An Innocent Rookie!!!
 

Dear Sir / Madam;

Although I'm new to maximizing the strategies of using frequent-flyer programs, I've been travelling on business for the last twenty, (20), years. Since I recently joined the US Air program, I have accumulated a minimal amount of miles; but, I'll be re-locating to the Minneapolis, MN metro area from the Philadelphia, PA metro area. I now have joined the NWA program, and would like to know if there's anyway that I could transfer those miles to NWA?

I don't plan to return to the east-coast anytime soon, so, I don't anticipate flying on US Air; especially since NWA is such a major-player in MSP. Any suggestions???

Any, and all, input is welcome, ...even encouraged. Thank you, in advance, for your cooperation in this matter.

Regards,

Sonny

Welcome!

What is "minimal?"

There can be great advantages to having some available miles on an airline other than your most frequently used airline.

For example, if you could get up to 25K miles in your US air account through various means...then some day you might need a last minute air ticket. NW might not have availability, and then you would have those US miles to fall back upon. You could even use those miles to help out a relative who needed such a last minute ticket.

(Notice also that the 25,000 mile awards on NW require a Saturday night stay...otherwise it takes 50,000 miles, so another good reason to have some miles in another plan!)

I can't really speak to the transfers...but everything I have read indicates you lose big time in the transfer.

Even if you have minimal miles there are creative ways to use them. For example, I was able to use 5000 AA miles to book a roundtrip ticket on Hawaiian Air.

Keep hanging out here, and you won't be a rookie for long!! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Welcome to Flyertalk, BlakePaigeStone.

Unfortunately, there is no way to transfer US miles to NW.

However, even if you don't want to fly US you can use your US miles for a partner award -- United, Lufthansa, and Qantas all come to mind. And when USAirways joins the Star Alliance (likely next year) you'll have even more redemption options.

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View from the Wing: A blog about Free Miles and Free Markets

Unfortunately the lowest US redemption levels also include a Saturday stay requirement. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

But you can standby for a no-saturday night stay. Also, the lowest ticket is 20,000 miles, not 25,000 like on most carriers.

Depending on how many miles you have, there are some ways to increase your USAirways mileage. For example, Diners Club, Starwood American Express, MCI all are partners with USAirways. And, Bank of America offers debit cards and Visa cards that will get you points. If memory serves, BofA will give you 10,000 miles for getting its USAirways Platinum Visa card. So you could take your base of USAirways miles and then get to a higher level even if you don't fly USAirways. Also, remember USAirways is now a partner with UAL.