No I m not certain. This is where some confusion arose yesterday. I thought it was only discounted,

Continuing on yesterday cruise line package vacation s post about low-level elite tiers , today we ll get into where the real benefits begin to appear. After flying 50K miles a year, airlines finally start to roll out the red carpet and treat you like a VIP. Benefits are noticeably better than what you can get with a co-branded credit card. I know for some of you 25K miles a year sounds like a lot. It certainly was for me when I started. But as someone who now flies over 100K miles a year, I can tell you that 50K is easy. Really easy: less than one transcon a month, or maybe four flights to Europe cruise line package vacation or Asia. If you want to get started with mileage running and feel you need to get your money s worth in benefits, this is a good starting cruise line package vacation goal.
Don t forget to head back to yesterday s post for a definition of some terms. As before, I won t go over every last benefit. I m focusing on the ones worth taking advantage of and which differentiate either different programs or different tiers within the same program. Some have started to ask questions about non-U.S. programs like Aegean, but I think that s a whole separate strategy. I ll cover international programs in a different post.
Scottrick s Opinion:  As a Premier Gold, you re finally getting some decent benefits. People may complain that they ve been pared back, but I still see them in line with most competitors. At this level and beyond, you won t have to worry about overweight bag fees. I ship boxes of wine for free all the time. But you only get three bags for yourself and one companion. The other main benefit cruise line package vacation is free Economy Plus at booking for all flights. Most fees are still in place, just discounted, but same-day changes and standbys are now free if you have a flexible schedule. When traveling internationally, you ll get free access to domestic and international lounges to make those layovers easier (almost all airlines offer this to mid-tiers). cruise line package vacation If you are going to fly United, this should be your minimum target.
Earn four (4) x 500-mile upgrades for every 10K EQM flown. One 500-mile upgrade must be redeemed for every 500 miles, or portion thereof, traveled by the flight you want to upgrade. Additional 500-mile upgrades can be purchased.
Scottrick s Opinion: cruise line package vacation  Unlike the step-up we see from United, American doesn t really offer anything new except a larger RDM bonus and access to lounges on international itineraries. In fact, it s 100% bonus is the largest at the mid-tier, tied with Delta, as many others have gone lower. You will probably fly enough cruise line package vacation to get some benefit from 500-mile upgrade certificates, but you ll still need to use them every time you want to sit up front. I think American remains a good choice if you really want the 100% bonus miles, but personally it does a better job differentiating cruise line package vacation itself from its competitors programs at the top and bottom tiers.
Scottrick s Opinion:  At this stage I think Delta s program looks very similar to Alaska s. Only two free bags instead of three. You re only just now getting access to the priority security check-point. It makes sense that the cross-program elite privileges also increase. However, you re getting a 100% bonus on RDM, like American, which is higher than most programs 50%. If you fly this often and only use Alaska occasionally, Delta SkyMiles might be a better choice. cruise line package vacation I find it annoying cruise line package vacation that only domestic Economy Comfort seats are free at booking. You ll still have to wait for international routes. But only United has had long-term financial success with offering extra legroom, and things might yet change.
Scottrick s Opinion:  US Airways likes to charge fees and is known for its restrictive award booking policies. It s nice, then, that most of those get waived by the time you reach Preferred Gold status. Although you get three bags for all companions, unlike United s limit of one companion, the weight limit of 50 lbs is still imposed. Many other perks are similar to United, though US Airways also has a Special Dividends programs that provides new rewards when you reach certain thresholds cruise line package vacation between tiers. (United killed this just as I reached  Premier 1K ). These are nothing special, but will come in handy at higher cruise line package vacation tiers. Don t forget that if you credit just one flight to Dividend Miles, you can  buy the remaining EQM . (Up to 49,999 costs only $1,499.) If you want to just give it a try or fast-track your progress,  pay $400 for trial Gold status  and fly 15,000 EQM in 90 days to keep it.
Scottrick s Opinion:  As I mentioned yesterday, Alaska has a relatively generous program. 40K miles is not a lot as long as you think you can do it with just one airline. (Remember, their other benefit is that they share a lot of partners.) I like that you  finally get access to premium security check-points and companion upgrades, which are benefits United and other airlines offer at their lowest tiers. The 100% bonus RDM is great as long as it sticks. Getting only two free bags seems weak, but I ve rarely needed three. What may be truly unique is the ability to award upgrades to friends and family who aren t even traveling with you.
