Go Back  FlyerTalk Forums > Miles&Points > MilesBuzz
Reload this Page >

Using points.com JUST to track your account balances - dangerous?

Community
Wiki Posts
Search

Using points.com JUST to track your account balances - dangerous?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Feb 18, 2011, 9:17 pm
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: SJC
Programs: former {UA 1k // SPG Gold, HHonors Silver}, now starting up again
Posts: 298
Using points.com JUST to track your account balances - dangerous?

I've read many threads about the dangers about conducting transactions through points.com, and I have no intention to do so. However, I do find it useful simply as a tool in which I can aggregate my point information in my various accounts on one screen.

Any negative experiences with using points.com for just this very simple functionality? Should I be concerned about registering all my FF/hotel accounts with them?
bmir is offline  
Old Feb 18, 2011, 9:21 pm
  #2  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: LAX
Posts: 10,908
But why, especially since trying to reach customer service there is a royal PITA?
awardwallet is far more customer friendly with FT presence, excellent program coverage and weekly updates.
azepine00 is offline  
Old Feb 18, 2011, 9:24 pm
  #3  
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Land of the parrots and parrotheads
Programs: Several dozen
Posts: 4,820
Their engine is used by several airlines for miles purchasing one might assume they have an appropriate level of security. Verify their security if it is a concern. I use them exactly for the purpose you have indicated.

Originally Posted by bmir
I've read many threads about the dangers about conducting transactions through points.com, and I have no intention to do so. However, I do find it useful simply as a tool in which I can aggregate my point information in my various accounts on one screen.

Any negative experiences with using points.com for just this very simple functionality? Should I be concerned about registering all my FF/hotel accounts with them?
AlohaDaveKennedy is offline  
Old Feb 18, 2011, 9:57 pm
  #4  
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Seattle
Programs: Hyatt Diamond, Delta Plat
Posts: 304
Originally Posted by azepine00
But why, especially since trying to reach customer service there is a royal PITA?
awardwallet is far more customer friendly with FT presence, excellent program coverage and weekly updates.
+1 on Awardwallet!
hilmar is offline  
Old Feb 18, 2011, 10:11 pm
  #5  
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Columbia, SC
Programs: AA Plat, SPG/Marriot Gold, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Expl
Posts: 2,363
Have you tried GoMiles.com yet? I really like it (despite a few bugs, but it's still beta).
akcae is offline  
Old Feb 18, 2011, 10:16 pm
  #6  
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: NYC
Programs: Delta DM, SPG Plat, Hyatt Diamond, MTA Rust, Hertz Five Star something or other
Posts: 2,858
Originally Posted by hilmar
+1 on Awardwallet!
+2
thepointsguy is offline  
Old Feb 19, 2011, 8:42 am
  #7  
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Maryland
Programs: DL Gold, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 67
Originally Posted by azepine00
But why, especially since trying to reach customer service there is a royal PITA?
awardwallet is far more customer friendly with FT presence, excellent program coverage and weekly updates.
I totally agree. After having problems with points.com and being unable to get any sort of a resolution from their customer support, I switched to awardwallet and have been incredibly pleased.
lxjenkins is offline  
Old Feb 19, 2011, 9:23 am
  #8  
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 396
I agree with the other posters. Switch to Award Wallet and you will not regret it. Very responsive customer service and they support every program you can think of. If not, they would probably add it if you ask. You can also track balances for friends and family and they have a nice site layout.
samdori is offline  
Old Feb 20, 2011, 9:53 pm
  #9  
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 33
Like the AwardWallet Facebook page for opportunities to receive free upgrades to AW Plus!

http://www.facebook.com/AwardWalletDotCom
southsoccer is offline  
Old Feb 21, 2011, 7:55 am
  #10  
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 396
Originally Posted by southsoccer
Like the AwardWallet Facebook page for opportunities to receive free upgrades to AW Plus!

http://www.facebook.com/AwardWalletDotCom
just did and I noticed a post from saturday: Use the promo code "AWfacebook" for a FREE six month upgrade to AwardWallet Plus for the first 5 users to take advantage!
amazingly it worked for me even though it said first 5 users and its been 2 days.

edit: I think I got the last one, its no longer available

Last edited by samdori; Feb 21, 2011 at 11:08 am
samdori is offline  
Old Feb 21, 2011, 8:39 am
  #11  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,933
Originally Posted by bmir
I've read many threads about the dangers about conducting transactions through points.com, and I have no intention to do so. However, I do find it useful simply as a tool in which I can aggregate my point information in my various accounts on one screen.

Any negative experiences with using points.com for just this very simple functionality? Should I be concerned about registering all my FF/hotel accounts with them?
Sure. How about some listed programs never working? How about not all programs available?

I don't find it useful for aggregating programs. I do find it useful once every few years when someone runs a promo where doing a little bit on points.com counts for something. (Latest was priorityclub.com, where I moved only a few miles to get a few points but got thousands of bonus points over at Priority Club out of it.) For those to work, I find it simpler to stay registered and just occasionally visit (to see if any of the bugs are fixed yet!).

But for actual monitoring of program balances, I find it pretty poor. OTOH, I don't find I really need an aggregator.
sdsearch is offline  
Old Feb 21, 2011, 8:48 am
  #12  
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Miami, FL, USA
Posts: 4,048
Tripit (Pro) is another option. It is free for Amex Plat (or greater) users.
aviators99 is offline  
Old Feb 21, 2011, 8:53 am
  #13  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: BOS, MHT
Programs: AA ltg, B6, DL, UA, AS, SPG/Marriott Plt, HH, Hyatt
Posts: 10,052
Using points.com for ANYTHING is JUST plain dangerous.

It can be done--tracking bals, etc, but I would rather take extra time to do it on each site than to risk using that site for anything that could somehow someday come back to bite me!

Not only are there other sites, listed here, but also, as said, the cs at points.com is useless. Should something go wrong, you have no recourse. As well, I bet at least one person who JUST uses them to track balances eventually attempts to use the service and finds out its pitfalls the hard way. Other than the fact the airlines happen to use them when you transfer points between accounts (and I have done it for 1-3k here or there on rare occasions), I would steer clear. It is one of the only times I have more trust in the airlines than in other entities
Marathon Man is offline  
Old Feb 21, 2011, 12:28 pm
  #14  
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Southern California/Los Angeles
Programs: Various
Posts: 2,778
I wasn't aware of any "dangers" of using points.com. I've used their program since it's inception, mostly to track balances. I've also taken advantage of a few promos, and made tiny point transfers to keep some accounts alive (1 Phonehog point for 3 Hawaiian Air miles) and event won a promotion of 100k AS miles about 8 yrs ago. The exchange rates are ridiculous, and I've not had a Customer Service issue in nearly 10 years of use. I'm wondering what some of the "night mares" are people mention. I guess it goes to say....YMMV.
Robt760 is offline  


Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.