Originally Posted by
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I think I have to invest some time to study the CA and MU mileage programs. Is there a promotion to refer people and get extra sign-up bonus? Probably I will join both programms.
I'm not aware of any sign-up bonuses, and --unless you have a ton of points; or if you are close to nice award levels in each-- I advise you to pick one (see below).
Whats the expiration timeline for the programs points?
AFIK, most Asian FFPs have terrible expiration policies that basically assures that sem-frequent flyers (without miles-earning credit cards) don't get rewarded much, if at all. IIRC, the way it works on CA and MU is as follows:
-Miles/kilometers earned (or deposited) during 2008 expire on 12/31/2010, regardless of account activity
-However, hotel points and credit card points are much kinder in this regard... so it makes sense to hold them in this form until you're ready to redeem
Basically, at the end of every year, frequent flyers in Asia that stay on top of this stuff end up making all sorts of silly redemptions. For example, at the close of 2007, I booked:
-2 oneway tickets from Lhasa to BJ (figured I'd take the train there)
-2 1000km upgrades
It sounds to me like you might be better off holding onto your hotel points; maybe you could snag some Olympic rooms and then trade for something useful in the Coupon Connection?