I converted my Air France miles to Delta, so I’m under their Freq Flyer policies now. But when I fly AF, I have to abide by their baggage rules. Their new baggage policy says that it the $50 2nd bag fee applies to tickets purchased after Nov 1, and I got my FF ticket prior to Nov 1, so we’ll see what happens in May…I may have a very heavy carry on! I’m business on the way there, so it won’t apply anyway, so get a shopping list ready for me!

Tell your guests to load up their 1 bag with stuff for you, then they’ll guarantee room in their return bag for all their purchases!

When I donate them I have not had to pay, but to gift them I would. Hard for me to use them any other way since I live in Paris (like the magazines or such).

Major bummer about the Air France one bag rule!! Will have to have my friends stock up when they come to visit Paris…

Your hint to gift miles to create activity in your mileage account is a good tip! Readers should just be warned to research the rules and regs of their frequent flyer club carefully before deciding how to create activity when they are worried their miles will expire. Each airline is different, and lately they seem to be changing their rules annually.

For example, my primary airline, Delta, charges to gift miles. If I were to gift my husband, or anyone else, 2000 miles (Delta’s minimum), it would cost $56. This is a small price to pay to prevent potentially losing thousands of miles! However, just be aware of all the various rules, restrictions, and clauses that frequent flyer clubs impose to encourage you to use those miles up quickly.

The airlines do not want you to leave those miles sitting untouched in your account…it is a major headache for them to manage. This is why the rules are continuously getting stricter.

Many airline frequent flyer programs also offer shopping programs to help you spend or donate your miles if you don’t plan to use them to fly. You can spend them toward things like magazine subscriptions or clothing or home repair items or donate them to childrens’ charities and other non-profits. Check out your airlines’ programs for more information.

But remember, when it comes to frequent flyer programs: use’em or lose’em!

Here is a little hint: instead of letting those miles expire if you have no activity in the last 18 months, gift some (usually just 1000) to one of the airline`s charities and voila, you get another 18 months to use the miles plus you have done some good! All for a meger 1000 miles.

What will I be in town for?
bisous, bon anniversaire cherie!
Moi