Now that most US airlines’ point programs have switched to the amount paid for tickets instead of miles flown, I wondered how someone could verify that the points are accurate when earning miles through partner airlines.I completed a 2-month journey in 2016 that consisted of 12 flights aboard five airlines, but I paid only one fare to the booking agent. I had two economy flights on United Airlines, three premium-economy flights on Lufthansa, one flight on LOT Polish Airlines (all three...

A publication that covers truly offbeat railways, focusing on historic places and equipment, is the British bimonthly magazine Locomotives International (Wiltshire, England; phone +44 1275 845 012, www.mainline andmaritime.co.uk/pages/welcome-to-locomotives-international).The magazine’s section “Travel the World by Rail” shows, in chronological order, the most complete selection I’ve seen of various rail trips being offered, worldwide, by (mostly) British travel...

The airlines have continued to decrease the value of their mileage programs by requiring more points for rewards, changing the way points are earned and making it more difficult to use points to book flights on desirable days.I believe that, instead of booking flights with miles by using an airline-rewards card, you are better off using a no-annual-fee credit card that gives 2% to 3% cash back on purchases. By using cash to purchase the tickets, you can get the flight times you want without...