http://www.smartertravel.com/all/?content_type=column&column_type=ff_qa&source=rss Tim Winship: Frequent Flyer Q&A Sat, 18 May 2013 12:48:17 -0400 Sat, 18 May 2013 12:48:17 -0400 Sarah's 60,000 United miles suddenly disappeared, victim of the airline's expiration policy. Can they be recovered? Tim Winship explains the options, and the fees. http://www.smartertravel.com/travel-advice/help-my-frequent-flyer-miles-expired.html?id=7974776&source=rss ffrq Tue, 07 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0400 Not all airlines impose phony "extra" surcharges, writes Tim Winship. Here's how to make sure your free ticket stays free. http://www.smartertravel.com/travel-advice/help-fuel-surcharges-are-making-my-free-ticket-unaffordable.html?id=7578002&source=rss ffrq Tue, 03 May 2011 00:00:00 -0400 A reader asks about switching from an airline-specific credit card to American Express. Tim Winship replies. http://www.smartertravel.com/travel-advice/the-best-non-airline-credit-card-for-travel-rewards.html?id=7248204&source=rss ffrq Tue, 05 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0400 Our reader's husband is no longer able to travel. Can he transfer his United miles to his wife's account? Tim Winship suggests a better way. http://www.smartertravel.com/travel-advice/how-can-frequent-flyer-miles-be-transferred-between-spouses.html?id=6921091&source=rss ffrq Tue, 01 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0500 Ingrid was quoted more than $500 in fees to use her British Airways miles for an award trip. Tim Winship explains the how, the why, and the options. http://www.smartertravel.com/travel-advice/why-does-british-airways-award-ticket.html?id=6669595&source=rss ffrq Tue, 01 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0500 Our reader is poised to buy big-ticket items, and wants to maximize her miles in the process. Tim Winship outlines her options. http://www.smartertravel.com/travel-advice/for-major-purchases-which-credit-card-will-maximize-my-miles.html?id=6512301&source=rss ffrq Tue, 04 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0500 Our reader has more than 300,000 frequent flyer miles and wants to donate them to a worthy cause. Can he? How? Tim Winship has answers and suggestions. http://www.smartertravel.com/travel-advice/how-can-donate-my-frequent-flyer-miles-to-worthy-cause.html?id=6374725&source=rss ffrq Tue, 07 Dec 2010 09:21:24 -0500 Marko is using frequent flyer miles for his honeymoon trip and wants to upgrade himself and his bride. Tim Winship suggests his best bet might be to play the "just married" card. http://www.smartertravel.com/travel-advice/can-upgrade-my-round-the-world-honeymoon-trip.html?id=6174378&source=rss ffrq Tue, 02 Nov 2010 08:33:53 -0400 Is a free first-class ticket to Hawaii a realistic expectation? Tim Winship shares tips and tricks for successfully booking award trips. http://www.smartertravel.com/travel-advice/can-get-to-hawaii-using-frequent-flyer-miles.html?id=5900127&source=rss ffrq Tue, 05 Oct 2010 08:40:34 -0400 Airline and hotel credit cards are being challenged by independent rewards cards with easier redemption. Is it time to switch? Maybe, according to Tim Winship. http://www.smartertravel.com/travel-advice/should-just-scrap-my-airline-credit-card.html?id=5534189&source=rss ffrq Tue, 07 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0400 Since American and Iberia are frequent flyer partners, I should be able to transfer miles from one program to the other, right? Wrong, according to Tim Winship. http://www.smartertravel.com/travel-advice/can-transfer-my-iberia-frequent-flyer-miles-to-american.html?id=5248883&source=rss ffrq Tue, 03 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0400 Do 10,000 bonus TrueBlue points make the JetBlue credit card a good buy? Maybe. But there might be better deals to be had, according to Tim Winship. http://www.smartertravel.com/travel-advice/with-its-10-000-point-bonus-should-get-jetblue-credit-card.html?id=5106085&source=rss ffrq Tue, 06 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0400 