until GS starts, then sees what happens.

I really didn't put a lot of time last year into this promo but I may this year if I can gauge how to optimize it for my current travel plans without compromising my Marriott points. Few details... I have around 140 segments in 2011 so for the 5th year in a row I have gotten Chairman fairly early. I travel Sunday-Friday each week. Travel averages about 2K per week in expenses. I use the Avis coupons and codes to get the 3k miles each week per rental. I have Marriott Platinum rewards status and am getting about 14k in Marriott Reward points per week. I pay zero per week including meals from the time I leave home Sunday to when I return late Friday. Everything is put on a Cap One Venture card and reimbursed 100% with a very quick turnaround.

Not applicable:

*The Club Membership (I will get free Club in about 2 weeks based on segments over 150).

*Credit Card (don’t own the US card + the Venture card seems to be a better deal because of the flexibility).

Has potential:

*Hotels (how does diverting points to US impact my Marriott point earning per visit? Can I get both? What is the best approach?

*Does converting Marriott points to DM’s make financial sense in the big picture?) I seem to remember that there is a huge disparity in taking DM's instead of Marriott rewards points.

*I assume I can continue to earn the 3k per rental via Avis and get a hit for each (max of 6)? This one seems to be a no brainer.

*Buy/Share miles (given my situation does this make sense?) I need to produce receipts for travel and if I am flying on points gained via buy/share am I getting an actual receipt with full fare breakdown that I can be reimbursed for?

Use the excel spreadsheet that was posted in the forum to calculate your average cpm for your hits. If the cpm is worth it to you, then play, otherwise don't waste your time. I think you need at least 28+ hits to have a good cpm.

You can sign up for ThanksAgain now, but hold off on any activity (including the Facebook "like") until after the promotion starts.

I think you need at least 28+ hits to have a good cpm.It obviously depends on your definition of "a good cpm," but I think this materially overstates the case. The first 4-8 hits can be had for very little (Thanks Again, credit card hits, Magazines for Miles, etc.), and another 4 for a few dollars each. And if I wait 2 weeks, as i am in fact doing, to buy a $35 item from Amazon that I fully planned to buy anyway, my out-of-pocket for that hit is really $0.

It obviously depends on your definition of "a good cpm," but I think this materially overstates the case. The first 4-8 hits can be had for very little (Thanks Again, credit card hits, Magazines for Miles, etc.), and another 4 for a few dollars each. And if I wait 2 weeks, as i am in fact doing, to buy a $35 item from Amazon that I fully planned to buy anyway, my out-of-pocket for that hit is really $0.

+1 I currently don't even have a DM account but I will create one and get the first 8 hits just for a near free 10,000 miles.

It obviously depends on your definition of "a good cpm," but I think this materially overstates the case. The first 4-8 hits can be had for very little (Thanks Again, credit card hits, Magazines for Miles, etc.), and another 4 for a few dollars each. And if I wait 2 weeks, as i am in fact doing, to buy a $35 item from Amazon that I fully planned to buy anyway, my out-of-pocket for that hit is really $0.

As I wrote last year, there are at least three ways to track your costs:

the total outlay of cash;
the amount you would not otherwise have spent (incremental cost); or
the amount for which you received no value other than miles (which I'll call sunk cost).


As an example, my purchase of printer ink from Office Max cost $54 but I needed the ink and it was the same price at Staples, so the incremental cost was zero, as was the sunk cost.

On the other hand, for a no-drive car rental at $25, all three costs were the same.

What makes the cost-per-miles calculation troublesome is that, as you approach the higher tiers of bonuses, higher incremental and sunk costs start to look more worthwhile.

What do you guys consider a good CPM? I figure I can get to 100k miles for around. 004 cpm. That seems good to me but I'm a newbie.

It obviously depends on your definition of "a good cpm," but I think this materially overstates the case. The first 4-8 hits can be had for very little (Thanks Again, credit card hits, Magazines for Miles, etc.), and another 4 for a few dollars each. And if I wait 2 weeks, as i am in fact doing, to buy a $35 item from Amazon that I fully planned to buy anyway, my out-of-pocket for that hit is really $0.
Hi. Can you post the additional 4 hits that you mention for a "few dollars"? Thx!

Hi. Can you post the additional 4 hits that you mention for a "few dollars"? Thx!See http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/2011-grand-slam-promotion/1253538-other-partner-hits-not-shopping-mall-master-thread.html

Welcome to FT!

As I wrote last year, there are at least three ways to track your costs:

the total outlay of cash;
the amount you would not otherwise have spent (incremental cost); or
the amount for which you received no value other than miles (which I'll call sunk cost).


As an example, my purchase of printer ink from Office Max cost $54 but I needed the ink and it was the same price at Staples, so the incremental cost was zero, as was the sunk cost.

On the other hand, for a no-drive car rental at $25, all three costs were the same.

What makes the cost-per-miles calculation troublesome is that, as you approach the higher tiers of bonuses, higher incremental and sunk costs start to look more worthwhile.

