To give you an idea as to how some various mileage-accruing endeavours can go, I'm starting a "datapoints" feature. Enjoy!
1) I opened a checking account through Citibank on 1/7/11 through the promo code C25A which gives 25,000 AAdvantage miles if you (a) make two direct deposits per month or (b) pay a couple online bills per month or (c) make five signature-based (non-PIN) debit card transactions, whichever you choose for two consecutive months. I opted for option (c) as it would be least disruptive to my normal banking operations. I also signed up for a basic AA debit card (2,000 miles for a $25, not a great deal but whatever). After doing at least seven debit purchases (a couple extra than necessary just in case there were processed as PIN debit accdentally), I watched my AAdvantage account patiently for two months after the last statement closing date which satisfied the requirement (3/24/11). Little did I know the miles where supposed to post 90 days(!) after that last statement date, but I actually thought it was 6-8 weeks. So on Sunday 6/12 I sent an online secured message to Citi via the stating that I have met the requirement and would they please post my miles. The reply came on 6/13 verifying that I had indeed satisfied the conditions of the promo and they would be posting the miles immediately, and on 6/14 the miles showed up in my AAdvantage account. Success! But the real beauty of this promo is it looks "churnable," so I'm going to close the account and do it all over again once another Citibank signup promo shows up...
Bonus datapoint: My wife did the same deal, got the same card, met the same requirements, sent the same email, and was told the miles would post no later than 7/22. YMMV, indeed!
2) Spirit Airlines announced a Mega Miles Giveaway tour on 4/4, which promised 5,000 Free Spirit miles (in addition to a shot at 1,000,000 miles) for signing up to their email list as part of the promotion. Even though I've never flown Spirit, that's no reason to turn down 5,000 free miles! Besides, you never know when you might need a positioning flight for a mileage run. Anyway, I signed up for the promo and on 5/13 I received an email with the 5,000 certificate and a link to sign up for a Free Spirit account. I did so, and entered the certificate number from the email. Miles posted today 6/15, as promised.
Bonus datapoint: My wife did the same deal, with the same results.
3) As I blogged previously, you can usually modify your Marriott MegaBonus offer to suit your travel plans for a timeframe of the promotion. I did so myself for the promo ending on 4/30; changing my 25-night/35,000 point offer to 15 nights/25,000 points. The points hadn't posted after a few weeks so I called the Marriott Platinum number last night to ask after them. At first the rep couldn't follow what I was asking, but after a few minutes on hold he found the notes on my account from my earlier request and agreed post the points. This morning, my Marriott Rewards account is 25,000 points richer.
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