3 On Your Side: Best Frequent Flyer Programs For Honoring Miles
By Jim Donovan
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- 100 million people belong to a frequent-flyer program. But a new report finds some airlines are better than others at honoring award travel. 3 On Your Side has advice so you can get the most out of your miles.
Steve Starace says using his frequent flyer miles for travel can be a challenge. According to Starace, "You'll find that those types of seats aren't always available. You have to book early."
Consumer Reports analyzed 70 million passenger trips over the past two years and found the major airlines are getting a little better at honoring frequent flyer miles, but some are better than others. Southwest (11.5%) ranks number one for offering the most award tickets, followed by United (9.8%), American (9.4%), Delta (8.8%) and JetBlue (4.5%).
Sean Brennan regularly flies on Southwest. He says, "I think it's great program because you can fly once way or round trip, and you can use relatively few miles to get a quick trip in."
Jeff Blyskal is an editor at Consumer Reports. He says, "If you call up and talk to a ticket agent, they have more power, they have more skill, looking through all of the computer systems and trying out different routes."
Blyskal says airlines profit when consumers don't use their miles. According to Blyskal, "When you don't use your miles, it's called breakage, and basically that becomes revenue. The airline puts it in their pocket and it goes right down to profits."
Consumer Reports says frequent fliers can maximize their miles by shopping months in advance for awards tickets, and by booking on the phone with a ticket agent. They also recommend never buying additional points.
For more information visit: http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2015/06/tips-from-a-master-frequent-flyer/index.htm
