U P F R O N T

Weekly Travel Watch
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Aeroplan Sale Delayed
In addition to the usual survival tactics -- workforce reductions, salary cuts, route cutbacks -- Air Canada has been counting on a $165 million cash boost from the privatization and partial sale of its mileage program, Aeroplan.

That hope suffered a setback when Onex, the Canadian conglomerate expected to buy the 35% stake in Aeroplan, requested and received an extension until Apr. 30 to seal the deal.

The official reason: they need more time to scrutinize the financials of Air Canada and Aeroplan. The implied concern: Is Aeroplan worth $600 million?

S&P 500 Dumps American
In a blow to the prestige (and stock price) of the world's largest airline, Standard & Poors will remove American from the list of companies comprising its widely watched S&P 500 index, a proxy for large-company stocks.

The move reflects American's declining financial situation, which appears increasingly likely to land the company in bankruptcy.

There's a mileage angle to this story, too. American's bankruptcy-financing plan reportedly centers on Citigroup, parent company of Citibank, which issues the co-branded AAdvantage Mastercard.

United Wants More Time
Speaking of bankruptcy, United has requested a 180-day extension from Apr. 8 to submit its reorganization plan.

Separately, as anticipated, majority employee ownership at United is a thing of the past, as labor's stake fell below 20%, putting an end to workers' once-considerable say in major management decisions.

The Human Toll
Since Sept. 11, 2001, more than 100,000 airline employees have lost their jobs.

The Air Transport Association, a trade group representing the interests of the airlines, predicts that a war with Iraq would lead to the elimination of 2,200 daily flights and a loss of 70,000 more jobs.

O N S I T E

New On the FrequentFlier Forum
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Mark asks: "Does anyone have any idea how the AA frequent flier program would be affected if they go bankrupt?"

Dave reports that Song (Delta's yet-to-be-launched low-fare subsidiary) has its own website, at http://www.flysong.com/index.jsp.

Bob shows how to earn an easy 500 miles in Air France's program. (No France-bashing, please, unless it's obviously tongue-in-cheek.)

Questions, answers, comments? Post them to the Forum!

> More...

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

AirTran to Revamp A-Plus
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Members of AirTran's A-Plus program have been informed that the program will undergo a major overhaul, beginning mid-Apr.

According to Chris McGinnis, editor of the Ticket, "The new program will be more sophisticated, and thankfully, automated and online, but you're going to have to fly more to earn free trips."

We'll have a full report in an upcoming issue.

Alaska Increases/Decreases E-Bonuses
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Effective Apr. 1, Alaska Airlines bonuses for purchasing tickets and checking in online will change as follows:

Online Ticket Purchase -- 4,000 bonus miles the first time you book and purchase a ticket at alaskaair.com. That's down from the current 5,000 miles. Each subsequent online ticket purchase will earn 1,000 bonus miles.

Online Check-In -- 1,000 Bonus Miles the first time you check in online at alaskaair.com. That's up from the current 500-mile offer. Subsequent web check-ins do not earn bonus miles.

> More...

America West Says "Fly 4 Mexico"
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America West FlightFund members who fly 4 roundtrips on America West or America West Express between Mar. 1 and May 23 will earn a Companion Pass valid for travel to Mexico between May 27 and Sept. 30.

To take advantage of this offer, you must register online at FlightFund.com and provide a valid e-mail address. All qualifying flights must be booked online at americawest.com.

> More...

Pueblo Bonito Is New America West Hotel Partner
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FlightFund members can now earn miles for stays at participating Pueblo Bonito Hotels and Resorts in Cabo San Lucas and Mazatlan.

Receive 1,000 miles for stays of 4 to 6 nights or 2,000 miles for stays of 7 nights or more.

To earn miles, reservations must be booked through America West Vacations at or 1-800-356-6611.

Best Western Offers Triple Airline Miles
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Gold Crown Club International members can earn triple miles in 6 airline programs for qualifying stays at Best Western hotels in participating states, as follows--

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan
Participating States: Alaska, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Washington & Wyoming
Dates: Apr. 15 - June 15

America West Airlines FlightFund
Participating States: Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio, Utah
Dates: Apr. 15 - June 15

Delta SkyMiles
Participating States: California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Ohio, Oregon, Nevada, Texas, Utah, Wyoming
Dates: Apr. 15 - June 15

United Mileage Plus
Participating States: California, Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Nevada, Oregon, Washington
Dates: Apr. 15 - June 15

For more information or to register for the above, call 1-800-896-5947 or visit http://www.bestwesterntriplemiles.com. Mention promotion code BWTPL.

