AwardWallet President Jeff Bianco

AwardWallet is a free online tool that helps travelers keep track of their award program points (such as frequent flyer miles). With all the different award program sites listed, it’s a snap to just click on the airline or hotel name, and the auto login takes the user right to the respective award program site desired, and automatically logs in said user. Aggregating all those different hotel points and frequent flyer miles into one site is incredibly useful for those of us (read: me) that are less than organized! Todd Mera and Alexi Vereschaga, co-founders of AwardWallet, answered some questions in this interview, along with Jeff Bianco, President of the handy travel awards aggregator website.

When did you create AwardWallet, and what was your inspiration?

In 2004, after traveling extensively, Todd Mera decided that there had to be a better was to track all his miles and reward programs’ statuses. Along with co-founder Alexi Vereschaga, they created a simple and reliable website so that travelers wouldn’t have to manually enter their various points and awards on a spreadsheet. It all started with a handful of airline and hotel programs, and today AwardWallet tracks over 340 loyalty award programs, tracking 10.9 billion points representing 218 million dollars.

What would you say are frequent flyers’ most common complaint about redeeming miles? And, does AwardWallet address this?

Many traveler are simply overwhelmed with managing their multiple frequent flyer accounts. If a user could limit the number of programs they are enrolled in to two or three, it would make managing their programs easier. However, since not every airline flies to every city, passengers are often required to fly with multiple airlines, Our members average between six and seven loyalty programs. If you are also tracking your spouse’s or child’s accounts, add another six for each! AwardWallet offers members the ability to view all their (and their family’s) frequent flyer accounts on one page.

Many airlines have a limited amount of award seats available and oftentimes the exact dates you’d like to fly are not available. However, with some flexibility in your schedule and persistent award searches, you should be able to find a good award ticket. Also, if there is no availability on your choice airline be sure to see who they are partnered with. Some of the biggest partner alliances are Star Alliance, SkyTeam, and OneWorld.

What does AwardWallet do to ensure the security of users’ information, and to help users understand that their private information is, indeed, secure?

Sensitive data is encrypted in our secure database. Besides using the secure https protocol when transferring data, we give users the ability to store passwords in their computers, in a “cookie.” Now, in our opinion, there are advantages to secure this data in our database (our servers are most likely better protected than yours). The service is very secure and has been ever since we launched in 2004, and AwardWallet is hosted in the USA.

What does AwardWallet do to make it a better site than your competitors?

There are a few websites that, in theory, offer similar services like tracking point balances. However, we at AwardWallet pride ourselves in having the largest number of programs users can track, travel plans automatically added to users’ profiles, and we have the most efficient customer service. We also have an iPhone and Android app. We are the most praised and popular loyalty rewards management website on Flyertalk.com and Milepoint.com.

Where would you like to see AwardWallet go on the next few years? And, what are you doing to help achieve that goal?

Just a year ago we at AwardWallet thought hitting the 50,000 member mark would be one of our greatest achievements. However, we now expect 100,000 members by the end of 2011. Recently, we’ve developed an API that allows AwardWallet to track loyalty information for users. This API gives our partners the ability to utilize rewards information of their own users, for their own needs. For example, one of our clients is Points.com with their entire user base of millions of users. AwardWallet plans on expanding in this area of business to business relationships. last, we’re very focused on tracking and aggregating loyalty point information. We plan to track over 500 loyalty programs by the end of 2011.

AwardWallet is seeing growth in the travel website market that is surprising to its founders, but entirely deserved. What with various kudos bestowed upon AwardWallet by various reputable sources (Wall Street Journal, for example), I’d expect much continued success in the future. Thanks, guys!

If there’s one thing for sure about air travel… it’s that nothing is for sure about air travel. (Well, you can count on cramped economy seats and no more free meals on domestic flights.) We embrace travel here at The Vacation Gals, and even when weather, mechanical problems, and “crew needs to rest” issues disrupt flights. After all, the unrpedictability of flying these days just add to the fun and adventure, right?!

