source: smart travel
Other mileage earning tips
The rules of loyalty programs can be so confusing that often travelers believe they are entitled to earn miles when they are not. Here are some additional tips about when you can and cannot earn miles:
- Except in the rare case of a special promotion (or Hilton HHonors Double Dip stays), mileage credit cannot be earned for the same flight or partner activity more than once. If you fly on Continental, for example, you cannot receive credit for that flight on both Continental and partner Northwest. And if you stay at a partner hotel, you often have to choose between earning flight miles or hotel points. Once your flight departs, or you've initiated your partner transaction, you cannot change your mind and switch where your miles are credited.
- If your flight is canceled, you will not earn miles. If you are rebooked on another flight, you can earn miles with the airline you fly or one of its partners. If you fail to show up for your flight, you will not earn miles for the unused tickets.
- Upgrades only upgrade your seat, not your miles. You will receive the miles for the class of service you paid for, not the one you flew in.
- Not all tickets earn miles. Free tickets, such as award tickets, consolidation tickets, and tickets booked on certain opaque travel sites, such as Priceline and Hotwire, are ineligible to earn miles.