Frequent fliers tend to be very knowledgeable in how to find cheap travel options such as cheap airplane tickets, discount hotel rooms, and cheap vacation packages. With experience they discover ways of significantly enhancing their trips at little if any additional cost.
The following are some of the tricks of the trade experienced travelers have discovered:
Even if you are flying in economy class, you can often access Business Class lounges when flying overseas. Members of Air Canadas Maple Leaf Lounge, Continentals Presidents Club, the United Red Carpet Club, or the US Airways club can access any Star alliance Business Class lounge when flying internationally. No class of service or elite frequent flier status is required.
Most airlines award elite status for life when a member reaches the one million miles mark. American Airlines is one of the few carriers that include any miles earned (including credit card spending and promotions) towards its AAdvantage program as part of its million mile status calculation, making American the easiest program in which to earn lifetime elite status. Savvy fliers have found that once they attain elite status in one airlines program they can often get a competing airline to match that status.
Frequent fliers often earn elite status faster by collecting miles with foreign airlines. For example, Aegean Airlines awards Star Alliance Gold elite status at a much lower level than many of its alliance partners. Elite members gain lounge access benefits and baggage fee waivers.
Some airline promotions offering frequent fliers the ability to buy miles are very attractive. US Airways mileage deals often stand out and help travelers fly Business Class overseas for as little as a $1,000 compared to most regular Business Class fares costing $4,000 to $7,000.
Star Alliance has its own method for searching for available free seats. By signing up for Air France-KLMs Flying Blue frequent flier program you can search for award inventory on Delta, Air France, KLM, CSA Czech, Alitalia, Kenya Airways and other partners.
Most airline credit cards give their customers between a one to 1.5 miles for every dollar charged to their airline credit cards. However, when you access your favorite stores online through airlines shopping portals you can earn up to 5 miles per dollar charged and sometimes even more.
If you have a problem redeeming your miles online, then call and speak to a reservations agent. These agents are often able to book an award trip that cannot be reserved on the airlines website, using alternative routings or a mix of airlines to circumvent capacity limitations. Sometimes they even exercise discretion and bypass capacity restrictions that limit award availability. www.cheapfares.com