Hello experts,

As a tech entrepreneur, I traveled tons in 1999 and 2000. I have gold status on three major airlines: Continental, US Air, and TWA.

Things have slowed down in tech to say the least. I have not flown a SINGLE MILE in 2001.

I will do some flying in September and October, a couple coast-to-coasts. But nowhere near the 50k I'd need to maintain my status on even ONE of them.

Do you have any tips for me? Are they flexible at all? Any insider secrets?

thanks in advance for your help.


[This message has been edited by acitrano (edited 08-08-2001).]

Write each airline a letter telling them how bad they are and that you flew some other airline.

Then to prove it, send Airline(A) a copy of Airline(B)'s frequent flier statement that they sent you with all the travel on it.

Just make sure you go to Kinko's and doctor up the report so that the date looks like this year, not last year.

My philosophy is - FRACTIONAL OWNERSHIP!! Someday I can give UA the finger, I hope.

I appreciate your confirmation, that the airlines have a lot of empty seats from former dot.com flyers. Of course, they are taking many steps to fill those seats and you can fly better bargains rates.

You should be at least a Silver before your status disappears completely without qualifying.

There should be others with more information or experience on these boards, but I don't know if they will fess up.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by juanvaldez:


"Just make sure you go to Kinko's and doctor up the report so that the date looks like this year, not last year."

I truly hope you jest!!

I'd like some nice, honest, above-board tips.

thanks

try mileage runs. pay for it yourself. see if it is worth it. being retired, i look for the value. check out the mileage run forum.

[This message has been edited by clacko (edited 08-08-2001).]

Must depends on where you trave mostl, and where you want to go with your miles. This determines which is the best of your three carriers to get serious with.

With the takeover of TW by AA, you might consider flying a few segments or even mileage runs on those two carriers, and concerntrate on AAdvantage and oneworld benefits. You will at least receive the next level down next year, i.e. AAdvantage Gold. [Each of your carriers will demote you accordingly, down one tier for benefit year 2002/3.] Then see how your flying is in 2002, and if it is as bad as this year, after July 15th, 2002, register for the Platinum Challenge with AA. [Do a search under this heading in the AA Forum.] You will need to fly 10K in Q-miles within 90-days of registering to achieve Platinum for the balance of 2002/3, but will retain this elite status for all of the 2003/4 benefit year.

But earning 50K the old fashioned way is not all that difficult either, nor expensive, with an early year mileage run to Asia [about 20K for under $1000]. Then consider a couple of transAt weekend runs at $300 a shot from BOS which should yield another 20K. See, you're almost there!

That's very helpful, Shareholder! Thanks. I was thinking of Continental/Northwest, though, since they have a lot of flights out of my home airport (PWM) and TWA has much fewer (and I have kindof a long story why I hate American.) US Air flies out of PWM a lot, but not as nice jets as Continental. Also I seem to like OnePass better than US Airways' FF program.

I could actually take my wife on a long trip I would think. I know I should look in mileage runs. If I could find a low fare, would I get her miles too if she accompanied me? I forgot. Maybe if she and I took a long trip, then I have two business trips coming up, we might make it!!!

additional ideas welcome

thank you all


[This message has been edited by acitrano (edited 08-08-2001).]

Unfortunatly, I don't know if it is hte same on the airlines you mentioned, but it's fairly easy to get a transatlantic run on United from New York or Boston that has a connection in Los Angeles or San Francisco for the same price as flying direct. Search out something like that and the miles would add up quick for a mileage run.

Hmm.. I thought you had to keep moving East once you started moving East...

Don't forget the "baht run". You can travel to Thailand and then fly lotsa segments for low costs to become 1k on UA in ten days or so.

I'm not sure why, but the above comment really made me laugh

If you are free for a trans-Atlantic trip this Fall, I think there will be some very interesting fares from the U.S. to Europe (your carriers will probably offer some good fares from East Coast gateways to Paris, London, etc).

Overcapacity on these routes is a problem even now and, according to a friendly source at AF marketing, some fare wars amongst the trans-Atlantic carriers are expected to fill seats come Fall.

Your wife might enjoy Europe in the Fall ...

Juan Valdez,

Surely you meant that as a joke. Making fictitious complaints detracts from a company's ability to respond to true complaints. Malicious, Juan, malicious.

Also, just for the record, HP 'demotes' you down to whatever you have earned - none of this one level per year for them !!!!!

Also, just for the record, HP 'demotes' you down to whatever you have earned - none of this one level per year for them !!!!!