Cheap Flights and frequent flyer programs

LAX at Night, Los Angeles CA



In the long run having a frequent flyers program that you use on a regular basis is going to save you money of your flights if you add them all up vs what you could get from just booking the cheap flight that you can every time, and in addition they are also going to give you added benefits like access to lounges with all of the goodies that they have and they are also going to give you upgrades that you will not need to ask for.

I usually recommend Sidestep.com because they let you search for the cheapest flights by frequent flyers program so it will only show flights that are in network. remember those miles are worth .01 to .015 per mile so on a round trip from LAX to BKK you are booking 20,000 miles which is like $200 to $300 in additional value!

recently I cashed my miles for a free round trip to Bangkok from Aspen Colorado via Denver. Now the cost of that ticket would have been over $1000 anyway that I booked it. and the price of oil going up like it is I really saved allot over the long run by using the Star Alliance system when ever I could.

Now this was not actually a proven fact. I might have saved a few dollars by going after the airfare deals but getting a free round trip plus lounges and bonus miles for every thing that I book this year makes this feel really good for me. Not to mention all the extra leg room on any United Airlines flights for this year!