U P F R O N T

Living with Increased Airport Security
============================

We reported in last week's Crier on the new airport security procedures travelers began facing on Jan. 18. The best guide I've seen so far on dealing with the pumped-up screening measures is AirSafe.com's "Ten Tips for Travel Under the New Security Rules," link below.

One of AirSafe's recommendation is to do anything possible to avoid what are typically the longest waits -- the lines to check bags, either curbside or at the counter inside the terminal. I'll take that a step further and dust off an old strategy that's lost currency, but that is more relevant than ever.

Circumstances permitting, pack your check-in bags in advance and send them ahead via UPS. You'll circumvent the worst of the airport bottlenecks on the departure end; and when you arrive, you'll save a half hour or more by bypassing the baggage carousel. And you won't have to worry about the airline losing your luggage.

> More...

O N S I T E

New on the FrequentFlier Forum
==========================

Mark, lamenting the shrinking earning opportunities at AOL/AAdvantage, grumbles: "It sure looks like the party's over." Tim is looking for ways to earn 6,5000 Alaska Airlines miles. Commenting on NW's new award chart, Jeff charges "How deceptive!" (We agree... see "Miles & Points" below.) And much more...

Do you have mileage-related questions, answers, anecdotes?
Post them (and read others') on the FrequentFlier Forum.

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

Continental, Northwest Will Discontinue 20K Awards
====================================================

During the past week, we've received bad news from Continental and Northwest: both will discontinue their 20,000-mile off-peak domestic awards beginning June 1.

While the substance of the announcements was the same, the airlines positioned the news very differently. Here's Continental's announcement as it appears on their website, under the headline "Book Your Off-Peak Reward Travel Now":

"Take advantage of your last chance to book Continental Airlines Off-Peak Rewards. Beginning June 1, 2002, this reward option will no longer be available. To schedule Off-Peak Rewards before they are discontinued, make your reservations and ticket Off-Peak travel by May 31, 2002. You'll have a year from the ticketing date to complete your travel."

It's a bitter pill, but there it is. And their advice -- to take advantage of the lower-level award while you still can -- is exactly right.

By contrast, Northwest headlines the change as "New, Simplified Award Structure." As though they're doing their members a favor by demanding more miles for an award. Right, folks, let's wait until the new higher award levels go into effect... it'll be less confusing!

Northwest Eliminates Blackout Dates
===========================

With very much the same disingenuousness and apparent disrespect for the intelligence of the traveling public, Northwest has made a great show of eliminating blackout dates for award travel booked after Mar. 1, 2002. The news release would have us believe that this is an historic step forward for WorldPerks members.

As my late father would have said: Hooey!

Blackout dates are essentially irrelevant, and have been for years. It's the airlines' way of managing customers' expectations. But make no mistake: With or without published blackout dates, Northwest's yield-management software will still make award seats unavailable on high-demand days... consumers will just have to call to confirm the fact.

So the net effect on award availability of not publishing blackout dates will fall in a narrow range, between minimal and nil... no matter what Northwest's overreaching copywriters would have us believe.

New from AAdvantage: Mileage-Earning Debit Cards
====================================

The new Citibank-issued AAdvantage debit cards allow users to earn AAdvantage miles for all debit card signature-required purchases, as well as Internet, phone, mail order and point-of-sale debit card purchases when "credit" is selected. Cash withdrawals and PIN-based transactions do NOT earn mileage.

The card comes in 2 versions. The Basic Citibank AAdvantage Debit Card has an annual fee of $25, earns 1 AAdvantage mile for every $2 spent on qualified purchases, and allows users to earn up to 60,000 miles per calendar year. The Premium Citibank AAdvantage Debit Card has an annual fee of $65, earns 1 mile for every $1 spent, up to 100,000 miles per calendar year.

New customers will receive up to 10,000 AAdvantage miles for opening a Citibank checking account with a Citibank AAdvantage Debit Card. Existing customers can receive either 2,000 or 4,000 bonus AAdvantage miles respectively for converting to either a Basic Citibank AAdvantage Debit Card or a Premium Citibank AAdvantage Debit Card.

> More...

Southwest Extends Double Credits, Adds Nextel
================================================

Southwest has extended the expiration date of its online booking bonus from June 30 to Dec. 31, 2002.

Also, effectively immediately, Rapid Rewards members can earn credits with Nextel. Earn 4 credits for every phone purchased and activated, up to a maximum of 4 phones, and additional credits for subsequent contract extensions and other activities.

