Issue #85 -- March 16, 2000
** CONTENTS **
Healthy Choice Miles? ~ Delta Discounts Awards ~ TWA and America West Link Programs ~ WorldPerks, by the Numbers ~ Double Vanguard Miles ~ ClickRewards Bonuses, New Partner ~ Deal Alert from SmarterLiving.com ~ At US Airways, Strike Looms ~ Jet Fuel Prices Soar; Will Ticket Prices Follow? ~ Trade Show Tips ~ iGo and Laptop Lane, Together ~ True (Funny) Travel Stories ~ Best Business Bars
<< U P F R O N T >>
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Healthy Choice Miles, Continued
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Since last week's issue, I've been in contact with ConAgra (parent company of Healthy Choice) regarding problems reported by Crier readers in receiving mileage credit for last year's Healthy Choice promotion.
They confirmed that they've fallen behind on their original commitment to have certificates in the hands of participating customers within 8 weeks of receiving their purchase documentation. What happened, as several Crier readers suggested, is that many people waited until the very end of the promotion period before sending in their proof-of-purchase. To compound the problem, Healthy Choice ran out of coupons and had to go to a 2nd printing. What the ConAgra representative added (which we hadn't heard before) was that affected customers should have been sent a postcard explaining the delay, and giving a new target date for the certificate mailing.
So, if you received a postcard, you can relax: your certificate(s) is presumably being processed. (The ConAgra rep wouldn't commit to a date by which all certificates would be mailed, but I got the impression that they would have the outstanding certificates in the mail by mid-April.)
If you didn't receive a postcard, and haven't received your certificates, you should probably contact the Healthy Choice customer service center at 1-800-323-9980 to ascertain the whereabouts of your submission.
<< M I L E S >>
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Delta Discounts Awards
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Delta is offering reduced mileage awards for spring travel between select cities in the United States.
The reduced mileage awards are for nonstop economy class travel and are valid from March 15 through May 15, 2000. Travel must be completed by May 15, 2000.
To make reservations or for more information on award travel, SkyMiles members may call 800-323-2323, or the number listed on the back of their membership card.
>> More <<
Delta
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TWA and America West Link Programs
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TWA and America West Airlines this week announced a new marketing partnership linking the 2 airlines' frequent flier programs. Effective immediately, both TWA Aviators members and America West FlightFund members will be able to accrue and redeem miles on either TWA or America West flights.
TWA Aviators and America West FlightFund members will earn one mile for every mile flown on the other carrier, with a minimum mileage credit of 500 miles. Members will also earn a 50% mileage bonus when they purchase and fly in first class.
>> More <<
o America West
o TWA
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WorldPerks, by the Numbers
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Northwest has released details of the awards side of WorldPerks, in keeping with its (and U.S. airlines as a group's) promise to the federal government to, essentially, treat customers decently. (Which begs the question: What's wrong with the free-market system that airlines only promise decent service when the government threatens to pass a Passengers Bill of Rights?)
Here are NW's awards numbers:
> Free Travel (One-Way Trips)
1998 1999 Percent
Increase
2,318,000 2,590,000 12%
> Upgrades (One-Way)
1998 1999 Percent
Increase
100,400 187,700 87%
> Total Miles Redeemed (x 000, One-Way Trips)
1998 1999 Percent
Increase
43,324,605 47,422,489 9%
> Five Most Popular WorldPerks Award Flight Segments During 1999
Minneapolis/St. Paul - Phoenix
Detroit - San Francisco
Detroit - Los Angeles
Minneapolis/St. Paul - San Francisco
Minneapolis/St. Paul - Los Angeles
As we opined when reporting on American's disclosure, the data provided is a step in the right direction, but only a baby step. What consumers (and regulators) need to make informed decisions is substantially more, and more relevant, disclosure than is currently being made. For example, what percentage of total seats were allocated and used for frequent flyer awards? How many award seats were available on popular routes (Honolulu, London, San Francisco, etc.)? How many award requests were honored; how many declined, due to unavailable seats? How many frequent flyer program-related complaints did the airline receive?
