"Up Front" Blog Entries

Following are some of Tim's recent blogs:

• Top five award destinations for January
  Your five best bets for award travel this month.
• Winter is bonus season at hotels
  InterContinental's new offer marks the start of "bonus season."
• Singapore Airlines gets ticket pricing right
  Finally, an airline begins quoting only all-inclusive prices.

FrequentFlier Forum Topics

As always, there's plenty of activity on the FrequentFlier Forum.

In the "Airline Programs" Forum, cocomango's thread, "Pay for a ticket now or hold out for frequent flier seats?," has generated several conflicting recommendations, all worth considering.

And in the "Credit Card Programs" Forum, DJHerm provides details of the class-action settlement in which credit card companies were found to have overcharged cardholders for overseas charges.

If you used a Visa-, MasterCard-, or Diners Club-branded payment card to make transactions in a foreign currency, or with a foreign merchant, between February 1, 1996 and November 8, 2006, you may be among those due a refund.

Questions, answers, opinions? Post them to the Forum!

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Alaska Discounts Award Travel

Got Alaska Mileage Plan miles? If so, you can redeem 15,000 miles for a round-trip or 7,500 miles for a one-way award trip between many cities in California and Canada, Idaho, Oregon, or Washington. That's a 5,000-mile discount over the normal round-trip coach award price, and a 2,500-mile discount over the published one-way award price. The award discount is valid for travel between January 7 and February 14.

To get the discount, bookings must be made online at alaskaair.com.

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ATA Offers Refer-a-Friend Bonus

Through March 15, members of ATA's FlightBank can earn 30 bonus credits by referring new members to the program.

To receive the bonus, new members must enter the referrer's FlightBank member number in the referral field when enrolling.

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Eos Offers More Miles for London Flights

Eos Airlines, the all-business class airline, is offering members of its Club 48 program 15,000 bonus points for tickets costing less than $4,000, or 30,000 bonus points for New York-London (Stansted) tickets costing $4,000 or more, purchased by January 18 for travel by the end of March.

Those not inclined to add to their frequent flyer accounts can choose Bose stereo equipment in place of the points.

Registration is required.

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Gold Points Program Will Shut Down

Quoting from the Gold Points website: "IMPORTANT NOTICE: On April 1, 2008, Gold Points Reward Network will change to a redemption-only program. Beginning April 1, you will no longer be able to earn Gold Points; however, the Gold Points in your account will not expire. You may continue to redeem them for Gold Points catalog merchandise and gift cards by visiting goldpoints.com."

The two most prominent earning partners in the program had been Carlson Hotels and T.G.I. Friday's. As we reported here, Carlson already left Gold Points in favor of the more travel-focused goldpoints plus program. And T.G.I. Friday's will be rolling out a new loyalty program of its own.

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Deal Alert from SmarterTravel.com

1) Hawaii Fares on Hawaiian from $274

Flights to Maui and Oahu are on sale from Hawaiian. Fares start at $274 round-trip for travel through mid-March.

Travel is valid from January 7 through March 14. Book by January 18, 11:59 PM ET.

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2) Domestic Sale Fares on Alaska from $49 Each Way

Alaska has announced a new domestic deal for travel through mid-February. Fares start at $49 one-way or $98 round-trip, and destinations include Seattle, Portland, and Reno. Southwest has a similar sale.

Travel is valid from January 7 through February 13. Alaska's sale will likely expire on January 10, the same day Southwest's deal ends.

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Win 1 Million Marriot Points, Plus 1 Million Airline Miles

Enter Marriott's "Millionaire" sweepstakes by September 30 for a chance to win one million Marriott Rewards points, one million frequent flyer miles, and a $25,000 Marriott Gift Card.

Other prizes include one million Marriott points (one winner), 100,000 Marriott points (10 winners), 50,000 Marriott points (five winners), and so on.

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[Visit http://frequentflier.com/sweeps.htm for more travel sweepstakes.]

Feedback from the Frontlines of Travel

"Greetings from across the pond.

"In response to your gloomy thoughts about frequent flier programmes, I'm very pleased to report that the number of discounted FF offers is increasing, noteably British Airways and Air-France KLM. I've not only combined Amex spending to achieve the desired points, but can claim companion tickets with Amex PLUS discounted miles offers...up to 50% whioch makes for some great savings. I'm also toying with the idea of converting Hyatt Hotel points into BA airmiles to consolidate all of the offerings.

"Happy Take off and Landings." [Sean H.]

"We booked business class seats thru American Airlines with Qantas by calling when they first came available. However, when we called to book the return (on the day they were supposed to become available) there were no seats in business. We've called every day for three months and no luck so far. So we're flying home coach and using business class miles!American keeps saying they'll open soon but we don't know if that is just their normal "line". At any rate I think it is outrageous that they book you one way in a particular class and then make you play this stupid game to get the return flight. I'm beginning to think we're wasting our time." [Gail R.]

"I recently booked a first class award ticket on American, to China.

"No problems, good availability and the value of the ticket was 18,000 ±normal award. Recently booked a Thai ticket first class from NRT TO BKK through Air Canada. Also no problem with availability. I think the continued value will be in premium tickets and advanced shopping. Coach tickets domestic will be a waste of miles." [Peter W.]

"Thanks for a great service with Frequent Flier. We appreciate you!

"Happy New Year!" [Ed N.]

Until next week...