Airport Avenger: Tips and Top Secrets for Airlines, Airfares, Fees, Security and Cancelations

“Virtually free" are the operative words for frequent-flier awards. You still may have to pay various taxes and fees, since the fare itself is usually what’s covered.

Watch out for zingers like extra charges for cashing in frequent-flier miles on rental cars or using a frequent-flier credit card for a large purchase to get lots of miles.

Some places take a fee for that, maybe as much as $100 depending on what you buy.

Many airlines charge fees related to frequent-flier miles. There’s the “rush fee” for cashing in miles less than three weeks before a flight. That can be $50 to $150, depending on the airline. Some carriers charge a fee for cashing in miles less than six months before a flight.

There’s a charge on most airlines for canceling an awards flight and putting the miles back into your account—from $50 to $250. Confirmed same-day standby with your miles? That can cost you $25 to $75. If you still prefer a paper ticket instead of the electronic version, you’ll have to pay $50 more on some carriers.

While it may be harder for you to find the flight you want for your miles, airlines are coming up with more options. Like letting you cash in rewards for one-way flights, not just roundtrips.


Some will also let you combine award levels or use a combination of miles and cash to pay for a flight. Previously, it was one or the other.


For all the drawbacks, there are advantages to frequent-flier programs. They can include priority boarding, a reservation hotline, special check-in lines, upgrades at the gate and better deals on airline club annual membership fees.


Check the airlines’ websites for limited-time offers and bonuses for frequent fliers, as well as changes in rules for using frequent-flier miles. Some carriers also post deals on Twitter and Facebook. Start following them.

Nothing lasts forever, including frequent-flier miles.

Most expire in a year or so, depending on airline policies. So don’t keep piling up miles for a dream vacation you plan to take in a few years.

The miles will fly before you do.

• Some airlines offer you the option of cashing in frequent-flier miles for hotel rooms or merchandise. You may want to go that route if you get frustrated trying to find a flight that works for you, or if the holidays are coming and you need some gifts and a place to stay.

• Before you turn over, say, 30,000 miles for an iPod, remember you’re giving up the equivalent of a roundtrip ticket for something that costs about $150 online or in a discount department store.

• Likewise, do the math before you book a flight with frequent-flier miles. If you’re spending 25,000 miles for a roundtrip that costs less than $200, you could do better to pay for the flight and use the miles to cover a hotel room.

• You might do better using your miles for an upgrade instead of a free flight, if you have that option. It's a better value to take an upgrade worth, say, a thousand dollars than to settle for a roundtrip, possibly on an inconvenient day at an inconvenient time, that goes for several hundred dollars.

• Several airlines want cash co-payments on domestic and international flights when you use frequent-flier miles for upgrades. Ask about that when you're using your miles. You may still do OK with the upgrade. But not as OK as not paying extra.

More tips and top secrets about frequent-flier miles:

Come Fly With Me

Tight Seats

Frequent-Flier Programs