16,600 CO and AA miles ?
 

Hi guys, I have 16,000 miles on both AA and Continental airlines. Now I need your advice on which airline miles should I try to rake up for reward ticket to India? Mind you I don't want to apply for credit cards because I am a college grad whose having to work at Wally World with a degree due to recession. I don't want to get declined by the credit card company. Are there other ways to get miles besides flying and cc? Also, when you open checking account with the bank to get miles DO they run a hard credit check? I credit is good but I am just not making that much right now so.

Shed some wisdom. Thanks.

Please follow as the thread moves to the MilesBuzz forum. Ocn Vw 1K, Moderator, TravelBuzz.

flying economy, it'll take you 90k miles to get a RT award. I know you said you didn't want to get a credit card, but if you could swing it ... the 75k Citi/AA card would be perfect for you. 75k+16k=91k You just gotta spend $1500 in 4 months.

Other than that, the Citi checking account bonus points will help you get there if AA is the way you wanna go. Or the Chase checking w/ Continental debit card. Look into those threads for some guidance.

For the record, I really like the above post idea.

I'm going to go with a similar idea that might require a little more work but is a hair less expensive (this assumes that you wouldn't be putting $1500 on the card normally):

1. There's a 50k Citi/AA card ($750 spend in 4 months)
2. Buy 20K on AA and take advantage of 6K bonus ($567.50, including excise tax and transaction fee)

You'd be looking at 76K (enough to get you to your target) for about $1300 or so (i.e. 1.75 cpm).

Technically, it is cheaper. But if you did the 75k offer, you would buy $750 extra of stuff (groceries, bills, lots of m&ms, etc.) that you will use/keep. And you'd get the 25k extra on top of the goods you bought, instead of buying the miles themselves.

Do they run a hard credit check to open checking account?

NO

Simple question followed by a CC caveat. MilesBuzz! is heavy on CC threads because those offers are where the big bonuses can be found.

There are many other ways to get miles. If we knew a little more about you personally and professionally perhaps FTers could aim some methods to you that are applicable. Without that information.....

• Most airlines have a section on their web sites on how to earn miles through partners... not just flying. AA and CO both have these.
• Before you shop for almost anything you should first check out the possibility of using an airline shopping portal that will earn you miles. Ex: AA has AAdvantage Shopping. I rarely shop for office supplies without using an airline portal to get miles.
• Hotel stays can earn you miles, hotel points, or even both. There are many ongoing miles deals as well as limited-time offers.
• Renting cars can be lucrative. Sometimes FTers rent cars JUST to get the miles. Others, like me, rent cars for work and personal use and have worked the promos out there to the nth degree! Check out the Q3 2010 Car Rental Bonus Promos! thread if cars are an option for you.
• Flowers! Recently 1800Flowers was offering 30 Delta miles per dollar. I have seen the earnings as high as 100 XYZ miles/dollar. I can't help but wonder about the office workers out there who are responsible for buying company gifts for clients and employees who are not aware that they could be getting multi-K miles using other people's money.
• Dining. Many airlines participate in Rewards Network which allows you to earn miles when dining at restaurants within their network. It's easy and (sometimes) can be lucrative.
• Thanks Again. Similar to Rewards Network, Thanks Again allows you earn miles spending money with merchants within their network (dry cleaning, retail shops, car washes, etc). They too have an on line shopping mall.
• Alarm monitoring/security services.
• Energy services. Ex: CO offers miles with both Energy Plus and Direct Energy (here).
• e-miles allows you to earn miles by taking surveys. Same with e-rewards. Also check out MyPoints.
• Corrective eye surgery. Search FT on "lasik" for any current miles promotions.
• Mobile phone services.
• etc.

This list could go on and on. You get the idea ;) Some items might not be applicable to AA or CO but it's a start. Again, not knowing your personal situation, some of these options might not be for you. Perhaps cars and hotels are not applicable. Good luck on your India goal.

[QUOTE=jcmitchell21;14414765]flying economy, it'll take you 90k miles to get a RT award. I know you said you didn't want to get a credit card, but if you could swing it ... the 75k Citi/AA card would be perfect for you. 75k+16k=91k You just gotta spend $1500 in 4 months.

QUOTE]

The only problem with this is that the 75K Citi/AA offer is e-mail targeted. I have been calling both AA and Citi, both said they don't see this offer and only see the normal 30k offer.

If anyone know how I can get the 75K offer I would really appreciate it because I have just signed up as an American member but I would assume it would be a long time before they would target me for any credit card offer.

[QUOTE=gmid2006;14421203]If you have never had A Citi AA credit card, you will have no problem applying for (and probably receiving) the 75000 or the 50000 + 50000 bonus.

More info here:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/miles...-up-bonus.html

It's explained in the thread and the links are all listed

[QUOTE=onthego15;14421338]Thanks for the link and I have already read through the 36 pages but unless you receive the e-mail that offers the 75K or 50K+50K, there wasn't any way that I could get these offers.

When I clicked on the links provided, it is the same link as the 30K offered therefore if I apply using the provided, I would receive the 30K and not the 75K nor 50K+50K.

Again when I called both AA and Citi customer service plus their promotion program, all 6 agents (was transfered to others) said that they do not see the offer and unless I get an invitation, they don't see how I can get this offer.