>> More <<
Northwest
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Double Vanguard Miles for Online Bookings
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Vanguard customers purchasing tickets online through the company's website will receive double credit in the Vantage Points frequent flyer program for travel booked online and flown from March 15 through December 31, 2000.
For redemption, travelers must book all tickets through the website and keep track of the flight information to receive double credit. Once the qualifying 4 roundtrip or 8 one-ways are completed, the tracked information - including name of traveler, address, confirmation numbers of flown itineraries, dates flown, destinations flown to and from, flight numbers and date of travel - may be submitted through the website at www.flyvanguard.com/ffp, emailed to custserv@flyvanguard.com, faxed to 913-789-1716, or mailed to: 7000 Squibb Road, Second Floor, Mission, KS 66202. Customers must allow two weeks for processing, and then may call 1-888-887-0575 to book award travel.
>> More <<
Vanguard
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ClickRewards Bonuses, New Partners
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Special offers from ClickRewards...
o Earn 1 ClickMile for every dollar you spend at WorldSpy.com. In addition, first-time WorldSpy buyers get 200 ClickMiles with their first order of $20 or more. WorldSpy features 11 shopping departments including: Electronics, Computers, Jewelry and Watches, Lawn and Garden, Office Machines, Software, Home, Handyman, Telecommunications, Sports and Fitness, and Luggage.
o Earn double ClickMiles for every dollar spent at Petopia--no minimums, no maximums. Offer expires March 27, 2000.
o Earn DOUBLE ClickMiles for every $1 you spend, plus get 20% off your next purchase for setting up or updating MySmarterKids at www.smarterkids.com. Offer expires March 31, 2000 and cannot be combined with any other offers.
>> 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...
>> Lufthansa's Weekly Fares to Europe Start at $255 R/T
Lufthansa Airlines offers weekly specials to Europe. This week Lufthansa is offering specials from 12 US cities, with round-trip fares starting at $255. Tickets must be purchased by March 15.
For more details, please visit here.
>> $100 Off Future American Airlines Ticket from Expedia.com
You know what this deal is like? You put on a pair of pants you haven't worn in, oh, let's say a couple months and...Boom! You find a hundred dollars in your pocket. Never saw that coming, did you?
Book an American Airlines ticket (minimum value of $175 including taxes) on Expedia.com by March 31, and save $100 on your next AA ticket purchase (minimum value of $250 including taxes) on Expedia.com. The reward travel is valid for round-trip fares within the 48 contiguous US States and travel between the 48 contiguous states and Canada.
For more details, please visit here.
<< I N D U S T R Y U P D A T E >>
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At US Airways, Strike Looms Large
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If US Airways management fails to offer its flight attendants a new contract by 12:01 a.m., March 25, CHAOS (Create Havoc Around Our System) strike actions will begin among an initial list of city pairs (below) in US Airways' system.
According to the AFA, the union representing the airline's flight attendants, flight attendants will target primarily those flights that are matched by US Airways' competitors, giving passengers alternatives. Although AFA is providing this initial list of cities, flight attendants will not announce in advance the exact dates and times of the targeted flights to be struck.
