Originally Posted by
realgm
Also I travel I San Diego at least 4-5 times a year. Is it beneficial to stick with one airline or sign up for some sort of a program?
Yes, a good idea to sign up for a program or three. Any of the airlines that serve routes you fly. With your amount of travel it probably is better to just seek the best price each time, rather than sticking with one airline.
Generally, miles earned don't expire and a free domestic ticket starts at about 25,000 miles. Sooner or later you'd earn one.
If you like the idea of the benefits from earned status (United's Mileage Plus program and others), you would probably have to do an extra mileage run or two each year to keep yourself in the low tier. You'd also have to stick with one airline, and occasionally that would cost you a few $$. Your choice.
Romelle