Guest travelerjim Posted January 20, 2007 Share Posted January 20, 2007 Hello GT Friends, During the past year I have earned enough frequent flyer miles to get me 3 free round trips to Bangkok from the USA ... and I have not flown (but once) on the airlines in which I have earned their frequent flyer miles :-) I am not talking about Northwest Airlines - which is my usual airline and the Skyteam Alliance which NW is a member airline. I look for free bonus miles giveaways...advertised by internet bank or airline mailings - carefully choosing the credit card issuer that is offering the most free bonus miles for getting their credit card. One of the websites which tracks the credit card giveaways is Card4Miles.com: http://www.card4miles.com/ . For example... Last year - and even today... Bank of America is offering 25,000 frequent flyer miles in US Airways. ..just for applying and being approved for their card...a $90 annual fee and free 25,000 miles. The link for the 25,000 miles is on the main page of US Airways... http://www.usairways.com/awa/ . US Airways is a partner airline with STAR ALLIANCE ...including Thai Airways, United Airlines..and many others: http://www.usairways.com/awa/content/divid...ce/default.aspx . It takes 60,000 miles to get a FREE Economy Class ticket from the USA to Bangkok...and 25,000 is a good start! Also, check out Juniper Bank ...it is also affiliated with US Airways...and they have been competing for Bank of America's US Airways card customers....they are offering UP to 25,000 miles for a new card with Juniper Bank - miles deposited into the US Airways Dividend Miles program...15,000 miles for approved credit card and up to 10,000 miles if you have an approved "balancxe transfer". Again that brings you much closer to the 60,000 miles needed for a free round trip economy coach ticket to Bangkok. I have flown US Airways once...between San Diego and Phoenix...a $74.00 ticket and got "bumped" and given next flight to Phoenix and a free roundtrip ticket good anywhere US Airways flies in USA stateside. From several rental cars and on-line mall purchases via US Airways..I now have over 56,000 miles and need only less than 4,000 miles for my free ticket to Bangkok :-) The credit card companies are crazy....and they have special "retention units" to see if they can keep your business. If you ever decide to "cancel" a card....the credit card company will transfer you to a "retention" desk specialist ...and they do have some tempting ways to have you keep their card. They will offer or give miles and more miles in your favorite airline...if you ask! Each year for the past two years..DINERS CLUB Card has offered a bonus.... with British Airways. If you transfer your Diners Club POINTS to British Airways - new or existing frequent flyer card holder - you earn 150% of the points transferred...For example...I had a Diners Club Card...for many years and had accumulated 40,000 points in the Diners Club program (1 point for 1 dollar spent)....I transferred these points into a new British Airways frequent flyer account and now have 60,000 miles - good for one free flight from the USA to Bangkok :-) and I have never flown British Airways. One of the features British Air has in their program which I wish others would follow - is that you can get a ONE WAY ticket on British Air for 1/2 the normal miles for a return/round trip free ticket. Thai is a great feature and can come in handy in an emergency. Watch mid-year 2007 for another British Airways/Diners Club points bonus special..that is when British Air and Diners Club usually make the bonus miles offer. One might say - gee TJ ---- what about your credit score and record...Believe me ...I am retired now and could give a blankity - blank about the impact a credit card application has upon my credit score. If there deal is good for me ...many more miles for free..I'll take their miles...I have not noticed any negative impact on my credit score by applying for a credit card...but select your card and timing of your applications....seek out and get the best deals. United Airlines is now offering up to 25,000 free miles ( I have seen several offers - look for the best) for their new card....and they are part of the same alliance as US Airways and Thai....etc The offer on United Airlines homepage offers 21,000 miles from Chase Bank and free first year card fee.... http://www.firstusa.com/cgi-bin/webcgi/web...=cont&mkid=6VMT Again..look around and you will find many good to great credit card offers....you need not charge but possibly one charge on it to get your miles...sometimes you must spend up to $250.00 - many times nothing - but you will quickly place yourself into a FREE seat to Bangkok :-) Hope this helps you get to Bangkok sooner ...FREE. The weather is beautiful here in Thailand and Pattaya - and the "eye candy" along Dongtan Beach is as good as ever :-) TravelerJim For affordable international health insurance - from anywhere in the World! Please visit http://www.tjinsurance.com . 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