Travel Tools - Programs or websites to manage frequent flyer/stay accounts

Does anyone have any experience with a program or website that will allow tracking of frequent flyer or hotel stays across multiple companies?

I'm somewhat frustrated that I can't even track my families AA miles without logging on half a dozen times to aa.com. Then, when I try to look at everything - it takes way longer than I'd like to spend.

I recently got an ad for Chase Online Plus (http://chaseonlineplus.chase.com), which seems to do this, but you have to be a chase card member and I'm not sure I trust a credit card company with all that info :)

I'd prefer a stand-alone program (or something like MS Money or Quicken), but can't seem to find one that does the job. Does anyone have experience with something that might work, or has anyone used the Chase site?

Extra

try the USA Today Mile Tracker, http://www.usatoday.deskport.biz/

theres this other one that i have been trying to look for too, but i cant remember the name. if anyone has any other programs, let us know!

www.yodlee.com will keep track of your family's account balances and it's free.

Chase is likely private-branding Yodlee. I use a version that Fidelity re-brands, and have been using it for years to track FF numbers, credit cards, financial accounts, etc., etc. They already have all my financial information, so I wasn't too worried about plugging in FF account numbers.

See the very similar discussion here: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=340311

I also use the USAToday tool - it's relatively handy, but the data is on your machine. That's good for privacy, bad for being able to look it up from anywhere and/or keeping coherent historical information.

Maxmiles is a solid site.

www.maxmiles.com

They have a 90 day trial membership right now.

What I like is that they track everything Air, Hotel, Car.

They also alert you for possible missed credit.

[QUOTE=UA9861]try the USA Today Mile Tracker, http://www.usatoday.deskport.biz/

Thank you.
Just took a few minutes to set everything up and found
a few points in programs that I had not thought about and figured that maybe they had expired.

After reading through the other thread, it seems http://www.mileagemanager.com may be what I'm looking for. I wish it had a free trial though.

Chase & Yodlee look about the same (I signed up for both). I guess that's to be expected, since they have the same underlying infrastructure.

I tried both of the downloadable programs (USA today and DeskPort). I don't like the ads - so I'll have to pass on those.

I guess my nirvana is
- a downloadable client, so my data isn't stored on someone else's server. I don't want the security risk / data mining that might lead to.
- Ad free software. I'll happily pay to not get ads.
- trustworthy source. I don't want any small players involved, as they may not protect me as they should. Big guys (Chase for example), may decide to look into my data and try to "upsell" me on products or services - another yuck.

Wow, I just tried Yodlee and I'm in love!!

Now I can have total control over Mr Big V's FF accounts. :p And since I'm his travel agent :D , I have a much better idea of what airlines he needs to accrue miles on so that our balances even out.

Great find, thanks so much, OP, for asking the question, and all the FTers who had great leads! ^

I love you guys! :-: :-: :-:

cheers,
big V

Wow, I just tried Yodlee and I'm in love!!

Now I can have total control over Mr Big V's FF accounts. :p And since I'm his travel agent :D , I have a much better idea of what airlines he needs to accrue miles on so that our balances even out.

Great find, thanks so much, OP, for asking the question, and all the FTers who had great leads! ^

I love you guys! :-: :-: :-:

cheers,
big V

how do i download yodlee, im looking for the dl link but cant seem to find it. thats the one that i was looking for!

What is the main difference between maxmiles and mileagemanager programes besides both are paid programes. They look exactly the same to me. Has anyone tried both of them?

it would seem that mileagemanager.com is your nirvana then:
- not a downloadable client but really, given all the individual viruses, spyware and trojan horses these days on personal PCs, it seems that not having a downloadable application is the best course of action.
- mileagemanager.com does not have ads.
- mileagemanager.com was the original tool and product to help members manage their miles. Started offline in 1987 with a paper consolidated statement and then in the mid-90s becoming an online product as well for American Express. Produced by a company whose only products and knowledge are frequent flyer program related - so lasting this long it would seem to be the most trustworthy name in the business, especially given that american Express once put their name on the product.


After reading through the other thread, it seems http://www.mileagemanager.com may be what I'm looking for. I wish it had a free trial though.

Chase & Yodlee look about the same (I signed up for both). I guess that's to be expected, since they have the same underlying infrastructure.

I tried both of the downloadable programs (USA today and DeskPort). I don't like the ads - so I'll have to pass on those.

I guess my nirvana is
- a downloadable client, so my data isn't stored on someone else's server. I don't want the security risk / data mining that might lead to.
- Ad free software. I'll happily pay to not get ads.
- trustworthy source. I don't want any small players involved, as they may not protect me as they should. Big guys (Chase for example), may decide to look into my data and try to "upsell" me on products or services - another yuck.

it would seem that mileagemanager.com is your nirvana then:
- not a downloadable client but really, given all the individual viruses, spyware and trojan horses these days on personal PCs, it seems that not having a downloadable application is the best course of action.
- mileagemanager.com does not have ads.
- mileagemanager.com was the original tool and product to help members manage their miles. Started offline in 1987 with a paper consolidated statement and then in the mid-90s becoming an online product as well for American Express. Produced by a company whose only products and knowledge are frequent flyer program related - so lasting this long it would seem to be the most trustworthy name in the business, especially given that american Express once put their name on the product.

