I just got a letter, a solicitation actually, offering to trade my 56K CO miles for a magazine subscription. It got me thinking...I've been able to round up about 120K miles on four carriers whom I no longer patronize.

Ah now to consolodate them!!

Just transferred 30k from my daughter's CO account to her AMTRAK account. Transferred 25K from her AMTRAK account (max per year) to her UA account. Transferred 20K from her UA account to my Diners Club account. Hoping for a 2 for 1 promo with BA again this summer. After 1/1/ will transfer the remaining 5K to UA and then 10K to DC.

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Ms.DtG

If they were spread evenly, that's 30k apiece. May not be worth consolidating.

Questions:
How many miles and on which carriers?
What are your reward goals?

Most (not all) airline miles can be transferred via the Hilton HHonors Reward Exchange. However, there's significant devaluation in the process.

Up to 25,000 CO miles can be transferred per year to UA via Amtrak. (Also, Midwest Express miles to UA via Amtrak)

But whether any of this is advisable really depends on what you want to get out of your miles.

In some cases it can be pretty easy to accumulate miles with a program in order to reach a reward, so you may mention what credit cards you carry and what phone service provider you use.

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More Room Throughout Coach: the Website of Free Miles and Free Markets

That's one heck of an expensive magazine!

I'm trying to think what magazine is worth two round trip tickets plus a few miles...

That is easy..Insideflyer

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MRKEY

Remember, these are Continental miles, so it's really only one domestic roundtrip.

I also received a letter asking if I would like to use my 2,700 AA miles to purchase Magazines. At first I thought why would I want to use my miles to buy magazines. I was about to throw the letter away when all of a sudden I realized wait a minute, I have many more miles than that in my AA account. To my pleasant surprise I found an orphan AA account that I must have opened up years ago and forgot about. I will now look more carefully the next magazine offer I receive.

55K CO miles will get you 110K HHonors points & 100K HHonors points will get you a GLON good for 6 free nights in almost any Hilton in the world or an ALON good for 6 free nights in Hawaii (if you are/become at least Hhonors Silver .)

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Play the travel game 3 vacations into the future!

Brendan my friend, you haven't been around the HH forum lately, otherwise you'd know that as of 6/1/03, GLON is going up to 150K points and ALON will be 175K.

This has been only been announced on FT's HH forum, but it is reliable, straight from HH corporate -- and has caused quite an uproar!

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum57/HTML/006136.html

[This message has been edited by Rut Dog (edited 12-17-2002).]

Believe me, Rutdog, I've read most of that.
I've even posted there! However, the old level cert.s & res.es may be made/ordered until May 2003 & used for one year after oredering.

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Play the travel game 3 vacations into the future!

As a newbie myself, I concur with all of the rest of the newbies out here. I registered here due to some investigation on my part for inside scoops concerning racking up miles, getting the better deals, and trying to pick a few carriers over most others as a rule of thumb.
I'm suddenly blinded and bombarded by the banter that takes place here. The activity should be commended. But I'm left with an overall nagging question. Has anyone here or elsewhere put out a general guide such as "Frequent Flying for Dummies"? The talent in this thread would certainly be able to compose such a handbook and you could always hand it out to those in similar shoes as myself.

So I ask all those that would reply,... Is there a best place to start when learning from stage one? Can you put it in a simplistic form to hand out to all those new and bright eyed and eager Jr. Flyers?

Signed,
Eager to earn my wings,

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:-::-::-::-::-::-::-::-:
:-:Pink Floyder:-:
:-::-::-::-::-::-::-::-:

My suggestion to newbies is to READ, READ, READ. Start with going back 100 days on those forums that interest you and read the threads. There is such a wealth of information already here. I think sometimes people don't want to put in their own effort, and their first post is something - how can I get a lot of miles? After you've done that, maybe go back6 months. If things need clarification because it isn't clear, I know lots of people are willing to help. Good luck, and welcome.

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Ms.DtG

I can gather that one needs to read, read, read. And I'm sure I don't need to inform you on how many possible threads there are with interesting info. But, My "gollies!" I have to actually do some work at work and can't devote that much time.

I was just looking for some organized information gathering that I thought for sure someone somewhere would have put together. I'll continue my search and let all those that would be concerned know of it's existence when I find it. And if I don't, I'll develop it.

Signed,
Eager to earn my wings,
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Pink Floyder

Start with the forum you're most interested in. If you primarily fly United, the most managable thing to do is lurk over in the United board.

Several FTers have created guides for their favorite airlines. Some resources are...

-- MR's Unofficial Guide to United Airlines
(If you're interested in United, please also see my posts What I've Learned From Flyertalk and What I've Learned From Flyertalk Part Two.)

-- FewMiles' Unofficial Guide to American Airlines AAdvantage

-- Delta Flyers' Guide

-- ConcordeBoy's Unofficial Onepass Dictionary and Info-site


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More Room Throughout Coach: the Website of Free Miles and Free Markets

[This message has been edited by gleff (edited 12-19-2002).]