Becoming a Gold member and Switching LD
 

I have two questions-

I just became a Gold Member on AA. I rarely fly that airlines and am told that other airlines will honor my Gold status if I write them. My concern is that if I ask now, I'll only be at that status until 2/03. My Gold status with AA is good until 2/04. What is the best time to contact NW and AmWest about getting status with their programs?

Also, I need to change my long distance on two phones. What’s the best program right now? I can use AA, NW, AmWest or delta. I have offers from two for 10k in miles over 10 months.

Thanks.



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Harry Heck, CLA
Harrah's Entertainment
Corporate Law
Department

There are two separate questions here.

1. As far as other airlines "comping" your status: policies vary. They do this in the expectation that you'd like to move much of your flying to them, but that your lack of status with them creates a barrier. Therefore, it's pretty much a once-in-a-lifetime deal. If you don't follow through by requalifying on your own, forget about it happening again.

So, if you plan to fly enough with these airlines to earn status next year, the only issue is that it's now halfway through 2002 and it may be hard for you to requalify in what's left of it. Most airlines who comp status in the last half of the year therefore include the following year as well. Check with yours about their policy. If they won't give you 2003 or prorate your requalification requirement, and you don't expect to fly 25,000 miles with them in the next five months, wait until January or whatever their particular cutoff date is.

2. In my experience a 10,000-mile signup bonus for phone service is pretty good, but you might want to check the phone forums (fora?) on that.

You can bet 10000 miles for a 6 month commitment from MCI, but then you have to deal with MCI.

I think I have most all the deals listed on my site below. Click on Free Frequent Flyer Miles in the left menu, then on Phone & ISP Offers in the top menu.

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The Personal Travel Experience of Gary Steiger - including how to get free frequent flyer miles on the web.
http://home.earthlink.net/~pgary/TravelFrame.html