Figuring out the correct way to calculate costs is almost as much fun as the promo itself. I consider anything that I would have bought anyway to be zero. If I give up item X and buy item Y instead, I consider the price difference to be the cost. It works in reverse, too. My wife is getting cheaper flowers for her birthday this year. The difference goes in as a "negative cost." Yes, she is fully aware, since she is also a (mileage) whore. When converting miles, I use Lucky's thread as an estimate and consider not only the cost of the miles/points that I converted but also the US Airways miles that I collected.

What do you guys consider a good CPM? I figure I can get to 100k miles for around. 004 cpm. That seems good to me but I'm a newbie.

Welcome to FT! That's an excellent ratio, although I believe you mean $.004, not 4/1000 of a cent or four cents per mile. ;). I believe (and someone who is more familiar with US can correct me) that, with the double miles bonus, you can purchase them for about a penny per mile.

Mike

I believe (and someone who is more familiar with US can correct me) that, with the double miles bonus, you can purchase them for about a penny per mile.

Mike

Purchasing the max + bonus will get you to $0.0148 cpm.

Purchasing the max + bonus will get you to $0.0148 cpm.

What's the best argument someone can make for purchasing max miles here? I'm on the fence and would appreciate hearing a good case for it. I know it's not one-reason-fits-all, but I'm planning on 1k buy, least cash outlay. If you're going for max, what's your rationale? (I don't have big travel plans in the works and wasn't planning to buy before GS. I'd love to be persuaded.)

What's the best argument someone can make for purchasing max miles here? I'm on the fence and would appreciate hearing a good case for it. I know it's not one-reason-fits-all, but I'm planning on 1k buy, least cash outlay. If you're going for max, what's your rationale? (I don't have big travel plans in the works and wasn't planning to buy before GS. I'd love to be persuaded.)

There are likely myriad reasons for purcashing the minimum or max depending upon personal situation. If you have a trip coming up I'd purchase toward the higher end. If you don't it might be more beneficial for purchasing 1K miles.

I'm on the 1K purchase side of things.

Yes, she is fully aware, since she is also a (mileage) whore.

I noticed your use of brackets. I take it thats secondary then:D

My wife is ...also a (mileage) whore.

Mike

Thanks for the morning chuckle.

I noticed your use of brackets. I take it thats secondary then:D

Thanks for the morning chuckle.

On our second date in 2001, we watched one of those "special" videos.

A friend of mine at NW had sent me a video of the new Detroit terminal, so we curled up and watched it.

As my brother puts it, "wrong for the world, right for each other."

Mike

I did not get an email regarding this promotion. Do I have to sign up anywhere or will my activity automatically be tracked?

Signed up today. Looking forward to reading this thread for the next few months.

I did not get an email regarding this promotion. Do I have to sign up anywhere or will my activity automatically be tracked?
You have to register first. See the registration thread for more info.

Thanks. Registered.

As I wrote last year, there are at least three ways to track your costs:

the total outlay of cash;
the amount you would not otherwise have spent (incremental cost); or
the amount for which you received no value other than miles (which I'll call sunk cost).


As an example, my purchase of printer ink from Office Max cost $54 but I needed the ink and it was the same price at Staples, so the incremental cost was zero, as was the sunk cost.

On the other hand, for a no-drive car rental at $25, all three costs were the same.

What makes the cost-per-miles calculation troublesome is that, as you approach the higher tiers of bonuses, higher incremental and sunk costs start to look more worthwhile.

I would also like to see the calculation include the time spent to accumulate these additional miles. It can take a lot of time to earn miles worth a few bucks.

I would also like to see the calculation include the time spent to accumulate these additional miles. It can take a lot of time to earn miles worth a few bucks.

I have a salaried job that is exempt from overtime pay, so I don't calculate any value for my time. If pursuing miles and bonuses causes you to take time away from paying work, it could be a concern. Ditto if it interferes with your personal and family life.

I consider anything that I would have bought anyway to be zero. If I give up item X and buy item Y instead, I consider the price difference to be the cost. It works in reverse, too. My wife is getting cheaper flowers for her birthday this year. The difference goes in as a "negative cost."

I entered a negative cost for one transaction last year, but I can't remember what it was.

When converting miles, I use Lucky's thread as an estimate and consider not only the cost of the miles/points that I converted but also the US Airways miles that I collected.

I haven't estimated the value of transfers, but that is partly because I have a hard time using hotel points at all. In fact, the greatest single benefit of the GS last year is that it got me to take a week's vacation (which I won't be able to do this year).

Welcome to FT! That's an excellent ratio, although I believe you mean $.004, not 4/1000 of a cent or four cents per mile. ;).
Mike

Yep, that's what I meant. :)

As far as figuring the time it takes, I consider this a hobby. It's like putting a puzzle together only you actually win a really cool prize when you are done instead of just an ugly picture of a lighthouse.

can someone explain how points.com hits work?
i understand how to get the hit for swapping miles-but how does the sharing miles one work?

thanks

can someone explain how points.com hits work?
i understand how to get the hit for swapping miles-but how does the sharing miles one work?

thanks

As a tag-on, is it better to share on points.com or within US DM?

