US Airways' plan to eliminate inactive frequent-flier accounts sent many travelers scrambling to log some activity in their accounts to preserve their cherished frequent-flier miles.
Some have redeemed miles for magazines or free tickets, or sought ways to pad their accounts by taking trips or getting a credit card linked to US Airways. The airline had said people who had posted no activity for three years in their accounts by Feb. 15 would be at risk for having their accounts deleted, although that doesn't appear to be a firm date.
But some experts say travelers often overlook a simple way of keeping their accounts active: by taking trips on other airlines.
Just about every major U.S. airline is now in an alliance with other airlines. That means, for instance, that people who rarely fly US Airways but have a frequent-flier account with that airline can earn miles -- and keep their accounts active -- by flying on United, Lufthansa, Air Canada or any of another dozen international carriers.
Airline expert Terry Trippler of Cheapseats.com says airlines don't advertise the benefit of their alliances as much as they could.
"The airlines may miss the boat in truly informing the people of some of the advantages they have because of the alliances," he says.
When booking a ticket with one member of an alliance, travelers can provide a frequent-flier number of another alliance member and accumulate miles with that second carrier. Customers also can provide their frequent-flier information to gate agents before a flight and request they credit the trip toward an alliance carrier.
Charlotte Observer
Some have redeemed miles for magazines or free tickets, or sought ways to pad their accounts by taking trips or getting a credit card linked to US Airways. The airline had said people who had posted no activity for three years in their accounts by Feb. 15 would be at risk for having their accounts deleted, although that doesn't appear to be a firm date.
But some experts say travelers often overlook a simple way of keeping their accounts active: by taking trips on other airlines.
Just about every major U.S. airline is now in an alliance with other airlines. That means, for instance, that people who rarely fly US Airways but have a frequent-flier account with that airline can earn miles -- and keep their accounts active -- by flying on United, Lufthansa, Air Canada or any of another dozen international carriers.
Airline expert Terry Trippler of Cheapseats.com says airlines don't advertise the benefit of their alliances as much as they could.
"The airlines may miss the boat in truly informing the people of some of the advantages they have because of the alliances," he says.
When booking a ticket with one member of an alliance, travelers can provide a frequent-flier number of another alliance member and accumulate miles with that second carrier. Customers also can provide their frequent-flier information to gate agents before a flight and request they credit the trip toward an alliance carrier.
Charlotte Observer
