OAG "Frequent Flyer" R.I.P.

On Friday of last week, OAG shut down "Frequent Flyer," a travel publication with a long and distinguished history. It was a sad day for me, and for others who remember OAG's glory days.

"Frequent Flyer" was originally a monthly print magazine, distributed to subscribers of OAG's Pocket Flight Guides. The Flight Guides were considered indispensable references for hard core business travelers, and the editorial of "Frequent Flyer" had an appropriately road warrior orientation.

The printed Flight Guide began losing traction with business travelers as scheduling information became increasingly accessible online, and OAG's commitment to "Frequent Flyer" waned accordingly. For a time, the freestanding magazine was discontinued and its content integrated into the schedules. And for the past few years, the magazine was online-only.

I was a reader of "Frequent Flyer" more than 20 years ago, when I first started working in the airline industry. When I was in marketing management for Singapore Airlines and All Nippon Airways, we advertised in the magazine and the Pocket Flight Guide. For the past eight years, I've been a contributing editor. And OAG published my book, "Mileage Pro - The Insider's Guide to Frequent Flyer Programs." So the company and its publications have been a part of my life for many years.

I don't know how long they will keep "Frequent Flyer" content up on their website, but my most recent contributions are still accessible here. The "View from the Top" series of interviews with loyalty program managers, travel experts, and frequent travelers is particularly worthwhile reading for mile-collectors.

If there's a moral to the "Frequent Flyer" saga, perhaps it's that we consumers of travel information and advice shouldn't take for granted those publications which cater to that need.

New FrequentFlier Poll: Passenger Bill of Rights

After a multi-year hiatus, the possibility of an Airline Passenger Bill or Rights is back on the minds of travelers and on the agenda of federal lawmakers.

At the grassroots level, the movement is being spearheaded by a group of American Airlines passengers who, in late 2006, spent eight or more hours stranded on the Austin Airport tarmac, as their planes' toilets backed up to overflowing and food and beverage provisions ran out. The "Coalition for Airline Passenger's Bill of Rights" blog was created in direct response to that debacle.

I summarized my take on the matter in a recent SmarterTravel.com blog entry.

So far, the airlines have been uncharacteristically mum, at least publicly. It's likely they are focusing their efforts on behind-the-scenes maneuvering through their lobbying arms, as they did in successfully derailing the last such Passenger Rights initiative in 1999. But there's little doubt the airlines will oppose any efforts to hold them to higher standards.

Your opinion? Is it time for a meaningful Airline Passenger Bill of Rights? Or is government legislation the wrong way to fix the problem? Weigh in on the latest FrequentFlier Poll, and see what the consensus is among our readers.

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FrequentFlier Forum Topics

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

In the "Airline Programs" Forum, mikieg though he was taking advantage of a free companion offer. But... "The coupon turns out to be anything but free. It specifies on the back that reservations must be made by calling AA. Only problem is, AA is charging a $10 fee for calling them and a $15 "convenience" fee, which is unavoidable since the flight can't be booked on-line. This is in addition to a multitude of restrictions that make the certificate nearly impossible to use when one considers that a certain paying fare must first be purchased. Also, add on another $50-75 for security and airport fees and taxes."

And in the "Hotel Programs" Forum, pgalvin2 is about to enter the murky world of time share properties: "I'm in the market for a time share. After doing some research and staying at Marriott Aruba, I've decided to go the Marriott route. Can I get your thoughts on some of their properties? My family loves the beach and does some skiing and we would be vacationing during spring break season."

And much more. Questions, answers? Post them to the Forum!

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Double Credit for ATA/Southwest Flights

Between February 1 and April 30, members of Southwest's Rapid Rewards and ATA's Travel Awards programs will earn double points for Southwest/ATA codeshare flights or ATA-only service to/from New York-LaGuardia airport or any destination ATA serves in Hawaii.

With the bonuses, Rapid Rewards members booking travel at southwest.com will receive four Rapid Rewards credits for roundtrip flights to/from New York-LaGuardia and eight credits for roundtrip flights to/from Hawaii flown between February 1 and April 30, 2007. And ATA Travel Awards members booking at ata.com will receive 2,000 Travel Awards Points for roundtrip flights to/from New York-LaGuardia and 4,000 Travel Awards Points for roundtrip flights to/from Hawaii.

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10K Bonus Miles for Continental Vacations

Continental OnePass members who purchase a Continental Vacations Mexico or Caribbean air/hotel package of five or more nights will earn 10,000 bonus miles.

To earn the bonus, packages must be booked by March 1, and travel must be completed by August 15.

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Delta to Auto-Notify Elite Upgrades

Effective immediately, SkyMiles Medallion members will be automatically notified via e-mail, voice or text message when their elite upgrade is confirmed.

