Are frequent flyer programs worth the hassle?
Posted in Traffic Times on 01/28/2010 03:51 am by admin
SCarterGW asked:
I do maybe about 15,000 miles of flying every year on all different airlines. Generally, my tendency has been to look for cheap flights on Orbitz or Kayak and book those- this has resulted in me flying many different airlines just a few times each but saving a lot on each ticket.
I do maybe about 15,000 miles of flying every year on all different airlines. Generally, my tendency has been to look for cheap flights on Orbitz or Kayak and book those- this has resulted in me flying many different airlines just a few times each but saving a lot on each ticket.
I signed up for frequent flyer programs for AA, Continental, and US Airways. I noticed that these programs also give points for making purchases through affiliates (like 1800flowers) and dining at certain restaurants.
However, I am looking for some advice as to whether these programs are worthwhile. Say I buy some flowers and earn triple points. So I’ve earned 150 points, but that doesn’t count for much in these programs. I almost feel like I am better off scouting the web for sales, coupons, and discounts than by trying to rack up frequent flyer miles and using them.
Do you guys agree? Am I missing something?
Claude