U P F R O N T
From American: Service Increases, Alliance Woes
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For the world's largest airline, there's good and bad news.
The good news is that American is restoring some of the flights suspended in the aftermath of 9/11. That's a welcome development for customers whose choices have been curtailed by the 20% capacity cuts instituted by most airlines. And it's a positive sign for the industry, insofar as it suggests that American sees signs of a travel rebound in its current and advance bookings.
The bad news is that American's proposed tie-up with British Airways has been abandoned, after the DOT imposed conditions both carriers rejected. American and BA were seeking anti-trust immunity to jointly operate transatlantic flights and a liberalized U.S.-U.K. aviation agreement.
In the wake of the failed attempt, the European media are reporting that BA has turned its attention to courting KLM, which partners with Northwest in the Wings global alliance. The smart money is betting that a successful BA-KLM tie-up would result in BA's abandoning the oneworld alliance, which it now co-anchors with American, in favor of Wings, completely realigning the balance of power among global airline alliances.
Officials at another oneworld airline, Iberia, this week mentioned 'oneworld' and 'other options' in the same sentence, signaling their readiness to rethink their alliance relationships. And in Asia, oneworld member Cathay Pacific is rumored to be in worry mode over the future of the alliance.
Airline alliances are good for frequent flyers, which means that the best of the alliances confer a competitive advantage on their member carriers. The United-led Star alliance is already superior to oneworld. If American cannot retain its current partners, oneworld could slip from second to last place.
O N S I T E
New on the FrequentFlier Forum
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Ronald has more suggestions than there are hours in the day, including a sweepstakes awarding a trip to Italy. CutStyle lays out everything you need to know about mileage-expiration policies. Jeff is searching for the road to gold in the Starwood Preferred Guest program. 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
More Airlines Eliminate Blackout Dates
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In predictable "me too" fashion, other airlines have followed Northwest's lead in eliminating blackout dates.
In the mini-P.R. skirmish following the Northwest announcement, American one-upped Northwest by committing to an earlier implementation date: Feb. 1, versus Mar. 1 for Northwest. And when Delta scuttled their blackout dates the next day, they matched American's timing, not Northwest's.
As we said in last week's issue, these are empty bragging rights.
In fact, the elimination of published blackout dates may even be a disservice to frequent flyer program members, obscuring the fact that airlines will continue using capacity controls to make available only as many award seats as they conservatively predict will go unsold anyway.
The whole purpose of blackout dates was to steer would-be award travelers away from dates which historically sell out. Eliminating the blackout dates simply deprives award travelers of a planning tool.
Delta Discounts Domestic Award Flights
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Delta is offering reduced mileage SkyMiles awards for travel within the continental U.S. and Alaska.
SkySaver domestic awards are available for 20,000 miles for coach class or 35,000 miles for first class, a discount of 5,000 miles.
Reservations must be made and travel must be completed by Mar. 20, 2002.
> More...
Earn Triple Miles for Stays at Choice Hotels
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Qualifying stays at participating Choice Hotels in the U.S. and the Caribbean between Feb. 1 and Apr. 30 will earn triple miles in the programs of American, Delta, Northwest or US Airways.
Stays at Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Clarion, Sleep Inn and MainStay Suites earn 750 miles per stay instead of the standard 250, and stays at Econo Lodge and Rodeway Inn earn 450 miles per stay instead of the standard 150.
In addition to the triple-mile promotion, all Choice hotels in the U.S. and the Caribbean will participate in a "Thanks a Million" sweepstakes that includes a 1 million mile grand prize and 10 100,000 miles first prizes. No purchase is necessary to enter.
> More...
Marriott PointSavers -- Awards Stays for Less
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Marriott Rewards members can use PointSaver awards to book free hotel nights for fewer points.
PointSaver rewards represent a 1-category discount in point requirements. So an award stay at a category 6 hotel can be redeemed at category 5 point levels.
For a list of participating hotels, for both the winter (Jan. 1 - Mar. 31, 2002) and spring (Apr. 1 - June 30, 2002) periods, see Marriott's website.
> More...
Buy US Airways Tickets with Miles + Money
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Members of US Airways' Dividend Miles program can combine cash and miles for travel within the U.S., to Europe, and to the Caribbean.
Deadlines for purchasing and using tickets vary by region, with most travel ending by late Mar. 2002.
> More...
2002 WorldPerks Changes (continued)
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In last week's Crier, we slammed Northwest for their less-than-forthright communication of the upcoming elimination of their 20,000-mile off-peak award, and their overstatement of the benefits of eliminating blackout dates.
Picking up where we left off, there are also some positive changes in store for WorldPerks members, as follows:
> Class of Service Bonus Counts Toward Elite
The 50% bonus miles awarded for travel in World Business Class or first class will now count toward attaining elite status.