Does party A sharing miles with party B garner a hit to both?

Does party A sharing miles with party B garner a hit to both?I'd like to suggest that everyone tempted to ask such questions consult the official US FAQ -- http://www.usairways.com/EN-US/FAQS/GRANDSLAMFAQS.HTML -- before posting. The post you save may be your own.

Limited offer for hit: (http://www.usairways.com/en-US/dividendmiles/grandslam-twitter.html?c=tweet_dm_21055_09012011)
Grand Slam is back and we’re giving you a head start! Check us out on Twitter where the first 110 people to Tweet a picture from a game holding a US Airways sign will get 1 hit and 500 bonus miles.

Just remember:


You have to register for Grand Slam
You have to follow US on Twitter and include @USAirways in your response.
The person in the picture doesn’t have to be you; it can be anyone holding a US Airways sign.
If you’re not going to a baseball game this week you can get creative and take a picture at a little league or softball game.
If you win, you'll receive 500 bonus miles and 1 hit in the Grand Slam promotion
Twitter promotion runs from September 2 – September 9, 2011

The person in the picture doesn’t have to be you; it can be anyone holding a US Airways sign.
If you’re not going to a baseball game this week you can get creative and take a picture at a little league or softball game.
[/LIST]


I did get creative... I took a picture of a baseball game on TV... Wonder if it will count.

missed out on the buying miles double bonus promo this time round-anyone know if they are likely to run int again during the grand slam?

missed out on the buying miles double bonus promo this time round-anyone know if they are likely to run int again during the grand slam?
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/17117872-post28.html

anyone else having a problem creating an account on thanksagain.com? I went thru the link on FB
Can't seem to figure out how to register.

I registered for GS11 last week. Should I have gotten an e-mail confirmation, or is it a matter of faith that the registration is recorded with US? I'd hate to pile up a bunch of hits only to find out I was not in the game.

I registered for GS11 last week. Should I have gotten an e-mail confirmation, or is it a matter of faith that the registration is recorded with US? I'd hate to pile up a bunch of hits only to find out I was not in the game.

Call the Dividend Miles Customer Service Center if you want to confirm registration.

OK, here's a really stupid question and a search didn't help (possibly because I didn't use the right keywords): how/where can we see how many points we have accumulated? I have a Sixt rental, two different hotel stays, a miles trade, and an Office Max purchase so far and I want to make sure they are credited.

Thanks in advance.

OK, here's a really stupid question and a search didn't help (possibly because I didn't use the right keywords): how/where can we see how many points we have accumulated? I have a Sixt rental, two different hotel stays, a miles trade, and an Office Max purchase so far and I want to make sure they are credited.

Thanks in advance.

You can't actually see them until they post. It's a good reason to hold onto all of your receipts.

Mike

You can't actually see them until they post. It's a good reason to hold onto all of your receipts.

Mike

Ah, but where do they post? And, more importantly, how can I see them?

Ah, but where do they post? And, more importantly, how can I see them?

Go into your DM account. Under "Quick Links," about halfway down the right-hand side of the page, click on "Your miles." Scroll to "Activity" at the bottom.

Mike

Go into your DM account. Under "Quick Links," about halfway down the right-hand side of the page, click on "Your miles." Scroll to "Activity" at the bottom.
And, once we get into Oct/Nov, modify the search dates to cover the full GS period. (The US site default is to search only on the current month.)

And, once we get into Oct/Nov, modify the search dates to cover the full GS period. (The US site default is to search only on the current month.)

And you will actually only see the "hits" post every two weeks when they do the sweep. The first should be on 9/28.

And you will actually only see the "hits" post every two weeks when they do the sweep. The first should be on 9/28.
No. The hits posts when they post (i.e., when the activity line appears in a user's account). The tiers -- that is, the various plateaus representing whole multiples of 4 hits (4, 8, 12, und so weiter) -- are credited by US, and the resulting bonus miles posted, every two weeks, as stated in the GS rules (http://www.usairways.com/en-US/dividendmiles/grandslamrules.html):
US Airways will track hits and award bonus miles beginning September 28, 2011, and continue to post miles every other week until March 28, 2012.

anyone else having a problem creating an account on thanksagain.com? I went thru the link on FB
Can't seem to figure out how to register.

I have an account with thanksagain but I have Delta listed as my airline. Can I change this to US air so I can earn a hit?

You have to register first. See the registration thread for more info.

I registered but did not get an email confirmation. Is there a number I can call to make sure I am registered?

Dont know if this is the right place to put this question; but is there any chance that Points.com will run a 100% buy miles promo during GS11? Anyone recollect how that has been previous years?