At this stage you are traveling enough that benefits begin to matter more than a preferred carrier. You probably have some international travel and will be using partners anyway. Two of the biggest cruise line package vacation variations between programs are the amount of free baggage and the amount of bonus RDM. The new industry trend is toward 50% at 50K miles, but some still offer 100%. You might go for one of those, but I don t know how long it will last.
Baggage is less of an issue. Many frequent travelers don t check bags at all, but I still do because of a lot of family travel and bringing presents back and forth. United has the most generous cruise line package vacation policy with three free bags at 70 lbs or less. Most other carriers limit you to two or three bags of 50 lbs or less. (Delta will let you have one bag at 70 lbs.) I never worry anymore about checking things with United.
cruise line package vacation All carriers offer access to airport lounges cruise line package vacation when traveling on an international itinerary (this includes both domestic and international airports part of the same trip), so you might consider which airports you transit through and their facilities. Not all have showers, which can be quite welcome.
Finally, cruise line package vacation a few unique benefits begin to appear. US Airways has its Special cruise line package vacation Dividends program. Alaska Airlines has its free upgrades for friends traveling without you. As we continue cruise line package vacation to climb the elite status mountain, additional cruise line package vacation unique and differentiating features are going to make comparisons more difficult.
Love this series you re writing. I m trying to determine if mileage running makes sense for me. As you work your way up the tier ladder, are you getting upgraded on your mileage runs because of your status? So a run that you re doing at a ridiculously low CPM will oftentimes still get you upgraded to the front of the plane? I can see the benefit if I m in the mileage run game, spending $300 for a multi-city trip, getting a 50% bonus on RDMs and being able to sit up front while doing it. Is this the norm?
Yes, upgrades are easier to obtain at higher tiers. I wouldn t say the benefit of a mileage run is being upgraded. Better to be home than in a plane. But it makes it much more comfortable. I would not do as many mileage runs as I do if I were sitting in the back of coach.
I assume you are talking about the elite bonus (which you get) and not any class of service bonus for sitting up front (which you will not). Just wanted to make certain as everything can be quite confusing from the outside looking in.
On the upgrade side, it all depends on where and when you fly, as well as on what airline. Saturday morning, and even a lot of 25k tier people are up front. Peak business travel days on business-heavy routes, and people doing 125k+ a year are in the back.
Yeah, I meant merely flying up front, not service bonuses. I can see how getting a top tier status is beneficial as it becomes less painful during those mileage cruise line package vacation runs. Are there any programs that give EQM bonuses while flying (or is that a future post)? Thanks, Scott.
I didn t know you can get free international economy cruise line package vacation comfort at all as Delta GM are you certain that it s free in 24 hours? I thought GM always need to pay for international cruise line package vacation EC, just at a discounted rate.
No I m not certain. cruise line package vacation This is where some confusion arose yesterday. I thought it was only discounted, and others said it was free. It sounds like it was only the domestic Economy Comfort cruise line package vacation they were referring to.
I disagree with your assessment of the Alaska program, as it is quite a strong program at the mid-tier level. In addition to 100% bonus RDM s, 4 one-way free upgrades per year, Alaska Golds are waived all change fees for revenue and award tickets.
cruise line package vacation Besides the factual mistakes, was my commentary really that far off? I praised the upgrades and fee waivers. All I said against Alaska was that if you have to choose between putting status with Alaska or Delta, and you rarely fly Alaska, that status with Delta might make more sense. Alaska fee waivers aren t going to be of much help if you aren t in their planes.
Scott: I m not seeing where you praise Alaska s fee waivers, which is a huge benefit for flyers (especially award tickets). Don t other airlines only waive ALL change/cancellation fees at the high-tier levels?
Another thing missing. ARGH. I must have had two drafts open at once because I know I wrote that. You re right, they re a good deal. But on the other hand, you said you disagreed with me, and I don t think I said anything too negative. So I ll agree with you on this: Alaska is good if you can fly Alaska. It s good if you have spare miles and need a place to stash them. But if someone wants to get Alaska status and plans to fly partners, I don t think that works so well.
I agree with you, Scott. I m a MVP Gold and get treated really well on Alaska. The benefits on Delta and American are marginal cruise line package vacation though. Free bags and preferred seating on both partner airlines