Issue #83  --  March 2, 2000

<< U P F R O N T >>

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Oops! x 2
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We don't often have to say the O-word (oops). But when we do, we do. And this week, we have to say it twice.

Firstly, in last week's "Steals & Deals" section, we referenced a great deal offered by America West for flights to Las Vegas. What escaped our eagle eye was the expiration date, which had passed 4 days earlier. Oops! Thanks to Jay.

Secondly, in the "Business Travel Tips" section, we warned that debit cards couldn't be used to earn miles. While that was once the case, and remains the rule, there is now at least 1 exception: the co-branded Chase-Continental debit card, which allows OnePass members to earn 1 mile for every $2 charged to the card. Thanks to Steve.

<< M I L E S >>

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Virgin Promotes London Flights with PDA Offer
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When you join flying club, Virgin Atlantic's frequent flyer program, and fly round-trip once in Upper Class or twice in Premium Economy to London between March 1 and June 30, 2000, you will receive a complimentary Handspring Visor Deluxe PDA (personal digital assistant), complete with leather case and cradle. They even let you choose the color: blue, ice or graphite. The Handspring offer is available to passengers flying from any U.S. Virgin gateway to London and open to both new and existing flying club members.

And if you fly a second time in Upper Class or a third time in Premium Economy between the March 1 and August 30, 2000, you will receive a free Springboard modem as an accessory to your Handspring Visor.

First-time flyers must call Virgin Atlantic reservations at 877-747-0123 and mention the Handspring Offer to register and join flying club. Existing members must call flying club at 800-365-9500 to register for the offer. One Handspring Visor is available per customer.

>> More <<
Virgin

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Northwest, KLM, Alitalia Link Programs
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Northwest Airlines, Alitalia and KLM have implemented reciprocal frequent flyer plan programs, as well as codesharing to 42 cities in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the United States. The codeshare service was made available for purchase on Saturday, February 26, for travel beginning April 2.

The frequent flyer program reciprocity will allow members of Northwest's WorldPerks, Alitalia's MilleMiglia and KLM's Flying Dutchman programs. to travel on any of the three carriers and earn and redeem travel awards on all Northwest, Alitalia and KLM flights. Frequent flyer award travel can be booked immediately, for travel beginning April 2.

>> More <<
Northwest

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AeroMexico Flights Count Toward SkyMiles Elite Status
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Effective immediately, Delta SkyMiles members who fly on qualifying AeroMexico flights will earn base miles and segments which will count toward Medallion status. Additionally, Delta frequent flyer miles may be accrued on all AeroMexico-coded flights worldwide and redeemed on all AeroMexico-operated flights.

This change follows AeroMexico's new status as a partner, with Delta and Air France, in a new global airline alliance to compete with oneworld, Star and Wings.

>> More <<
o AeroMexico
o Delta

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Double SkyMiles Offer Extended
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Delta has extended its double mile bonus offer for SkyMiles members who fly qualifying Delta Shuttle flights between New York, Boston or Washington, D.C. through Aug. 31, 2000.

>> More <<
Delta

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TWA Aviators Adds MCI as Telecom Partner
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Effective immediately, new and existing MCI WorldCom customers can earn Aviator miles for communications services offered by MCI WorldCom. (MCI replaces TWA's previous telecom partner, Sprint.)

Aviators members will earn 5 miles for each dollar spent on MCI WorldCom's residential services (excluding taxes, credits and surcharges). In addition, MCI WorldCom offers a special sign-up bonus of 2,000 miles for new customers who enroll in the MCI WorldCom/Aviators program.

In addition to TWA, MCI WorldCom offers miles through 9 other airline programs: American, Continental, Delta, Hawaiian, Midwest Express, Southwest, United, US Airways, and China Airlines.

>> More <<
o MCI WorldCom
o TWA

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Double AAdvantage Miles, Discount at Hertz
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When you rent a NeverLost-equipped car from Hertz for 3 or more days you'll receive 2 of those days of NeverLost service free. And you'll earn double AAdvantage miles. (NeverLost is an in-car navigation system.)

Mention your AAdvantage membership number, CDP#217692 and PC#906776 at the time of reservation. Minimum one-day advance reservation and minimum 3-day car rental required.

>> More <<
o American
o Hertz

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Newest Amex Partner: Midway
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Amex Membership Rewards members can now redeem their points for travel on Midway Airlines.

Note that, unlike the typical airline-Amex relationship where points can be converted into frequent flyer program miles, in this case the points are only redeemable for Midway tickets. That's because Midway doesn't operate its own frequent flyer program, but instead offers AAdvantage miles for Midway flights.

>> More <<
Midway

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Earn ClickMiles for Charitable Donations
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Three charities are now offering ClickMiles for donations...

1) Donate online to Heart-to-Heart International and receive 1 ClickMile for every dollar you contribute.