Dont know if this is the right place to put this question; but is there any chance that Points.com will run a 100% buy miles promo during GS11? Anyone recollect how that has been previous years?
See http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/2011-grand-slam-promotion/1253580-can-i-get-both-bonus-dm-1-hit-buying-dm-3.html#post17117872

I registered but did not get an email confirmation. Is there a number I can call to make sure I am registered?

You can call USAirways Customer Service to confirm you are registered.

I registered but did not get an email confirmation. Is there a number I can call to make sure I am registered? As PSUPaul suggested, it is my recommendation to call US Airways to confirm your registration. The e-mail confirmation for US promotions are spotty. There are four family members that signed up for this promotion and only one of us received an e-mail confirmation. Also, it is my recommendation to screen shots, screen movies, etc. of your registration, purchases, etc. so that you will have a 'paper' trail in case if there is a problem.

Does anyone know the difference between a "Dividend Miles Shopping Mall" hit and a "Skymall" hit. Doesn't the Dividend Miles Shopping Mall just link to Skymall?

Also, someone asked about adding their DM number to an OfficeMax.com purchase, and apparently OfficeMax told them to go through the DM Shopping Mall. It seems like this would only count as a Shopping Mall hit - and I assume it's not a double (or triple) dip situation.

Anyone who has done a Grand Slam before run into these questions? Thanks!

Also, someone asked about adding their DM number to an OfficeMax.com purchase, and apparently OfficeMax told them to go through the DM Shopping Mall. It seems like this would only count as a Shopping Mall hit - and I assume it's not a double (or triple) dip situation.

Anyone who has done a Grand Slam before run into these questions? Thanks!
This is covered in excruciating detail in the existing OfficeMax thread and, more importantly, in the post #1 summary of the Other Partners thread.

Everything is Interconnected.

Use Foursquare & Facebook to your advantage for free GS 2011 hits.

Check out my post under hotel transfers to see how I'm getting a free Best Western Rewards hit and free Hilton HHonors, Choice Rewards, etc. bonus points using opportunities through Facebook and Foursquare 'check-ins'

Everything is Interconnected.

Use Foursquare & Facebook to your advantage for free GS 2011 hits.

Check out my post under hotel transfers to see how I'm getting a free Best Western Rewards hit and free Hilton HHonors, Choice Rewards, etc. bonus points using opportunities through Facebook and Foursquare 'check-ins'

While your zeal is exemplary, your knowledge is lacking.

As someone said in a response to your Hotel thread post: good luck with 2012 GS.

Where do we check how many hits so far? Does any miles posted to US Airways account count as "hit"?

No. The hits posts when they post (i.e., when the activity line appears in a user's account). The tiers -- that is, the various plateaus representing whole multiples of 4 hits (4, 8, 12, und so weiter) -- are credited by US, and the resulting bonus miles posted, every two weeks, as stated in the GS rules (http://www.usairways.com/en-US/dividendmiles/grandslamrules.html):

I saw Mike's post earlier to go to the "Activity" page, what I am not sure is which one is counted as one hit? Guess I can assume if miles are posted from the participating vendors, then that is a hit !?

Where do we check how many hits so far? Does any miles posted to US Airways account count as "hit"?

2 options;

1. Crystal Ball
2. Invest a minimum time reading FT. If not more than this single page....^

Was there a sweep on Oct. 12? I know there was an (unexpected?) one on Oct. 5. When are we expected the next one? Today? Thank you.

Was there a sweep on Oct. 12? I know there was an (unexpected?) one on Oct. 5. When are we expected the next one? Today? Thank you.

Last year, it was every two weeks. Past performance is no indication of future performance.

Mike

Was there a sweep on Oct. 12? I know there was an (unexpected?) one on Oct. 5. When are we expected the next one? Today? Thank you.

exact same question that was on my mind

exact same question that was on my mind


Edit: Not sure what I was thinking.

exact same question that was on my mind

There have been three sweeps so far, one week apart. The official website had said there would be one every two weeks. The one on October 5 was unexpected, and led some to believe we would see one every week. The one last week (Oct. 12) was the scheduled one. This week would be unscheduled, and it looks like maybe it's not happening?

The one last week (Oct. 12) was the scheduled one. This week would be unscheduled, and it looks like maybe it's not happening?Hey, you're the doctor. ^

For the record, the total number of posts in the sub-forum just passed 9000. Last year's single-thread discussion fell just shy of 7700 (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/15817349-post7696.html), and I daresay we're much better off as a result of the mods' decision to open up a bit. Having 5-10 very active master threads for different categories is a substantial improvement IMO.

Having 5-10 very active master threads for different categories is a substantial improvement IMO.

I second that emotion!

I just started trying to accumulate miles. I have 0 hits thus far. Is it reasonable for me to expect to start tomorrow and get credit for all of my hits by the deadline? I was planning to get 16 hits for the 25,000 miles for about $100.

I just started trying to accumulate miles. I have 0 hits thus far. Is it reasonable for me to expect to start tomorrow and get credit for all of my hits by the deadline? I was planning to get 16 hits for the 25,000 miles for about $100.

