How the U.S. Government Helped Frequent Fliers Make a Mint

[anat0l]

Re: US Government helps frequent flyers make a mint

Totally agree with this! We get so little opportunity here.

That's probably because our government is smart.


(cue laugh track here)

 

[JohnK]

Re: US Government helps frequent flyers make a mint

Good luck to them. I love how the article mentions that what they have done is not illegal but asks the question of whether it is ethical or not....

 

[Keith009]

Re: US Government helps frequent flyers make a mint

Reminds me of the time decimal currency came in.I would go into banks and get bags of pennies and halfpennies-sort through them and take them back-always to the same branch so i would not just get my sorted coins back.Never did get a 1930 penny but every other rare date or variety.

I collected coins many moons ago when I was a kid. Had a few rare and commerative varieties. Then I handed them to Dad for safe keeping in the midst of moving between countries. He deposited them into a savings account! :shock:

 

[Mrmaxwell]

Re: US Government helps frequent flyers make a mint

Sadly Australian companies & Govt don't know how to spell 'loophole'...when they do it is us that is scammed...not vice versa :evil:

 

[markis10]

Re: US Government helps frequent flyers make a mint

Sadly Australian companies & Govt don't know how to spell 'loophole'...when they do it is us that is scammed...not vice versa :evil:

I beg to differ, while not technically an Australian Company there is a "loophole" that allows you to get 600Mb of wireless broadband for $2 at present from one of the local carriers, like this story you do have to do a little bit of work for your freebie!

 

[bambbbam2]

Re: US Government helps frequent flyers make a mint

There are lots of loopholes.. you just have to do the research.

I got a free laptop courtesy of the fed govt, during the Howard 'educating the nation' schemes..

 

[drron]

Re: US Government helps frequent flyers make a mint

There are lots of loopholes.. you just have to do the research.

I got a free laptop courtesy of the fed govt, during the Howard 'educating the nation' schemes..

Must have worked seeing you have reached SG :shock:

 

[bambbbam2]

Re: US Government helps frequent flyers make a mint

OT, but for several months anyone could undertake a short, online course and you were supplied a laptop (which you could keep) for doing the course.

It took a declaration that you hadn't completed a uni degree and you had to be over 25. I knew people that had their parents & grandparents all enrolled.

The scheme was closed early as apparently the costs blew out majorly.

 

[Keith009]

Re: US Government helps frequent flyers make a mint

OT, but for several months anyone could undertake a short, online course and you were supplied a laptop (which you could keep) for doing the course.

It took a declaration that you hadn't completed a uni degree and you had to be over 25. I knew people that had their parents & grandparents all enrolled.

The scheme was closed early as apparently the costs blew out majorly.

Love loopholes like these.

 

[Mal]

Re: US Government helps frequent flyers make a mint

The mint is further cracking down on people using this loophole... Amazing what some negative (or positive depending on your spin) does to loopholes. (Oh, it didn't help much that people were bragging to their banks about how many miles they would earn, and raising red flags all over the place by discussing things in too much detail)

The intended purpose of the Circulating $1 Coin Direct Ship Program is to make $1 Coins readily available to the public, at no additional cost, so they can be easily introduced into circulation—particularly by using them for retail transactions, vending, and mass transit. Increased circulation of $1 Coins saves the Nation money. The immediate bank deposit of $1 Coins ordered through this Program does not result in their introduction into circulation and, therefore, does not comply with the intended purpose of the Program.

Through December 31, 2009 there is a 20-box household limit on Native American $1 Coins. If you need quantities greater than this, please send an e-mail at the time of your order to directship @ usmint.treas.gov to explain why your order should be exempted from the limit.

By clicking “Add to Cart” I agree that I understand, and will comply with, the intended purpose of the Program.

 

[QF WP]

U.S. Helps Frequent Fliers Make a Mint - WSJ.com

Enthusiasts of frequent-flier mileage have all kinds of crazy strategies for racking up credits, but few have been as quick and easy as turning coins into miles.
At least several hundred mile-junkies discovered that a free shipping offer on presidential and Native American $1 coins, sold at face value by the U.S. Mint, amounted to printing free frequent-flier miles. Mileage lovers ordered more than $1 million in coins until the Mint started identifying them and cutting them off.

as usual, FT'ers were in boots and all:

That's small change compared with what some mile collectors did. The coin program was a popular play on FlyerTalk.com, an online community where frequent travelers and mileage mavens share travel tips and profitable mileage plays. One FlyerTalker, identified by his online moniker, Mr. Pickles, claims to have bought $800,000 in coins. He posted pictures of the loot on FlyerTalk.

He says his largest single deposit was $70,000 in $1 coins. He used several banks and numerous credit cards. He earned enough miles to put him over two million total at AMR Corp.'s American Airlines, giving him lifetime platinum-elite status -- early availability of upgrades for life and other perks on American and its partners around the world. He also pumped miles into his account at UAL Corp.'s United Airlines and points into his Starwood Preferred Guest program account.

 

[codash1099]

Previously posted

http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/community/travel-news/us-government-helps-frequent-flyers-20625.html

One of the mods may like to lock this one :mrgreen:

 

[samh004]

Oh dear Lindsay, you really must use the search feature!

 

[BlueAU]

Oh dear Lindsay, you really must use the search feature!

I find it sometimes doesn't work .... ie it doesn't show the posts you know exist and reallly want.

 

[samh004]

I find it sometimes doesn't work .... ie it doesn't show the posts you know exist and reallly want.

It does sometimes take a little digging.

 

[QF WP]

Oh dear Lindsay, you really must use the search feature!

Just goes to show that I'm not perfect