New Format -- First Issue

Welcome to the first Crier in the new HTML format!

After a full month of work on the "next generation" design and format, I think we have come close to meeting our goals of simplicity and legibility. We'll continue fine-tuning over the coming weeks.

As always, feedback is welcome. E-mail me at publisher@frequentflier.com.

More: http://frequentflier.com/formatchange.htm

Bankruptcy Watch

Over the past few weeks, we've seen a series of generally favorable developments for the country's bankrupt airlines, with new labor accords and financing deals giving Aloha, Hawaiian, United and US Airways renewed hope of avoiding liquidation.

So, is the failed airline scare over?

Not according to credit-rating agency Standard & Poor's. Citing high fuel prices, overcapacity, intense price competition and massive pension obligations, S&P warned of further bankruptcies.

Accordingly, S&P placed on CreditWatch $13 billion of securities issued by American, America West, Continental and Northwest -- 4 of the healthier major carriers.

Media Query

Have you or someone you know received a fine from the Transportation Security Administration for bringing a prohibited item (knife, fireworks, chemicals, etc.) through the airport security checkpoint? If so, Washington Post reporter Sara Goo would like to talk to you. Please contact her at goos@washpost.com if you would like to share your story.

FrequentFlier Forum Topics

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

In the "Airline Programs" Forum, Matthew Goldman shares details of Southwest's latest promo: 2 bonus Rapid Rewards credits for downloading SW's Ding deal-alert software and using it for 30 days. (We're still waiting to hear back from Southwest on the offer's end date.)

Also in the "Airline Programs" Forum, Evan has the following to say about SkyMiles: "We just finished the first year of Deltas new MQM program. Last year (2004) I was Gold and was upgraded to biz class of 72 flights all but 3 times. This year I am again Gold. So far this year 12 flights no upgrade on 10!!!"

In the "Hotel Programs" Forum, Beer Man and others compare personalized offers received from Marriott's MegaBonus promo. (See offer details in "Miles & Points" below.)

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

More: http://frequentflier.com/forums/index.php

Amex Cards Get Bigger Bonuses

American Express is offering new cardholders extra-rich activation bonuses for 3 co-branded credit cards.

Through Apr. 15, new holders of the Hilton HHonors Platinum credit card from American Express will receive a welcome bonus of 15,000 HHonors points after the first purchase.

Through May 1, Amex is increasing the welcome bonus to 15,000 miles for the Gold Delta SkyMiles card.

And also through May 1, Amex is offering up to 10,000 bonus points for the Starwood Preferred Guest credit card -- a welcome bonus of 4,000 Starpoints and up to 6,000 Starpoints in the first year of membership for stays at Starwood hotels.

• More: Hilton HHonors Platinum card
• More: Gold Delta SkyMiles card
• More: Starwood Preferred Guest card

Fly First to Earn FlightFund Elite Faster

FlightFund members who fly America West roundtrip in first class 6 times will be awarded Gold elite status; 3 first-class roundtrips earn Silver status. Once earned, elite status will remain in effect through Feb. 28, 2006.

Offer applies to tickets purchased between Mar. 1 and June 30, 2005. Travel must be completed by Sept. 30, 2005.

Registration is required.

More: http://www.americawest.com/flightfund/promotions/form.asp?promocode=FC05

America West Adds Sydney Award

Beginning today, FlightFund members may redeem their miles for award flights to Sydney, Australia on program partner Hawaiian Airlines. Flights are via Honolulu.

Awards are priced at 100,000 and 200,000 miles for restricted coach and restricted first class, respectively.

More: http://www.americawest.com/flightfund/myffaccount/redeemingmiles/ff_australia.htm

Avis Offers Free Weekends

Through June 25, Avis Wizard members will receive a free weekend rental after completing a qualifying weekly rental of 5 days or longer. The free weekend may be earned up to 3 times, and must be taken by Dec. 16, 2005.

Registration is required.

More: http://www.avis.com/AvisWeb/JSP/US/en/deals/us_weekender05.jsp

Up to 25K SkyMiles for Chase Home Equity Loans

SkyMiles members can now earn 3,500 miles for every $10,000 in home equity loans or lines of credit from Chase Home Finance, up to a maximum of 25,000 miles.

To open a home equity loan or line of credit and earn Delta miles, visit a Chase or Bank One branch, visit delta.chase.com or call 1-888-465-1317.

More: http://www.delta.chase.com

Double the Rewards at Midwest Doubletrees

Through Apr. 30, Hilton HHonors members will earn double points and miles in the programs of American, Midwest, Northwest, Southwest or United for stays at any of 23 participating Doubletree hotels in the Midwest.

Cite promotion code OMXD when making reservations.

More: http://www.doubletreepromo.com/

From Marriott: A MegaBonus

Between Mar. 1 and June 1, Marriott Rewards members will earn 2,500 bonus points for every Marriott International hotel stay, beginning with the second stay, up to a maximum of 10,000 points. (Depending on their status in the Marriott program, some members may be selectively offered different bonuses.)

Registration is required, either online or by calling 1-888-MARRIOTT (627-7468).

More: https://marriottrewards.com/

Redeem Priority Club Points for More American Miles

Through Mar. 31, Priority Club Rewards members will receive 20% more miles when redeeming their points for American Airlines AAdvantage miles.

Register on American's site using promo code IC20B (link below); then call Priority Club Rewards at 1-888-211-9874 and redeem Priority Club points for AAdvantage miles.

More: http://www.aa.com/

US Air Doubles the Miles from D.C.

Through June 30, Dividend Miles members will earn double miles for US Airways nonstop flights between Reagan Washington National and Atlanta, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Detroit and Houston.

