Issue #75  --  January 6, 2000

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FrequentFlier.com Relaunches
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New year, new millenium, new FrequentFlier.com...

As promised, on New Year's weekend we launched the "new" FrequentFlier.com website. We'll be adding a few more bells and whistles over the next few weeks, but the bulk of the changes are now live.

This is the fourth major redesign since the site went live in 1997. The focus this time was usability--in particular, simplified navigation and faster loading pages.

In addition to the design changes, we have added a much improved search engine. I'm especially excited about the engine's reporting capability, which shows which keywords our visitors are running searches on, and thereby provides us with an indicator of topics of interest. As an example, we're seeing many searches on 'credit cards'--a topic which clearly requires, and will receive, more coverage in future.

Please take time to visit the site and let us have any comments or recommendations you might have. And also, please report any dead links or non-displaying pages. As much time as we've spent testing, there are always combinations of browsers/monitors/operating systems which we can't test internally, and which require special attention to display properly. We depend on your feedback to identify such problems. (Our thanks to Stephen, Tom and others who have already taken the time to bring problems to our attention.)

Thanks for providing the feedback which underlies this latest incarnation of the site.

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FrequentFlier.com

<< M I L E S >>

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Earn SkyMiles for Water Shuttle Trips
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Members of the Delta's SkyMiles program will earn 100 miles for each Delta Water Shuttle trip or 200 miles for each round-trip through June 30, 2000.

Delta Water Shuttle offers frequent, direct access between Delta Shuttle's Marine Air Terminal at New York LaGuardia Airport and Manhattan.

Departing the Marine Air Terminal every hour, Monday through Friday, the water shuttle provides quick access to three popular Manhattan locations: East 34th Street, East 62nd Street and Wall Street Pier 11. The water shuttle also departs from these same three Manhattan locations, hourly, Monday through Friday. Fares are $15 for one-way travel and $25 for a round-trip. Travel time to LaGuardia from the 62nd Street port is approximately 20 minutes; from the East 34th Street port, 30 minutes; and from Pier 11, 45 minutes.

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Delta

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Delta Offers SkyMiles Credit Card for Japan Residents
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On another front, Delta is teaming with Japan-based Asahi Card Company to introduce the Delta SkyMiles Asahi Visa Card this week in Japan.

The yen-based revolving credit card, available in Classic and Gold flavors, will feature a variety of ways to earn SkyMiles mileage and will include Japanese-language statements and other in-country cardholder services. The SkyMiles Asahi Visa Card is the first Delta co-branded credit card offered outside of the United States. Delta plans to launch a series of international SkyMiles Visa credit cards during the year 2000.

Asahi Card Co., Ltd. is a subsidiary of Asahi Bank, with a network of 939 domestic offices. Asahi Bank has the largest branch network in the Tokyo metropolitan area.

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Delta

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FreeAirMiles.com Changes Mileage Payout, Daily Cap
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We reported the launch of FreeAirMiles in a recent issue of The Crier (http://frequentflier.com/ffc-1223.htm). They are already modifying their original value proposition, for the better.

Specifically, FreeAirMiles.com has changed the number of miles that members can earn both per click-through and per day. The original scheme allowed members to earn 10 frequent flyer miles each time they visited an advertiser with a maximum of 100 miles per day. Under the new format, members will earn various amounts of miles, ranging from 25 to 75, for each advertiser that they visit. The maximum miles one can earn in a day has been increased to 500 as well.

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FreeAirMiles

<< S T E A L S & D E A L S >>

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Winter Fare Sales
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This week, most of the U.S. airlines (and a fair few international carriers as well) announced fare sales for travel during the remaining winter and spring months.

We're including details of United's sale here as an example of one such sale. Check with your preferred carrier for discounts they have on offer.

United is discounting advance-purchase fares up to 30 percent below regular levels for travel during winter and spring.

Among the fares now available are Chicago-San Francisco, $278 round trip; Denver-Phoenix, $198; and New York-Denver, $274; Chicago-Boston, $259; Chicago-Honolulu, $582; Chicago-San Francisco, $278; Denver-Miami, $406; Denver-New Orleans, $344; Los Angeles-Dallas, $353; San Francisco-Honolulu, $319; Washington-Steamboat Springs, $408; Washington-Sacramento, $445; Chicago-Mexico City, $290; San Francisco-Hong Kong, $598; Los Angeles-San Diego, $45, and Los Angeles-Palm Springs, $75. Internationally, sample bargain fares include Los Angeles-Paris for $518 and Chicago-London for $348.

Customers purchasing on United's website by Jan. 14, 2000 can get up to 5 percent off sale fares plus 1,000 Mileage Plus bonus miles. Those booking online for the first time will receive an additional 3,000 bonus miles.

Among the restrictions:

 -- Fares must be purchased at least 14 days in advance of travel, and the maximum stay is 30 days.
 -- In most markets, off-peak fare levels apply for flights on Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday.
 -- The sale offers two discount periods, with the greatest reductions for travel through Feb. 16.
 -- Blackouts are in place for Feb. 18, 19, 21 and April 21-24, 2000.
 -- Tickets must be purchased by Jan. 14, 2000.

