Welcome to the Frequent Miler week in review around the web, where we recap some top tips and stories from around the web. This week, we have a cool new Alaska promotion, a different perspective on achieving Delta status through spend, and more. Read on:
Alaska Offering Bonus Miles & Elite Status To College Students Based On Their GPA
In what is a brilliant bit of marketing, Alaska is offering both enough miles for a free short west coast flight at the lowest level for students at one university with a high GPA, and One Mile at a Time has the scoop. Hats off to Alaska — not for recognizing student achievement, but for a smart business decision. They are choosing successful students who are likely to live in one of their hubs and theoretically have a professional career and giving those students a taste of what their future loyalty could get them. What a way to make an impression with a target market for them. This promotion surely won’t be popular with those who earned status the old-fashioned way, but hats off to the marketing person who came up with this one.
Aer Lingus confirms Philadelphia route – and how to redeem Avios with minimal taxes
It’s great to have a new option for an Avios redemption that has somewhat reasonable taxes attached. Head for Points has the details on how you can book it to pay as little as possible.
Thinking about the 2018 changes to Delta co-branded credit card MQD waivers
In another take on the changes to the newly increased spend threshold for a Delta MQD waiver (for Diamond status), the Free-quent Flyer ponders how to use the rollover system to your advantage. You can save some on the dollar cost with a strategically timed downgrade as well, and if you’re able to hit the spend for an MQD waiver early in a year, this might be an interesting plan.
Why Banks Shut Down Accounts Due to Money Order Deposits
One of the most popular means of manufactured spending involves buying gift cards and using them to buy money orders. The problem with this technique is that some banks will shut down your bank account for depositing too many money orders. In this post at Doctor of Credit, sirtheta explains why.
That’s it for this week around the web. Check back soon for this week’s last chance deals.
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