Airline/Hotel Loyalty Programs

[Copelius]

I've only ever done that once--in London when Mrs. Diddley was taken for some sort of random extra screening. That allowed us to board together.

Otherwise I just don't think it's right.

Why not? You ARE active duty.

[Bo Diddley]

Ha. I think of Bo when they announce that.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Do you board early when they let active-duty military personnel board early?

Ha. I think of Bo when they announce that.

[Bo Diddley]

I’ve had a great experience with them on that route. I like the firmer seat, and nobody can recline their seat into my legs. The best part is already being in Provo when I get off of the plane. That’s before the price breaks for us, which makes it the value leader by far.

Yeah, I was prepared for uncomfortable seats, but I liked them. The no recline is AWESOME.

[Bo Diddley]

Do you board early when they let active-duty military personnel board early?

I've only ever done that once--in London when Mrs. Diddley was taken for some sort of random extra screening. That allowed us to board together.

Otherwise I just don't think it's right.

[Joe Public]

I took my first southwest flight in probably 25 years a couple weeks ago, don’t ask, awful circumstances, but it was a horrible experience.

Not knowing which seat you are getting, paying extra for a spot in line, people saving seats by inhabiting middle seats, no television screen, just an awful experience.

I ended up flying 2 legs to get home to avoid the nightmare.

We are with friends this weekend and I’m bitching about it and was rebuked by multiple people who said Southwest is the best, they don’t pay for flights, spouse flies for free, the CC is the best. I feel like I’m in a parallel world.

That’s been my experience as well, including the friends who swear by it part.

We just tried Allegiant for the first time on our trip to Anaheim. Provo to SNA is pretty nice. Plus most additional fees are waived because I'm in the military.

I’ve had a great experience with them on that route. I like the firmer seat, and nobody can recline their seat into my legs. The best part is already being in Provo when I get off of the plane. That’s before the price breaks for us, which makes it the value leader by far.

[Pelado]

Who has the Chase Sapphire Reserve or Chase Sapphire Preferred card? I'm considering applying and it seems like at least one of you should get a referral bonus for it. So please provide a referral link.

For anyone else wanting to apply for a Chase Sapphire card, here's wuapinmon's refer-a-friend link:

https://www.referyourchasecard.com/19n/NSEM2CKU2K

[BigFatMeanie]

We mostly fly Delta because we like the experience and we get companions passes through some of our cards.

I'm accruing flight credits on Southwest through our Amex Hilton Aspire cards. I think I have close to $2000 in the bank. So we haven't flown SWA in a while. We'll probably use the credits for Hawaii or a family trip.

You fly enough, you're going to have bad experiences from time to time no matter who you fly with. My worst experience was with AA. I still avoid them.

We just tried Allegiant for the first time on our trip to Anaheim. Provo to SNA is pretty nice. Plus most additional fees are waived because I'm in the military.

Do you board early when they let active-duty military personnel board early?

[Bo Diddley]

We mostly fly Delta because we like the experience and we get companions passes through some of our cards.

I'm accruing flight credits on Southwest through our Amex Hilton Aspire cards. I think I have close to $2000 in the bank. So we haven't flown SWA in a while. We'll probably use the credits for Hawaii or a family trip.

You fly enough, you're going to have bad experiences from time to time no matter who you fly with. My worst experience was with AA. I still avoid them.

We just tried Allegiant for the first time on our trip to Anaheim. Provo to SNA is pretty nice. Plus most additional fees are waived because I'm in the military.

[Clark Addison]

I flew Frontier for the first time a couple of weeks ago. It will also be my last time. Having said that, I did enjoy watching the boarding process. They started boarding over an hour before take-off, saying "We are going to try to depart early". lol. ok, sure you are (spoiler: they didn't). I didn't want to sit in a Frontier seat for an extra 40 minutes, so I just camped in a chair by the gate to watch the action. It was surprising (or maybe it wasn't) and also entertaining seeing how many people either didn't read the carry-on requirements or thought they wouldn't be enforced (just because your carry-on fits under the seat in front of you does NOT mean it is free. I brought a special thin laptop bag to make sure I was ok). About 10 people were pulled out of line, told that their bags were too large, and charged the $99 fee (yikes). Most took it stoically, some... did not. It helped that the Frontier employee doing the baggage enforcement was a large and imposing-looking man. It made me wonder if Frontier employs a bouncer-type at all of their departing gates.

