Freebie-O-Matic Sunday, January 11, 1998; Page E01

If You Are a(n)	Then Consider	Or	But Not	NOTES
Infrequent Flyer Up to 4 trips a year, various destinations	US Airways, TWA Because miles never expire	Delta One flight per three years retains miles	United, American Mile expirations firm	US Airways, with most flights from area, is best for slow accumulators. TWA offers 750-miles-per-trip minimum and low award minimums, but few local flights.
Moderate Flier Around 6 trips a year, including some to West Coast	United, Delta, American The best, most flexible programs	US Airways Award program less rich, but dominates local air traffic	TWA, Continental Fewer local flights yield fewer options for occasional flier	American, United miles expire most quickly; Delta better for less-frequent fliers. United, Continental require Saturday night stay for award trips. US Airways loses points for for summer European award restrictions.
Shuttler 8-plus trips a year via NY/Boston shuttles. Under 4 trips a year via other routes	Delta Has the superior awards programs, but fewer local flights to other destinations	US Airways More local departures than Delta; adding direct-to-Boston shuttle in '98	N/A	Shuttle round trips earn 1000 miles. Consequently, less frequent but longer trips -- twice-yearly West Coast jaunts, say -- may build more miles than frequent shuttling. See above note about US Airways' summer European rules; US Airways offers no Hawaii award travel.
If You Are a(n)	Then Consider	Or	But Not	NOTES
Corporate Tool 6 trips a year for business; 4 a year for leisure, family	United, American, Continental	Delta, US Airways Only if shuttling is a big part of your travel	TWA, Northwest Fewest local departures of major lines	American is best for couples and non-flying awards -- but (like US Airways) it blacks out summer award travel to Europe. Delta is stingier with upgrades than American, United; Continental has fewer local departures.
International Coporate Tool Same as above, plus 1 or 2 international trips a year	United, American Best reach, flexibility, partners in global routes, awards	Delta Stingier with upgrades, offer fewer local flights than United, American	Continental International awards, partners not as good as top three	American is best for couples and for earning non-flying awards -- but it blacks out summer award travel to Europe.
Road Warrior 12-plus trips a year; wants upgrades, perks	United Very-frequent-fliers' perennial favorite	American Best for non-air mile accumulation	N/A	United offers twice as many departures from local airports as American or Delta. Nearly every program showers upgrades, perks upon this crowd.
If You Are a(n)	Then Consider	Or	But Not	NOTES

Additional notes: Southwest Air requires 16 flight segments in 12 months for a free ticket, giving its award program little appeal to the occasional, budget-minded leisure traveler its fares attract ... Of the many ways to earn miles without flying, the two most valuable to leisure travelers are: 1)signing up for long distance telephone service with MCI, earning miles for every dollar spent; and 2)using airline affinity credit cards, offered by all major lines, under which you earn mileage credits for each dollar charged. Hotel and car rental partnerships are valuable mostly to regular business travelers.