Hey everyone. I am not only new to the concept of ff, but also to chat boards in general. Me and my fiance are going to start collecting frequent flyer miles in hopes that we can gain enough miles to go on our honeymoon. Could you guys give me some ideas on how to start gaining points fast? Which programs are the best, and what are the tricks to get some miles? Any suggestions and ideas you could provide would be more than welcomed.

Barefoot,

Welcome to FT.

You ask a very broad question...

1. Decide where you want to go for your honeymoon and find out which airlines fly from you home airport to your destination.

2. Visit the Flyertalk forums for those airlines to start finding out what might be available.

3. Make sure you are a member of those frequent flier programs and sign up for the airline's emails.

4. Sign up for credit card, telephone service, whatever is available for your chosen airline.

I hope that helps... many more experienced experts on this board beyond me. And I know that there are some great primers out there... I am just not sure where they are all are... and I truly believe we could help you more if we knew where you wanted to go... and the timeframe.

William

Good luck! As you read these message boards, you will find out that popular destinations, such as Hawaii, are hard to book seats. San Francisco and Los Angeles are easier. Europe is easy during the spring and winter.

Some people earn miles simply by flying. Others use airline credit cards, fly, stay at the right hotels, register for every bonus offer (see airline's website).

If you haven't started already and don't fly monthly, it will be hard to earn enough miles. There was a guy, the Pudding Guy, who did earn a lot of miles by buying pudding during a special offer.

Consider looking for a cheap airfare, instead. You can still try to earn miles and perhaps you can use them for a 1st or 5th year anniversary.

One trick people use is the TTN, trip to nowhere. They buy the cheapest fare with many connecting flights, fly on the weekends, and return as soon as they arrive at the distant city.

If you don't mind Air Tran, they seem to have a straightforward program. However, their destinations are limited. They do fly to the Bahamas. They may fly (check if they do) to Buffalo, NY (Niagara Falls) and some big cities (NY, DC, Boston, LA, Las Vegas).

Congratulations on your upcoming marriage!

My recommendation is to get a credit card that gives you miles whatever airline hubs closest to where you live. Then make sure you charge all wedding expenses that you can to that credit card. I haven't checked lately, but United was running a "sign up for our card and we'll give you 15,000 miles". That's a good start anyway.

You also might want to check out FF programs that offer "miles for upgrades" or "part miles/part cash" options, because these goals might be easier to achieve in a short time frame. For example, you could upgrade from World Traveller (economy) to World Traveller Plus, or from World Traveller Plus to Club (business class) on a British Airways US-UK flight for 25,000 miles each - and 50,000 miles is a possibility if you each get credit cards with miles bonuses and then charge all your wedding expenses to them. There are "catches", however: e.g. you may not be able to upgrade from the cheapest fares.

You should also think about what is a good value for you on your honeymoon, and what your budget is? For example, will you be in a situation where you need the lowest possible price for airfare and accommodation (and therefore are looking for "free" economy tickets or budget hotel accommodation), or can you afford "average" economy fares/moderate hotels, and would want to use points to get upgraded (eg Economy+ or Business) tickets or upgraded accommodation? These factors will also influence the advice you'll get on FlyerTalk. So provide us with some more details about what you're looking for, and you'll get more detailed advice.

Welcome!

All the tips above are good. Also remember the alliances, which nobody here has mentioned so far.
Many airlines are partnered with other airlines. So, for instance, you seem to live in traditional "Delta territory" but Delta is allied with Northwest and Continental. Depending on where you may want to go, you could sign up for Continental's frequent flyer program and still get Continental credit for flying Delta.
Big alliances:
Delta/Northwest/Continental
United/USAirways

And check Alaska as they have some really interesting partnerships with American and others, but I know little about them. A lot depends on where you plan to travel (or of course whether you plan to travel )

You might also want to consider "neutral" point-accruing credit cards...for example:

American Express' Starwood Preferred Guest Card. You can transfers points into miles with many airlines, and even get a bonus (25,000 miles for 20,000 points).

Diner's Club. Most of their promos tie into getting bonus miles on American, but the ongoing accrued points can be transferred to many airlines....

And others, depending upon your useage.

Steve

Welcome to FT. I suggest you start by reading the Getting Started page of my web site below. Then spend some time on the other pages familiarizing yourself with the kinds of activities available for earning miles. there are lots of them.

