How many times have switched long distance companies?
 

How many times have you switched long distance companies to get frequent flyer miles? I'll admit to 4 times.

It's certainly not something to bag about! <BR>However, you do get the award for the dumb question of the year.....and it's only May!

And, I get the award for the dumb typo of the year. That should be "brag about," not "bag about," of course!

I disagree with noname -- I think switching long distance companies to get frequent flier miles is smart consumerism. I've switched 4 times -- received 25,000 miles for switching the first three times (5,000 miles per month for five months), and 10,000 miles the last time (5,000 for switching plus 1,000 miles per month for the next five months) -- enough for 2 free trips within the U.S. and one free trip to Latin America (Costa Rica), and I'm planning on switching again later this year for another 25,000 miles. By the way, I spend almost nothing on long-distance service, as I make few long-distance calls and those I do make are on evenings and weekends which cost 5 cents per minute. If the Sprint-MCI merger goes through I suppose that will put an end to all this, but in the meantime, I can't understand why everybody doesn't do it. It's basically free travel.

<BR>And, it's also ethically dishonest! <BR>I guess you'll have to come up with another way to screw 'em if the MCI/Sprint merger goes thru.

What is ethically dishonest about switching from one service provider to another when offered an incentive? There are no rules or laws against it, and both companies encourage consumers to do it. In fact, the companies are the ones INVITING consumers to do this. If there were something wrong with it, the firms would not offer the incentives to switch. <BR>I think it's hilarious that you think accepting corporate offers like this amounts to "screwing" these enormous multinational corporations. That's not even possible. Last time I checked, they were doing just fine. The competition between them seems healthy for the marketplace, judging from rates. If they were being taken advantage of, they wouldn't offer the frequent flier miles.

<BR>So, perhaps, my comment was a little over the top. At the same time, however, keep in mind that if everyone who kept switching as you do used his/her phone as little as you claim you do for long-distance calls, none of phone companies would stay in business very long now, would they?

It doesn't take too much effort. MCI comes chasing you. After using MCI for 6 months, I returned to AT&T. MCI CALLED ME, and said they would give me 2,000 miles to return. I said no at the time. They called back a month later, and offered me 5,000 miles to return. Then, I said I had two phones. They said they would give me 5,000 miles for the first phone, and 1,000 miles for each of the next 6 months. So I said okay. At the end of the 6 months, I returned to AT&T. Again, MCI CALLED ME. We did the same routine. I said okay. So, I said," What the heck-I'll try it again!" So, at the end of the six months, I switched back, and MCI called again. I said okay, but I wanted a different plan. Several weeks, later, they sent me a letter saying they would give me 5,000 MORE miles if I switched to a different plan that cost more per month. I said sure. I can't see anything dishonest or unethicial in the above scenerio. I also put $1,000 in two ETrade accounts, kept it there for 6 months, and got another 10,000 miles. This summer, three of my four family members are flying free to Europe. Can you be more specific about how this is dishonest?

I can see I'm not alone here. I got 25,000 miles with MCI so far. I even went so far as to ask them why they wanted my business so much since I rarely use long distance. They still wanted me back and offered me points to do so. Add 10,000 for Etrade, and I got almost enough for a trip to Europe. I keep wondering this bubble will burst.

There is nothing dishonest about it. <BR> <BR>I will switch to whoever offers cash, frequent flyer miles or whatever seems enticing. They are at war with each other. <BR> <BR>Since they are inconsiderate enough to constantly barrage us with calls at home, at dinnertime, I'll gladly accept payment for switching. In fact, as soon as they begin their spiel, I immediately request money or miles and if they are not offering either, I tell them to call back when they are. <BR> <BR>I've switched carriers so many times, I can't keep track of who we have at the present.

OKAY! I SURRENDER! (HEY, NOBODY'S PERFECT!)

Don't worry, noname. Relatively few people are repeat-switchers. I read that around half of the people with phones are still on an AT&T full-rate plan, even though rates have come way down in the last few years. Whatever the carriers lose on a few people who switch frequently, they more than make up on the rest of us who don't switch often for whatever reason.

Quick Question??? <BR> <BR>When you switch LD Companies, which airline miles do you receive: UAL,AA,Delta etc.?

Julius -- When I switch to Sprint I get Northwest miles because they offer 25,000 NW miles for switching. When I switch to MCI I get American miles because they can be used either on American or USAirways which is great for flexibility (MCI used to offer 25,000 for switching, but now it's just 10,000 where I live). MCI also has the same offer with other carriers -- Continental and I'm not sure who else. There are a lot of lesser offers out there for 6,000 miles but I'm spoiled now so I won't switch for less than 10,000. <BR>Best source of info on all this is www.mileageworkshop.com -- click on "phone deals" at bottom left of screen. <BR>

What other ways are there to get mileage - besides credit cards and long distance. <BR> <BR>And let's not ever feel sorry for the large corporations. They're doing just fine. These miles cost them nothing.

I know people who charge their groceries, cars, mortgage payments and kids' college tuition to get miles....

New ways to get FF points? Here's one. If you shop on the internet, sign up for clickrewards.com. If you choose to shop through their stable of signed up internet shops, then you get FF points -- sometimes even double, triple, quadruple FF points. You get clickrewards points and then they convert into FF points on the airline of your choice. Clickrewards will email when there are double, triple, etc. point promos and you can bunch up your shopping during those periods. I originally switched from book shopping at amazon to bn.com just to get click rewards points. I use only the cooking shops available through clickrewrds, etc. And of course you are going to put all these purchases on a credit card that gives you FF points, too.

Most of the major U.S. airlines (American, Delta, etc.) also have "dining for miles" programs -- you earn 10 miles for every dollar you spend at certain restaurants right in your own neighborhood or all over the U.S. You can get information about these at the airlines' own websites or at www.mileageworkshop.com.

I'm trying to figure out whether it will be worthwhile to pay a high annual fee to a credit card to earn miles. Where can I find information on the Etrade promotion to earn miles? I checked on the web and found nothing. Thanks :)

Hey noname, did your parents not like you or what? What a name. Is noname your last name also or is it No Name. If not, most people (especially ethical ones) are not afraid to give their names on this site. <BR> <BR>Arthur <BR>