Kim, welcome to FT!

MHO:

Living in greater Kansas City, you have the benefit of having the choice of several different airlines for travel.

If you are looking to fly on a free trip, you need to focus on a goal. Where do you want to go? When? With how many people?

If you just want to earn miles now then figure out where you want to go later, then go with the airline where you travel most often OR a major airline that has many destination options and partners, i.e. American, Delta, Northwest, United.

Then you need to figure out who flies to where you want to go. Does Southwest Airlines get you there? If not, then which airlines fly to that destination?

If you do not travel much, then working towards free trips on Southwest may not be best for you. For example, let's say your goal is for you and 3 immediate family members to travel to Orlando by 2004. From Kansas City Int'l Airport, you can fly directly to Orlando on Delta Express & Southwest or by flying through a hub city on Continental, American, USAirways, and even Northwest.

On Southwest, you have 12 months to use your free ticket once enough points are earned. This means you have to have enough points at about the same time for all 4 members of your family. On most other major airlines, however, your earned miles from all sources are stored on your account until you choose to redeem them for all awards at the same time. (With some exceptions, the earned miles do not quickly expire if you have activity on the account.)

Once you choose your airline for earning points/miles, then do everything you can to earn those miles. Use that airline's credit card for normal purchases; enroll in bonus miles offers; check the airline's forum for earning opportunities, etc. as already mentioned on this thread.

Good luck!

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He who dies with the most miles ... is dead.

[This message has been edited by ontheroad (edited 05-10-2001).]

[This message has been edited by ontheroad (edited 05-10-2001).]