Caution: This can become adictive. (I know this from personal experience.)

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Free Frequent Flyer Miles

thanks for all the ideas and suggestions.

I think I will get started today.

Why not just invest $60 (annual fee cost) and get the United Visa with the 20,000 bonus.

Then, get the free Starwood card for a 4,000 bonus. Transfer Starwood points to United.

Top off by signing up for the United U.S. Open contest (500 miles) and sign up for My Mileage Plus (500 at least).

25,000 = Key West, Fla. (if seats are available dates you want to go) Total cost, $60.

If you both do the above, you can both go to Key West for $120.

definitely get the starwood credit card. Too bad the 4000 bonus point offer has expired. I would use those hard earned starwood points toward hotel stays. No blackout, no availability restrictions makes it easy to book award stays.



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AirmileOffers.com

I know this is blasphemy on this board, but I would like to inject some reality.

If neither you or your fianc� are traveling for a business it will take awhile to earn award/free airline tickets.

There is a nice boost of miles at the onset of getting a credit card and applying for other programs, but unless you will be charging a good amount of $ on the cards, it will take awhile to earn enough miles.

I�m not saying FF miles are a bad thing to persue, just want to temper your expectations.

I would try to earn FF miles, but not make that a focus. For instance, for me personally most of the FF mile earning restaurants are very poor or mediocre at best. So even though I�m earning some miles do I really want to spend the $ for a mediocre meal, I know I don�t.

Your honeymoon trip should be based upon your dreams first, then put your pocketbook into the equation to see what you can do. Maybe the dream honeymoon you are thinking of now, becomes your 10 year anniversary trip.

Just my thoughts, I wish you joy in your upcoming marriage.


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Visit FlyerTalk Dining http://flyertalk.com/diningfr.shtml

Another credit card to consider is Aloha Airlines which is issued by First Hawaiian Bank. You accrue 1.5 miles per dollar unlike the one for one of United's and since Aloha is a partner of United, you can use Aloha miles for a United flight. It would take $26,250 (as opposed to $35,000) for a domestic flight.

But I agree with others that earning miles by credit card takes a long time and unless you're a big spender (like buying a new car and charging it) or you're getting married in a few years rather than a few months, you may want to pay for one fare and use the miles for a companion ticket.

Congrats!

As far as I know, you can still get the offer. The link is on the Credit Card page of my web site below. It still gets you to a page making the offer, with no expiration date listed.


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Free Frequent Flyer Miles

You're from Claxton? Good to see another south Georgian. (I live in Statesboro)

First, pick somewhere to go.

Second, Do you mind flying Coach?

If you don't, maybe you should focus on hotel points, and just pay for the airfare.

If you do, it could be easier to earn enough miles to upgrade paid coach tickets.

Don't discount airlines that don't serve SAVannah (our nearest airport), American and Northwest do deserve some consideration.

Were you to pick AA, I'd start:

1) http://www.opinionplace.com - do this every 2 weeks
2) Eat Kellog's cereal with the 100 mile certs on the back.
3) Get the Citi AA Mastercard- the offer on the front of http://www.AA.com is a good deal
4) Will your fiancee disown you if you start making a few MR's(Mileage Runs)? (JAX-MIA-ORD-SFO-LAX-ORD-MIA-JAX (7,200 status miles)) is a good local run that prices around 193$) Complete the Platinum challenge (20,000 cheap miles in 90 days) and the miles will come pretty easily this way.
5) Switch your phone service to AT&T. This takes some work in our area. Most agents say it is not possibile. WRONG! Just keep calling.
6) Send her some flowers! (10 miles/$)
7) Get the Holiday Inn Visa and the Hilton Visa for some free miles- or use the points for 2 free nights
8) Same story for the Marriott Visa (Forgot this one)
9) Did I mention- CHARGE EVERYTHING! Even the 89 cents can of soda!
10) If you have 25,000$ lying around- see http://www.ameritrade.com/spg There's an easy 25,000 miles- get your folks to do it with your Starwood number if you don't have the cash.
11) Repeat Number 4 a couple of times.

Others can add a lot to this list- but I think it's a good springboard to consider.

Disclaimer: This list only works with AA!

BTW- do you work for Claxton Poultry Farms? Your e-mail looks familiar.

[This message has been edited by Bradford (edited 07-09-2003).]