Other new elite-related features include automatic upgrade requests for Medallion members when booking at delta.com, with Delta reservations, or with a travel agent, and automatic additions of elite members to the airport standby list at check-in if an upgrade is still pending.

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Northwest Offers Mileage Bounty for New Flyers

Through May 31, Northwest WorldPerks members can earn up to 17,500 bonus miles for referring up to five friends who complete up to three qualifying flights.

Referrer earns 2,500 bonus miles for the friend's first roundtrip flight, plus 500 for the second and third flights, for a total of 3,500 miles per referral. Sign up five friends for a potential total of 17,500 bonus miles.

Referred friends also earn bonus miles, up to 17,500 each: 2,500 for the first roundtrip, 5,000 for the second, and 10,000 for the third.

Referred friend must be a WorldPerks member who has not earned WorldPerks miles for travel since January 1, 2005, and whose WorldPerks mailing address is in the United States or Canada.

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More Priority Club Points for NYC Holiday Inn Stays

Priority Club Rewards members who book the 3,000 Bonus Points Package at the Holiday Inn Manhattan-Downtown/SoHo will receive 3,000 bonus points or 600 bonus miles for qualifying stays.

This offer has no published expiration date.

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United Offers Bonus Miles for Colorado Flights

Through April 30, Mileage Plus members will earn 1,000 bonus miles 1,000 bonus miles for qualifying United or United Express nonstop roundtrips flights between Denver and Austin, Boston, Baltimore, Cincinnati, Washington, D.C. (IAD, DCA), Dallas/Fort Worth, Grand Rapids, Huntsville, AL, Houston, Idaho Falls, New York (LGA), Monterey, CA, San Jose, CA, Vail/Eagle, Gunnison/Crested Butte, or Hayden/Steamboat Springs; or between Aspen and San Francisco.

Registration is required.

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Deal Alert from SmarterTravel.com

1) Ends Thursday: JetBlue Fares from $59 Each Way

Through Thursday, JetBlue is offering long-haul flights from $59 one-way for travel through March. Routes include Boston to Seattle, San Diego to Washington, and New York to Oakland.

Travel is valid Mondays through Wednesdays and on Saturdays through March 27. Fares require up to a 14-day advance purchase, and must be booked by February 8.

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2) Cancun and Punta Cana from $99 Each Way

Flights to Cancun and Punta Cana are on sale from USA3000 for travel through May. Prices start at $99 one-way, with departures from Baltimore, Chicago, Detroit, New York, and other cities.

Travel is valid through May 31. Book tickets by February 9.

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Win Free Tickets from Southwest

Between February 2 and June 22, Southwest will be giving away 20 prizes daily, including Rapid Rewards credits and awards, to promote the 20th anniversary of its loyalty program.

To be automatically entered to win a prize, you must be a Rapid Rewards Member signed up to receive DING! downloads, and your Rapid Rewards account must be registered to your DING! account.

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

Feedback from the Frontlines of Travel

"I have been critical of mileage programs since they began. I know there is "no free lunch." Yet, I must commend American Airlines for proving me wrong!

"Several months ago my husband and I booked flights using miles to fly Business Class from San Francisco departing January 1 (AA SFO-LAX and LanChile to Santiago, Chile and to Mendoza, Argentina ). The return was to be Buenos Aires to Miami and to San Francisco on American.

"Somehow we confused the dates and showed up at the Buenos Aires airport January 31. I carried a copy of the original American email to me and the person at the counter pointed out the return date of January 30. American put us on a flight 90 minutes later to Miami and we were able to make the same connection from there to San Francisco and in the same class of service.

"And all with a smile when we admitted our error. Thank you American." [Alayne G. - Palo Alto, CA]

"Could you please give the customer service (or whatever) address for each of the airlines who have reduced their time limits from 3 years to 18 months - and suggest that if each FF member for each airline sent a personal letter to the airline, they might re-consider their policy. This should be individual letters, not e-mails (which would probably be ignored). If each airline received upwards of 1000 letters it just might show how unpopular their decision has been.

"It probably won't change things, but you never know. I would be nice to see how many letters this would generate.

"Keep up the good work." [Peggy Ann S. - Nashua, NH]

"P.S. I recently received an e-mail announcement for a 'one day only sale' from UA which arrived on my computer at 11:47 p.m. the day of the sale. I guess they really did not want to sell many tickets but could 'brag' about their great offers..."

[FrequentFlier.com replies - The chances of the airlines rescinding their recent changes to mileage expiration are slim at best. Still, we always support consumers' efforts to make their wishes known to travel suppliers, so we'll cover "Effective Complaining" in a future newsletter or website article.]

"How do I purchase something to save my miles?" [Thomas Y.]

[FrequentFlier.com replies - The easiest way is via the mileage malls now operated by all major programs. Basically they're networks of online retailers which award airline miles for purchases. Look for the link under the "Earning Miles" heading on the website of the program you participate in.]

Until next week...