I suppose I should have known that my air-travel plans were going to go awry this morning when I showed up at my Colorado mountain airport at 6:45 a.m. with my shirt on backwards. D’oh!

Kids are nonplussed by our airport delay -- this mom loves their iPod Touches!

Just a few minutes to before my kids and I were supposed to board our flight to Denver en route to Orlando this morning, a gate agent announced that the heating/cooling system on our plane was acting up. Not more than three minutes later… “I don’t have good news. This plane is now ‘on decision’ until 10 a.m. Another plane from Denver needs to bring a part in. We might fly at 10 a.m. or the flight may be canceled.”

As chaos reigned in the gate area — a chorus of groans while everyone rushed the ticket counter — another agent got on the intercom (and I’m paraphrasing): “You can stand in line here, but getting on the phone with United might be faster. Use any means necessary to evaluate your options.”

I was half tempted to get on Twitter ASAP. After all, according to this December New York Times article, many passengers found success Tweeting airlines for help in re-booking during the post-Christmas blizzard air-travel debacle.

Instead, while I pulled up the United.com website on my laptop (thank you free airport wi-fi!) I speed-dialed United Airlines 800-number, which is programmed in my cell phone. I highly recommend putting all major airlines’ phone numbers in your cell phone for occasions such as this.

While other passengers patiently — or not so patiently — waited in line here at the airport, and others around me fumbled to make phone calls, I had a reservations agent on the phone re-booking me and my kids to Denver and ultimately to Orlando. I suppose I could have gotten online and secured mobile boarding passes. Instead I left my kids and our carry-on luggage at the gate, and scooted back to the main ticket counter (before security) and printed out our boarding passes from a kiosk.

Of course,right now all three of us are seated in middle seats, several rows apart from one another on the first leg of our trip (we don’t have any seats for the second leg). But at this point, it’s the least of my worries. When the line dies down here at the gate, I”ll see if I can switch them. Or smile nicely at my fellow passengers once we get on the plane.

I feel fortunate that — if all goes well — we’ll arrive just three hours later than planned. I”m currently sitting next to a family who is trying to get home to the South… sounds like they won’t arrive until tomorrow morning! Dad’s on the phone trying to make deals with a supervisor — asking for some free round-trip tickets for their inconvenience. That’s my other tip: Try, try, try to remain cordial and pleasant with all ticketing or reservation agents! They appreciate passengers who are cool, calm and collected — not disgruntled and confrontational.

I am thankful that we have good friends in Orlando who are going with the flow. They’ll just pick us up at MCO later — and they’ll have my favorite bottle of wine opened and ready to drink when we ultimately arrive at their house just after dinnertime!

I’m thankful, too, that I’ve got a couple of kids who are seasoned travelers. Although the crankiness might set in later today (we woke up at 5:15 a.m. after all), right now they’re cool. With games and music on their iPod Touches, movies to watch, Nintendos to play with, books to read and plenty of snacks on hand, they’re content. And, in the end, the new timeline might work out even better — we’ll have a longer layover in Denver during lunchtime. I’m thinking about an airport Colorado microbrew on tap for me!

The best travel tips help everyone travel smarter. Some vacations are perfect from start to finish, but more often than not, at least one thing goes wrong. Because part of the fun of travel is often its unpredictability (for those of us that like serendipity, anyway), cutting down on big deal problems help ensure that the problems that do arise are small, and easily remedied. Consumer Reports’ ShopSmart (April/May) offers expert travel tips; these are The Vacation Gals’ favorites. All opinions herein are our own.

Best Luggage Tip:

There’s been a bit of an uproar; this week, Spirit Airways announced plans to start charging for carry-on luggage. Now, when US Airways charged for water, the resulting outrage quickly saw the airline put an end to this egregious policy — perhaps the same will ensue with Spirit. Nevertheless, it’s still a great idea to avoid checked bags. Carry-on bags can’t get lost or waylaid, and remain safe from unscrupulous baggage handlers. Some best carry-on luggage tips can be found on OneBag.com and travel blog posts such as this one!

