I need to go to New York once a month. What would be my best bet to make travel affordable and earn miles doing it. I really appreciate any help anyone can give me.

I fly out of the midwest, Arkansas or Oklahoma..............

Thanks,

Out of the Midwest I'd suggest looking at Northwest. They have the most flights into LGA from the Midwest.

If you really want to maximize miles, consider AA with a change at DFW. You'd earn a minimum 500 miles for the wherever-DFW leg plus 1387 (LGA) or 1390 (JFK) miles from there to NYC. Weather at DFW is seldom a problem. Since it's AA's main base, aircraft that go mechanical can usually be swapped out quickly.

Granted, this is a form of insanity, but many of us here at FT suffer from it!

Agree, AA is the way to go. Also, make you sure to sign up for the Gold or Platinum challenge before you start. Fly just 5,000 miles in 60 days and earn Gold. Fly 10,000 and earn Platinum.

Thank you very much for your help. What exactly is the Gold challenge, a credit card or I just sign up for the program? So American Airlines and DFW is my best bet then.

The Challenge is AA's fast track to Elite status. You just need to call the AAdvantage Desk, give them your AAdvantage # and tell them you'd like to enroll in the Challenge. If you can squeeze three NYC trips into 60 days (which 3 xxx-DFW-NYC RTs should give you), enroll in the Platinum Challenge (ask them to start the challenge a few days before your first XXX-DFW-NYC leg). As long as you log 10,000 EQMs within the 60 days, AA will automatically give you AAdvantage Platinum status. With Plat, you'll get inexpensive space available upgrades 72 hours prior to departure.

Also, if you can buy your tickets with Amex Platinum card, you get free access to any Admirals Clubs along the way.

You'll be addicted in no time, just like most of us here.

Posts 5 and 7 made a common, small, but potentially significant, error regarding AA Challenges. They are based on earning 5,000 (Gold) or 10,000 (Platinum) points, not miles, within 90 days. Every mile flown earns 0.5 to 1.5 points, depending on the fare class. It may take as few as 3,334 or as many as 10,000 miles to earn Gold this way, 6,667 to 20,000 to earn Platinum.

There's a lot more information on Challenges in the "stickies" at the top of the AA forum and in several threads there.

(And, forgot earlier: Welcome to FT!)

Good catch Efrem... going from (my) memory is not always the most reliable source. Agree, check the AA forum for more info.

Another plus for AA is that they have the most "mainline" service (full size jets vs regional prop or jets) into Oklahoma, expecially into Tulsa.

I just remembered that three months ago I signed up for the World Perks program from Northwestern to buy my brother a ticket from China to Japan. I don't know if I should go with that or switch to AA. It says that I already have 1,000 miles. Finally, I am from Costa Rica and if anyone needs tips, advice or info, I will be more than glad to help.

Thanks,
Diego

Hello my friend: No one appears to have mentioned airports- if you fly into LGA-(closest to NYC) the cost of the taxi = toll will on average be between $25-30 dollars. But from JFK it can cost upwards of $55 (including toll and not including tip). My suggestion is that you make your flights into LGA. Assuming you have two or more hours to spare you can also take a bus(#60) from LGA into city upper west side last stop 106th and broadway for $2.00 currently. You DO NOT WANT to try this with more than one piece of luggage. once into the city your cab to your hotel will be significantly cheaper but then there's how much extra time!

Next- you haven't asked about hotels- if relevant you want to explore the number of stays with each chain to upgrade your statusw/i that chain!

happy to discuss this further but not in this forum.

if it is o.k. to discuss with you buying property in Costa Rica- pls private e-mail me.

I would suggest NWA (Fort Smith, Fayetteville, Tulsa) thru Memphis to Newark (EWR)... you have better options for public transportation once there. It's actually quicker to get into The City.
Rail station @ EWR, you can purchase tickets on NJ
Transit to get into Manhattan, or just about anywhere you need to go.
Amtrak also stops at this station.

Don't forget to grab a BBQ sandwich in Memphis!

I will get back with you in the next couple of days to talk about Costa Rican properties Letismore. Okidata rep thanks for the tips. I will definitely try the BBQ sandwich. You guys are of great help.

If the OP flew into JFK, couldn't he use the AirTrain and then transfer onto the subway?