MILES Archives

My 16-year-old son and I have had our US Airways miles taken away from us. He had 27,893 miles and I had 829 miles. They expired a few days ago.

Help, my frequent flier miles are gone!

January 23, 2024February 23, 2013 by Christopher Elliott

Marianne MacKenzie’s US Airways miles have expired, but worse, her son’s are gone too. He almost had enough points for a ticket. Is he out of luck?

I used her Delta frequent flier miles for a trip to Manchester, England, to visit her mother. She bought trip insurance through Allianz.

Why won’t insurance cover my lost frequent-flier miles?

January 22, 2024November 17, 2012 by Christopher Elliott

Charles Stewart’s wife is hospitalized in England and misses her return flight. Thank goodness she has travel insurance, which covers the cost of her return flight. But what about the miles she spent? Are they lost?

About a half-hour into our outbound flight, we were told that the landing gear did not come up and that we had to return to O'Hare.

Nothing says “I’m sorry” like airline miles

January 22, 2024June 8, 2012 by Christopher Elliott

Renata Fidman’s outbound flight is delayed because of mechanical problems, so is her return flight. The compensation? A form letter and a few frequent flier miles. Is it enough?

Carolyn Stover Harvey counts herself among Delta Air Lines’ best customers. The kind of customer Delta would go the extra mile for.

Did Delta go the extra mile for me?

January 22, 2024April 3, 2012 by Christopher Elliott

As an Amex-branded Platinum-level frequent flier for the better part of the last decade, Carolyn Stover Harvey counts herself among Delta Air Lines’ best customers. The kind of customer Delta would go the extra mile for.

A nonstop flight from Newark to New Delhi can be grueling, so when Eva and Yoel Haller took the 16-hour trip in February.

Forced to downgrade because we paid with miles

January 22, 2024April 2, 2012 by Christopher Elliott

A nonstop flight from Newark to New Delhi can be grueling, so when Eva and Yoel Haller took the 16-hour trip in February, they made sure they cashed in their award miles for confirmed seats in business class.

Not so long ago, your frequent flier miles were gone when they expired. But not anymore. Paying a ransom to rescue your miles.

Ridiculous or not? Paying a ransom to rescue your frequent flier miles

January 20, 2024April 27, 2011 by Christopher Elliott

Not so long ago, your frequent flier miles were gone when they expired. But not anymore.

Rachel Cabarcas's timing isn't the best. No, not because she has an expired awards problem she's sharing with us today.

Is this enough compensation? My Rapid Rewards expired and I can’t get them back

January 20, 2024April 26, 2011 by Christopher Elliott

Rachel Cabarcas’s timing isn’t the best. No, not because she has an expired awards problem she’s sharing with us today, but because if she’d waited a little longer, then this probably wouldn’t have been a problem.

Can this trip be saved? No miles for my flight — can you retrieve them for me?

January 20, 2024April 25, 2011 by Christopher Elliott

Here’s a type of case that crosses my desk often, and to which I almost always say “no.” But should I?

If you’re a card-carrying frequent flier, you probably know that airlines charge $150 to redeposit frequent flier miles into your account.

That’s ridiculous! What’s with this $150 fee to redeposit my frequent flier miles?

January 24, 2024February 2, 2011 by Christopher Elliott

If you’re a card-carrying frequent flier, you probably already know that several airlines – including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and US Airways – charge $150 to redeposit frequent flier miles into your account.

Are loyalty programs worth it?

January 19, 2024September 11, 2010 by Christopher Elliott

Quitting a frequent-flier loyalty program looks easy: You cut up your card and donate the miles to charity.

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