U P F R O N T

Heads-Up: New Baggage Procedures this Week
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New rules, designed to achieve 100% baggage screening, take effect this Friday at U.S. airports. Here's a newsbite from Chris McGinnis, editor of The Ticket, outlining Delta's implementation plan, and its likely effect on travelers:

"With the launch of new checked bag screening rules, Delta has announced new airport baggage procedures, a requirement of the Aviation and Transportation Security Act, which goes into effect on Friday, Jan 18.

"Effective today (Jan 15), Delta will no longer accept checked baggage at ticket counters or curbside locations less than 30 minutes before a flight's scheduled departure time. In addition, effective Jan. 18 Delta will require passengers who check baggage to declare at the time of check-in whether they intend to stand by for another flight.

"Our advice: If you must check bags, don't pack anything in your checked baggage that you cannot live without, and don't lock your checked bags. If your bag is locked, the locks could be destroyed if it requires more thorough searching after you've checked in and it is in the airline baggage handling area.

"Expect delays on Friday when the new 100% screening measures go into effect."

While the above information and advice is specific to Delta, all airlines will have to comply with the new rules.

O N S I T E

Editorial: Coffee, Tea & Inflight Security
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Although it seems to have escaped the airlines' notice, there is now a permanent link between inflight service and security.

> More...

New on the FrequentFlier Forum
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Ronald has the lowdown on more than a few obscure mileage opportunities. Jean provides running commentary on travel-industry developments in Europe. Bruce is looking for car rental deals in Hawaii. And Mizzles asks: Is there software available for automatically tracking miles and points?

Do you have mileage-related questions, answers, anecdotes? Post them (and read others') on the FrequentFlier Forum at http://frequentflier.com/cgi-local/index.cgi

M I L E S & P O I N T S

Award Tickets Subject to Security Surcharge
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"Free"... it ain't what it used to be!

Beginning Feb. 1, the federal government will begin collecting a security surcharge from the airlines for every ticket issued, including frequent-flyer program award tickets. The surcharge will be used to fund enhanced airport security measures, including new screening machines and personnel.

While the airlines are not required to pass the surcharge on to their customers, they are almost certain to do so. (As one airline manager described the situation to me: It would be unseemly for the airlines -- which have accepted $5 billion in federal bailout funds and will be benefiting from billions more in federal loan guarantees -- to willfully allow their profit margins to be further eroded.)

The surcharge can be as much as $10 per roundtrip ticket, with $2.50 assessed for each "enplanement," up to $5 for each one-way trip. Complicating the calculation are various exceptions, including the following:

- No surcharge will be assessed for flights on aircraft with fewer than 60 seats.

- Connections made in "sterile concourses" will not count as additional enplanements, and will thus not trigger additional surcharges.

The question at this point is not whether the airlines will charge up to $10 for every award ticket issued, but when they will be ready to do so. Making the necessary changes to the airlines' on- and offline booking engines in time for the Feb. 1 start date is no small undertaking. And it's likely that at least some carriers will in fact eat the surcharge initially, until their systems are ready to auto-process the newly required collection.

Is this something consumers should be up in arms about? In a word, no. (Although I reserve the right to change my assessment if the funds are ultimately mismanaged.)

American Discounts Hawaii Awards
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Hawaii has always been the number-one choice for frequent flyer awards. And because demand often outstripped the supply of award seats, it has been a notoriously hard ticket to come by.

The current travel slump has made Hawaii much more available as an award destination, and American is actually discounting Hawaii awards by 5,000 miles.

Between Jan. 1 and Feb. 28, 2002, economy-class PlanAAhead awards for travel on American to (or from) Hawaii from the continental U.S., Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, the Bahamas or Bermuda are available for 30,000 miles, a savings of 5,000 miles off the standard mileage requirement.

Offer excludes travel on nonstop service from Dallas/Fort Worth or Chicago O'Hare to Hawaii. To claim your award, contact AAdvantage Customer Service / Reservations at 1-800-882-8880 and mention award code AAHI30 to register.

MilePoint Offers Electronic Gift Certificates
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Use frequent flyer miles as partial payment for MilePoint gift certificates that can be used at 4 retailers.

Miles are worth $0.02 each, and can be used to pay 10% of the cost of gift certificates from Lands' End, Spiegel and Sharper Image, or 5% in the case of Amazon.com.

> More...

LAX-Columbus Flights Earn Double AWA Miles
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Through Feb. 28, 2002, America West FlightFund members will earn double miles for flights between LAX and America West's Columbus, OH, hub. If you're connecting in Columbus, show your Columbus/LAX boarding pass and FlightFund card and enjoy free admission to the America West's Columbus airport club.

Pre-registration is not required.

Alaska Air Offers Double Miles to Calgary
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Alaska Air will launch Los Angeles-Calgary flights on Feb. 8, 2002, and is promoting the new service with double Mileage Plan miles through Mar. 31, 2002.

KLM, China Southern Link Mileage Programs
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Effective immediately, members of KLM's Flying Dutchman program can earn and redeem points for flights on China Southern, and members of China Southern's Sky Pearl Club can do the same on KLM flights.

In each case, accumulated miles count toward elite status.

Aer Lingus Offers 50% Discount on Awards
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Members of the Aer Lingus TAB program can secure award tickets for travel on Aer Lingus for half the normal points through Jan. 31, 2002.

Travel must be booked through TAB reservations and completed by Mar. 31, 2002.

> More...

S T E A L S & D E A L S

Deal Alert from SmarterLiving.com
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This week's hot deals from SmarterLiving.com...

Web-Only Sale Fares from the Western U.S. to Mexico Beaches
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America West is offering Web-only sale fares from cities in the Western U.S. to beach destinations in Mexico. Fares are valid for travel from Jan. 21 through Feb. 28. Purchase tickets online only, at least seven days before departure, and no later than 9 p.m. PT on Sunday, Jan. 20.

> More...

Companion Savings to Europe From $199 R/T
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Icelandair is offering companion savings from the U.S. to Europe or Iceland for its frequent flyer members. The lowest fares are for travel to London, starting at $199 per person, and are valid for departure through Mar. 27.

> More...

S W E E P S T A K E S & F R E E B I E S

At MilePoint: "Refer-A-Friend Sweepstakes"
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Through Mar. 31, 2002, receive an entry in MilePoint's Refer-A-Friend Sweepstakes for every person who registers with a valid sponsor account at MilePoint as a direct result of your referral.

Grand prize is a $500 shopping spree at Amazon.com.

> More...

[Other travel-related sweepstakes and giveaways are online at http://frequentflier.com/sweeps.htm.]

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

Where are the Kellogg's/AAdvantage Promotions?
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"Know you can't possibly respond to all the mail individually, but I can't find any info at all on the Kellogg's/AAdvantage miles program anywhere. Perhaps you could re-visit this in your column. Thanks, and I love the Crier."

- Mark

Editor's note - There are 2 AAdvantage offers currently listed on the Kellogg's website, the American Dream and the Double AAdvantage Miles promotions. Details of both can be found here.

Until next week...