No problem. Activity date is what matters.

No problem. Activity date is what matters.
To expand on this a bit: What counts is the date the partner reports to US as the date when your activity occurred. So long as that date is within the GS period, as so long as the partner actually reports that credit to US by March 28, 2012, (http://www.usairways.com/en-US/dividendmiles/grandslamrules.html) your hit will count.

The main pitfall is that different partners have different policies for crediting "activity date" (could be checkin/pickup/order date, checkout/dropoff/ship date, or something else). See the various master threads, esp post #1 in Other Partners, for a summary of these policies.

I was thrilled to see my miles uptick from yesterday's sweep, and I must say that participating in the GS has raised my miles obsession to a new level. :D

Needless to say my wife is just thrilled. :rolleyes:

I was out of the country for some time and when Grand Slam started US Airways told me I could only access Grand Slam through their web site, inaccessible from abroad. Now, that I am here, I am unable to find the website for grand Slam, it is not in the US Air site. Google cannot help me, so what is its site? Any suggestions how to get it? Thanks

I was out of the country for some time and when Grand Slam started US Airways told me I could only access Grand Slam through their web site, inaccessible from abroad. Now, that I am here, I am unable to find the website for grand Slam, it is not in the US Air site. Google cannot help me, so what is its site? Any suggestions how to get it? Thanks

www.usairways.com/gs11

www.usairways.com/gs11

Tha nks for the answer, but it just does not work for me. Beyond the registration, I cannot lock in to the partner activities or anything else. Impossible to access it anywhere:(

.... I cannot lock in to the partner activities or anything else...(


What do mean by that? Can you go onto the US Airways Mall? Can you link onto any of the vendors through the US Airways site?:confused:

Did the new sweep post yet for anyone?

Did the new sweep post yet for anyone?
Numerous people have reported (in How Many Hits?) that a sweep ran this week late Monday night. That's when I received my latest tier bonus.

i have a question i have just done the track-it-back , FTD , and telefora hits. How long before they hit my account ? And what if they dont hit my account until after the GS promo has ended do they go back and add them based on the activity date ?

i have a question i have just done the track-it-back , FTD , and telefora hits. How long before they hit my account ? And what if they dont hit my account until after the GS promo has ended do they go back and add them based on the activity date ?

Read post #1 in the other partners tread. It should answer most, if not all of your questions.
Good luck with GS2011!

I wasn't sure what thread to ask this in, so the sticky will have to do.

As a first time participant, I'm wondering about past year Grand Slams.

There have been a few reports of activities that according to the rules should not count as hits, but that apparently are counting (based on status emails and/or sweeps). For example, the insurance quote, or one-time purchases from merchants listed as "subscription" partners.

In past years, were there ever cases where hits were "taken away", after US re-evaluated the posting activity? Or if something posts and is counted as a hit, can I consider it "safe"?

Received email on 27 Oct:
"As of October 24, 2011, you’ve earned 9 hits for a total of 10,000 bonus miles! Don’t worry – there's still time to hit it out of the park!"

Looking through my credits, it seems like I had 10 hits prior to 24 Oct. Does anyone have a clue as to which credits hits may not count? Trying to get to 16 hits, but may settle for 12.

FYI, The SkyMall order was cancelled, but miles were still credited. That's my guess. I only counted Thanks Again once.

Thanks.


9/18/2011 09/17/11 EXCHANGE MILES 100
9/18/2011 09/22/11 SHOPPING MALL, APPLE ITUNES 4
9/19/2011 10/03/11 THANKS AGAIN MILEAGE AWARD 100
9/26/2011 10/04/11 AUDIENCE REWARDS MILES 2
10/3/2011 10/04/11 SHAREBUILDER REGISTRATION MILES 2,500
10/5/2011 10/04/11 ONLINE REDEMPTION -400
10/5/2011 10/05/11 GRAND SLAM 2011 MULTI PARTNER BONUS - 4 3,000
9/4/2011 10/06/11 DIVIDEND MILES TOOLBAR SEARCH BONUS 7
10/2/2011 10/07/11 SUPER SHUTTLE CREDIT 50
9/30/2011 10/14/11 DM DINING BONUS 105
10/12/2011 10/17/11 SKYMALL ONLINE PURCHASE 40
10/24/2011 10/24/11 GRAND SLAM 2011 MULTI PARTNER BONUS - 8 7,000
10/24/2011 10/25/11 THANKS AGAIN MILEAGE AWARD 3

It's the toolbar hit that doesn't count because the activity date predates the start of Grand Slam. Don't worry though - as long as you have used it recently (after the last points posted to be on the safe side), you will get the hit next month.

It's the toolbar hit that doesn't count because the activity date predates the start of Grand Slam. Don't worry though - as long as you have used it recently (after the last points posted to be on the safe side), you will get the hit next month.

Thanks. Makes sense. Will make sure to do some more searching.