Heart-to-Heart International (www.hearttoheart.org/promotions) is a relief and development organization that specializes in volunteer action and worldwide humanitarian assistance to alleviate human suffering.

2) When you donate to DefenseNow for Schools, you will receive 1 ClickMile for each dollar you contribute.

DefenseNow for Schools (www.defensenow.org) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing violence in schools by promoting positive choice making and personal safety for children.

3) Earn double ClickMiles for every dollar donated to The AIDS Foundation of St. Louis (www.aidstl.org), and an additional 100 ClickMiles for donations of $50 or more.

The AIDS Foundation of St. Louis offers financial support for 20 organizations dedicated to providing services to thousands of people of all ages affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

>> More <<
ClickRewards

<< S T E A L S & D E A L S >>

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Deal Alert from SmarterLiving.com
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Two hot deals from SmarterLiving com...

>> Coast-to-Coast Fare War: R/T for $198 or Less!

Southwest Airlines and America West Airlines have put all city pairs on sale for $99 or less each way. Travel is valid March 7 through August 5.

For more details, please go here.

>> Sale to 11 Ski Resorts on United Airlines

United Airlines is offering Internet sale fares to eleven ski resorts. You can save up to 30% when you purchase your fare twenty-one days in advance. Travel is valid through April 2.

The eleven ski destinations available in this fare sale are Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Copper Mountain, Cortez, Durango, Gunnison, Hayden/Steamboat Springs, Jackson Hole, Keystone, Montrose, and Telluride.

For more details, please go here.

<< I N D U S T R Y U P D A T E >>

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Chapter 11 for Tower Air
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Tower Air this week filed for relief under Chapter 11 of the United States
Bankruptcy Code.

The filing will allow Tower to continue operations with no disruption while it attempts to its regular schedule of flights and otherwise operate its business in the ordinary course while it seeks to reorganize its debt and return to profitability.

As we go to press, there are rumors that Israel's El Al has expressed an interest in taking an equity position in Tower. That would help Tower solidify its financial position and reassure customers and creditors.

>> More <<
Tower

<< B U S I N E S S T R A V E L T I P S >>

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Things to Know Before You Go
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The following is part of a continuing series of business travel tips from Chris McGinnis's "The Unofficial Business Traveler's Pocket Guide--165 Tips Even the Best Business Travelers May Not Know."

>> Use Airline On-Time Performance Data

Most surveys indicate that business travelers' top concern regarding air travel is on-time performance,. The Department of Transportation tracks the airlines in this regard and publishes statistics in its monthly Air Travel Consumer Report (www.dot.gov).

You can actually ask for the on-time performance of any flight when you make your reservation. Most travelers don't know about this, but the on-time performance for individual flights is tracked monthly on all reservations systems. When making your reservation, ask the agent for the on-time performance of the flight, and you will be given the score for the flight on a scale of 1 to 9, with 1 meaning that the flight was on time between 1 and 10 percent of the time, and 9 meaning that the flight was on time 90 to 100 percent of the time in the preceding month. The airlines do not openly publicize this, so few people ever inquire. Always ask if being on time is crucial in your decision. (These scores are also usually listed with on-line booking sites.)

Chris McGinnis
Travel Skills Group
http://www.travelskills.com

<< T R A V E L O N L I N E >>

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Southwest Books 25% On Website
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Southwest announced this week that more than 25% of its January 2000 passenger revenues came through its Internet site, putting the airline on track to exceed $1 billion in e-commerce revenues for 2000. Passenger revenues through www.southwest.com for the fourth quarter of 1999 exceeded $250 million; up more than 140 percent over fourth quarter 1998.

According to Southwest, a recent Deutsche Banc study showed Southwest first among the U.S. majors in Internet bookings, with 20% of its total bookings made online. Alaska Air came next with nearly 14% and America West was third with 12%.

>> More <<
Southwest

<< S I T E 2 S E E >>

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Working Off the Beaten Track
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"As I write this, I'm sitting on a flight from Bangkok to Frankfurt, making my way back to London after spending two months travelling through Asia with my company, Sig Software, operating out of my PowerBook G3." So begins the account by Gideon Greenspan, an independent software developer, of his trips--both digital and real world--through Southeast Asia.

Follow Gideon as he travels through some pretty remote areas of Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, always managing to find an Internet cafe or other means of accessing e-mail and generally maintaining contact with his customers.

Interesting reading...

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Off the Beaten Track

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

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True (Funny) Travel Stories
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Requesting a seat on an over-sold flight, a woman was told that she could be put on the "wait list." The obviously confused woman was concerned that she might weigh too much to make it onto the flight.

A woman called reservations to inquire if the airline flew to Walt Disney World. The agent couldn't resist replying, "Oh, yes, ma'am. And a pretty big city it is, too."

[FrequentFlier Funnies are true stories from William Joric's "Air Sick Humor." The book can be purchased at the FrequentFlier Bookstore at http://frequentflier.com/ffp-books.htm]

Until next week...