This is a two-part question:

1. Which airlines do you fly with to earn your frequent flier miles? I want accumulate frequent flier miles so I can visit Asia and Europe more often. Which airline or credit card (??) should I sign up for?

2. Where can I find last minute deals for cheapie flights/packages to Asia (Tokyo, Beijing, Seoul, HK, Singapoare)? I'm on summer vacation and can take off with less than one week's notice.

Thanks a bunch!

Oh, I forgot! Expedia and Travelocity concentrate on European packages only in their "last minute" section. None for Asia.

A lot depends on where you are located. This will indicate which airlines have major hubs there and so you would be well advised to go with one that has a major hub. The other factor is their partner netwrok. I live in Houston so Continental is king and they partner with EVA Air for my Asia trips. Most of the major US airlines have partners. Piece of advice- where you can -fly the Asian airline partners- you should get the US partner ff miles and the asian airlines are head and shoulders above all the US airlines on service- there is no comparison. Most of the major US airlines are affiliated with some bank/credit card company or you could sign up with American express and accumulate points to be applied to a number of airlines. What ever you do you should be concentrating your purchases in such a way that you accumulate all your points on a specific airline or in a program like American Express.

Two thumbs up for United's Frequent flyer program which I've been hooked up with for years...Thai Air is also hooked up with them. I live in L.A. area so United/Thai Air serve me quite well since it's very easy and usually inexpensive to get to Asia from here. On paid tickets I try to go on Thai Air because if I have to cancel,at the last minute, then all I have to do is call them up and they immediatedly recredit my credit card the entire airfare minus $75. On United if I cancel, I can use the ticket for up to one year of the originally TICKETING date as long as the new ticket cost $1.00 more than the original ticket. The ticket can be reticketed for anywhere in the world. That's why, on United Airline tickets I look for rock bottom prices on the original ticket. I call the airline directly when I book my flights. I've also been on Delta....for years...but find it a pain. But all my AmExp charges go to Delta so I stick with them for that reason only. Delta is hooked up with Korean Air which requires a dreadful 70,000 miles for a free L.A.-Seoul-Bangkok ticket...with a long layover in Seaoul. United and Thai Air only require 60,000 miles for a free ticket with either a short layover in Tokyo..on United..or Osaka...on Thai Air..Happy Travels!

I use United. I have their ff card plus their credit card, which I use for most of my purchases. I am at a premier executive level with them, due to miles flown each year, so my miles accrue more quickly than the average flier. But I like United and have been with them for years.

I also have about 220,000 "points" with AmEx but I don't find it quite so easy to cash them in. Have transferred some to Delta at times, and gotten free flights here in the US on Delta. That web site works pretty well.

UAL is still my first choice though.

mingtsainy:

Where are you located?

I live in NYC so JFK and Newark are the closest international airports to me. LGA serves mostly local flights.

Thats a major hub for a number of airlines - Continental included- so you have a number of options. Next check out their ff programs and their airline partners. Check what the mileage redemption levels are for asia and europe. (for both the US and airline partners) Not all programs are alike. Make sure miles do not expire on the one you choose. Likely if you sign up for the airline credit card you will pay $45-65/year- but its worth it.

One more plug for going with Continental- going to Asia you can fly EVA Air and select their Evergreen Deluxe Class (like business class) for only about $200 more over their coach fares and what a difference it makes. We flew this class to BKK and Manila the last two years and I swear I will only fly EVA Air in this class to Asia.
I'm 6'2' and could cross my legs and actually sleep. Seating is 2 x 4 x 2.
You get full Conitental miles for the entire trip. We are talking great value here- not offered by many of the other airlines.

I use United Mileage Plus and the credit card as well. The best way to earn miles though is through the American Express/Starwood program. The Starwood points can be redeemed in most airline ff programs one for one. One of the exceptions unfortunately is United which is two for one.

All good answers above, but I think you should ask this first. Is it worth it to play the FF game to get free tickets to Asia.

Modern day FF programs are set up to benefit the true frequent flyers - i.e. those who earn at least 25,000 Elite Qualifying Miles (EQM) a year or more. [EQM is only earned through flying qualifying fares, and not via credit card purchases.]

If you can't get 25K EQM a year and become an &quot;elite&quot;, then you will find that it's very hard to get seats on the flights you want. It may be fine if your dates are <b>extremely</b> flexible; but otherwise you may be very frustrated with the results.