For me the first 20 or so hits were relatively simple to apply and so far got about 12 hits posted.
But now it's getting more tedious and a hassle to even follow up on non-posted hits.
Initially, I was going for 32 hits but I don't feel like spending the extra time is worth the effort to either follow up or purchase more items.
So, I'm just going to see what happens with the postings next month.

I wasn't sure what thread to ask this in, so the sticky will have to do.

As a first time participant, I'm wondering about past year Grand Slams.

There have been a few reports of activities that according to the rules should not count as hits, but that apparently are counting (based on status emails and/or sweeps). For example, the insurance quote, or one-time purchases from merchants listed as "subscription" partners.

In past years, were there ever cases where hits were "taken away", after US re-evaluated the posting activity? Or if something posts and is counted as a hit, can I consider it "safe"?

I don't know of any in the past that were taken away and I figure it would be more of a logistical nightmare for US to do it than to just leave them in place. I like to believe that US would not be penny-wise, pound-foolish in this case.

It's always good to do a "safety hit" for any contingency, however. There's a thread on that somewhere around here.

Mike

Any idea why I have not received any bonus miles on the latest sweep (Oct 24)?


9/15/2011 10/06/11 DIVIDEND MILES TOOLBAR SEARCH BONUS 2
9/27/2011 09/28/11 E-REWARDS MILEAGE TRANSFER 500
10/2/2011 10/04/11 AUDIENCE REWARDS MILES 2
10/2/2011 10/04/11 AUDIENCE REWARDS MILES 2
10/3/2011 10/05/11 EXCHANGE MILES 3
10/19/2011 10/25/11 THANKS AGAIN MILEAGE AWARD 6
10/21/2011 10/28/11 DM DINING BONUS,ACACIA FILLO BAR ,VANCOUVER BC 30

Any idea why I have not received any bonus miles on the latest sweep (Oct 24)?


9/15/2011 10/06/11 DIVIDEND MILES TOOLBAR SEARCH BONUS 2
9/27/2011 09/28/11 E-REWARDS MILEAGE TRANSFER 500
10/2/2011 10/04/11 AUDIENCE REWARDS MILES 2
10/2/2011 10/04/11 AUDIENCE REWARDS MILES 2
10/3/2011 10/05/11 EXCHANGE MILES 3
10/19/2011 10/25/11 THANKS AGAIN MILEAGE AWARD 6
10/21/2011 10/28/11 DM DINING BONUS,ACACIA FILLO BAR ,VANCOUVER BC 30

Make sure you actually successfully registered for the program - A couple of other posters have made that mistake.

Make sure you actually successfully registered for the program - A couple of other posters have made that mistake.

I have an email confirming registration dated Sep.27. I'll get another toolbar hit in November, but hopefully e-rewards counts!

Oh no! I think I forgot to register for one of our accounts (little JeffISU)...
9/29/2011 10/06/11 DIVIDEND MILES TOOLBAR SEARCH BONUS 1
10/4/2011 10/10/11 AUDIENCE REWARDS MILES 2
10/4/2011 10/10/11 AUDIENCE REWARDS MILES 2
10/4/2011 10/10/11 AUDIENCE REWARDS MILES 2
10/4/2011 10/10/11 AUDIENCE REWARDS MILES 2
10/4/2011 10/10/11 AUDIENCE REWARDS MILES 2
10/4/2011 10/10/11 AUDIENCE REWARDS MILES 2
10/9/2011 10/12/11 THANKS AGAIN MILEAGE AWARD 9
10/11/2011 10/18/11 THANKS AGAIN MILEAGE AWARD 9
10/12/2011 10/20/11 SHOPPING MALL, AMAZON 25
10/24/2011 10/24/11 POINTS.COM EXCHANGE MILES -10
10/25/2011 10/26/11 E-REWARDS MILEAGE TRANSFER 1,000
10/26/2011 10/26/11 ONLINE REDEMPTION -700
10/26/2011 10/27/11 POINTS.COM EXCHANGE MILES 1
10/25/2011 10/28/11 SUPER SHUTTLE CREDIT 50

Just checked her email and saw no registration confirmation. (slaps forehead)... I registered online, though read in the T&C they'll only take hits after registration. Think I'm SOL?

Oh no! I think I forgot to register for one of our accounts (little JeffISU)...
9/29/2011 10/06/11 DIVIDEND MILES TOOLBAR SEARCH BONUS 1
10/4/2011 10/10/11 AUDIENCE REWARDS MILES 2
10/4/2011 10/10/11 AUDIENCE REWARDS MILES 2
10/4/2011 10/10/11 AUDIENCE REWARDS MILES 2
10/4/2011 10/10/11 AUDIENCE REWARDS MILES 2
10/4/2011 10/10/11 AUDIENCE REWARDS MILES 2
10/4/2011 10/10/11 AUDIENCE REWARDS MILES 2
10/9/2011 10/12/11 THANKS AGAIN MILEAGE AWARD 9
10/11/2011 10/18/11 THANKS AGAIN MILEAGE AWARD 9
10/12/2011 10/20/11 SHOPPING MALL, AMAZON 25
10/24/2011 10/24/11 POINTS.COM EXCHANGE MILES -10
10/25/2011 10/26/11 E-REWARDS MILEAGE TRANSFER 1,000
10/26/2011 10/26/11 ONLINE REDEMPTION -700
10/26/2011 10/27/11 POINTS.COM EXCHANGE MILES 1
10/25/2011 10/28/11 SUPER SHUTTLE CREDIT 50

Just checked her email and saw no registration confirmation. (slaps forehead)... I registered online, though read in the T&C they'll only take hits after registration. Think I'm SOL?

