Frequent flier miles require one thing- a frequent flier "number". Use this number whenever you make reservations with a given airline.
Some airlines combine numbers/ give credit for other carriers. For example Aeromexico gave me delta miles when I flew into Mexico.
You can increase the "rewards" by opening a credit card for traveling. The most common card I see is an Amex. But that is Delta and where I live Delta is king. US Airways has a visa, I think... each airline is different. Smaller carriers may not have a credit card rewards system.
This is where Amex comes in... American Express has "membership rewards". Costs $75 each year to join. You get 1 point per dollar. They send you a catalog and give you choices:
buy stuff. I bought a steam cleaner once
convert to FF miles. I did this with Delta.
convert to Hotel points. I did this with Marriot
buy gift certificates, golf clubs, vacation packages, cruise tickets... the list goes on (the catalog of rewards is quite thick).
Every airline, every hotel and every car rental place had a way to give amex points or receive amex points when I looked (10 years ago).
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Does anyone know if you can negotiate with hotels "upfront?" That is, if I stay at Days Inn like travelocity pointed me to and then I approach the manager and say, "Gee, I liked it here. . .I'd like to buy 5 nights upfront for the next year and work them off?"
Can you do that and maybe get a 30% discount or something?
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I have never negotiated like this, please let me know if it works.
I traveled for my company and was reimbursed, so I went where benefits were the best (cost was not my issue, as long as I was within policy).