List of Initial Cities:
Boston - Washington, Dulles
Boston - Philadelphia
Orlando - Philadelphia
Boston - Washington, National
Orlando - Baltimore
New York, LaGuardia - Tampa
New York, LaGuardia - Orlando
Atlanta - Philadelphia
Baltimore - Providence
Tampa - Baltimore
Ft. Lauderdale - Baltimore
Ft. Lauderdale - New York, LaGuardia
Los Angeles - Baltimore
Los Angeles - Philadelphia
New York, Newark - Pittsburgh
Baltimore - Manchester
New York, LaGuardia - West Palm Beach
Hartford CT/Springfield - Orlando
Philadelphia - San Francisco
New York, LaGuardia - Rochester
Chicago, O'Hare - Pittsburgh
Chicago, O'Hare - Philadelphia
Boston - Tampa
New York, LaGuardia - Raleigh/Durham
Columbus - New York, LaGuardia
San Francisco - Baltimore
Philadelphia - Raleigh/Durham
Las Vegas - Philadelphia
Cleveland - Baltimore
Miami - Baltimore
Orlando - Albany, NY
Ft. Lauderdale - Washington, National
Miami - Philadelphia
Detroit - Philadelphia
Philadelphia - Phoenix
Columbus - Philadelphia
Jacksonville - Baltimore
Atlanta - Pittsburgh
Atlanta - Washington, Dulles
Dallas/Fort Worth - Philadelphia
Orlando - Washington, Dulles
Columbus - Washington, National
Boston - Rochester
Tampa - Tallahassee
Houston - Philadelphia
Philadelphia - San Juan
New Orleans - Baltimore
Ft. Lauderdale - Hartford CT/Springfield
Boston - Orlando
US Airways' management has stated unequivocally that, rather than expose passengers to the uncertainties of unannounced job actions, they would shut down the entire airline if there is no new contract in place by March 25.
What to do? If it were me, and I had a booking on US Airways on or after March 25, I'd ask for a refund from US Airways and re-book on an alternate airline. And I'd do it sooner rather than later. (As the deadline approaches, it stands to reason that the supply of available seats on other carriers will decrease and, on popular routes, disappear altogether.)
>> More <<
o AFA
o US Airways
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Fuel Prices Soar; Are Ticket Prices Next?
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The Air Transport Association (ATA) this week issued a fuel price forecast which shows that the U.S. airline industry continues to be hit hard by soaring oil prices. According to the ATA forecast, fuel costs for the year 2000 will be up over 40% from 1999. In the first quarter, fuel costs skyrocketed from 44 cents per gallon in 1999 to 77 cents per gallon in 2000 --- an increase of 75%.
On an annualized basis, the ATA forecasts that jet fuel costs will rise from $10.2 billion in 1999 to $14.6 billion in 2000. This rise of $4.4 billion in fuel costs stands in dramatic contrast to the airline industry's 1999 net profit of $4.85 billion.
This enormous fuel cost increase has many in the airline industry worried that ticket prices could jump dramatically, since the airline business is always one of small profit margins that in the best of times run between two and five percent, according to the ATA.
The ATA forecast is as follows:
Quarter Ending 1999 2000 %
Per gallon price Incr
March 44 cents 77 cents 75%
June 45 cents 79 cents 76%
September 53 cents 69 cents 30%
December 64 cents 64 cents 0%
Last year, 8.8% of all airline revenue was used to pay for jet fuel, and that is expected to rise to 12.1% this year. The airline industry uses over 20 billion gallons of jet fuel annually.
<< 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."
>> Know How to Use Business Cards
How many times have you heard people say, "Bring lots of business cards"? It's true, a business card is an essential tool at any large meeting. Here are some tips for using them.
o Stay organized. Reserve one pocket for "inbound" cards from new contacts. Upon getting a new card, write a few words describing the nature of your meeting on the back. This will prove helpful when writing your follow-up notes.
o Reserve another pocket for "outbound" cards--your own. Never mix inbound and outbound cards. It looks unprofessional to fish through a stack of other cards for one of your own.
o Tip for women: Many business suits have few or no pockets. In this case, use your plastic name-badge holder as a card holder: keep a supply of your business cards ticked behind the badge.
o If you travel frequently to the same country or region, have your business information printed in thits predominant language on the reverse side of your card.
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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iGo and Laptop Lane Do It Together
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iGo and Laptop Lane will jointly distribute mobile technology accessories to business travelers in major airports.
At each Laptop Lane airport location, business travelers will now be able to purchase iGo's most essential products for mobile computing, such as modem connectivity devices, batteries, chargers, adapters, transformers, phone cords, PC card modems, carrying cases, cellular accessories, headsets, security devices, international travel adapters and more. In addition, iGo will sell prepaid cards for Laptop Lane services from www.igo.com and its customer hotline.
