...well, the results of the votes of the 2012 FlyerTalk awards are not really exclusive, but I thought I would use the word exclusive in the title of content posted to The Gate for the third consecutive time. I promise that the word exclusive will not be in the title of whatever is posted next on The Gate. Anyway, a total of 18 trophies were awarded to the winners based on the vote by FlyerTalk members. Here is some trivia pertaining to the FlyerTalk Awards in its inaugural year...

If you need to purchase United Airlines MileagePlus frequent flier loyalty program miles, now is the time to do it, as you can buy or gift up to 100,000 MileagePlus miles for $21.00 per 1,000 MileagePlus miles plus a 7.5 percent excise tax with a minimum purchase of 2,000 MileagePlus miles. This works out to approximately...

If historical aircraft interests you, how would you like a chance to ride in one which is 81 years of age — the oldest surviving airplane flown for American Airlines? Donate to the Jason Dahl scholarship fund and you will be entered into a drawing for you and a friend to have a chance to win the opportunity to ride in the oldest surviving aircraft flown by American Airlines, a 1931 Stinson SM-6000-B Trimotor airplane, also known as Ship #NC-11153. The ride will be donated by Greg Herrick in whose private collection the vintage airplane resides. The goal is to collect a minimum of $3,000.00 for this very worthwhile charity. If you are the raffle winner, you will...

Several FlyerTalk members will be reporting from the 2012 CDG “Do” powered by Air France and Aéroports de Paris, the official agency which oversees the airports in the greater Paris metropolitan area. This is the first gathering of FlyerTalk members of its kind for Air France, emulating to a smaller extent the gatherings of FlyerTalk members in cooperation with Delta Air Lines. Venues at this event include but are not limited to...

If you are planning to be in the New York City area on May 1, 2012, be aware that the Occupy Wall Street protest movement plans the “biggest shut down the city of New York has ever seen” as they threaten to shut down bridges and tunnels — among other places and institutions — on the day also known as May Day. Furthermore...

A Boeing 737-400 aircraft operated by Bhoja Air reportedly crashed near Benazir Bhutto International Airport in Rawalpindi, Pakistan near Islamabad while attempting to land in inclement weather, killing all 127 passengers and crew members aboard the aircraft. Here is a video of the aftermath of the disaster...

FlyerTalk members rcs85551 and oliver2002 discuss the controversial changes implemented earlier this month to the Miles & More frequent flier loyalty programme in an exclusive two-hour interview with vice president Harald Deprosse and director Andreas Koch, both executives with the Miles & More frequent flier loyalty programme. The interview was...

You may have an offer for free airline miles or hotel points — no strings attached or questions asked — waiting for you if you are a member of the e-Rewards opinion panel program. Approximately two weeks ago, FlyerTalk member GGE was browsing the Rewards section of her e-Rewards account and saw an offer for 250 US Airways Dividend Miles for free. GGE redeemed $0.00 of her e-Rewards “cash” and received 250 US Airways Dividend Miles, which have already posted. Her husband then logged into his e-Rewards account and did the same thing with similar results. However, the freebies did not stop there. On a different day, GGE logged into her e-Rewards account, browsed the Rewards section and found...

Which citrus fruit do you prefer: oranges or grapefruit? The zesty debate is on amongst FlyerTalk members — and you will also learn some juicy bits of information in this sub-lime discussion about oranges, grapefruits and other citrus fruit that you might find a-peeling. You must read the thread, as I do not intend to spoon-feed the information. Given the choice, my preference is...