Southwest Airlines’ expansion at Denver International Airport to a total of 56 daily flights is giving travelers more options, but it may also call for a more strategic approach for frequent fliers trying to maximize their miles.
The frequent-flier programs offered by United, Frontier and Southwest airlines – DIA’s three major carriers – each offer a variety of benefits and drawbacks. When it comes to determining which airline to devote the bulk of your travel and credit-card usage to, you should carefully consider where you want to travel and how often you fly.
Some programs might be better for those who fly mostly within the United States, while others may be more suitable for those who don’t fly frequently but still want to earn free trips.
And some changes airlines have made could make it easier or more difficult to use your miles for free flights.
United is the largest carrier at DIA, flies around the world and is part of the global Star Alliance airline network, allowing travelers more options for international travel.
But Frontier attracts many members to its EarlyReturns program because it generally requires only 15,000 miles for a free U.S. flight, lower than United and other carriers that generally require 25,000 miles.
Frontier doesn’t have as extensive of an international network as United does, but it does fly to 61 destinations from Denver, including cities in Mexico, Canada and, soon, Costa Rica.
With new flights added Sunday, Southwest now flies nonstop to 16 cities from Denver. Those routes don’t include nonstop flights to New York, Southern California or Fort Lauderdale, but you can get connecting flights through Southwest or partner ATA Airlines.
Neither Southwest nor Frontier flies to Europe or Asia.
Instead of using miles, Southwest’s program requires 16 credits, equivalent to eight round trips, to earn a free flight.
It’s often called a simpler system than other frequent-flier programs, with the free-flight credit automatically deposited into your account once you reach the 16 credits.
But one of the key differences with Southwest’s program that Denver travelers should be aware of, according to editor-at- large Tim Winship, is that Southwest requires its members to earn all 16 credits within 24 months.
“For someone who is a leisure traveler, eight round trips – that’s a lot on one airline,” Winship said, “especially considering that you are dealing with an airline that has a very limited network out of Denver.”
Frontier in July made changes to its program, including adding blackout dates.
“That is really contrary to the way the industry runs,” said Randy Petersen, Colorado Springs-based editor and publisher of Inside Flyer magazine. “Today, there is no such thing as blackout dates among Frontier’s major competitors.”
Frontier also switched to a system that bases the availability of seats you can book with miles on consumer demand. Depending on when and where you want to go, that could make it easier or more difficult to find your free flight.
United, meanwhile, is requiring customers to use their frequent-flier accounts at least every 18 months to remain active, effective Dec. 31.
Kelly Yamanouchi: 303-954-1488 or kyamanouchi@denverpost.com