The flight itself was actually not too bad. I've been flying this route a lot lately, mostly on the little Bombardier jets, so I appreciated being on a 737. Also, I avoided most of the fees (I had no luggage except my laptop bag), but I did splurge $6, I think it was, for an exit row seat (may have been $9). I guess everyone else was all tapped out after paying for their luggage, because the other two seats in my row of three were empty. It also helped that it was only a 90 minute flight.

Regardless of the benefits, I will not be making a return visit to Frontier, for various reasons. One being that, like Moliere, it isn't the most convenient airport. Another being that the ticket buying process reminded me of a combination of sitting with the F&I guy at the Chevy dealer and getting music from a sketchy website in 2004. There is a constant barrage of pushing new fees combined with an interface that actively tries to make you push buttons that will add costs.

[Moliere]

I took my first southwest flight in probably 25 years a couple weeks ago, don’t ask, awful circumstances, but it was a horrible experience.

Not knowing which seat you are getting, paying extra for a spot in line, people saving seats by inhabiting middle seats, no television screen, just an awful experience.

I ended up flying 2 legs to get home to avoid the nightmare.

We are with friends this weekend and I’m bitching about it and was rebuked by multiple people who said Southwest is the best, they don’t pay for flights, spouse flies for free, the CC is the best. I feel like I’m in a parallel world.

I’ve flown them once in the past 20 years. It was also a horrible experience but not because it was southwestern. My problem with SWA is they fly out of Hobby, which is about 1:15 hours from my house. Super inconvenient and driving through the third ward at night is total sketch. I prefer to high brow it on delta and United at IAH.

[fusnik]

We have used the Southwest Rapid Rewards business card for years. Its a great card if you do much domestic travel. We haven't paid for a US flight for years, and with three kids away at college, I'm guessing we'll be getting even more use out of it over the next couple of years. Companion pass is fantastic.

I've considered the Amazon card for years. I like the idea of the 5% back, but that takes away a bunch of our Southwest points.

I took my first southwest flight in probably 25 years a couple weeks ago, don’t ask, awful circumstances, but it was a horrible experience.

Not knowing which seat you are getting, paying extra for a spot in line, people saving seats by inhabiting middle seats, no television screen, just an awful experience.

I ended up flying 2 legs to get home to avoid the nightmare.

We are with friends this weekend and I’m bitching about it and was rebuked by multiple people who said Southwest is the best, they don’t pay for flights, spouse flies for free, the CC is the best. I feel like I’m in a parallel world.

[Pelado]

We have used the Southwest Rapid Rewards business card for years. Its a great card if you do much domestic travel. We haven't paid for a US flight for years, and with three kids away at college, I'm guessing we'll be getting even more use out of it over the next couple of years. Companion pass is fantastic.

I've considered the Amazon card for years. I like the idea of the 5% back, but that takes away a bunch of our Southwest points.

You're only getting one point per dollar spent on Amazon using your RR business card, right?

If you're set on earning points/miles instead of cash back, then get the Chase Ink Business Unlimited card (no fee) and either the Sapphire Reserve card ($550 fee), the Sapphire Preferred card ($95 fee), or the Ink Business Preferred card ($95 fee).

Use the Unlimited card to get 1.5 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent for anything that doesn't have a bonus category on a different card. Then pair it with the Sapphire Reserve/Preferred or Ink Business Preferred to be able to transfer the Ultimate Rewards points to Southwest (or any of their other transfer partners). That gets you 50% more points per dollar spent than using the Southwest card.

Also, once you get the opening bonuses I described earlier for the Southwest cards, you can cancel the SW cards and then do the strategy again 2+ years later to get another companion pass.

[bluegoose]

We have used the Southwest Rapid Rewards business card for years. Its a great card if you do much domestic travel. We haven't paid for a US flight for years, and with three kids away at college, I'm guessing we'll be getting even more use out of it over the next couple of years. Companion pass is fantastic.

I've considered the Amazon card for years. I like the idea of the 5% back, but that takes away a bunch of our Southwest points.

[Copelius]

My wife thinks we have too many credit cards already, but I may just do it anyhow. Amazon, that is.