Triangle Trip

Everyone is used to their accruing airline miles, and then redeeming those airline miles to get their free airplane ticket.  This is good for most of us who try to find the cheapest ticket possible because we still get the same number of miles independent of ticket price.

However, Virgin America‘s (VX) loyalty program (“Elevate”) is a good reward model in favor of themselves, and not the consumer.  That combined with no status wonders how they will attract the business flyers.

You earn 5 Virgin America Elevate points for every pre-tax US dollar spent on a ticket.  I had flight of total of $49.60, pre-tax was $36.10.  I earned 36 * 5 = 180 Elevate points.

On Virgin America’s website, you can switch back and forth between dollars and Virgin America points when booking a ticket.  The rough conversion is 46.51 points per US dollar.

Examples: A $38 flight is 1768 points, and a $101 flight is 4698 points.

So if you are stuck with a short mileage flight but expensive ticket, go with Virgin America. Virgin America offers you more bang for the buck! You will also enjoy the nice new planes – before they go out of business per The Captain’s previous post.

Due to the double EQM promotion by United I have been banking United miles.  However, I’ve been keeping my Delta account active by banking Delta SkyMiles through other means, namely Hertz.  Now Delta has made it even more worthwhile.  Delta is now offering additional bonus Skymiles when banking with their partners, up to 25,000.  Here the link for more details and to register for the promotion: http://www.delta.com/marketing/pileonmiles/

This is not to undermine my arch-nemesis’ post regarding banking AA miles when renting cars 😉

For those of you don’t know, Las Vegas McCarran International Airport (LAS) was the first airport to implement the multi-airline check-in kiosk.  You no longer need to find your airline at the airport, find any open kiosk that is working.  All LAS check-in kiosks are integrated with all carriers flying in and out of Las Vegas McCarran.

The first thing you pick on this kiosk is the airline, and from there it behaves like the normal carrier kiosk.  This is great for people who don’t need to check in baggage because you can go to any kiosk.  No longer will you need to go to your airline.

LAS multi-airline check-in kiosk

The real big advantage is these multi-airline check-in kiosks can be put anywhere in the airport.  Not only at LAS airport, these airline check-in kiosks can be put anywhere around town.  We found airline check-in kiosks at the central rental car building.  And even better, there were several multi-airline check-in kiosks at the Las Vegas Convention Center — North and South.  For those leaving direct from the Las Vegas Convention Center, or wanting to check in the 24 hours in advance to get a better seat, they can check in at the Convention Center.

If you know of other multi-airline check-in kiosk locations, please feel free to comment.