You don’t have to fly frequently to know the airline industry has some of the most ridiculous rules in the travel business. But if you fly enough, you may not have to follow all of them.
FREQUENT FLIER
If you’ve ever asked what the fuss over frequent-flier programs is about, then you know that the answer can be complicated.
I’m frequently accused of using this site as a bully pulpit, which is, of course, completely true.
What does your airline owe you when your flight is delayed?
I’ve been taking the predictable flack from the Flyertalk crowd after my recent tirade against loyalty programs. I don’t mind; I’m well-protected here in Orlando’s Green Zone. Since we talk about right and wrong on this site frequently (see this morning’s post about the ethics of double-dipping on an insurance claim) I thought I’d share [...]
Award tickets are not free. Victoria Casey knew that when she made plans to fly to Europe on US Airways this summer. Each reservation cost her $50, in addition to the 320,000 miles she spent for four first-class tickets.
When American Airlines stripped 43,000 miles from Peter DeForest’s frequent flier account because of “inactivity” it offered to return them if he signed up for one of its email offers.
You wanna see my frequent flier card? I’ve got your frequent flier card right here.
Bereavement fares may be a dying breed, but some airlines still offer them — with strings attached. Sandra Ball was told she didn’t qualify for a Northwest Airlines special fare because she wasn’t a member of WorldPerks, the airline’s frequent flier program. Can it do that?
Denyse Sadkin and her husband had two first-class tickets from St. Thomas to Buffalo on US Airways. At least they did until the airline bumped one of them back to economy class to make room for a crewmember. The Sadkins, which had redeemed a total of 120,000 frequent flier miles for their flights, weren’t happy with their new seats, so they asked US Airways to be rerouted. It refused.
The last thing I want to do is start a class war at 36,000 feet. But enough is enough. Some elite travelers have made flying unbearable. Here’s how.
Elliott is consumer advocate 
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