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Are You Taking Advantage Of Double Elite Qualifying Miles?

We all know that the economy has taken its toll on both business and leisure travel. No one is more aware of this than the airline industry. Luckily for travelers, the airlines aren’t going to take this lying down, so if you still have some change left in the travel piggy bank—now’s the time to fly.

In attempt to lure more travelers—especially those from the business world—a few airlines have launched a promotion to grant fliers double elite qualifying miles. You’ll get double the qualifying miles towards swanky status, but not double regular miles for your award ticket dreams. That means it will only take you half the time to reach elite status up in the air, where even the worst trip can become a little better. The possibility of free upgrades, free drinks, snazzy priority luggage tags, and maybe even access to one of those cool airport lounges, makes it totally worth it.

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Mileage Runs / Business Travel / Airlines / Frequent Fliers / → All Tags

One Last Chance To Go Platinum

Your office may be empty this week, but at least some of your well-traveled colleagues may not be chilling at home. The end of the year is serious business for frequent fliers, who'll stop at nothing to secure their status for the coming year. And now that we live in the age of the airline fee, clocking silver, gold or platinum is more important than ever: Most card-carrying road dogs are exempt from checked baggage charges. (They also sometimes get a special security checkpoint lane, free upgrades and other niceties.)

The LA Times attempted to illuminate the sometimes shadowy world of mileage runners this weekend, with an article by an airline geek who has:

Flown from Charlotte to Amsterdam and stayed just long enough to visit a coffee shop and see some Van Goghs.

Included is the mandatory mention of FlyerTalk.com, which maintains a lively forum on mileage running deals riddled with airline lingo even we need a cheat sheet to decode. But isn't it a little ridiculous to spend hundreds of dollars and dozens of hours flying just to get a gold star from your preferred carrier? It goes way beyond just saving on some baggage fees, says the Times:

I am upgraded to first class about half the time I fly.

Related Stories:
· Hi, I'm a Frequent-flier Addict [LAT, via]
· Running for Miles [Jaunted]

[Photo: Caveman 92223]