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United

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Icelandair Discounts Europe
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Icelandair is offering New Year fares from New York (JFK), Boston, Baltimore/Washington (BWI), Minneapolis/St. Paul and Orlando to several Europe destinations.

Round-trip fares from New York to London are $198 per person if tickets are purchased by January 26, 2000 for departures no later than February 29, 2000. This fare is valid on travel Sunday through Wednesday outbound and Monday through Thursday inbound. Round-trip fares for London or Glasgow departures prior to March 31, 2000 begin at just $238 per person round trip; ticketing must occur by January 24, 2000.

Frankfurt and Paris are available from $298 per person round trip for travel commencing prior to February 17, 2000, ticketing by January 14, 2000. Reykjavik is now available from $299 per person round trip with departure before February 29, 2000 and ticketing by January 31, 2000.

Round-trip fares to Amsterdam begin at $338 per person for departures prior to March 31, 2000 and ticketing by January 26, 2000. The Scandinavian capitals of Copenhagen, Oslo or Stockholm may be reached before March 31, 2000, with ticketing by January 26, 2000, for as little as $388 round trip.

Departure date and city determine the fare; fares higher for Friday through Sunday travel. Ticketing must occur within 48 hours of confirming reservations; restrictions regarding advance purchase and minimum/maximum stays apply. Tickets are non-refundable, and a change fee of $150 per person applies. Taxes and official charges ($49-$95) are not included and apply to all passengers. Seats are limited.

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Icelandair

<< T R A V E L O N L I N E >>

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Expedia Drops Registration Requirement
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Visitors to the Expedia.com travel service will now be able to browse for flights, car rentals, and hotel rooms without having to register in advance.

Thank you, Expedia.

Expedia cites research by Jupiter Communications, according to which 40-plus percent of online users are deterred from using sites that require registration.

Customers can still elect to enter personal information--including seating preference, special meal requirements and the like--but it is now optional rather than mandatory.

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Expedia

<< I N D U S T R Y U P D A T E >>

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Complaints, Up
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This week, the DOT issued its monthly Air Travel Consumer Report, reflecting airline performance and consumer complaint statistics for November 1999.

For the month, DOT received 1,700 complaints - 5% more than the 1,616 complaints for the previous month, and more than twice the 722 complaints received in November 1998. Other highlights:

o The 10 largest U.S. carriers posted an 81.4 percent on-time record in November--better than October's 80.1 percent mark but worse than November 1998's 83.3 percent.

o The carriers posted a mishandled baggage rate of 4.01 complaints per 1,000 passengers in November--better than October's 4.25 rate and November 1998's 4.21.

o Travelers registered 70 disability-related complaints in November, versus 81 in October and 41 in November 1998.

Complaints can be filed with the Aviation Consumer Protection Division, U.S. Department of Transportation, C-75, 400 7th St., S.W., Room 4107, Washington, D.C. 20590. They can also be contacted by e-mail at mailto:airconsumer@ost.dot.gov?subject=Complaint, or by voice mail at 202 366-2220.

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The DOT's Air Travel Consumer Report

<< B U S I N E S S T R A V E L T I P S >>

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Things to Know Before You Go
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The following is part of a continuing series of business travel tips from Chris McGinnis's "The Unofficial Business Traveler's Pocket Guide--165 Tips Even the Best Business Travelers May Not Know."

>> Know the Airline's Line

You've heard this tip before. In fact, anyone who travels on business hears it regularly. "Book as far in advance as possible to get the best airfare." Sound familiar? Unfortunately, that tip doesn't work anymore. If you don't want to stay over a Saturday night (like any business traveler with a life), it doesn't matter if you book two weeks, a month, or three months ahead of time. Airfares that allow you to come home on weekends are stuck at higher levels than ever. Why are business airfares--those that do not require a Saturday night stayover or advance reservations so much more expensive than leisure fares? While it seems like an unfair situation, here's how the airlines explain it: Business travelers like convenience--meaning plenty of flights to choose from--and plenty of backup flights if plans change. Usually they can't make their plans very far in advance. High fares are a market-driven way to keep those valuable last-minute seats open. If they did not hold these seats at higher fare levels, the airlines claim that all their planes would be full of lower-fare leisure travelers, leaving no seats for business travelers.

Chris McGinnis
Travel Skills Group
PO Box 52927
Atlanta, GA 30355
http://www.travelskills.com

<< R E A D E R R A N T S & R A V E S >>

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United, Changing
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While I've got your ear, here's something about the UA FFP which you might not have noticed. They've done this a couple of times -- when they have good news they announce it with fanfare, but when they are degrading an aspect of their program they say nothing about it!

In this case, it seems that they have restricted the bonuses that you receive for Premier (25%) or Executive Premier (100%) to only those flights made directly on UA, while in the past, flights on other Star Alliance partners also earned bonus miles. I'm attaching a graphic which shows 25% additional for my Oct/Nov flights between Australia and Japan (when I was "Premier" status, but no bonus for December.