> Bonus Miles for CyberSavers Travel
WorldPerks will now offer 250 bonus miles per segment on CyberSavers fares, partially reversing their "no miles for CyberSavers" policy instituted on Oct. 4 of last year.
Most other airlines, by contrast, offer actual flown miles on their comparable Internet-only fares.
> WorldPerks Miles for Sale
Starting in Mar., WorldPerks members will be able to purchase up to 7,500 miles per year, in 2,500-mile increments, for their own accounts or for someone else's. Cost and other details have yet to be disclosed, but expect NW to price miles in line with other carriers, i.e. at $0.025 each, plus tax and processing fee.
> More...
AAdvantage Bonus for Qantas First/Biz-Class Pax
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Through Mar. 31, 2002, AAdvantage members who purchase and fly on a Qantas first or business class ticket between Los Angeles and either Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or Auckland, may purchase a second ticket at 50% off and earn 10,000 bonus miles per couple for first or 7,500 bonus miles per couple for business class.
Both customers must travel together to earn the bonus. An equal number of applicable bonus miles will be posted in each member's account (for example, a couple traveling in First Class who are eligible for the bonus will each earn 5,000 bonus miles).
You must register at http://www.aa.com/offers.
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...
Washington, D.C. on Sale from US Airways and Alaska
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If the State of the Union Address inspires you to visit the nation's capital, weekend travel to Washington (Reagan National) is on sale, as are fares between Washington (Dulles) and cities in the Northwestern U.S. and Canada.
> More...
24 Asian Cities in 30 Days Starting at $747 R/T
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Malaysia Airlines is offering an "Access Asia Pass" that allows travel to Kuala Lumpur and up to 23 other cities in Southeast Asia during a 30-day period. Cathay Pacific is offering a similar deal for 21 days via Hong Kong from $999.
> More...
S W E E P S T A K E S & F R E E B I E S
"Cruise Into The New Year" Sweepstakes
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Register by Feb. 28, 2002, at united.com to receive United email communications to be entered to win 1 of 2 cruise packages.
Grand prize: a 7-day Hawaiian cruise for 2 on the Norwegian Star, roundtrip air and $300 spending money. First prize: a 7-day Caribbean cruise for 2 and roundtrip air.
Mileage Plus members already registered at united.com and currently receiving all 6 available e-mails can still enter. See point number 4 in the "How to Enter" section of the Official Rules.
> 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
Thumbs Down on NW's New Award Policy
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Kevin reacted much as we did to Northwest's award-policy changes, reported in last week's Crier.
"I have read NWA's announcement on changes to the WorldPerks program.
"What a bunch of baloney! There was nothing complicated about either understanding the peak/off peak charts. Nor was there some great challenge in planning travel based on those charts. This change to the WorldPerks program has no meaningful benefits to either travelers or travel agents -- and NWA's spin on this matter is insulting.
"NWA should face the fact that your airline, with its ancient fleet, record of poor service, and cramped cabins is NOT the first choice of most travelers -- business or leisure -- and you should take great pains to be MORE accommodating rather than less. I recently booked a trip on your airline primarily because of an eventual off-peak travel possibility (using miles from your program or from an alliance airline). Previously I had avoided your airline because of your antiquated fleet and poor service I'd encountered -- but I thought I'd give you another try (please don't send me a message describing your new Airbus and partner CRJs, I know about those few you now use, the fact remains that NWA still flies a mostly 20-30 year old fleet and will for some time to come). But this will be my last business or leisure trip with NWA until it demonstrates an understanding of its deficiencies and the need to do its best to treat travelers like valued customers."
The UPS Alternative -- A Dissenting Opinion
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In response to our suggestion that flyers pre-ship their luggage via UPS to avoid airport security bottlenecks, we received the following from Dolores:
"Luggage which is sent by mail or UPS must be encased in a container like a box. This expense goes up every day. UPS has lost a lot of packages, even large ones, being sent to me. If the addressee in the destination city is not home when the box arrives, it could be a hassle... box could be stolen from the front porch if left unattended. If a signature is required and persons are not at home, then the addressee will have to arrange a pickup, etc.
"Large, heavy boxes are hard for many people to handle if they have to go to UPS "office" or P.O. branch station to pick it up.
"Many airlines do not allow a check-in earlier than 3 - 4 hours prior to departure. Even if this time has been increased recently to, say, 4 - 5 hours early, this just makes a longer waiting time for most passengers. Also, in my experience, when I have checked very early, I have had a higher chance for lost luggage. Best solution: pack less, check as much as possible, carry on small amount of only essential items like medications, basic personal supplies and one change of clothes."
Until next week...
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