[jcmanson]

Anybody use frequent flyer programs? What's the best one? Do you use them in conjunction with Marriott & Hilton rewards?

[Hold My Own]

Not even close....Marriott. Hilton is decent but I would stay in a suite every night for less than $100 or right at that price, one night I stayed in the Presidential Suite that is $900 a night for about $115. They have better rewards too like stay 1 night get 1 night. Go to Flyertalk.com and read up...every now and then HH will do a promo that's hard to beat but generally Marriott is better.


Also check for slickdeals where you can do instant gold for each of them....that's when you start getting the perks...and when your platinum its unreal.

[Sly Fox]

I've loved Continental OnePass for years. After the merger with United it dropped down to the Friendly Skies level. It all depends on where you want to utilize rewards as to which airline you choose to pile up your miles. I like the Star Alliance better than the other two major alliances. But all work about the same.

Of the hotel ones, I never stay at any one of them enough to really benefit big time. But Starwood & Marriott have been the best to me over the years. Hilton HHonors is vastly improved over when I started with them in the '90s.

[Purple Haize]

Well, being in Lynchburg there is really only 1 frequent flyer program!
I belong to Marriott and Hilton Honors. I LOVE Hilton Honors. I've stayed in some nice places for free and they have outstanding customer service. Plus I like Hilton Garden better the n Courtyard, Embassy Suites etc.

[jcmanson]

I guess I wasn’t as clear in my question. I’m not talking about using the rewards at Hilton and Marriott, but instead transferring those points for miles. Is it worth doing?

Basically what’s the best way to rack up some miles so I can get some free airfare.

[Purple Haize]

I guess I wasn’t as clear in my question. I’m not talking about using the rewards at Hilton and Marriott, but instead transferring those points for miles. Is it worth doing?

Basically what’s the best way to rack up some miles so I can get some free airfare.

Use a credit card from the airlines. You will get better incentives. I use my US Airways card and it's amazing how fast the points rack up.! Your points don't accumulate as fast when you 'cross pollenate' your rewards programs

[Sly Fox]

Haize is correct. But I have to feel for anyone who has to regularly fly hands down the worst airline in America.

[Hold My Own]

Ohhhh sorry, misunderstood. Go to slickdeals again they have GREAT credit card deals. The best frequent flyer card out right now IMO is the Southwest card. After your first purchase (of ANY amount) and you get 2 round trip tickets OR $500 giftcard for Amazon

[TH Spangler]

Haize is correct. But I have to feel for anyone who has to regularly fly hands down the worst airline in America.

Be nice Sly, Sigmon and I work for US. In fact a lot of Liberty Fans do.

Guess what, US is about to fork over 14B to buy some little airline in Texas.

[Sly Fox]

Fair enough. Let's just say this frequent traveler cringes everytime I see US Airways on my itinerary based on my past experience. Clearly it couldn't have been when any FlameFan was involved in the process.

As for the American purchase/merger, I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy. But if it means all my useless American miles could somehow be cashed in through the Star Alliance, count me in.

[ATrain]

I have not had good experiences with US Airways.

I <3 Southwest Airlines. When I lived in Roanoke, I'd drive down to Raleigh and fly Southwest rather than use one of the "legacies," flying out of ROA. Exception being the first time I flew to Chicago, direct flight on United.

[BJWilliams]

Ive had no bad experiences with USAir (course I dont fly all that much) but Southwest was a wonderful experience when my family went to Phoenix for Christmas

[TH Spangler]

The biggest problem US Airways has had over the years is service failures associated with a horrible ATC system in the NE. When it fails, and it does often, it will effect every aircraft that travels near it that day. We have reduced our dependency on NYC lately and things have gotten much better. In fact over the past couple of years we have actually been best or near it in on-time, baggage, and complaint statistics. The other airlines have increased their flying to the NE and are having the same problems and it's dragging their numbers down as well. As far as mergers go, I hate them. But the industry is long over due consolidation. It's the only way to consistent profitably. Cheap tickets are great, but you don't want a cheap mechanic and a cheap pilot working your next flight .....

[Sly Fox]

I admit that I only fly US Airways a few times a year these days (I do live in a United/Continental hub city). But the delays have always been a huge problem. The older aircraft certainly contribute to the challenge as well which is why American has seems to have so many issues as well. I connected through Charlotte a couple of weeks ago without incident. So hopefully the issues have been dealt with by management.

Full disclosure: I have clients in the industry and appreciate the massive challenges faced by airlines today. It is a highly competitive business.

[TH Spangler]

The highly competitiveness was forced on the industry via government over-site. And they pushed it way to far ..... Yes, they got cheap tickets, but they also drove every single airline into bankruptcy, where every single pension was dumped on the tax payer via the PBGC, (exception Southwest, which had some good fuel hedging which has now expired). They also ended up with clogged skies full of 50 seat regional jets fighting for passengers, taking up valuable slots. I could write a book on it ..... All the recent mergers are part of the fix. They also just increased the number of flight hours required to be hired to 1500. There are thousands of pilots ready to retire. Look for the regional 50 seaters to start disappearing fast .... the pilots flying those are the only one's with enough flight time to replace those now flying the larger mainline planes. Hopefully there will be an orderly transition. But fewer flights, larger planes, more qualified crews and higher prices are coming soon. Did you know that the average $250 ticket has only gone up $40.00 in the past 40 years? It's time for a reality check?

[Hold My Own]

I have not had good experiences with US Airways.

I <3 Southwest Airlines. When I lived in Roanoke, I'd drive down to Raleigh and fly Southwest rather than use one of the "legacies," flying out of ROA. Exception being the first time I flew to Chicago, direct flight on United.

You used a <3


That made me giggle when I read it

[Sly Fox]

Fly into Southwest hub Love Field some time. You'll giggle incessantly.

[Hold My Own]

That's true....although Delta has been giving them a run for their money lately. My Stewardess told me "I'd probably like it" when a big women asked if she could sit by me. Then she later told me "you have to be a confident man to wear pink"


I thought I was getting punked.