Also, while on UA, flights of less than 500 miles used to earn 500 miles, now it seems that they earn exactly what was flown -- at least on 'partner' companies. Note the '464' on 2 Nov.

Also, it seems that the category of "Life" member which was to be gained after flying a 1,000,000 miles has silently disappeared. This system was initiated in 1998, if my memory serves me properly.

I hope this info is useful and the graphic included with this message is readable!

 - Tom

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Northwest, Insulting
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Your write up on "north-worst" isn't surprising. I am still battling for "fair indemnity" since July!!!!

My friends and I faced a 12-hour delay!!!!! Compensation??? Are you kidding me? They gave us a $10 meal voucher and a phone card - talk about adding insult to the injury.

The purpose of the trip was for a friend's wedding, which we happen to miss entirely because of such an extensive delay.

My question is this, where can consumers turn for help if after about 4 correspondences - we are still unfairly compensated? It seems that the airlines have so much protection...their employees are FAA personnel. Passengers need to respect them accordingly because of that, yet their employees need not reciprocate such respect.

Any suggestions to get (1) reimbursement for additional expenses the incurred (attempting to change other flight plans to stay longer to make up for loss time), and/or (2) a free ticket for the inconvenience?

I welcome any thoughts you may have to offer. I am running out of patience as well as resources. The last letter I received was beyond insulting!

Thank you!!!!

Happy New Years!

 - Gee

<< S I T E 2 S E E >>

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Everybody's Airline Directory
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Billed as the first truly 'disability-friendly' world airline directory, Everybody's Airline Directory features listings of many of the world's airlines, with summaries of their policies and procedures for providing special services for the disabled.

Issues covered include carriage of wheelchairs, carriage of guide/service dogs, ability to provide oxygen, boarding procedures, seating arrangements, ability
to provide for special dietary requirements, disability training of cabin crew, whether or not medical clearance is required and the availability of emergency
procedures in different formats such as Braille or large print.

Low marks for fragmented focus and downscale look and feel. But kudos for compiling the information and making it available.

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Everybody's Hotel/Airline Directory

<< B A C K O F T H E B U S >>

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How To Make New Year's Resolutions Stick
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By Dr. Donald E. Wetmore

At the beginning of each year so many of us commit to changes and worthy goals to be accomplished in the next twelve months only to be disappointed come next December 31 when we discover we are no closer to achieving those resolutions than we were on January 1.

The noble resolutions we made early-on became unstuck. So I looked at this dilemma and created four useful suggestions to increase the probability that your New Year's resolutions will stick this year.

1. Quantify it. Sometimes we are just too vague about what we want. Therefore, a resolution such as, "I want to lose weight this year" will probably fail. It is too vague. How much weight? Be specific. What would your ideal weight be, less what do you weigh now, is what you are going after. It is not enough to resolve that; "I want enough money in the bank this year". Quantify. What specific amount would soothe your soul?

2. Set a deadline. Resolutions that are to be achieved "as soon as possible" wind up in the heap of "Someday I'll". Deadlines are commitments. Without a deadline as a self-imposed pressure point, getting started is easily postponed. You see, deadlines put us on the line and define when failure occurs. Deadlines also help us to break the resolution down into little bite-sized pieces. For example, if your goal is to lose 25 pounds by June 30, that translates into approximately 4 pounds per month, one pound per week, or a daily reduction of caloric intake (or an increase in daily caloric burn) of just 500 calories per day. Now that's manageable. 500 calories a day is easy to achieve. 25 pounds seems like a leap across the Grand Canyon. Until we quantify our goal, set a deadline, then break it down to its daily requirements, the resolution will forever seem unattainable.

3. Change one or two things at a time. We generally do not like change in the first place. We seek the familiar and avoid the strange. The more change you put yourself through, the higher the probability your campaign will collapse. Focus in on one or two of the more important resolutions you seek to accomplish this year. When you achieve one or the other, start on the next one. Don't overwhelm yourself with too much change all at once.

4. Be realistic. There's just something about the start of a new year that gets us all wound up for changes in our lives, sometimes extraordinary and unrealistic changes. We become much like the child in the candy store whose eyes are bigger than his stomach. Be realistic. You can only accomplish a certain amount within a period of time. Don't saddle yourself with unrealistic resolutions that will only spell failure later on.

Would you like to receive free Timely Time Management Tips on a regular basis to increase your personal productivity and get more out of every day? Sign up now for our free "TIME MANAGEMENT DISCUSSION LIST". Just go to: http://www.topica.com/lists/timemanagement and select "subscribe" . We welcome you aboard!

SPECIAL OFFER: If these ideas have been useful, you may want to receive, "Control the Free Fall", which discusses why we sometime feel so out of control. To get yours free, send your request for "control" to: ctsem@msn.com.

Dr. Donald E. Wetmore
Time Management Seminars
60 Huntington St.
P.O. Box 2126
Shelton, CT 06484
(800) 969-3773
(203) 929-9902
mailto:ctsem@msn.com
http://www.balancetime.com

Until next week...