Have you redeemed frequent flier miles lately?
Many so-called frequent fliers are actually occasional fliers who convert credit card spending and an infrequent flight or two into a free ticket every couple of years.
Increasingly, minimum mileage payments for free tickets are insufficient for many trips, especially during peak travel periods. Budget travelers who save several years for a big trip can be disappointed when they learn they only have about half the miles they really need to fly.
Many airlines offer the chance to surrender more miles and book free travel more readily. Let's say, for example, you're searching Delta reward ticket options between Detroit and Nashville. Enter your dates for travel and you'll receive a list of award flights at a variety of prices. Some might cost as little as 25,000 miles. Better times and perhaps more direct itineraries could cost 32,500 for the same trip.
American offers levels of redemption in a chart that accounts for off-peak hours and peak hours. US Airways awards seats at low, medium and high levels.
Piling up mileage is easy for some travelers. Their employers send them many places and allow them to bank the mileage for their personal use.
For those who combine airline miles with credit card awards, the totals often climb a bit more slowly. It is those budget travelers who are likely to find frequent flier redemptions more difficult.
For them, it's better to consider employing some new strategies.
The days of saving for a trans-oceanic flight are not over, but they're passing quickly. Plan on using miles more frequently for shorter getaways.
Loyalty to a specific airline is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain. Bank cards allow you to convert points or miles (the terminology varies) to currency and then shop among many carriers for the best deals. Beware: these rules also change frequently.
Some airlines will offer bonus miles when they are trying to promote a particular route. If you decide to try it, be certain to read the fine print of the offer carefully.
Delta, for example, has a program that allows travelers to redeem Sky Miles for merchandise, hotel rooms, gift cards and even charitable donations. Sometimes these options make more financial sense than saving up for an airline ticket that could be years -- and several rules changes -- from your grasp.