Bonus miles count toward elite status.

Registration is required.

More: http://usairways.com/dividendmiles/3409.htm

Deal Alert from SmarterTravel.com

1) New West Coast Flights on JetBlue from $99

Travelers loyal to JetBlue, or those looking for an inexpensive flight to/from the West Coast, will be interested in JetBlue's recent route expansion. Beginning in May, JetBlue will fly between to Burbank, CA; and Portland, OR; and introductory prices start at $99 1-way.

Travel on all routes must be completed by June 16. Book tickets at least 14 days in advance, and by Mar. 17. To find the lowest fares, book midweek travel.

Service to/from Portland, OR, begins on May 17. Service to/from Burbank begins on May 24.

More: http://www.smartertravel.com/air/deal.php?id=8407

2) Spirit Puts Domestic, Caribbean Flights on Sale

Save on a flight to one of Spirit's most popular destinations with the airline's winter sale. Prices start at $84 roundtrip, and destinations include Myrtle Beach; Orlando; and Nassau, Bahamas.

Travel on most routes is valid through Apr. 30. Southbound travel is valid on Mondays through Wednesdays, and northbound travel is valid on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Spirit has not listed a booking deadline.

Travel between Chicago and Orlando, and between Detroit and Washington, D.C., must be completed by Mar. 16. Travel between Detroit and Los Angeles must be completed by May 26.

More: http://www.smartertravel.com/air/deal.php?id=8391

Fly JetBlue for 5 Years, Free

Through Mar. 4, enter JetBlue's Take 5 True Blue sweepstakes for a chance to win a travel card good for 5 years of free JetBlue flights. Other prizes: travel cards for 1-year travel sprees, Vespa scooters, a JVC flat-panel TV and home entertainment system.

More: http://jetblue.com/take5

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

Feedback from the Frontlines of Travel

"I have been flying Continental Airlines for almost 20 years, and from Houston to Washington Dulles every other week for the past 3 years. As a Platinum Elite, I have enjoyed the fact that I receive 1st class upgrades about 60% of the time.... well, all that has changed.

"The biggest change is that Continental, in an effort to increase the number of seats and thus revenue, have cut down the configuration of their 737-500 plane from 10 seats in 1st class to 6 seats, eliminating the 4 seats in row 3. As such, the chances of an upgrade have been virtually eliminated. I am not an expert of airline financials, but on the flight I take to Washington, and the flight I take home on Friday nights, the planes are always greater than 90% full... and making loyal flyers like myself angry by virtually eliminating the possibility of upgrades does not seem like a very strategic move as I am researching alternative flight and airlines.

"Right now, I am wishing that Gordon Bethune would come back to Continental out of retirement as he seemed to have more respect for airline loyalty." (Perry in Houston, TX)

[In response to a series of rants and counter-rants on the subject of the US Air agent who sent Rich's daughter back to the check-in counter to obtain a new boarding pass because she'd put the original in her mouth...]

"I'm impressed that there are so many people out there who have similar germ phobias and feel that the nutball US Airways gate agent acted appropriately.

"You folks are the ones who need to get real, not me or my daughter! If you people are naive enough to think that you never touch anything that has come in contact with someone else's mouth or saliva, you are living in a fool's paradise and certainly never get around small children.

"I'm sure you must stand out in a crowd with your surgical masks on." (Rich in St. Louis)

"I don't care who you are or where you are going or how paranoid or not you are about disease.... Making that girl go back through security and to the ticket counter for a new boarding pass is BS !!! It's the WORST kind of customer service and there is NO EXCUSE for it.

"Boarding passes are thrown away!

"I am a gate agent for a major airline and we can print new boarding passes AT THE GATE. We also have hand sanitizer at every gate and strategic places where we work. Peoples hands are far dirtier than their mouths. Especially in places like an airport.

"That agent should be kicked to the curb!

"p.s. - Every ticket/boarding agent that I have spoke with that thinks this agent should receive remedial training and be written up for such a crappy un-customer service thing he did. It's agents like that that give the rest of us a bad rap." (Pam in Seattle)

"Regarding the rants about the mouth rant: If you are worried about disease there is no difference between taking a ticket from one that sneezed on their hands or held it between their the lips, the agent overreacted and should wear rubber gloves and a mouth mask if that concerned.

"Regarding Amy from Delta: The customer spent thousands of dollars to get "free" travel and the airline tries to nickle and dime the customer for another $10. The airline employee's attitude explains why they are going under." " (JM from St. Louis)

"I am perplexed as to whether to pursue this complaint with AA.

"I purchased tickets for European travel on their website, aa.com, and they sent me a receipt for the tickets. However when I received my credit card statement, the charges were about $60 more than the receipts. AA is now saying that their tax tables were incorrect at the time they sent me the receipt and that I have to pay the higher amount. My point is that it is their own fault that they did not have the tax table updated. I feel I should only pay the amount that is on the receipt that they sent me. Any advice?" (Neil)

[Advice from a non-lawyer: American quoted a price and they should honor it. You might find an American rep who would agree with that reasoning, if you keep escalating the complaint. Similarly, a small claims court judge might well find in your favor. The question: is it worth your time to recoup $60?]

"United has had its last chance with moving me around airplanes. I am ditching my United credit card and switching to Alaska.

"This is at least the second time (and maybe more) that I have made a reservation and reserved specific seats on United, only to find later that they have changed planes or schedules and moved my seats from aisles near the front of the plane to middle seats near the rear of the plane. Their answer as to why is either "we have the right to do it" or "the computer did it." Well, if I don't fly them, they don't have the right and their computer can't do it." (Alan)