[Margaret Weller]

Since both airlines are part of the OneWorld alliance, you can use your American Airlines account with British Airways and still earn miles.

Works vice versa too!

[Margaret Weller]

You can do this on one way tickets that have a stopover, since people miss their flights all the time.

If you do this on a roundtrip ticket, the airline will cancel your remaining flights.

I have done it many times before but if there is an issue like your flight gets changed and they reroute you, then you will be kind of screwed.

Also on skiplagged tickets, you typically can’t check bags.

I had one ticket ORD-AMS-BCN and I was going to get off in AMS, and KLM made me check my carry on or I couldn’t fly.

Skiplagging isn’t illegal though, meaning you can’t arrested for it, but the airline can get mad if you do it too much.

[Margaret Weller]

You have to make your booking through Aeroplan.

Regarding your other question, except for the Avios program, you can’t move points between different programs.

Once they’re in a program, that’s where you have to make your bookings from.

[Margaret Weller]

I’d skip Air India.

It used to be good a long time ago.

It is under new management and they have started to make positive changes but it is still probably worse than any of the other airlines.

A stopover in Dubai or Abu Dhabi might not be too bad.

[Margaret Weller]

I always use Mixbook to make my family travel photo albums.

They have a bunch of different theme options and it looks super professional.

mixbook.com

The Best Vacation Album Themes - Travel Photo Book Templates

Easily Create Photo Books, Scrapbooks, Photo Cards, Yearbooks and Calendars in minutes with our simple online scrapbooking software. Mixbook - Make It Yours!

[Margaret Weller]

Just take an Uber from O’Hare.

It’s around $50 and you get exactly where you’re going.

It’s 20 mins to an 1 drive depending on traffic and is just the best way to go.

The train from ORD to the Loop takes probably close to 1 hour.

[Margaret Weller]

Allianz was fantastic when my daughter’s husband developed a medical issue that caused them to not be able to take their Mediterranean cruise.

They just bought new policies for their rebooked cruise and it was around $250 per person.

Allianz is the only company I’ll use.

[Margaret Weller]

I bounce between Costco Travel and Hotwire.

And I always check for a deal closer in, then cancel and rebook if I see a lower price.

[Margaret Weller]

If you have done it before, then it should be possible.

There isn’t really a benefit to combining the 2 reservations into one unless you have Elite Status or some other benefit you are trying to use.

[Margaret Weller]

We used GO Car Rentals last time we were there and they were great.

We’re going with Avis when we’re there in Feb since they allow their rental cars on the interisland ferry.

I think GO might as well, I can’t remember.

But I found a great price with Avis.

I’ve had good experiences with Avis in the US, and a bad one with them in Ireland, so we’ll see how it goes this time.

However, if it would work with your itinerary and time of year in NZ, I highly suggest getting a motorhome for your time there.

We had such a blast in one last time (we had a rental car for a few days and then a motorhome for the rest of the time) and love the freedom it gives you to change up your itinerary whenever you want.

We’re still too much in the summer season when we’re there in Feb, so costs were way too high for this time, but if you’re there during either shoulder season, you should look into it.

We used Wilderness Motorhomes and loved them.

There are a bunch of companies down there to book through.

wilderness.co.nz

Campervan Hire NZ | Campervan Rental | Wilderness Motorhomes

Leave ordinary behind. Choose Wilderness for your campervan hire and never look back. We offer a wide range of campervan rentals at locations NZ wide.

[Margaret Weller]

We’ve done 7 Alaskan cruises on both NCL and Celebrity Cruises.

I don’t know if any way to book them using points, however, there is a way to get comped cruises.

Sign up for Carnival Cruise Lines fun match program.

It helps if you get offers from any casino (land or sea).

Once Carnival sends you an offer, become a member of URComped (free 3rd party casino host).

They will then send you offers on all cruise lines.

Sometimes free, sometimes discounted.

If you get offers from other casinos, your chances of getting a totally comped cruise is pretty good.

[Margaret Weller]

It is 50 lbs per bag unless you are in business, then it is 70 lbs.

I would highly recommend getting a $10 portable luggage scale to weigh your bags at home, so you know exactly the weight before you go to the airport.

Then you don’t have to shuffle things around on the floor.

[Margaret Weller]

I asked Bilt and the official response was that if the college room and board is paid monthly and separate from tuition than yes you can earn points for it.

Otherwise no.

[Margaret Weller]

I saw posts where many people said they applied for the Citi AA Business Card, met the spending requirements.

But never received the bonus or didn’t know where the miles they earned from the Citi AA Business went.

When they called, they were told to log into a separate site and transfer the miles from there to their regular Advantage account.

Is this true?

[Margaret Weller]

Yes, we also stayed at the Heathrow Marriott last year.

Not close enough to walk, but very easy to take a local bus from the terminal.

The bus stop was less than a block away.