Continuing flying the same way, EXP for AA and about two Asian trips (w/bonuses) away from MM and keeping my MVP Gold on AS - especially with flights to EWR and DCA all confirmed in F when booking! Best of all, as an MVP Gold - no change fees!

Hotels- Hyatt and SPG

However, I would like to see my home, dog, partner and cat more this year.

lala

Air :
- LH : SEN until 02/05. A few trips to Austria & Germany
- AF : I should requalify by end of March, and will continue to accrue miles on F+
- Qualiflyer/Swiss : burn the few miles I have
- AA : accrue miles from double dipping with HHonors

Hotel :
- Hilton : requalification
- SPG : requalification
- SCC : should reach mid-tier
- Marriott : take opportunity of a promotion to remain Silver, or drop to non-elite

[This message has been edited by JOUY31 (edited 12-28-2002).]

In my view, there has been and will continue to be a huge devaluation in the worth of miles. UA's autumn, 2002 increases were in some cases a 50% increase in the miles needed for awards. Other airlines of interest to me such as Delta are already tough to get saver awards with and others like CO are just about impossible.

I think this pattern will continue and increase as airlines come face to face with the financial reality of most of the industry. UA Mileage Plus miles won't disappear in the bankruptcy but they won't be worth what they are today a year or two from now.

My strategy runs from this view and is to use as many miles as I can for travel I would otherwise take. I may begin using free travel to Europe rather than buying coach and upgrading, since on UA the upgrade to business class now costs 120k rountrip for 2 and the free travel is only 160. I'm booking domestic trips based on price, not loyalty, and hotels and car rentals are almost all on price unless the difference is only a few dollars.

Funny-I just read my words above. Using miles and not caring much about accumulating more. Sort of the start of thinking frequent flyer programs are worth much anymore.

I think hotel points are becoming less valuable also.

But for me, elite status means upgrades and to the extent I can upgrade I am far happier. This is less important in hotels for me anyway.

Fly CO domestically for PLAT;
choose CO vs NWA based on schedule;
choose CO vs (NWA ticket on CO metal) based on price;
Fly NWA to asia.
Maintain CO Onepass Gold, expect PLAT.

Also fly AA to UK/Europe, may get minimal
elite status with AA.

CO's expanding use of ERJ **Enhanced Regional Jets***
makes elite upgrades useless on STL-EWR
and STL-IAH runs.


Hotels:
Marriott on business, Priority Club (or worse) for pleasure.

Cars:
Have leased my own BMW product, no points,
but driving is much better than any rental
car I've had in the US. When needed, Hertz
rental becasue Hertz Gold check-in is so
efficient; Often enterprise when arranged
and directly billed to clients.

[This message has been edited by squid (edited 12-29-2002).]

[This message has been edited by squid (edited 12-29-2002).]

Heavy concentration on AA.
1. February Mileage Run
2. LGA-MCO-LGA in Summer with family
3. Atleast four LGA-DFW-PHX or PHX-DFW-LGA trips (college traveling).
That should keep my Gold Status intact
USAirways is practically giving miles away so myself and I LOVE EWR might take some shuttle flights.
I also might try some new airlines, im thinking about a quadruple whammie.
Fly PHX-BOI and get
a. A new airline (Alaskan)
b. A new state (Idaho)
c. A new plane (CRJ)
d. AAdvantage Miles
Its going to be one fun year!
DC-10's Forever