United Offers Multi-Partner Bonus
===================================

Mileage Plus members can earn 15,000, 20,000 or 25,000 bonus miles by enrolling and earning miles with 3, 4 or 5 selected Mileage Plus program partners (Mileage Plus Dining, Mileage Plus Grocery Miles, Mileage Plus Visa, MSN and Nextel).

To earn the bonus, you must enroll by Feb. 28 and earn miles with the partners before Apr. 30, 2002.

AND... You must be a resident of Arizona, California, Colorado, Washington D.C., Illinois, Maryland, Oregon, Virginia or Washington.

AND... If you already hold a Mileage Plus Visa or participate in Mileage Plus Dining, those partners won't count toward qualifying for a bonus.

This offer suffers by comparison with last year's multi-partner promotions from American and Northwest. But if you can meet the requirements, the miles are worth pursuing.

> More...

Full-Fare BA Flights Earn Free Tickets, Triple Miles
==========================================

British Airways is offering full-fare customers the chance to earn free tickets or triple miles, as follows:

> Free Tickets
Earn 2 free tickets for 1 roundtrip or 2 1-way transatlantic sectors in full-fare Club World or First or Concorde (D, J, A, F, R class) through Apr. 15, 2002. Offer is good one time only during this promotion.

> Triple Miles
Earn triple miles for 1 roundtrip or 2 1-way transatlantic sectors in full-fare World Traveler, World Traveler Plus, Club World or First or Concorde (Y, Y2, B, B2, W, T, D, J, A, F, or R class) through Apr. 15, 2002. Bonus will also be earned on all subsequent qualifying flights during the promotion period.

Registration is required.

> More...

Holiday Inn Doubles Points, Miles
==========================================

Through Mar. 31, 2002, members of Priority Club Worldwide earn double points or miles for stays at any of 2,170 Holiday Inn or Holiday Inn Express hotels in the U.S.

Participating airlines: Air Canada, Alaska, America West, American, British Airways, Continental, Delta, Northwest, United, US Airways.

Only U.S. members are eligible, and you must pre-register online at http://www.priorityclub.com.

Summit Hotels Offers Quadruple BA Miles
=====================================

From Feb. 1 to Mar. 31, 2002, British Airways Executive Club members can earn 2002 miles -- 4 times the normal earning rate -- for stays at qualifying rates at any of 59 participating Summit hotels in 48 destinations.

Also, Summit will be offering double miles in conjunction with 5 additional airline programs (Virgin Atlantic, KLM, Air France, Alitalia and JAL) for stays through June 30, 2002. Details will be made available on the Summit website.

> More...

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

Deal Alert from SmarterLiving.com
=================================

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

Winter Savings to Europe Starting at $199 R/T
-----------------------------------------------------
American Airlines has announced a fare sale on winter travel from U.S. cities to destinations throughout Europe. Fares are valid for departure through Mar. 2, and travel must be completed by Mar. 7.

> More...

International Sale Fares to Europe, Latin America, and Asia
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Most major U.S. airlines have released international fare sales for travel through Mar., with savings from the U.S. to destinations in Europe, Latin America, or Asia.

> More...

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

President's Day Sweepstakes
======================================

Enter the 1800USAHotels President's Day Sweepstakes by booking a hotel stay through 1800USAHotels.com between Jan. 14 and Feb. 18th, 2002. You will receive 1 entry for each regular booking and 2 entries when booking a Partnered Hotel (identified by the star icon next to the hotel name).

Winner will receive a 3-night getaway at The Melrose hotel in Washington, D.C.

> 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

ClickRewards?
===================

"What happened to the ClickRewards site? Have they gone belly up as well?"

- Kathleen

The assets of Netcentives, parent company of ClickRewards and MaxMiles among others, have been auctioned off as part of the bankruptcy proceedings. It's not clear yet what the future holds for ClickRewards, but the majority view is that they are indeed gone forever.

F R E Q U E N T F L I E R F U N N I E S

Bottomed Out in the Lav
===========================

The following is excerpted from a story in Airwise News.

"An American woman on board an SAS Boeing 767 transatlantic flight from Oslo to New York found herself sealed to a toilet seat after pushing the flush button before standing up.

"To her horror, she realized that the powerful vacuum action had her in its grip. Her body was sealed to the seat so firmly that it took airport technicians to free her after the plane had landed.

"After realizing she was stuck, the woman raised the alarm -- but cabin crew were unable to free her.

"When the flight landed in New York, the cabin crew had to summon ground staff to help."

Until next week...