75,000 American Miles For Spending $3,000

I acquired two American Airlines credit cards from Citi this week.  The first one was their small business card with 30,000 bonus miles after spending $1,000 and no annual fee the first year.  This seemed like an easy and fast way to add to my AAdvantage account.  The next day I received a direct mail piece offering 45,000 miles after spending $2,000 and no annual fee the first year.  This sounded like a good deal and I signed up.  I was accepted for both cards and will now have a nice pile of miles when my US Airways miles are merged into AAdvantage.  JAL and Cathay Pacific sound like nice airlines to fly and soon I’ll have the mileage balance to enjoy both in first class (award space is another matter).

JAL 777 at NRT

Yes, there is an offer for 100,000 AA miles from Citi, but it requires $10,000 spent in three months and a $475 annual fee (lounge access is included); I prefer my arrangement. 

It Could Always Be Worse

Next time you have a flight delay, just remember it could be worse.  Often you'll see those people who have it worse when you deplane.  

Bad

Worse

Using Miles For Flights In Australia

I booked my brother to Sydney on a trip that includes a stop in NRT and a 23 hour lay over in Seoul.  Luckily he's excited to tour the DMZ and the USO offers regular tours.  Once he gets to Australia, moving around is much easier.  Qantas has great domestic award ticket space, especially between Sydney and Melbourne.  American miles work on Qantas, but the pricing is not great (10,000 in back or 17,500 up front).  I'll be using British Airways miles instead because they price by distance, so SYD-MEL is only 4,500 miles in coach or 9,000 in business (includes lounge access too).  This has the makings of a fun trip.

Qantas 747 at NRT

I'm Grounded

I don't have any flights booked for the next few months. 2014 status will be difficult with only one or two trips a month.

I'd take a ride on a prop plane even

United Miles To Fly To Australia - It Isn't Simple

My brother wants to fly to Sydney and Melbourne this summer and I volunteered to help him search for award flights.  Space is abysmal with United, Air Canada, and Air New Zealand flights.  Luckily, if you book online, you can route through Asia for the same price as going direct from North America to Australia.  No, you can't go via Europe and Asia for the same rate; I tried.  On the way out, I was able to book USA to Tokyo to Inchon to Sydney.  It's a lot of extra flying, but it works.  Still trying to find a good return option.

Yes, Tokyo Is On The Way to Sydney

500 Free Hilton HHonors Points

Grab 500 Hilton points for listening to a pitch from Hilton Grand Vacations.  Not the most generous offer for 6 minutes of your life, but a productive way to kill time.

Promotion Details

Frontier Airlines Discount Coupon Code

Frontier can't say "Broncos" because United is the team sponsor, so Frontier's coupon code is HURRYHURRY.  It's good for 18% flights.  I would have preferred an Omaha joke or maybe any advertising from United (I'm a MileagePlus member in Colorado).

Frontier Has Team Spirit, But Can't Name The Team Name