"Up Front" Blog Entries

Following are some of Tim's recent blogs:

• JetBlue frequent flyer points go on sale
  These pricey points point out TrueBlue program's central weakness.
• Lowest Delta fare? Check delta.com
  Unlike the hotels', Delta's low-price promise passes muster.

FrequentFlier Forum Topics

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

In the "Airline Programs" Forum, SSheinfield has mixed feelings about Delta's new Pay with Miles feature: "Sounds good but beware of fine print: 'Tickets purchased with full or partial Pay with Miles redemptions are not eligible for mileage accrual, mileage upgrades, Platinum Systemwide Upgrade Certificates, or Medallion Complimentary upgrades.'"

Also in the "Airline Programs" Forum, Captainquest is looking to leverage his elite status on US Airways: "I will make Elite status on US Airways shortly and I have heard that some airlines (other than Star Alliance of course) will match the Elite Level of another airline. I know this is true for Northwest (I saw the form to do it) but is this the same for others? If so, which? How would you go about getting match status?"

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

:: More

Double Miles and Points for New York Hilton Stays

Through April 30, members of the programs of American, Continental, and United will earn double miles and double HHonors points for stays at participating Hilton family hotels in New York City. Thirteen hotels, in every price range, are eligible.

To receive the bonus when booking by phone, request Plan Code H2 for Hilton, Hilton Garden Inn, or The Waldorf=Astoria Collection hotels or Plan Code HH2 for Doubletree, Embassy Suites, or Hampton Inn hotels.

:: More

For Sale: JetBlue Frequent Flyer Points

Members of JetBlue's TrueBlue program can now purchase points for their own accounts, or as gifts for other TrueBlue members.

The price: $50 for the minimum purchase of 10 points, and $500 for 100 points, plus a 7.5% federal excise tax and a $20 transaction fee. That means the total price for 100 points -- enough for a free JetBlue ticket -- would be $557.50.

Purchasing points at those prices would leave most consumers feeling, well, truly blue.

:: More

More Delta Miles for Marriott Stays

Marriott Rewards members who choose to earn Delta miles for stays can earn up to 5,000 bonus miles for Marriott® stays between March 1 and May 31, plus a chance to win 250,000 miles in Marriott's 25th anniversary sweepstakes (see "Sweeps & Freebies" below for sweepstakes details).

Members receive one sweepstakes entry for each stay, plus 2,500 bonus miles for the second stay and another 2,500-mile bonus for the third.

Registration is required.

:: More

Northwest Launches WorldPerks Auction Site

Members of Northwest's WorldPerks program can now bid their miles for merchandise, event tickets, and trips at the WorldPerks Auction site.

As we went to press, the high bid for a J.A. Henckels Everedge Plus 13-piece knife set was 25,250 miles. According to the price-comparison site NexTag.com, the item could be purchased from several vendors for $49.95. If the auction were to end on those terms, the winner would be reaping 0.2 cents in value from every mile redeemed.

And therein lies the rub. Airlines will argue that auction sites provide alternative outlets for mileage redemption. True. But for whatever reasons (including, no doubt, the psychology of auction bidding), consumers tend to overpay when buying in an auction environment. Which means that WorldPerks members get paltry value for their miles, and Northwest erases the mileage liability from its books at very little cost.

So the "enhancement" benefits the airline more than its customers. Sound familiar?

:: More

Deal Alert from SmarterTravel.com

1) U.S. and Canada Fares on Midwest from $118

U.S. and Canada sale fares are on offer from Midwest. Prices start at $118 round-trip, and Madison, New York, San Diego, and Toronto are featured.

Travel is valid from April 1 through June 11. Book by March 14, 11:59 PM ET.

:: More

2) Europe Spring Fares on Delta from $578

Delta is offering Europe sale fares from Atlanta and New York. Fares start at $578 round-trip, and destinations include Barcelona, Prague, and Rome.

Travel is valid from March 25 through June 15. Book by March 10, 11:59 PM ET.

:: More

Win 250,000 Delta Miles from Marriott

Enter Marriott's "25th Anniversary" sweepstakes by April 30 for a chance to win one of 25 grand prizes of 250,000 Delta miles each.

Entries are awarded for Marriott stays, but it's also possible to enter by mail without purchasing a stay.

:: More

[Visit FrequentFlier.com for more travel sweepstakes.]

Feedback from the Frontlines of Travel

"As you know it takes 10,000 actual miles to receive 4 upgrade credits from American. Well, I just discovered they bring your balance back to zero on March 1st for attaining the 4 upgrade credits. Say, you earned 8,500 miles until Feb 29th - on March 1, those miles are automatically dropped and you are back to zero earning miles for the 4 credits. You still retain the miles in your account, but ever so slyly they eliminate all the miles for everyone on March 1st - and that my friend has to be in the millions.

"The sneak attack of the year!!" [Doug]

"I have a Voucher for Southwest Airlines and I was not told when I accepted the offer over the phone that I would have to drive to Jacksonville, Fla. or Raleigh, NC to fly. I live in the midlands of South Carolina. My address plainly states that.

"I am upset that they did not warn me of this before I put ALL my purchases for over a year on this card. It would be silly to drive 6 hrs to catch a flight. My voucher is no longer any good after April of 2008." [Cathy U.]

Until next week...