This is why I am asking if anyone who did not receive an e-mail have sucessfully applied and received either the 75K or 50K+50K.

When I clicked on the links provided, it is the same link as the 30K offered therefore if I apply using the provided, I would receive the 30K and not the 75K nor 50K+50K.

Again when I called both AA and Citi customer service plus their promotion program, all 6 agents (was transfered to others) said that they do not see the offer and unless I get an invitation, they don't see how I can get this offer

Look at the coding in the middle of the link

30K AMEX

//www.citicards.com/cards/acq/Apply.do?app=UNSOL&sc=BXDHW780&m=5JDWZNZZZZW&langId=EN&siteId=CB&B=X&screenID=3033

50K/50K AMEX

//www.citicards.com/cards/acq/Apply.do?app=UNSOL&sc=BXDDE820&m=7QAEZZUCZZW&langId=EN&siteId=CB&B=X&screenID=3033

Evan!, great summary. ^
Don't forget opinionplace. I am guessing OP may be looking for FREE miles or good bonuses without costing an arm and a leg. ;)

Check out S.P.A.M. Forum (Sites with Points and Alternative Miles), where you'll find master threads on e-miles, e-Rewards, Mypoints, Opinionplace and other alternative ways to earn miles/points for free.

Ruling out cc bonuses & without big spending, it may take quite a long while to rack up enough miles for one award tix to India though. Good luck!

(emphasis mine)

Thanks, I didn't know enough to look at the codes. It just that they look the same when I clicked on the links.

To be a bit contrarian here, people are suggesting methods that will cost $1300 - 1500 (with credit card spend and buying miles).

You can buy a coach ticket from IAD to DEL right now for $1100-1300 plus taxes. (And you'd still be paying taxes on an award ticket, so they aren't part of the economic equation.) I imagine fares are similar from other U.S. cities - typically less from JFK, more (but not much more) from the west coast.

I'd suggest OP would be better off looking for good fares (possibly via consolidators) and just buying the ticket.

Yes but if you spend $1300-$1500 on a credit card you are getting the services and products that total $1300-$1500 PLUS the miles. If you are suggesting buying a coach ticket JUST for the miles (a mileage run) then you have spent less, sure, but you don't have the "things" that were purchased using a CC - just a flight to nowhere and back. So while I welcome someone being contrary don't omit items from the comparison. :D

Using the CC wisely doesn't 'cost' anything

It drives me crazy when people don't make this association. You're going to buy gas, groceries, etc. anyway so why not do it on a rewards card.

OP, without CC bonuses or actually flying, it may take a couple of years to earn the miles needed for the flight. Unless something like "Pudding Guy" comes along again.

Agreed. He's not looking for lowest overall cost for a ticket, he's looking to EARN a free ticket.

Do the 75k AA card. If you get declined, so be it, it's not going to make a difference on your credit score. If you get it, you're on your way to india in a couple months. Otherwise, with a wally world income (or even once you get your career going), it'll take years to spend enough to get the miles the hard way.

U.S. to India for only 80,000 AAdvantage miles (off peak)
 

Although I do not have any suggestions to add to those already posted about how to obtain more AA miles, I do want the OP to be aware that it is possible to get coach award travel from the U.S. to India for only 80,000 AAdvantage miles, rather than 90,000 AAdvantage miles, if one travels during the off-peak season (mid-October to mid-May). This can be done by combining an off-peak U.S.-Europe Mile SAAver coach award (40,000 miles roundtrip) with a Europe-India coach award (40,000 miles roundtrip). An added bonus of redeeming miles in this manner is that the OP could effectively have a stopover (as opposed to a connection) in Europe in either or both directions, if desired.

Jamesbond, I agree with Jcmitchell21. U need to buy things anyway, so get the credit card. Also, U can't rent a car or check into certain hotels without one. Further, U will building a credit history & some credit card banks esp. Citibank love students & new grads. Even if they give U a low credit line, U still get the big bonus. The only reason not to want one is if UR a spendaholic who can't trust yourself with credit!

Evan, Mhnadel was writing not about a mileage run but about buying a revenue ticket for James' desired vacation to India.

Finally, CO miles can be transformed into Amtrak points if U want some free train rides.

Stick to one airline and alliance
 

If possible try to fly the same airline and alliance, put all eggs in one basket. Usually chicks hatch faster this way :D

I rank AAdvantage miles better than OnePass. Better value overall.
You do however have to bear AA's inferior seats compared to Continental and its Star Alliance partners.

:confused:

I just flew a TATL in LH Y. NEVER AGAIN. AA has a much more comfortable Y seat, IMHO anyway.

and don't forget, you can always buy miles directly from the airline if you are short.

granted, this is not usually cost effective unless there is a bonus promotion, but the airlines occassionally have bonuses for purchasing miles outright, so it does not hurt to check that area of their websites frequently for offers that may be relevant to your situation at the time.

also, if you already have a credit card with the issuing bank of the airline card, sometimes they will let you do what they call a "product change" and switch your card to the airline affinity card WITHOUT doing another hard credit check.

same with amex if you have a blue/clear/whatever credit card (not the charge card products you pay in full every month), they will usually let you switch to either delta card or SPG card.