Singapore is a member of United's loyalty program, but Nancy was denied United miles for her Singapore flights. It's not a new problem, according to Tim Winship. http://www.smartertravel.com/travel-advice/no-united-miles-for-my-singapore-airlines-flights.html?id=4942977&source=rss ffrq Fri, 28 May 2010 10:51:14 -0400 Brian earned a free night from Hilton, even though he didn't satisfy all the promotion's conditions. Tim Winship explains how, and why there's a lesson here for everyone. http://www.smartertravel.com/travel-advice/why-did-hilton-award-brian-free-night.html?id=4818640&source=rss ffrq Tue, 04 May 2010 22:55:32 -0400 Erica wonders whether United's promise of unlimited upgrades is heaven or hype. Tim Winship puts the new policy into perspective. http://www.smartertravel.com/travel-advice/unlimited-free-upgrades-on-united-really.html?id=4621992&source=rss ffrq Tue, 06 Apr 2010 12:45:41 -0400 Kat's husband has a SkyMiles credit card, but Delta and American Express are denying him a standard cardholder benefit. Tim Winship reads the fine print. http://www.smartertravel.com/travel-advice/when-is-credit-card-holder-not-cardholder.html?id=4434997&source=rss ffrq Tue, 02 Mar 2010 20:47:18 -0500 Our reader complied with the terms of a 10,000-mile bonus offer, but Delta is withholding her miles. Tim Winship investigates and suggests a fair-minded solution. http://www.smartertravel.com/travel-advice/what-happened-to-my-bonus-miles.html?id=4247906&source=rss ffrq Thu, 28 Jan 2010 18:01:30 -0500 A reader found himself stymied when trying to book a free trip for himself and his wife, and wonders if American has it in for families. Tim Winship offers his take. http://www.smartertravel.com/travel-advice/does-american-discriminate-against-families.html?id=4024525&source=rss ffrq Wed, 30 Dec 2009 13:53:02 -0500 When Delta changed our reader's schedule, he realized he would earn fewer elite-qualifying miles. Should Delta award him the original miles, or is he out of luck? http://www.smartertravel.com/travel-advice/can-get-my-elite-miles-back-please.html?id=3894838&source=rss ffrq Mon, 30 Nov 2009 23:01:42 -0500 Ready, set, charge your way to a free trip! Tim Winship reviews the "best" cards around, and explains how to make them work for you. http://www.smartertravel.com/travel-advice/best-credit-cards-for-earning-free-travel.html?id=3778772&source=rss ffrq Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:39:17 -0400 For consumers, the ability to exchange miles and points between their various airline and hotel loyalty accounts is an obvious plus. Airlines and hotels see the matter very differently. http://www.smartertravel.com/travel-advice/can-move-frequent-flyer-miles-among-programs.html?id=3664825&source=rss ffrq Thu, 01 Oct 2009 14:26:36 -0400 Tim Winship explains that it's standard practice for rental car companies to charge for frequent flyer miles, and advises it may not be worth the expense. http://www.smartertravel.com/travel-advice/do-rental-car-companies-charge-extra-for-frequent-flyer-miles.html?id=3543111&source=rss ffrq Tue, 01 Sep 2009 10:19:55 -0400 Our reader thinks American's Flex Awards are a scam masquerading as frequent flyer salvation. Is he right? Tim Winship thinks not, and explains why. http://www.smartertravel.com/travel-advice/american-flex-awards-good-bad-or-ugly.html?id=3438661&source=rss ffrq Tue, 04 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0400 A reader wonders whether he was right to ignore hotel programs in favor of airline schemes for 25 years. Tim Winship suggests he may have missed out on some worthwhile perks. http://www.smartertravel.com/travel-advice/airline-or-hotel-programs-which-are-better.html?id=3340994&source=rss ffrq Tue, 07 Jul 2009 21:44:28 -0400 Finding frequent flyer award seats is a hassle. It'll cost you, but the fee charged by a travel agent might be worth it. http://www.smartertravel.com/travel-advice/can-just-pay-travel-agent-to-book-my-award-trip.html?id=3232106&source=rss ffrq Tue, 02 Jun 2009 17:19:55 -0400