Miles & Points: The Week’s Best Frequent Flyer Deals

Following is our regular summary of the best frequent traveler promotions reviewed during the past week.

If it was a good deal—or a notably bad deal—from an airline, hotel, or car rental loyalty program, you can read all about it here, and plan your travel accordingly.

Exchange Your Gift Cards for United Miles

Members of United’s MileagePlus program can now convert the balance remaining in their gift cards from more than 60 retailers into frequent flyer miles.

Neat, sure. But what kind of value do the exchanges deliver?

Alaska Air Adds Emirates to Mileage Plan Lineup

From March 1, Mileage Plan members will be able to earn miles when flying Emirates, the Dubai-based carrier that flies to 100 cities in 66 countries. Program members will have to wait until later in the year to redeem miles for free Emirates flights.

New InterContinental Earning Rate Effective Today

Effective today, February 15, Priority Club Rewards members will earn 10 points for every eligible $1 spent at InterContinental hotels in the U.S., Canada, Latin America, and the Caribbean. The previous earning rate was 2,000 miles per stay.

The change brings the Americas InterContinental properties into alignment with Crowne Plaza, Hotel Indigo, Holiday Inn, and Holiday Inn Express hotels

British Airways Extends New York Dining Discount

Through July 31, British Airways Visa credit card holders will receive a $50 statement credit when charging a meal at any Michelin-rated restaurant in New York.

Earn Hilton HHonors Points for Texts

Need a few extra Hilton points?

Through June 30, Hilton HHonors members can earn 1,000 points for registering a text-enabled mobile phone number and receiving promotional texts.

Win 100,000 American AAdvantage Miles

Enter American Airlines Vacations’ “Piece Together Your Vacation” sweepstakes by March 9 for a chance to win the grand prize: 100,000 AAdvantage frequent flyer miles.

Somebody has to win, right? Might as well be you.