Any FF program not have close-in fee?
 

There's buzz that UA will increase and add new fees May 15. As of this moment, are there any airlines besides Southwest that don't have close-in fees for booking freebies? (I am not a Southwest sock puppet.) Thank you.

NW doesn't, yet.

Frontier

Firewind, does UA charge you close-in fees as a 2MM?!

If you are not 1K or GS yes :mad:

Delta charges no mileage related fees for Platinum Medallions - no last minute fees, no redeposit fees, etc. There is a $25/ticket phone booking fee if you book by phone (a bit of a sore point right now since the website is so buggy for booking awards).

Alaska doesn't have a close-in redemption fee, and you can earn and use miles on AS, AA, NW, DL, and CO, plus several international airlines. www.alaskaair.com

Firewind,

Don't let fees be the deciding factor in picking a program.

If you're the type that books award travel in advance, or never changes his int., then fees will not factor into your equation. You then have to decide if you do pick a fee-free program, is that airline right for you.

AA EXPs have a variety of fees waived.

OK+ doesn't have any of these stupid fees. No telephone booking fee, no bogus "partner airline" fee, no late booking fee, nothing....If only they didn't sting you with the fuel surcharge...

Come to think of it... I've booked fairly last-minute trips on BA.com without a fee (2 days in advance, I think?). And I think CX/AsiaMiles might need a couple business days for ticketing, but I don't think they charge a "close-in" fee.

Thank you for the reply.

And a fair question. In fact, no. But I have a son who's 19 who inherited 180K from his mother (adding to his 40K) and I'm not going to be able to work my magic for him much longer. (Anyway, it'll be his $75 if I can't...) So I am not able to adopt the lifeboat mentality with abandon. I also have a strong-willed SO who tells me that my United and her United are two different airlines, and she's still undecided as to whom she's going to give her love -- at least as to FF program :D . I think my magic is as yet not fully tested in that all the directions involved.....

(Either "the REST of the story" - or - more than you ever wanted to know.)