Friday's frequent flyer wrap-up

By Chris C., October 31 2014

If you’re saving a stack of US Airways Dividend Miles for a rainy day, you’ll soon find these merged with your American Airlines AAdvantage balance – we’ve got what you need to know in this week’s wrap.

Speaking of points, we’ve got five good reasons for business owners to join Qantas Aquire, and for road warriors, we examine the ins and outs of Qantas Platinum status: including a few ‘unpublished’ benefits that can really come in handy.

Also this week, Virgin Australia Velocity Gold and Platinum members can now unwind in the new Singapore Airlines lounge in Hong Kong, while travellers carrying a MileagePlus can collect points on new non-stop flights between Melbourne and Los Angeles.

To wind things up, a global hotel chain is giving all members of its loyalty program free in-room internet access – as long as you make the booking directly with the chain rather than through a travel agency or a competing website such as Expedia or Wotif.

Qantas Frequent Flyer Platinum: the unofficial guide

If you’re keen to notch up as many frequent flyer points as you possibly can, aim for Platinum status in the Qantas Frequent Flyer program.

You’ll earn double points on eligible flights, and have a better shot at redeeming them – with frequent flyer award bookings on certain flights restricted to Gold and Platinum members only.

Platinum members can also ask Qantas to make an award seat available on flights that only have regular commercial fares for sale, again increasing your chance of using those points to sit at the pointy end.

American Airlines, US Airways to combine frequent flyer programs

US Airways’ Dividend Miles scheme will be absorbed into American Airlines’ AAdvantage frequent flyer program in 2015, but fear not, your points and status are both safe.

Dividend Miles members will see their existing mileage balance converted across on a 1:1 basis in the second quarter of next year, while their current frequent flyer status with US Airways will also be matched across to AA as above.

Here’s what you need to know: AA, US Air to combine frequent flyer programs

Five reasons to join Qantas Aquire right now…

If you’re a small business owner and aren’t yet on board with the Qantas Aquire program, you’re missing out on earning valuable Aquire Points that can be converted into personal Qantas Frequent Flyer points.

Through Aquire, businesses can earn points when flying, using their company credit cards, buying office supplies and more.

Not sure how it all works for newcomers? Here’s why you’ll want to join Aquire today.

Singapore Airlines opens new SilverKris lounge in Hong Kong

Virgin Australia Velocity Gold and Platinum members, KrisFlyer Gold, PPS Club Star Alliance Gold flyers can now unwind in the new Singapore Airlines SilverKris lounge at Hong Kong Airport.

Based on the design of the airline’s existing Sydney lounge (below), a number of distinct personal spaces aim to provide travellers with that homely feel…

There are also productivity pods with work desks, AC and USB power for business travellers to remain connected on the go.

Marriott, Ritz-Carlton hotels offer members wireless Internet

All members of Marriott Rewards and The Ritz-Carlton Rewards loyalty schemes will enjoy free in-room wireless Internet access at over 3,800 hotels from January 15 next year.

The deal extends right down to the programs’ entry-level tiers, and even guests who sign up to either program during their stay.

Earn United miles non-stop from Melbourne to Los Angeles

If you’re an avid collector of United miles, you can now pile them up when flying non-stop from Melbourne to Los Angeles, thanks to UA’s new non-stop Boeing 787 Dreamliner flights to the Californian coast.

Running six-times-weekly and moving up to daily from next year, United is taking on Qantas’ flagship Airbus A380 with the newest aircraft in the skies, which comes with business class (‘BusinessFirst’), economy and Economy Plus.

The latter is much like regular economy albeit with an extra three inches of legroom, but whichever fare you choose across the Pacific, you’ll earn United miles that can be redeemed at incredibly competitive rates.

Read: United kicks off Melbourne-Los Angeles flights on Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner

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