Call US Airways. They should be able to tell you exactly when you registered online (and perhaps you have a screenshot to back it up, but if not, you should be fine). I didn't get my registration confirmation e-mail until a few days later, and because I did almost all of my hits on the day I registered online, I was very worried. However, this was quickly cleared up with a phone call. Good luck.

Once all of this bonanza is over do we have to wait until GS12, or do other airlines/hotels etc. run similar promotions?

I would quite enjoy one of these each quarter for a different scheme.

So I still have a lot of hits that I want to get in (maybe 12 or so). I know the promotion runs until November 14, so does that mean I have to have everything done and POSTED by Nov 14, or I just have to make the purchases. Meaning if I do a bunch of hits next week is it all going to count for the Grand Slam even if they take a few weeks to hit?

So I still have a lot of hits that I want to get in (maybe 12 or so). I know the promotion runs until November 14, so does that mean I have to have everything done and POSTED by Nov 14, or I just have to make the purchases. Meaning if I do a bunch of hits next week is it all going to count for the Grand Slam even if they take a few weeks to hit?

You have until march 14th. to get the partners to post.

So I still have a lot of hits that I want to get in (maybe 12 or so). I know the promotion runs until November 14, so does that mean I have to have everything done and POSTED by Nov 14, or I just have to make the purchases. Meaning if I do a bunch of hits next week is it all going to count for the Grand Slam even if they take a few weeks to hit?

You better hurry- or search/read FT- or your hits posting later might count for Grand slam 2012^

You have until march 14th. to get the partners to post.

So if partner activity doesn't post by Nov. 14. will US Airways still track and tally points for the Grand Slam until March 14, 2012, and then after that if its not posted your SOL?

So if partner activity doesn't post by Nov. 14. will US Airways still track and tally points for the Grand Slam until March 14, 2012, and then after that if its not posted your SOL?

Precisely.

Hello all. I’m new to Grand Slam this year (and miles in general) and would just like a little advice. Here are the hits I have so far. Not sure if I should try for anymore. Hopefully these will all post. I can’t do any car/hotel hits as I’m under 21. Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks

DM Toolbar – posted
Audience Rewards – did the 5 quick questions on the quiz, not posted
eMiles – pending I get 500 miles, currently at 385
Mags for Miles – not posted
DM Shop Mall – not posted
DM Dining – not posted
Thanks Again – not posted, restaurant.com card
Super Shuttle – posted
Biscoff – not posted, bought Anna’s cookies
OfficeMax – not posted but delivered
SkyMall – not posted
ShareBuilder – not posted, but I bought 9 more shares
US Airways Debit Card – pending it comes in the mail
Points.com – don’t have enough miles/points in any other account to transfer

It would be helpful if, for each hit, you indicated when you completed the activity in addition to whether it has posted or not.

Your debit card is almost certainly too late to count now, so that's a write-off.

You really should also read up more on this thread - there are plenty of explanations for how to work the points.com "exchange points/miles" hit even if you have no other programs/too low of balances.

As to whether you should try for more, how many miles do you have now in your US account? What do you want to do with them, and when?

We need more information before we can help you.

A couple of things I see here.

I think you may be too late for the debit card. Miles post in the first week of the month with a transaction date of the first of the month. I would assume that the next posting of miles will have an activity date of 12/1 which would not qualify as a hit. Maybe someone else can confirm as I have only had the card for a month and a half.

points.com - You say you don't have any points in any other accounts to transfer. Go to the points.com thread in this forum and check out the S@H Greenpoints transfer. Basically, you open up a Greenpoints account; transfer a few US miles to Greenpoints and then transfer them back to US. Counts as a hit and processes immediately.

I see vysean beat me to it!!

Assuming you get all of the hits counted that you listed (excluding Bof A and including points.com) you would need three more to reach the next level. The next cheapest three hits would be NetSol, Vinesse and Trackitback which would cost you about $70. IMO the extra 10,000 miles would be worth the additional cost.

Once all of this bonanza is over do we have to wait until GS12, or do other airlines/hotels etc. run similar promotions?

I would quite enjoy one of these each quarter for a different scheme.

The Continental Mile-a-thon runs in the spring and curiously actually encourages you to fly Continental (among other activities) in order to earn bonus miles. No idea if that will continue given the merger.