Northwest WorldPerks
Participating States: Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin
Dates: Apr. 1 - May 31
Award: Double, triple or quadruple WorldPerks Miles depending on location
No registration required, but you must mention "Northwest Airlines Spring Promotion" at hotel check-in.
Participating locations and their individual offers are here.

US Airways Dividend Miles
Participating States: Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington, D.C. and West Virginia
Dates: Apr. 1 - May 31
For more information or to register for promotion USTPL go to bwnynjpa.com/promotions or call 1-866-363-0917.

Marriott Offers Free Weekend
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Marriott Rewards members who make 5 paid Marriott stays between Mar. 15 and June 15 will receive a certificate good for 2 complimentary weekend nights at over 2,100 category 1, 2, 3, or 4 hotels through Dec. 30, 2003.

Free weekend is in addition to regular earnings.

Registration is required.

> More...

Asiana Joins United, Star Alliance
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The Star Alliance (United, Lufthansa, et al) has a new airline partner, Korea-based Asiana.

Effective Mar. 1, Mileage Plus members can earn and redeem miles for Asiana flights. Because of Asiana's special status as a Star partner, miles qualify for elite status in Mileage Plus.

Unfortunately, and atypically, there is no mileage bonus offered as a launch promotion normally associated with new partnerships. A sign of these lean-and-mean times, no doubt.

Earn United Bonus for Lounge Memberships
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Through July 1, Mileage Plus members will receive 500 bonus miles for new or extended Red Carpet Club lounge memberships established at united.com.

Membership costs $500 a year or 70,000 miles, with discounted rates for elite members.

> More...

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...

Cross-country sale fares from $198
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America West, Southwest, and US Airways are offering savings for travel into the summer, ranging from $78 roundtrip for regional flights to $198 for cross-country travel. Book tickets at least 14 days before departure and by Apr. 7.

> More...

Fares to Dublin or Shannon, Ireland, from $338
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Fly to Ireland this spring or autumn with US Airways' sale fares to Dublin or Shannon. This deal will help you save, whether you'd prefer a spring trip between May 4 (when US Airways begins flying to Ireland) and June 12, or a late summer/autumn visit between Aug. 28 and Oct. 25. Book tickets by Mar. 21.

> More...

R E A D E R R A N T S & R A V E S

This Week's E-mail Bag
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"I am a Hilton VIP Gold and have reached 92,000 aiming for a Great 100,000 points reward 6 nights at the Waikaloa - Hawaii. When WHAM they decide to increase it to 175,000 points. It has taken me 3 years to get 92,000 and by the time I get to 175,000 maybe another 3 or 4 years they may have increased it yet again. Could this be an award you never get? I appreciate I could buy 20,000 points and travel before the increase, but I was aiming for October 2003.

"Imagine the Outcry if an Airline did a 75% Award Increase requirement."

- David

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

True (Funny) Travel Stories
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A caller once complained to me about the fare we charged from Los Angeles to Portland, Oregon. The ticket price came to $184, round trip, which was a lot lower that the regular, published fare, so I thought it was a pretty good deal. "No, I don't think so," he said. "I'll give you $150."

I tried explaining that our ticket prices were fixed and that, while they do go up and down depending on the sales we might have going at a particular time, they are not something I can negotiate. Unimpressed, he replied, "OK, you drive a hard bargain... $158!"

I kept trying to explain that this really was the fare and that I couldn't do anything to get it any lower. As patiently as I could, I explained that this is already a reduced fare and that, as a result, it had some restrictions, and quoted him the regular unrestricted fare. I really thought I was making some headway as he made understanding little "uh-huh" and "I see" comments during my little speech. When I had told him everything I could think of to convince him the fare really was fixed, he paused a bit and said, "Fine, here's my final offer... $170... take it or leave it."

[FrequentFlier Funnies are true stories told by pilots, reservations agents and other travel industry professionals, reprinted with permission from William Joric's "Air Sick Humor."]

Until next week...