Best Air Travel Tips:

Fly nonstop whenever possible. If you can’t, at least try to avoid the airports with the worst delays. A few especially problematic airports are Dallas, Miami, and Newark (NJ). Smart air travelers should use flightstats.com to research reliable airlines, and bts.gov for airport stats. The more we know, the better armed we are for wise flight decisions.

Choose an airline that has multiple flights to your destination each day. This way, should some unpreventable error occur with your particular flight, it will be easier to change flights and get to your vacation destination relatively unscathed. Switching airlines is much harder than switching flights, although neither are desirable!

Try to take the earliest flight of the day. Problems and delays have a domino effect, and a slight delay in takeoff for one plane affects the next, and the delays can get worse and worse throughout the day should new issues arrive on top of the old ones from previous flights.  Similarly, do you best to avoid the last flight of the day, as a mechanical issue on that plane could leave you in the airport overnight.

Best Rental Car Tips:

Check the rental car before you leave the lot. Sometimes the company’s employees miss scratches or dents, and it would be a real bummer to get charged for someone else’s driving mistake. Also, check the tire pressure. It’s less safe to drive a car with tires low on air.

It’s probably best to waive the extra coverage. Consumer Reports has been preaching about declining the car rental’s on-site coverage for years. Before you decline that waiver, though, check with your credit card company,  or your insurance agent, to see exactly what accident coverage you already have.

Best Hotel Tip:

Don’t fall for that gorgeous full-page ad in that magazine in your dentist’s waiting room. Before you make reservations at a hotel, do some online research.  A lot can be learned from reviews written on trustworthy travel blogs, travel aggregators, and major review sites like TripAdvisor.   Also, a few minutes of your time could save you a bundle; those rack rates listed by hotel reservations desks can often be beat by even the hotel’s own website.

The best travel tips help all of us have better vacation experiences. This short list of seven suggestions is, obviously, not all-encompassing. We’d love to hear your favorite travel tips as well. After all, who wouldn’t want to be a smart traveler?

One of the best ways to ruin your travel experience right off the bat is screw up your airplane carry-on luggage packing list. For one, lost luggage via air travel does occur. Losing the bag with your flip-flops, toothbrush and sunscreen can be hugely disappointing but also forgiving since you can purchase these items at your destination. But some items are irreplaceable.

Here are the top items you should add to your airplane carry-on list:

ID. Passports, drivers licenses and other official documentation should be with you at all times. For one thing, you can’t board a plane without proving who you are.

All forms of money. Please tell me you’re not one of these people who pack their travelers checks and Visa in their luggage — because these people are out there. Be smart and keep all of your cash, credit cards and travelers checks close to you.

Eye wear. It’s hard to enjoy your vacation if you can’t see. Since contacts do fall down drains, remember to pack in your carry-on your back-up contacts, holders, a 3-oz or less sized solution and any spare glasses.

Itinerary information. I have seen passengers in the baggage claim area confused and disoriented because their bag didn’t make the flight (aka: lost luggage) and they didn’t know what hotel they were staying at because the papers were in the bag. Don’t make this mistake. Pack every detail about your trip in your carry-on: air travel, hotel, rental car, shuttle service, confirmation numbers or any other information that relates to your travels such as neighbor’s phone numbers. Also, be sure to back up your information in you email account so you can access it from the internet in case you lose your PDA, spill tomato juice on your papers or leave your travel folder in the airport bathroom.

Keys. You would not believe how many people have checked their luggage on return trips with their car and house keys inside only to have their luggage get lost or miss the connecting flight. The poor passengers have to stand around and wait for their luggage to arrive or call a friend to pick them up — or even worse — stay at a hotel on their own dime since they live too far from the airport and can’t get in their house anyway. Even if you’re leaving for vacation keep your keys with you.

