Educational Posts on Loyalty Programs

Thai Airways, the flag carrier of Thailand, is based at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport. The airline flies to 78 destinations in 35 countries. In the United States, it only flies to Los Angeles, but that route will be eliminated in October 2015.

Cuban rum and hand-rolled cigars may be closer than you think with new nonstop charters flying from Los Angeles International Airport to José Martí International Airport in Havana. The new route, offered by American Airlines and charter flight operator Cuba Travel Services, is slated to start on December 12, with Saturday flights to Havana.

Have you ever wished that you had an extra 100,000 miles on hand so you could get out of town? If you’re one of the five winners of American Airlines’ American Way magazine’s Road Warrior Contest, that’s exactly what you’ll get, along with a vacation in Belize and lots of other prizes.

TAM Airlines, the biggest airline in Brazil, operates out of three hubs: Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Brasilia. The carrier flies to 67 destinations in 18 countries, including Miami, New York and Orlando in the United States.

Vietnam Airlines, the flag carrier of Vietnam, is based in Hanoi. The airline flies to 52 destinations in 17 countries throughout Asia, the Middle East, Europe and Australia. It doesn’t offer flights to North America.

Partner number 34 for the Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) loyalty program is SkyTeam member Korean Air. You can now transfer your SPG Starpoints into Korean Air SKYPASS miles at a ratio of 1 to 1.

Premium economy is more expensive than coach, less expensive than business and far cheaper than first class. It’s becoming a popular choice among airline travelers.

LAN Airlines is the flag carrier of Chile. Its main hub is Santiago National Airport. In 2012, LAN Airlines merged with the Brazilian TAM Airlines, creating the largest airline holding company in South America. The two carriers are slated to be fully integrated in 2018.

According to U.S. News & World Report, Alaska Airlines’ Mileage Plan is the best airline reward program of 2015, the first year the carrier placed number one in the rankings.

China Southern Airlines, based in Guangzhou, is Asia’s largest airline in terms of fleet size and the number of passengers carried. It has 400 aircraft and flies to 193 domestic and international destinations. In the U.S., the airline flies to Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco.

Have you ever wished you had a map of the airport when you were on a layover, in the midst of a delay or, worse yet, dealing with a flight cancellation? Or maybe you just wanted to know which restaurant had the best food, or where to find the nearest ATM? With the new features integrated into the United Airlines app, you can have all that, plus self-booking options, in the palm of your hand.

Sometimes a situation calls for a soundtrack. For Southwest Airlines, that song could easily be the recent hit “Happy” by Pharrell Williams. A new study from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) revealed that Southwest Airlines has the happiest customers among air carriers.

Alaska Airlines serves more than 92 destinations in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, including several smaller Alaskan locations that are inaccessible by road. The West Coast carrier continues to expand, too, extending its coverage by offering new nonstop flights.

Royal Jordanian Airlines is the flag carrier of Jordan. Operating out of Amman, the airline flies to 54 domestic and international destinations, including Chicago, Detroit and New York in the United States.

When stays at fabulous hotels can earn you 1,000 miles or even triple and quadruple miles, you should consider extending your current vacation or planning a new one. Right now you can rack up miles with Delta, Alaska, American or Frontier by staying at select resorts and hotels.

S7 Airlines, also known as Siberia Airlines, is headquartered in Novosibirsk, Russia. It has an extensive domestic and international network, flying to 106 destinations in Russia, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Although it doesn’t currently fly to the United States, the carrier is a member of the oneworld alliance.

Do you wish there was more to do when you’re in the air? If so, United Airlines has something to offer you. The airline is taking its in-flight entertainment up a notch with the expansion of its United Private Screening in-flight entertainment initiative.

People rent vehicles for a variety of reasons. Whether you’re on vacation, hauling something big or just trying to keep those extra miles off your car, Virgin America is offering a trio of enticing promotions to fit your needs while you collect bonus Elevate points. They’ll even help you earn points when you’re hailing a taxi cab alternative for short rides around town.

Singapore Airlines has a reputation for having comfortable planes and excellent service. It’s the flag carrier of Singapore, operating out of its hub in Changi Airport. Singapore Airlines is a member of the Star Alliance, and it flies to 63 destinations in 35 countries worldwide. In the U.S., it flies to Houston, Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco.

Air China, based out of Beijing Capital International Airport, is one of the largest airlines in China. The carrier flies to nearly 180 domestic and international destinations, including the following U.S. cities: Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and Washington, D.C.