FREE City Ready Blueprints with any room addition* *$1500 limit 2500 E Thomas Rd, Suite 103 Phoenix AZ 85016 Page 36 July 2015 By Michelle Donati-Grayman When introduced 34 years ago, frequent flyer mile programs were lauded as a brilliant marketing strategy. They immediately cultivated loyalty among travelers, and many consumers belonged to one or more programs. Over the years, credit card companies joined in and started offering miles or points with every purchase. It is possible to earn miles a variety of other ways, too, such as renting a car and making certain purchases. As a result, it can be easy to rack up thousands of miles. But it’s also increasingly difficult to redeem them for their original purpose: travel. The most recent frequent flyer program to change is American Airlines Group Inc. The company, which was formed in the 2013 merger with US Airways Group, recently combined the carriers’ frequent flyer plans. With about 100 million members, it’s now the largest frequent flyer program in the industry. The way miles are awarded to consumers has also changed. More airlines – including Delta Air Lines Inc., United Airlines and Continental Holdings Inc. – are consolidating and awarding miles based on how much travelers pay for a ticket and not the actual number of miles traveled. This year, American is also increasing frequent flyer awards for passengers who buy the most expensive tickets, but the carrier continues to award points for distance traveled. Among the carriers, a number of perks are disappearing, such as the $99 companion airfare by US Airways, which is only available until year’s end. As a result, travelers who pay the cheapest fares are penalized, and the days of being able to “cash in” 25,000 miles for a plane ticket are all but finished. Availability is down and demand is up, which is great for carriers but not so much for travelers. Some carriers have added redemption opportunities so that travelers can use points toward perks, such as upgrading to seats that offer more leg room. That’s fine, but it’s a long way from a free ticket. Smaller carriers such as JetBlue and Southwest already had established programs that calculated points based on dollars spent rather than miles. Based on anecdotal evidence, redeeming miles for free travel tends to be easier with these carriers. As a full-service travel agency, AAA is an advocate of loyalty programs but urges travelers to read the fine print and carefully compare options. Keep in mind that credit card loyalty programs might offer greater flexibility for redeeming travel rewards. While not all programs are the same, their differences can still be startling. — Michelle Donati-Grayman is an Arcadia resident who works for AAA Arizona. AAA is the largest leisure travel agency in North America. Frequent flyer programs lacking

Gorilla Capital purchases properties with cash, requiring no concessions, inspections, or repairs, and then renovates them into remarkable homes. If you or someone you know is interested in Gorilla Capital and what we can do for you, contact Richard today! PATRICK BURCH 602.430.2032 patrickburch@cox.net gorillacapital.com Located in the heart of the Arcadia/Camelback corridor at the base of Camelback Mountain, this home sits on over 1 acre of gorgeous desert, features a rustic contemporary feel, and maximizes mountain views. Five sets of Arcadia sliding doors create an amazing indoor/outdoor feel with 15 foot high ceilings in the great room looking out to Camelback Mountain. High-end finishes throughout include Restoration Hardware lighting, Ferguson plumbing fixtures, commercial-grade Thermador appliances, and more. Please call Patrick for an appointment to view this property. 5431 E ROCKRIDGE ROAD, PHOENIX $1,799,900 4 Beds | 4 Baths | 4,226 Sq Ft | 1.08 Acre Lot CAMELBACK MOUNTAIN RETREAT Page 37 July 2015 WHERE’S THE NEIGHBOR? By Kaley Kalil Desiree Sorensen, 30, is a fourth generation native Arizonan and long-time Arcadia local. While at a Fourth of July BBQ in the summer of 2012, Sorensen met her boyfriend, Wilson Nitka, and the rest is history. In the past three years, the couple has lived in four different states. Sorensen and Nitka both graduated from Arizona State University roughly a year later in May of 2013 – Sorensen with a Master’s Degree in social work and Nitka with a second Bachelor’s Degree in math. They vacationed to the Bahamas and Maui, HI during their final semester. “A month later, we drove cross-country, put our stuff in storage, and moved to Maine,” Sorensen said. Home was now Northeast Harbor – a village on Maine’s Mount Desert Island renowned for its rich and famous summer residents, including the Rockefeller family. “The whole reason we moved to the East coast to begin with was to be closer to Wilson’s aging grandparents. But, after just a short time living there, we knew we would be staying for a while,” Sorensen said. Five months later, they moved to Concord, Mass. (About a 25-minute drive from Boston). “We lived within walking distance of Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Concord, the town where the American Revolutionary War began at the North Bridge with “the shot heard round the world”,” Sorensen said. After living in Concord for a full year, the couple (and their seven year-old Puggle, Buffy) moved to their current home in Maui, Hawaii. “A lot of paperwork was involved and a lot of vet visits,” said Sorensen, “…as well as a 120-day home “quarantine” process on the mainland to take her with us.” The three now live in Kihei on Maui’s dry and sunny southwest shore. Sorensen works for Fresenius as a nephrology social worker. Nitka manages one restaurant on the island and bartends at several others. “I help people who are on dialysis with insurance issues or psychosocial concerns, medications… things like that,” Sorensen said. “They have me working in West Maui and I also travel for work to Oahu, Molokai and Lanai. It’s interesting to see how differently people live from one island to another,” she said. The island hopping for work allows Sorensen to enjoy ferry rides alongside dolphins and whales, as well as short commuter flights over cascading waterfalls. When they’re not working, the couple enjoys camping in the rainforest in Hana, Maui. “What I love most about living in Maui is it’s definitely a slower-paced way of life; there’s no pressure to ever conform to any standards or to what’s currently trending,” Sorensen said. “It is expensive, however, and far away from loved ones.” When asked if and when she would be returning to Phoenix for more than just a visit, Sorensen had this to say: “Oh, I don’t know! Of course I love Phoenix because my family and friends are there, but I feel like it may be a while. I can picture us living in maybe Colorado or Oregon next… It’s really just the summer heat back home that I dread!” One longtime Arcadian says “Aloha!” to the mainland A sunset view from the quiet beach just five minutes away from the couple’s condo in Kihei, Maui.