The Extra Mile

Global Airline Alliances Expand Award Options

Q&A: Convert miles using Points.com?

November 24, 2003 - According to the International Air Transport Association, in 2002 more than half (51%) of the world's 1.3 billion air passengers traveled on airlines linked to one of the three major global airline alliances.

The Star Alliance alone, co-anchored by United and Lufthansa, carried 22% of last year's flyers via its 15 member airlines, which together serve almost 700 airports in 128 countries. The other two groups, oneworld and SkyTeam, accounted for 15% and 14% respectively.

Airline alliances are here to stay.

While the jury is still out on whether these virtual mergers reduce competition and lead to higher ticket prices, the consumer benefits are indisputable. Better schedule coordination and common airport terminals among the allied airlines translate into more convenient connecting flights for passengers traveling within alliance networks. And shared lounges mean more places for travelers to escape the airport crush before and between flights.

For members of alliance partners' frequent flyer programs, the benefits extend beyond reciprocal mileage earning and redemption (each member of an alliance is an earning and burning partner in the programs of all the other partners).

Following similar moves by Star and oneworld, the SkyTeam group recently consolidated the member airlines' individual award-travel requirements into a single chart which synchronizes award levels among all participating carriers' programs.

With the newly unified award scheme in place, members of the mileage programs of any SkyTeam airline -- Aeromexico, Air France, Alitalia, CSA Czech, Delta -- may use a combination of SkyTeam airlines for an award trip, all on a single award ticket. (The other SkyTeam airline, Korean, will follow suit early next year.)

So, as an example, a Europe award trip might be constructed using Delta from the U.S. to London, Air France from London to Paris, Alitalia from Paris to Rome, and Delta from Rome back to the U.S.

The options will multiply further next year, when Continental, Northwest and KLM join the SkyTeam group.

In addition to the routing flexibility, multi-carrier awards can be a trip-saver when program members find themselves stymied by seat-availability bottlenecks. If carrier A is sold out of award seats on one or more segments of an award trip itinerary, there may still be seats available on carriers B or C.

Current News & Offers

Last call for double points!

That's the message from Southwest Airlines, which after almost seven years of repeated extensions will terminate its popular double-points promotion at the end of this year.

With so many extensions, Rapid Rewards members may be forgiven for assuming that the latest deadline will simply be superceded by a new one. But in a news release clearly designed to forestall just such expectations, Southwest sounded an uncharacteristic note of semi-seriousness, reiterating the finality of its decision, and stressing: "This time we REALLY mean it!"

So, for what may well be their last chance to earn double Rapid Rewards points, Southwest customers have until Dec. 31, 2003 to book tickets online at southwest.com and complete their travel.

Mitigating the loss somewhat, Southwest will offer Rapid Rewards members a half credit bonus for one-way flights and a full bonus credit for roundtrips booked on southwest.com and flown between Jan. 1, 2004 and June 30, 2004.

Readers: Miles on their Minds

Question from Eve

I remember hearing that there was a service that would allow people to trade in miles from one frequent flyer program for another. I have 9,000 miles on Continental airlines that I will never use since I will not be accumulating more. They are offering me magazines for my miles, but I would rather try to convert them to US Air or American. Any ideas?

Answer

You're thinking of Points.com (http://www.points.com), an online service which brokers the exchange of miles and points among various travel and non-travel loyalty programs.

Among the airlines participating in Points.com's mileage exchange are Alaska, America West, American and Midwest, but not Continental.

In any case, while convenient, converting through Points.com is expensive. Exchanging 9,000 American miles into Midwest's program, for example, would net only 941 miles, a loss of 90%.

Cashing in your orphan miles for magazine subscriptions may be the best option after all.