The past twelve months or so the major U.S. airlines have been using the Southwest term "Ding". Yes we are going to ding you with up to $128 roundtrip in baggage fees if you dare check bags.
There is one way to avoid paying baggage fees for you and all your traveling companions on the same flight records, become an elite frequent flyer member.
To qualify you usually need 25,000 elite miles in one calendar year January thru December.
With American, United, and Continental airlines offers double elite miles many of you could qualify on a single trip to Europe, South America, Asia, or the South Pacific.
For example, if you fly from San Francisco to Frankfurt on American, Continental, or United and make a connection in Dallas you could earn enough miles in a single trip. In this case a connection is not a bad thing. You actually add precious air miles and qualify quicker for elite status.
If you fly non stop to Frankfurt you earn 11,310 air miles or 22,620 elite air miles and you will be short 2,380 elite miles. The shortest two points for a connection may not be a good thing. Remember you're trying to rack up air miles.
For example, American and United offer nonstop flight out of Chicago to Frankfurt. Fly from San Francisco to Chicago you receive 1,846 miles one way to Chicago, 4,344 miles from Chicago or a total of 6,190 one-way air miles or 12,380 roundtrip air miles double this and your grand total elite air miles for this promotion is 24,760 elite air miles. The problem here is you are 240 elite miles short of qualifying for elite status close, but no cigar.
Now what would happen if you routed your one stop flight to Frankfurt from San Francisco not via Chicago but via Dallas on American. The one way air miles from Dallas to Frankfurt is 5,143 miles or 6,607 one way air miles or 13,214 air miles, with double elite miles your grand total is 26,428 Bingo, you qualify for gold status for the year 2010 and you get your bags checked for free. You get the whole enchilada by just being a little Bestfares.com travel smart.
You can do the same thing with Continental instead of connecting thru Newark or Boston connect via Houston and you will earn more than 25,00 roundtrip elite air miles.
On United connect thru Washington (DC), and your double award miles will be approximately 25,964 elite miles. Again you will qualify!
So use a little strategy when you travel this fall for as little as one trip maybe two you could earn elite status which will offer many perks for 2010 including free checked bags.
Now is the time to enroll in all of these frequent flyer programs.
For American, click here.
For United, click here.
For Continental, click here.
