For Phoenix area locals, what frequent flyer programs do you use? (Mesa: credit card, hotels)

[Pink Jazz]

I would like to know how large are the different frequent flyer bases here in the Phoenix metro area for the different airlines. Which program(s) do you use?

OOPS, I forgot to include JetBlue TrueBlue.

[hikernut]

I don't fly that much anymore, and try to stick with American or Delta when possible.

[WanderingRebel]

I just signed up for Allegiant's card. It's not the most prestigious airline, but driving 5 minutes to the small Mesa Gateway Airport is a game changer for me. And they fly to some of the places I frequent.

[exit2lef]

I use the big four domestic carriers, but I have much higher balances with Southwest and American because they have so many flights here. With United and Delta, I have accounts because there's no reason not to get some points when I fly, but my balances are usually quite small. I often end up redeeming them for magazine subscriptions because they don't accumulate to the level that would qualify for a free flight.

[Pink Jazz]

Originally Posted by exit2lef

I use the big four domestic carriers, but I have much higher balances with Southwest and American because they have so many flights here. With United and Delta, I have accounts because there's no reason not to get some points when I fly, but my balances are usually quite small. I often end up redeeming them for magazine subscriptions because they don't accumulate to the level that would qualify for a free flight.

I have actually used Delta quite a bit in the past year including redeeming two award tickets, so don't underestimate the smaller carriers. I have credit cards with American and Delta and earn United with MileagePlus Dining with Rewards Network. If you want to boost miles with your smaller programs, you may want to check out the airline dining programs and/or online shopping portals rather than wasting them on magazine subscriptions. With the dining programs you can use any credit or Visa/MasterCard debit (except prepaid); no airline co-branded credit card is required.

[jmsca]

Originally Posted by Pink Jazz

OOPS, I forgot to include JetBlue TrueBlue.

That's the one I have, but I think I need Southwest based on how big it is at Sky Harbor!

[Pink Jazz]

Originally Posted by jmsca

That's the one I have, but I think I need Southwest based on how big it is at Sky Harbor!

Note that you can now redeem TrueBlue points on American Airlines flights with the American/JetBlue partnership. American is almost as large as Southwest here at PHX; they have at times been #1. I don't fly Southwest very often despite being a large carrier here, which is why I don't use their FF program much.

[jmsca]

Originally Posted by Pink Jazz

Note that you can now redeem TrueBlue points on American Airlines flights with the American/JetBlue partnership. American is almost as large as Southwest here at PHX; they have at times been #1. I don't fly Southwest very often despite being a large carrier here, which is why I don't use their FF program much.

THAT I did not know! That's super helpful - thanks for mentioning that!!

[WK91]

I fly quite a bit, usually always on AA. They’ve done all right by me as far as I can tell. I was transiting Chicago a couple of months back, and anyone who has been to O’Hare understands the struggle of trying to get to the international terminal in time to catch a flight. Needless to say, I missed my flight by a few minutes, just couldn’t get through the rows of humanity in time. Luckily, there was another flight 6 hours later and AA rebooked me on that one, no problems at all. Except I got to sit in O’Hare an extra 6 hours, which wasn’t fun, but it was better than my 10 hour layover in JFK that I had to endure on another trip.

So what have I done with all those miles? Banked them mostly, but I did take a free trip to Memphis, of all places, to visit family, and then back to PHX. Never been there before, and to be honest, wasn’t that impressed, but that’s another story.

I also think Qatar Airways is one of the best airlines in the world, and their points transfer to AA. Also, British Air, which isn’t all that great, also transfers points to AA. I took the London to PHX flight a couple of times, because I liked the idea of a direct flight to PHX, but Heathrow is a trainwreck. I’m not even talking about the disaster that has been going on the past few weeks there as it has went from a trainwreck to a dumpster fire. Under no circumstances will I ever go through Heathrow again, unless I am terminating there. Frankfurt and Barcelona are much better transit airports than Heathrow.

As far as hotel awards, I usually always use Hyatt. Not because I think they are better, but it was because my company put me up in a Hyatt for 6 straight months when I was doing a “temporary” assignment that kept getting extended. That’s a lot of awards points, which is good, but hotel living for extended periods isn’t all that fun to be honest. But that’s how they “get you”. Once you have a substantial amount of points on one particular hotel, you start to book them in every city you work in or vacation in.

[Ponderosa]

Don't fly so much these days so don't use the branded cards anymore. Switched to Venture and get 2 miles/cents/$ and I can use it on any airline AND pay for hotels, restaurants, anything in their pretty liberal travel category at full value.