UA also has a miles promo now (Months of Miles) but it sounds like a cluster from the posts I've seen and was for some reason invite-only. Although from the angry posts, perhaps I should be happy I wasn't invited.

Not familiar with any hotel programs doing similar things, unless you count signing up for 285 (supposedly not) stackable promo codes and earning 1,000,000 points per hotel stay with IHG as a promo. I might be exaggerating the numbers on that slightly...

Played straight, Months of Miles wasn't that great of a deal: 2 or 3 partner activities of $10 or more (depending on your offer) got you 1000 miles, up to 25K. The advantage over GS is that you can do the same activities as much as you want, making each one $10, not the escalating costs of GS.

This being FlyerTalk :D people found a way to work it, of course. First of all, they initially said unlimited miles. Reminder to all promo designers: LIMIT X PER CUSTOMER. Imposing the 25K limit a week after the promo started annoyed a lot of people. It was also initially unclear if dining was covered by the $10 minimum, so people were buying $1 sodas.

The second problem was that you could get activities for gift cards which can be converted to cash at, say, 90% of face value. So for $2 or $3, you get 1000 miles. $200 = 100k UA miles is a great deal, obviously -- too good. There were also tricks to get an even higher cash recovery on the cards.

So UA had to belatedly impose a 25K cap, and disallow gift cards from earning miles, leaving those that bought hundreds of $10 cards in confusion.

So US's GS is downright organized by comparison.

Are we expecting a sweep today? It's been two weeks, right?

Are we expecting a sweep today? It's been two weeks, right?
It might happen today -- they did it early 2 weeks ago -- although per the rules the sweep would be scheduled for sometime Wednesday this week, possibly as late as Wed. night.

Precisely.

If the hotel check in is 14 Nov and check out Nov 15 does this still count? Activity date with Hilton is always check in. So, hits on 14 do count, right?

If the hotel check in is 14 Nov and check out Nov 15 does this still count? Activity date with Hilton is always check in. So, hits on 14 do count, right?

If the activity date is the 14th then it counts. As for specific hotels you need to check in the Hotel Stay thread.

It might happen today -- they did it early 2 weeks ago -- although per the rules the sweep would be scheduled for sometime Wednesday this week, possibly as late as Wed. night.


yeah,when is the next sweep-should it be happening tonight?

I'm done this year, with 100K earned. Thanks to everyone that helped out and collected information.

In particular thanks to vysean for the gsscorecard.com site and to beltway for curating the exhaustive list of partners.

I have 39 hits, waiting for the 40th to post (a Thrifty car rental). I need the EQM's to retain CP. Does the last hit need to post by 12/31 for the EQM's to be credited for 2011 status??

Does the last hit need to post by 12/31 for the EQM's to be credited for 2011 status??
No, you have until the end of the GS crediting period.

No, you have until the end of the GS crediting period.

Thanks, Mr. Beltway Sir. After I received an e-mail from Thrifty today acknowledging that US had picked up the rental, I called the Chairman's line and talked to two very helpful agents who are trying to expedite the hit credit. If that works, it will be a Happy Holiday indeed.

Does anyone know if this promotion will ever come back?

Got this email from Vinesse Wine Club offering 2,000 bonus U.S. Airways miles for making the first purchase and another 3,000 for the second purchase. The purchase price itself and the deal sounds great and I would like to take it, but I don't want to blow a GS hit when the promotion comes around. Will purchasing now affect me? I don't remember if the GS rules for this partner said new customers only or if it had any other restrictions.

Got this email from Vinesse Wine Club offering 2,000 bonus U.S. Airways miles for making the first purchase and another 3,000 for the second purchase. The purchase price itself and the deal sounds great and I would like to take it, but I don't want to blow a GS hit when the promotion comes around. Will purchasing now affect me? I don't remember if the GS rules for this partner said new customers only or if it had any other restrictions.

So far there have been no rules against repeat customers. Only US Airways knows what the rules will look like next year, but I would go ahead with this offer and worry about Grand Slam in September.

I'm a mid-range earner of points (80K). I put a value of a hit to be worth $40-50.
A bird in the hand...

Does anyone know if this promotion will ever come back?

The Grand Slam has only been around a couple of years, so we don't have a lot of history to speculate on. No one at this point really knows if it will return or not. But many of us are hoping and are preparing for next years in order to have as many hits as possible all set up.

My suggestion would be to read, read, read. Learn and begin setting up for next year, that way if (and hopefully when) the GS is announced you will be ready to go. The previous years have been announced in August, with valid time periods in Sept and Oct. That is what the rest of us are planning on.

Got this email from Vinesse Wine Club offering 2,000 bonus U.S. Airways miles for making the first purchase and another 3,000 for the second purchase. The purchase price itself and the deal sounds great and I would like to take it, but I don't want to blow a GS hit when the promotion comes around. Will purchasing now affect me? I don't remember if the GS rules for this partner said new customers only or if it had any other restrictions.
In the past, the hit for a Vinesse purchase during the promotion period has applied to both new and existing Vinesse customers.