Laptop Lane is currently operational with multiple sites in 12 major U.S. airports, including Chicago O'Hare, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky, Denver, Detroit Wayne County Metropolitan, Hartsfield Atlanta, LaGuardia, Philadelphia, Phoenix Sky Harbor, Raleigh Durham, Seattle Tacoma, Tampa and Dallas-Fort Worth. This year, the firm plans to launch business service centers in nine additional U.S. airports, including San Francisco International.
>> More <<
o iGo
o Laptop Lane
<< F L I E R F U N N I E S >>
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True (Funny) Travel Stories
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I got a call from a woman who wanted to go to Capetown. I started to explain the length of the flight and the passport information when she interrupted me with, "I'm not trying to make you look stupid, but Capetown is in Massachusetts." Without trying to make her look like the stupid one, I calmly explained, "Cape Cod is in Massachusetts, Capetown is in South Africa." Her response... "click."
[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]
<< B A C K O F T H E B U S >>
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Best Business Bars
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Frequent Flyer magazine has listed its choices for the 10 best bars for big business in the U.S. in its April issue. They are:
-- Morton's of New York and Chicago. Known for its floor-to-ceiling mahogany paneling, sparkling brass and glassware, spotless plush carpeting -- not to mention its famous cosmopolitans -- Morton's boasts more regular CEOs than any bar in midtown (551 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10017, 212/972-3315).
-- The Pump Room, Chicago. A business traveler's favorite, The Pump Room is elegant, yet casual. Try a Dirty Bombay Martini (Omni Ambassador East Hotel, 1301 N. State Parkway, Chicago, IL 60610, 312/266-0360).
-- The Martini Club, Atlanta. With 54 variations of the Martini and a humidor room and cigar bar, the Martini Club captures the New-South Cosmopolitanese that is uniquely Atlanta (1140 Crescent Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30309, 404/873-0794).
-- The Mansion on Turtle Creek, Dallas. Relax and talk business Texas-style while munching on vodka-imbued peppers and celery and enjoying chewable Bloody Mary's (2821 Turtle Creek Blvd., Dallas, TX 75219, 214/559-2100).
-- Harry's Restaurant and Bar, St. Louis. Big enough to be the Gateway to the West, this first-class bar offers some variety -- more than 38 single-malt Scotches, 30 California wines and 19 varieties of Port (2144 Market Street, St. Louis, MO 63103, 314/421-6969).
-- Smith & Wollensky, Miami. Can you imagine transporting the mid-town Manhattan cocktail power scene from 49th Street and Third Avenue to South Beach? That's just what veteran barman Pat Ford of Wollensky's grill in New York did when opened the bar at this steakhouse in 1998. Tip: try the Vodka Sonic! (1 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33139, 305/673-2800).
-- Queen City Grill, Seattle. Sample a wide variety of suds from an array of Northwest microbreweries and catch the evening sunset by the water (2201 First Avenue, Seattle WA 98121, 206/443-0975).
-- The Bar at the Hotel Belair, Los Angeles. This is the place in L.A. is see and be seen, so if your expense account can afford it, stay at the hotel and use the bar for your business. Try a pink swan (701 Stone Canyon Road, Los Angeles, CA 90077, 310/472-1211).
-- The Library Lounge, Washington, D.C. Elegant and quiet, this is the bar to go to for serious business -- and to avoid having your guests attention diverted by one politician or another walking through the door (The Carlton Hotel, 923 16th & K Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20006, 202/638-2626).
-- The Compass Rose Bar, San Francisco. Talking business is a pleasure here -- it is a sedate and elegant bar with a club-style atmosphere, hospitality desk and maitre d' (The Westin St. Francis Hotel, 335 Powell Street, San Francisco, CA 94102, 415/774-0167).
Cheers!
Until next week...
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