| The best free room I ever had? There have been | | | | until you have accrued 100,000 to 200,000 miles and |
| many, but one that comes to mind is the six-night | | | | splurge on one or two premium class tickets for |
| stay my family and I enjoyed at the Park Hyatt in | | | | travel abroad? |
| Tokyo. Incredibly, there was no check-in desk. As | | | | You may argue that you want to use your frequent |
| we entered the hotel, we were ushered straight to | | | | flyer miles quickly--before the airlines go out of |
| our room on the 40th floor by elevator, where we | | | | business. Critics across the board are heralding the |
| walked through the elegant lobby marveling at the | | | | demise of all major airlines, and with it the frequent |
| spectacular views over Tokyo. Only after we were | | | | flyer mile programs savvy travelers have come to |
| situated in our room did a staff person visit us. We | | | | love--and hate! Countless "travel authorities" wax |
| signed the necessary paperwork in about 2 | | | | lyrical in newspapers and journals, and |
| minutes--all from the luxury and comfort of the desk | | | | "knowledgeable" pundits on radio and TV continue to |
| in our own room. | | | | warn travelers to use up their miles quickly before |
| The amenities alone made our stay memorable. The | | | | they are all worthless. How utterly ridiculous.... |
| huge bathroom greeted us with marble everywhere, | | | | With the exception of US Airways, which I believe |
| while a giant tub invited us to sit, soak, and relax. Not | | | | will disappear from the landscape in the next few |
| only were the best shampoos, conditioners, and | | | | months, the majors are here to stay for the time |
| lotions provided each day, but also a new, | | | | being--so continue to accumulate frequent flyer miles |
| top-of-the-line hairbrush and nailbrush. We lounged in | | | | and be ready to book your dream trip one day in the |
| complimentary silk kimonos and donned thick | | | | not-too-distant future. Will airline miles be devalued in |
| bathrobes after using the pool and spa--just a quick | | | | the future? Of course they will--and so will the |
| elevator ride away on the 52nd floor amid a dazzling | | | | greenbacks in your pocket and mutual fund account, |
| 360-degree view of Tokyo. | | | | but that hasn't stopped you going out and earning |
| For all of this, we paid absolutely nothing, not even | | | | dollars each workday, has it? Get real now--the |
| room tax. But, as we all know, there is no such thing | | | | major airlines will need their frequent flyer programs |
| as "free." It actually took 21 paid nights at Hyatt | | | | for many years into the future, not only as a way to |
| Hotels, using a promotional offer, to earn enough | | | | communicate with their customers, but also as a |
| hotel points for that five-night complimentary stay. | | | | source of revenue from the thousands of businesses |
| But here is the key point: When you accrue hotel | | | | (banks, mutual funds, restaurants, long distance |
| points or intend to use some promotion toward free | | | | phone companies--how do we count the ways?) that |
| nights, make the most of what they offer! Just as | | | | offer frequent flier miles as rewards to their loyal |
| you would use those free nights you earn only at | | | | customers. Your hotel points are even more secure, |
| hotels which might otherwise be out of your budget, | | | | not least since the major hotel chains have not |
| redeem your frequent flyer miles for the most | | | | hemorrhaged money in the same manner as the |
| expensive air tickets in business or first class. | | | | major airlines. So keep earning those Hilton, Marriott, |
| Research consistently shows that almost two-thirds | | | | Hyatt, and Starwood loyalty points to enjoy the kind |
| of all redeemed frequent flyer miles are used for | | | | of stay I describe in the opening story. |
| free coach class trips within the US or between the | | | | It's really the exotic destinations--from Tahiti to Paris, |
| US and Canada. This statistic amazes me. Because | | | | Antigua to Rio de Janeiro--that should excite you, the |
| these awards usually cost 25,000 frequent flyer | | | | sophisticated world traveler who lusts for the unique, |
| miles, travelers who cash them in towards domestic | | | | the unusual, the spectacular experiences. Start |
| leisure trips--for which airfares are unusually low in | | | | imagining--and planning--the fabulous trips that will |
| today's competitive travel market--receive a poor | | | | take you to a whole new level of exhilaration. Decide |
| return on their investment. The savvy traveler can | | | | which portion of paradise has the highest priority on |
| reach almost any domestic destination today in coach | | | | your wish list--and figure out the amount of miles |
| class for under $400 using an advance purchase | | | | you'll need for one or two or more business or first |
| ticket. With low-cost airlines such as America West | | | | class tickets to transform your dreams into reality. |
| now offering first class cabins for travel anywhere in | | | | Then begin working on strategies to start racking up |
| the US priced under $1,000 (and frequently matched | | | | the miles as fast as possible to accelerate your quest |
| by the major competing airlines), even premium class | | | | toward mileage nirvana. |
| is more affordable than ever before. Why not wait | | | | And bon voyage! |