US Airways Dividend Miles

US Airways and America West have officially closed the merger between the two airlines but will initially continue operating as two airlines as they are working hard behind the scenes to combine their operations. They recently introduced new benefits that will make your travel with US Airways and America West more enjoyable and rewarding. You can begin to enjoy the following new benefits for travel beginning October 5, 2005:

• FlightFund® members will earn a minimum of 500 miles or actual miles, whichever is greater, when they fly on America West or US Airways
• Miles and segments flown on either US Airlines or America West will count towards FlightFund Elite status
• FlightFund® miles can be redeemed for award travel anywhere US Airways and America West fly - over 200 destinations worldwide
• Elite members will receive complimentary First Class upgrades throughout the combined route network within North America, the Caribbean and Latin America
• All our airport clubs will be renamed US Airways Club® providing access to an expanded network of 21 Clubs in 16 cities, including a new location opening soon at Los Angeles International Airport

The merged airlines intend to combine miles for active members in FlightFund and Dividend Miles programs into the new Dividend Miles program in spring 2006. Until they launch the all new frequent flyer program, FlightFund and Dividend Miles will continue to operate separately, so you can continue to accrue and redeem miles, or earn elite status in either program.

The new US Airways Dividend Miles program will give you the ability to earn and redeem miles throughout the Star Alliance network with service to nearly 800 destinations in 139 countries and will also:

• Feature a new elite program - Preferred Membership – which will offer you four membership levels
• Award Preferred Membership status based on the combined elite qualification miles and segments you earn in 2005 in both Flight Fund and Dividend Miles programs to provide you with the highest status possible

Our take on the new US Airways program is that it will make it a little harder to get a free flight but makes it competitive with the other airlines. The minimum for a domestic free ticket US Airways will now be 25,000. That's the standard at most large carriers, but the previous minimum thresholds were 20,000 on US Airways and 15,000 for short flights on America West. There will also be reduced bonus miles on flights taken by some elite-level fliers. An America West platinum member who used to earn double miles on paid flights will now receive a 75% premium. Also, the "new US Airways" online booking bonus will drop to 500 miles per ticket which is down from the online bonus of 1,000 miles.

New Exciting changes to the US Airways Visa Signature card: You now get 20,000 Bonus Dividend miles upon first purchase instead of 15,000.

A few other features with the US Airways card from Bank of America is the free 24/7 personal concierge service and no cap on miles earned.  Signature cardholders earn 15,000 bonus miles ($90 annual fee), Platinum cardholders earn 10,000 bonus miles and Classic cardholders earn 5,000 bonus miles after you make your first purchase.

We recommend you apply for a no-fee airline miles card.

US Airways News:

Earn up to 15,000 Bonus Miles on US Airways

Earn 500 bonus miles each time you fly US Airways or US Airways Express to any of the over 100 new destinations not currently served by America West for travel through December 31, 2005. Plus, each time you fly to five additional destinations, you will earn 5,000 more bonus miles. Now is the time to book your Winter travel and earn rewards!

National Air Rewards Credit Cards: Northwest Airlines | Continental | Delta Skymiles | United Mileage Plus | British Airways

Regional Carriers: Jet Blue Airlines | Southwest Airlines | Asiana Visa | Hawaiian Airlines | America West