Prescription medication and information. If you rely on daily medication, this is one of the most important travel tips. Always carry your medication with you — even if you already took your daily dose. This includes keeping a list of medications handy in case you are in a medical emergency. When I was a flight attendant, I was working a flight once where are diabetic passenger forgot to take his medication due to the rush of the morning and his prescription medication was in his checked luggage. (Unfortunately, there is no secret passage way from the cabin into the plane belly — yes, I’ve been asked.) Halfway through the flight the man severely needed his medication. He ended up on my galley floor close to passing out. An on-board doctor asked him what medications he was on — neither the man nor his wife could remember.

Electronics. Let’s face it, luggage falls, get’s smashed and thrown heartlessly, and while electronics aren’t a life or death issue, it’s best if you never pack your electronics in your checked luggage, especially laptop computers and high-quality cameras — you don’t want to lose all of those precious vacation memories do you?

Chargers. I’m assuming you’re already bringing your cell phone on board with you, but don’t forget the charger or any other chargers you may be toting. Airports have increased their number of outlets for passengers which comes in really handy during delayed flights or if you forget to charge your phone the night before.

Common sense is the name of the game when it comes to writing out your airplane carry-on packing list, so think it over and pack well. You’ll end up getting your vacation off to a great start!

We have extended family in South America and let me tell you, this is one trip I love and loathe at the same time. Since we live in New York state, going to toasty-warm Chile is a treat just after the winter holidays… the flight and travel time, not so much.

The thought of packing up four boys, ages 9 and under, for an 8+ hour flight brings makes me feel like I might break out in hives. The packing, actually, is less daunting than the actual flight itself. Traveling with high-energy boys long distances can bring any parent to a stress-induced sweat.

We have developed a loose strategy that has helped for us. I can’t guarantee travel-with-kids nirvana, but hopefully these tips will at least help make your next flight a little easier and enjoyable.

Book late flights when flying long distances, making sure our kids are well fed and exhausted. This helps to ensure that they sleep. We also withhold naps for that day (at least for the younger ones) so they are extra sleepy. It seems to work.

Review any recently implemented travel rules via your airline’s website (or pick up the phone). You’ll want to confirm any recent rule changes regarding customs, federal regulations, and what you can and cannot bring on a flight, such as child seats and food — you do not want your snacks confiscated. If you’re flying domestically, check out the latest information from the Transportation Security Agency (TSA) website for “What to Know Before You Go” (on the home page).

Bring a stroller for the kids under 4. Airports are big and why add stress to an already stressful situation by making a little kid walk. They will get tired and whine and you’ll either get upset or end up having to carry the child. I have a double stroller that I use for the two youngest. Usually, my 3-year-old tell me he wants to walk, so he strolls his little suitcase (packed with activities such as crayons and books, a tape player, snacks and a disposable camera) but he always gets tired – so he ends up in the stroller.

Book a nonstop flight whenever possible.

Ask for a bulkhead seat. Seems like there’s more space. (This is different from an exit row, where airlines will not allow children to sit.)

Arrive at the airport early so you don’t feel rushed.

Dress everyone comfortably. I usually change the kids into pajamas before we board an overnight flight. On a daytime flight – pj’s are not necessary, but comfort is a must. Bring a sweater or grab a blanket and a pillow on your way in (they’ll be scooped up if you don’t and you’ll wish you had one) in case your child gets cold. It always seems cooler on a plane to me.

Get your older children involved with planning, as they can be more helpful when they’re excited because they want to get there too.

Explain the plan for the entire trip. Communicate what the kids should do if they get lost in the airport, and for new, young flyers, explain about in-flight bumps and noises so they know what to expect.

There’s a lot you can’t control when it come to long plane trips, but if you take charge of what you can, you’re sure to have a better flight. My boys always complain that they don’t like long flights, but when we talk about going on trips, the flight is the part of the adventure they talk about: getting up early to leave, watching all the planes in the airport, and chilling out with  a movie on the plane. Plus, some of our best conversations occur when we’re en route to our vacation. These are part of the memories they will remember when they’re older – so try to enjoy them, even if they start whining a lot.

