Switching phone programs for miles-help!
 

I am currently getting AA miles from MCI, and would like to switch to another plan to get the signup bonus. What are my best options out there. I currently have miles on DL, AA, US, NW & CO in that order and would consider putting miles in any of these knowing that I can always switch back to MCI whenever the new plan expires.

Does anyone offer base miles as part of the signup deal?

Also, does MCI make you wait a certain period of time before you can signup again?

You can usually switch within MCI to a different partner and receive sign-up bonus miles, if you ask for it.

That would be great, I'll call them today. However, I would still be interested in exploring other deals, if the signup bonus is greater. Do you have any insight on other plans? I would like to find at least a 10,000 mile bonus, last year Sprint had a 25,000 mile bonus with NW!

[This message has been edited by Rssrsvp (edited 10-06-2000).]

Explore all options, of course. MCI was recently offering 5,000 miles (1,000 miles per month for five months).

Another possibility is:
Earn up to 20,000 Bonus Miles with Sprint®
http://www.nwa.com/features/campaign-sprint.shtml

Good luck!

The pronlem with the Sprint plan is that you are locked in for 18 months.

Also the 5 cent rate is 7 days a week, evenings only. That means on Saturday and Sunday, calls made during the day are charged at the higher day rate.

I JUST GOT 5000 NORTHWEST MILES A MONTH FROM SPRINT PER MONTH FOR 5 MONTHS UNDER THEIR "WIN-BACK" PROGRAM. IT TOOK A FEW CALLS TO DIFFERENT REPS TO GET ONE WHO WAS FAMILIAR WITH IT AND SIGNED ME UP FOR IT.

I had spoken to NW and was told that the only program they currently had was the 18 month one.

I just made a switch myself over to AT&T...first time with them. I'm taking a whack at their nebulous 7500 Starwood pts deal. I figure it's worth a shot.

Earlier this year, around January, I signed on with Sprint for the 20,000 miles on NW. They credited me 5000 miles twice during the first quarter, then another 5000 a couple months later, and finally the last 5000 just a few weeks ago in September. So it took me about 9 months to collect the booty. Without even calling or hassling over it...wow!

Prior to that it was MCI...originally a 10,000 AA bonus...then a short time with Sprint, then back to MCI as they offered me a whopping 25,000 AA miles to come back.

Have had fairly good luck in this arena...only hope is that AT&T comes through with my Starwood points on this current offer (not so sure).

Best of luck - DS

Rssrsvp-
I notice in your post that you mention you spoke to Northwest...probably need to speak to Sprint instead. And keep trying if you don't get the right answer...call back and talk to a different rep, ask for a supervisor, etc. Best Regards, DS.

redweather, 9 months for 20,000 is a great deal better than 18 months. I'll check into it.

FYI - The 20,000 NW mile deal I signed up for with Sprint was supposed to be a 12-month deal...just turns out they credited all the points well before the 12 months ended, if you can believe that! - DS

I signed up for the ATT/Starwood 7500 point deal. I don't have much confidence in getting the points though. The ATT rep wouldn't take my Starwood number but told me when I get my welcome package it would explain the program. I got the welcome package today and there is no mention of Starwood. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif


Jay

I wonder if there are any smaller long distance carriers out there besides MCI, Sprint & AT&T that offer miles?

No, just better rates. For example, GTC Telecom offers 5 cents/minute 24 hours a day with no monthly fee. This is why it's silly to sign up with MCI/Sprint/AT&T unless you get a big bonus.

As for good deals, I like to average about 10,000 miles per phoneline per 6 months, or 20,000 miles/line/year. (If you have two lines the figure doubles).

This is easier than it sounds. After your miles are up with MCI, just switch to Sprint. MCI will call and you just say you'd like to come back to MCI but you want the same deal you're getting from Sprint.

So with only two lines and a few phone calls, you can rack up 40,000 miles/year without even getting on a plane. Sure beats taking 20 2,000-mile roundtrips.

Beware of the AT&T - Starwood deal. I signed up at the end of April and even after 4 calls and 2 e-mails I'm still waiting for the points. A huge pain in the (you know)

Family flyer. considering that I am currently on MCI getting AA miles, what are Sprint's and AT&T's airline partners currently, and do you know of any great offersfor miles?Also, I was under the impression that Sprint is only associated with NW.

Here's the most recent offer from Sprint -20,000 miles over 18 months: http://www.nwa.com/features/campaign-sprint.shtml

But what I tried to convey in my prior message is that it doesn't matter what Sprint is offering. If you've been with MCI for a while and switch, MCI nearly always comes back with a return offer which it usually not published.

As an aside, if you are in the minority of people on this board (like myself) who only needs miles, not upgrade status, then it pays to use more than one FF program.

Maybe you don't fly NW a lot, but unless you can't use the airline, why give up the chance to earn 20,000 miles?

And with programs like Starwood's where you can earn miles without committing them to one airline, it definitely pays to be flexible.

Family flyer, I will try what you have suggested with MCI. My reservation with the Sprint NW offer is the 18 months. There have been 25,000 mile deals for 12 months offered by MCI before

I just signed up for the NW 20,000 mile promo. We'll see how it works. I was with MCI originally thru CO 25,000 mile bonus. That worked out great. Let's see if MCI comes back in the next year with some other promo offer.

Does anyone know if you can get two 20,000 mile bonuses under the same WP#? I have a business line that I might switch over as well.

That's precisely my point. I'm not suggesting you stay with Sprint. Once you leave MCI you should get a decent return offer and then you can switch back to MCI.

You can't get two bonuses under one WP number, but you can get two bonuses under two numbers (e.g., a spouse).

As I alluded to before, getting 40,000 miles over 18 months for doing nothing is pretty good.