The best way to track your frequent flier miles

With all of the programs out there, it oftentimes can get confusing keeping track of all the programs. Especially the ones that are seldom used.

I’ve done quite a bit of research on the easiest ways to keep track of all of your miles and points.

My new favorite website is Award Wallet. You can add all of your frequent flyer numbers and accounts and it will send you emails with your balances. The best part is that it will also tell you your expiration dates as well.

You can also enter in your whole family to track their accounts as well.

I spent this afternoon submitting everyone’s numbers in. Here are our balances:

My Delta 250,000
My American Airlines 200,000
My HIlton 200,000
My Priority Club 260,000
My Marriott 120,000
Both of my kids Delta accounts: 20,000 each
My wife’s Delta account: 40,000
My wife’s American Airlines account 200,000
We’re also in the midst of earning enough points with British Airways to fly anywhere in the world in first class.

The point of this is not to brag, but just to show what flexibility I’ll have for our next trip(s).

We’ll have Marriott, Hilton, and Priority Club properties to choose from and three airlines to get the best tickets on.

While it certainly helps that I travel quite a bit, I also take advantage of every offer I can to earn more miles. I’ve switch to DirecTV, opened up bank accounts, and bought gold coins all for the sake of miles.

Earn Hilton HHonors Silver status with just two stays

Enroll in Hilton HHonors® now through March 31, 2010 and earn Silver VIP status after two qualifying stays (normally earned after 4 stays) within 90 days of enrollment. Double Dip® your way to earn both HHonors points and mile for the same qualifying stay at over 2,900 Hilton Family hotels worldwide. Enroll online or call 800-HHONORS (800-446-6677) from the U.S. or Canada and mention origin code USAB. (Existing HHonors members may call 800-548-8690 and request promotion code USAB to be eligible for the Fast Track VIP offer.)

Remembers it’s two stays and not two nights. Good luck!

If you own a corporate American Express card, register at this link and get Silver status with 2 stays or Gold status with 4 stays.

When we took our trip to Thailand last March, we went as Gold Hilton members and got free breakfast, lounge access, and upgraded to a suite. Great benefits!

I’m currently a Diamond member through their American Express card. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that we stay at a Hilton on our trip!

My next trip and my next goal

In 2006 I was able to take a dream vacation to Bora Bora, and Tahiti, French Polynesia staying in an over the water bungalow for 10 nights using airlines miles and hotel points.

I just booked my next trip, which will be to Hua Hin, and Bangkok Thailand. We booked the tickets through a Delta partner, China Airlines, using our Skymiles. Our first class accomodations will be covered by using our Hilton points in Hua Hin for 6 nights and then using our Marriott points in Bangkok for 3 nights.

The Hua Hilton

The JW Marriott

As I was doing research on Thailand and various beach resorts, I stumbled upon what has to be our next destination – the Maldives. I must say the only things I’ve heard about the Maldvies is their sea level continues to rise each year/ Eventually, the sea will swallow up the entire country. Until, then it appears they have some spectacular resorts! Including the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island resort that was twice voted “Best Hotel in the World” and several time “Best Resort”.

Conrad Maldives

The Conrad Maldives Rangali Island resort in the the Maldives and most importantly, a Hilton partner.

Check out this underwater restaurant they have.

The total points required for the Conrad Maldives is 40,000 Hilton points per night. Here are some fantastic ways to earn enough points.
** Disclaimer ** – Earning the maximum number of points requires applying for credit card and sometimes using credit cards. Credit cards are not for everyone and the credit cards charge outrageous interest rates for carrying balances. If you have problems with credit cards, this is not for you. Please educate yourself on how applying and having credit cards affects your credit score and ability to apply for home loans, school loans, etc.

You can apply for American Airlines credit cards that are no fee for the first year. To get 100,00 American Airlines miles, apply for these four cards: the Citi® Platinum Select® / AAdvantage® World MasterCard, the Citi Select® / AAdvantage® American Express® card, the CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® MasterCard, and the CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Visa® Card.
After 6 months, cancel them and reapply again. (This may negatively affect your credit score). This will net you 200,000 American Airlines miles total. Most of these cards require a $250-$750 minimum spending requirement on them. There are many ways to do this, including coins

With your 200,000 American Airlines miles, you can convert these to Hilton Honors points at a 1:2 ratio, in essence getting 400,000 Hilton points.

There is a no annual fee Platinum American Express Hilton Card that will give you 20,000 Hilton points upon signup. The best part about the Platinum American Express Hilton card is it allows you to do an AXON award stay. An AXON award stay is only available to those people who have an American Express Hilton Platinum card. With that card, you are able to redeem four rewards nights at any Category 5 or Category 6 Hilton Family hotel for 125,000 Hilton Honors points instead of 140,000 or 160,000 points. This would allow you to redeem 4 nights in the Maldives for 125,000 points instead of 160,000 points! So, you maximize your points and stay at a top class resort. And by hitting a spending bench mark with the credit card, you probably will earn Gold VIP status with Hilton. And guess what? More perks-like picnics on the beach, fruit and water upon arrival, lei greetings, complimetary internet access, and more.

We’ll see you in the Maldives in 2012.

Hilton Hotels 10% off

You can now get 10% off the best available rate at Hilton Hotels by following this link

2009 hotel bonuses

Here are some great hotel bonuses for the upcoming year.

Marriott is offering 2500 extra points after your first stay between February 1 and April 30, 2009. The maximum you can earn is 25,000 points on this promotion. Make sure your earning preferences are set to Marriott points.

Hilton has double points between January 6 and April 6 at these hotels

.
Priority Club is giving 3000 bonus points for every third night, up to 30,000 points between January 12 and April 30.

Starwood has 500 bonus points for each qualifying night, plus 5000 additional for every 10th night between January 7 and April 30.