All true and very well said. Why not have a free trial for 60 days for everyone to see and use it for themselves. I am sure it is a profitable proposition.

it would seem that mileagemanager.com is your nirvana then:
- not a downloadable client but really, given all the individual viruses, spyware and trojan horses these days on personal PCs, it seems that not having a downloadable application is the best course of action.
- mileagemanager.com does not have ads.
- mileagemanager.com was the original tool and product to help members manage their miles. Started offline in 1987 with a paper consolidated statement and then in the mid-90s becoming an online product as well for American Express. Produced by a company whose only products and knowledge are frequent flyer program related - so lasting this long it would seem to be the most trustworthy name in the business, especially given that american Express once put their name on the product.
If it were a downloadable client, I'd be there today!
If it had a 2 week free trial, I'd very likely be there today :)

Despite those, I'm thhhiiiiiissss close ...

This is directly from the Web site of mileagemanager.com:

"An annual membership costs just $14.95/year - and we'll even throw in the first month free to ensure your satisfaction with the MileageManager service."

Its always been that way. You might be mistaking this program with another one. And remember - downloadable means you can only use it from that single computer, means you'll have to reload should you ever upgrade your computer and also means you'll have to choose using the product at home or at work, but not both unless you install it twice (and get the corporate guys to OK downloading outside programs onto the office computer).

This is directly from the Web site of mileagemanager.com:

"An annual membership costs just $14.95/year - and we'll even throw in the first month free to ensure your satisfaction with the MileageManager service."

Its always been that way. You might be mistaking this program with another one. And remember - downloadable means you can only use it from that single computer, means you'll have to reload should you ever upgrade your computer and also means you'll have to choose using the product at home or at work, but not both unless you install it twice (and get the corporate guys to OK downloading outside programs onto the office computer).
Yeah, uh, I knew that... :D

I just signed up - thanks for your patience with the "slow guy" ;)

how do i download yodlee, im looking for the dl link but cant seem to find it. thats the one that i was looking for!
You don't download Yodlee. You sign up. It's a website. You enter your data and they update your balances.

https://www.yodlee.com/newarch/registration/signon.default.do?

Frankly I don't find they do a particularly good job with frequent flyer miles. I do like them for quickly logging into my credit card accounts. Not too worried with security, I do rather trust their systems, and I don't worry about my cards since I check them all daily anyway.

They don't seem to do too well with my bank accounts either, or my investment accounts (they always seem to think I have about $235m in there!).

https://www.yodlee.com/newarch/regi...non.default.do?

Nice find, this will come in very handy, Thank you

I quite like the USA today tool. I get a quick snapshot of my balance and changes in a moment, plus I have copy on my laptop and home PC's

I have used (and loved) Miletracker for years. Three problems: Because it's on your computer, only the person with the laptop can access it. I've found that when Mr. CheapSk8 can see his balances and watch them grow, he's much more likely to use the correct credit card, choose an iDine restaurant, etc. It was not possible for him to see the balances when I was traveling with my laptop.

The second problem is that it doesn't work on Macs. I switched back to a Mac from a PC in October, and literally have the PC laptop still sitting in my home office solely so I can check Miletracker. Now I have to go through the hassle of locating and re-entering all of my passwords, etc. into a new program so I can use it on my Mac. If I hadn't started with Miletracker and had used an online program, I would've saved myself the time and hassle.

Third, when I'm sitting at work debating whether the travel department should put me at a *wood or a Hilton or book me on UAL or AA, it would be a lot nicer if I could check Miletracker rather than having to check each individual balance while they travel office sits on the phone wanting to strangle me. But, unless I have my laptop with me, I'm out of luck.

Can't help you with a Mac, but as far as your other problem, here are two suggestions...assuming you have security in place, no reason why you can't duplicate your miletracker information at your work and update it from there; re traveling or accessing it away from your work, there are any number of places where you can "park" data files on the web, and in a pinch, you can always download them and then run the update.



I have used (and loved) Miletracker for years. Three problems: Because it's on your computer, only the person with the laptop can access it. I've found that when Mr. CheapSk8 can see his balances and watch them grow, he's much more likely to use the correct credit card, choose an iDine restaurant, etc. It was not possible for him to see the balances when I was traveling with my laptop.

The second problem is that it doesn't work on Macs. I switched back to a Mac from a PC in October, and literally have the PC laptop still sitting in my home office solely so I can check Miletracker. Now I have to go through the hassle of locating and re-entering all of my passwords, etc. into a new program so I can use it on my Mac. If I hadn't started with Miletracker and had used an online program, I would've saved myself the time and hassle.

Third, when I'm sitting at work debating whether the travel department should put me at a *wood or a Hilton or book me on UAL or AA, it would be a lot nicer if I could check Miletracker rather than having to check each individual balance while they travel office sits on the phone wanting to strangle me. But, unless I have my laptop with me, I'm out of luck.

Many financial organizations are providing Yodlee or one of its competitors to account holders. I have account aggregation ("My Portfolio") built into my el-cheapo Bank of America Express Checking account--no extra charge. I'm a little surprised they haven't advertised it aggressively.

i use Bank of American My portfolio as well and it is great. The ONLY account I am unable to link to it is my Chase Rewards. It doesnt give you much details when it comes to reward programs but it gives me the all important amount of miles/points i have.

MileGuru is coming :)

Free (ad supported), air + hotel + rental car, real time updates, and all of your accounts (including family members and friends) can be managed in the same place...

And open source... Beta is starting soon.