Being an &quot;elite&quot; is also very important if you decide to go with UA, as only Mileage Plus &quot;Premiere&quot; member can get seat assigments in the Economy Plus section of their planes, with 3-4 in extra legroom.

And if you decide to go with CO, keep in mind that they have the strictest policy on EQM. Many fares are only 50% if not bought on continental.com. Also, they only fly to Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Beijing (starting 6/15). Otherwise, you'll need to go through Guam or fly a partner.

Another note about EVA. The Evergreen Deluxe still only earn 100% miles and EQM. No bonus over regular economy. Also, EQM on only US-Taipei flights. The connection from TPE to elsewhere do not earn EQM.

flyertalk.com is a virtual wealth of information.

I've been a long time member of American Airlines Aadvantage program and have gotten lots of free trips. I've never had any trouble getting free trips to places I want to go or when I want to go. Sometimes I fly American, sometimes I fly their partners. I also have a Citibank afinity card which earns miles on American. I also live in NYC and can fly virtually any airline so I'm signed up with just about every frequent flyer program there is since it doesn't cost anything. I've gotten several free trips to Australia with United and have flown free domestically on Continental and Delta. My advice is sign up with anything you fly but do try and concentrate your miles on one to get the best advantage, such as use the afinity credit card for all of your purchases. But first you must figure out which airline will serve you best and get the credit card for that airline. Sometimes a much better price turns up on an airline which you may not fly that much or a partner, which is shy I think it's wise to join other programs as well. I've managed lots of free trips that way. One more thing, I have found American's program the easiest to cash in miles with (although I can't say I like the airline itself but then again, I don't care for any US airlines), then United, Delta next and I had the most trouble with Continental.

I'm a frequent flyer mile junkie. I don't fly enough to actually earn my miles honestly but I'll participate in any promotion, etc. to earn extra miles.

My experience is that the most non-flying promos are available through AA, with UA a close second. I just cashed in 440,000 AA miles for 4 business class tickets to Bangkok (with stopover in Hongkong). I would never have been able to afford bus class tickets without miles.

Deb

I use United. I fly with them whenever possible and have their credit card, am signed up for their dining out program (where you get 5 miles per dollar spent at participating restaurants), etc. I don't use my miles to get free tickets, but use them to get business class upgrades on my Asia or Europe trips. United has the best program for getting upgrades.

It it important to manage your miles wisely, fly your mileage plan airline even when the schedule isn't as good or the price isn't as low to make sure you get elite status, and figure out the best way to use your miles.

Good going Deb--I'm impressed!

I fly United. Two roundtrips to Tokyo (or further) each year would qualify you for the Premier elite level that rkkwan referred to where you would be able to get a seat in Economy Plus. Or one roundtrip to Bangkok and one to London. You can earn Premier status by flying United's partners, but the status is not useful for the E+ seats unless you actually fly United.

I earn miles by flying United and then use awards to fly on their partners. Main reason for flying United is the E+ seat, double miles because I am at the Premier Executive level, and the fact that my home airport, Dulles, is a UA hub. Also, the UA fares are usually lower than their Asian partners.

United has a nonstop from JFK to Tokyo as does their partner ANA. Partner Thai Air will soon have a nonstop to Bangkok. Singapore Airlines and Asiana Airlines are also partners that fly to Asia.

A business class roundtrip on the United FF program costs only 90,000 miles to South Asia (including Bangkok).

You can find great fares on United at united.com Check the Deals page, some of them are good deals and some are not that great. Also, sign up for their e-mails.

In particular, get the E-fares e-mail and/or check the e-fares page on Tuesday afternoon. There are a couple of Fodorites in Japan now who travelled there on fares of $175 each way from the U.S. (roundtrip, with tax, about $450). The only international offer today from JFK is to Mexico City, though.

American Airlines might be the best one for you if you fly from JFK. Their partner, JAL, has nonstops to Tokyo and beyond in Asia. AA also offered the same cheap fares to Japan.

Sign up for go-today.com, travelzoo.com, and gate1travel.com weekly e-mail specials. All of those companies frequently feature good deals to Asia. I went with go-today from Seattle to Hong Kong, airfare, 5 nights hotel, half day sightseeing, and airport transfers for $499. AND I got miles on United.

And search on travelocity by flexible dates to find low fares.

As Mr.W. says, once you have a United frequent flier account, you can sign up for emails of weekly e-fares (last minute deals). I could fly Seattle to Narita RT this week for $475.