Managing the miles

It won’t come as a surprise we put a little effort into managing our airline miles around here. Not to worry, almost everything can be handled by a spreadsheet. Every once in a while, though, I receive an e-mail update from an account that kind of throws me.

Hence, the news that I’m 52 miles away from a free ticket on American Airlines is bittersweet. After all, didn’t I just say I’d had it?

Oh, dear, I’m such a wimp. Quicker than you can say “does your carry-on fit” I’m off to their partners page to find a way to score the extras without paying for them. I’m pleased to say I did. By signing up with their dining program and spending $25 in the next 30 days at one of their partner restaurants, I’ll earn 1,000 bonus miles, enough to push me past the 25,000 mile threshold.

However…if I convince them to gift me another 3,000 from the cancelled return flight, then I’m only 1,052 miles away from round-trip to Central America. I could go back as I’ve been invited for a couple of weeks next February.

Yes, I’d be flying on American Airlines.

Let’s see. With 3 miles to the dollar that’s $351 dollars in dining over the next couple of months. $30 dollars a meal for the three of us means about 12 outings or once a week. I can do that. Or wait. I can finally sign up for Netflix and bank another 1,500.

I’m afraid they’ve got me.