FREQUENT TRAVELER Q & A

The wacky world of frequent flier rules

I have been trying unsuccessfully to get United Airlines Mileage Plus to credit me with the miles that I earned for flights taken with their partner airline Swiss International in July 2006. When I checked in for the Swiss flight, the electronic ticket included my American Airlines' AAdvantage number, since I was told that Swiss was a partner in that program. On the return four days later, I learned that Swiss was now a partner in United's Mileage Plus program. I contacted Mileage Plus, enclosing a copy of the requested electronic ticket and wrote letters asking that my miles be credited. Nothing happened. What can I do? Stephen H. Vogel, Key Biscayne, Florida

You seem to have been the victim of confusion arising from Swiss changing its partner affiliation in November 2005 from American Airlines, a member of the Oneworld alliance, to the Star Alliance, which includes United Airlines. During a transition period, until Oct. 31, 2006, miles could still be earned in the AAdvantage program for Swiss flights - except for trans-Atlantic services.

Since your AAdvantage number was on the ticket, United must have assumed that the flight miles were already credited to your AAdvantage account, not being familiar with the exact terms of the American/Swiss agreement. Infuriatingly, frequent flier records are normally only kept for 12 months, and a retroactive claim would need to have been made within this period. So officially, it is now too late to have your miles credited.

I believe that United owes you an ex gratia settlement. I suggest you write to them once again, laying out the facts. Meanwhile, I am forwarding your letter to United for their comments.

I accumulate more than 500,000 frequent flier miles a year on company credit cards. But I find that airlines apply widely varying tax and fees for award tickets. For instance, while Lufthansa charges more than €220, or $320, for a flight from Dusseldorf to Newark, Continental charges only about $30. Is this correct, or legal? Andreas Huettenhoelscher, Cologne

Most non-U.S. airlines collect both airport taxes and fuel surcharges from travelers redeeming awards. They are far from uniform, and can easily reach €100 or more for a long-haul segment. I am afraid this is legal, though not customer-friendly. Moreover, U.S. carriers are often obliged to levy similar charges when frequent fliers redeem miles for flights on foreign airlines. You earn fewer miles when you pay with credit cards for tickets with U.S. carriers. For instance, in Germany, American Express Membership Rewards' card holders earn two miles for every €3 they spend in Continental's OnePass program, compared with one mile per euro in Lufthansa's Miles & More program. Assuming comparable award thresholds, you therefore earn 50 percent more miles with Lufthansa than with Continental. A lot of difference if you buy a lot of tickets.

Readers may contact Roger Collis by fax at (44-20) 7987-3451 or by e-mail at rcollis@iht.com. Please include city and country.

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