FlyGal Renee Martinez blogs at Raising Boys World, an online community for parents raising boys.

Around a week ago, I boarded a big plane headed east to Atlanta, en route to Asheville. After I sat down in my window seat, a young woman – 19 years old perhaps – sat down next to me. It didn’t take long to notice that she was crying. She was trying to be discreet, but obviously, she was terrified. She explained that she had a serious fear of flying. Her father was sitting in the row behind us, and the man next to him kindly suggested he switch seats. Almost all the people in the rows around this poor, sad, panicking girl were very empathic, as we all murmured words of comfort and offered support. It warmed my heart to see so many people figuratively wrap themselves around a stranger with a serious case of fear of flying.

Now, even people with severe fear of flying know that air travel is statistically safer than traveling by car – but fear of flying is an emotional, rather than intellectual, response. Knowing statistics won’t help.  There are tips and suggestions, though, to help people stay calmer on an airplane when they fear flying. In fact, there are a lot of tips out there for dealing with anxiety regarding airplane travel, many of which are very good (some, not so much). I’ve researched them, and created The Vacation Gals’ top 5 tips for helping reduce anxiety related to fear of flying.

5 Tips for Dealing with Fear of Flying

1. Before your trip, know what to expect and, if possible, choose an aisle seat. Seat Guru is a useful site for selecting airplane seats before your travel date. Other booking sites do so as well, including each airline’s website. The aisle seat will help if part of your flying fear is the feeling of being closed in physically.
2. Think positive. It sounds corny, but it’s true; trying to focus on the great vacation activities, or reuniting with your family, will put you in a better place emotionally than obsessing about the flight. Visualizing your relaxing vacation is a great technique for easing the tension in your mind and body, as well.
3. Leave plenty of time to get to the airport and past security. Sure, there’s a chance your flight will be delayed anyway – this is the airline industry we’re talking about – but the heart-pounding anxiety of rushing to the airport at the last minute will do you no favors. Once you have a lot of time to spare after getting to the airport, you can escape the maddening crowds by paying a little extra to hang out in your airline’s lounge, day passes are typically around $50. This is a hefty fee, yes, but may be worth it in term of the reduced stress level.
4. Pack an MP3 player and a great book. The distraction of music and a novel that’s a real page-turner can do wonders. Of course, there’s always an in-flight movie on long flights, but there’s no guarantee you’ll like it. If you have one, consider packing your portable DVD player and a set of headphones.
5. If your fear of flying is completely overwhelming, normal distraction and visualization techniques may not suffice. Consider talking to a professional, and/or getting a prescription for anti-anxiety medication.

I’m not sure what the frightened young lady did to cope with her fear of flying, outside of listening to her iPod for most of the trip. However, the man who switched and sat next to me was in for a treat: He got to watch my embarrassing attempts at making a video for Starbucks VIA. I figured that a good laugh at my expense was the least he deserved for his kind act.

This is fun news (for us, anyway). Starbucks VIA has asked me to be part of the company’s insider program, which is called “Beta Tasters.”  This means, they sent me a Flip Mino digital video camcorder, a bunch of Starbucks VIA samples, and a request to make a video of ways to use this great travel coffee in action. Done! Starbucks VIA is, in my mind, THE way to get a great cup of coffee on an airplane. Or anywhere I vacation where the in-house coffee is less than decent.

Now, I prefer the Colombia blend of these instant coffee packets, as the Italian Roast is too strong a brew for me. And frankly there’s no mistaking either Italian Roast or Colombia VIA for a freshly brewed pot of the same at home. The amount of coffee put into hot water can be adjusted for one’s personal tastes, of course: VIA is my go-to coffee in a pinch. When I’m on vacation or traveling for work, Starbucks VIA is now packed along with other “necessities” of the road.