Issue #37 -- March 25, 1999
** CONTENTS **
American AAdvantage Miles-for-Vacations ~ TWA's Response to American ~ Bonus Miles for Dollar Rentals ~ America West Offer ~ Frontier's Spring Sale ~ Icelandair Discounts ~ Southwest Adds New Cities to Network ~ United's 1998 Online Sales: $200 Million ~ Starwood, Microsoft to Promote Each Other ~ Frontier Puts Fares on the Internet ~ Southwest Airlines' Website - Yuk or Yay?
<< M I L E S >>
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American Offers Vacations-for-Miles
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American AAdvantage members can henceforth obtain American Airlines Vacations packages by redeeming AAdvantage miles, or by using a combination of cash and miles.
AAdvantage Vacation Awards is, according to American (but see below) "the latest in a long list of firsts since American Airlines introduced the AAdvantage program in May 1981." Less controversially, American was the first to introduce such programs as the AAdvantage Program for Mortgages and Real Estate, AAdvantage Fund Raising, and AAdvantage Incentive Miles.
To put this in perspective, American Airlines Vacations is the largest airline-owned tour operator in the United States, and offers over 300 tour packages to more than 145 destinations.
Customers can use AAdvantage miles to obtain basic land packages or complete vacation packages, including hotel stays, airport transfers and optional features, such as ski lift tickets or Walt Disney World Theme Park tickets. For example, two adults can spend two nights at Harrahs in Las Vegas in midweek for 36,000 miles. Two adults and two children can spend four nights for 277,200 miles at a Walt Disney World Resort Hotel, complete with tickets to Disney attractions.
In addition to miles-for-vacations, AAdvantage members can combine cash and miles to obtain American Airlines Vacations packages, provided a minimum of 10,000 miles is used. For example, two adults traveling in May can spend five nights at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Honolulu for $206 plus 200,00 miles, for $706 plus 100,000 miles, or for $956 plus 50,000 miles. The customer can also choose to redeem 241,200 miles and pay no cash.
American Airlines Vacations to Asia and Latin America are not included in this program.
>> More <<
To redeem miles for an American Airlines Vacations package, or for more information about American Airlines Vacations, call 800-321-2121. To claim an air travel award to accompany an American Airlines Vacations package, call 800-882-8880.
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TWA Disputes American's "Industry First" Claim
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TWA apparently reads American Airlines' press releases, since within hours of the release of American's announcement of its miles-for-vacations offer (see above), TWA issued its own release taking issue with American's claim that it was the first airline to make vacations available for miles.
Quoting from TWA's rejoinder: "American Airlines yesterday issued a press release announcing the beginning of its miles/miles and cash for vacations program as an "industry first" -- almost one year after TWA began offering its frequent flyers this feature as part of the new Aviators program. TWA offers any Getaway vacation, including a companion, for miles only, or for cash plus mileage.
"We salute American for recognizing and borrowing a great idea -- but their claim to be first in the industry with this feature is taking unfair AAdvantage," said Beth Mack, TWA's vice president-marketing and services. "Aviators offers a wide variety of innovative programs and services you can probably expect our friends at American to offer some time in the 21st century."
Now that that's settled...
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Bonus Miles for Dollar Rentals
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Dollar Rent A Car has mileage offers through three of its airline partners, America West, American and Delta.
>> America West Offer
America West FlightFund members will receive double bonus miles on Dollar Rent A Car leisure rentals through June 30, 1999.
FlightFund members must rent a compact size car or larger. In addition to the double bonus miles, Dollar will upgrade FlightFund members from a compact size car to a mid-size car at no extra charge. To receive this bonus offer and free upgrade, FlightFund members must mention "HP2" at the time of the reservation.
Offer available at participating locations. This offer cannot be combined with any other offer. Certain rental rates may not qualify. Frequent flyer mileage and double mileage offer applies to leisure rate rentals only. Frequent Flyer awards are subject to a $.50/transaction tax recovery surcharge. Offer is not available from March 24 through April 10, 1999, and May 27 through May 29, 1999. Upgrade offer available only for rental of a compact vehicle to a mid-size vehicle at no additional charge. Upgrade will be subject to availability at the time of rental.
>> American Offer
Dollar Rent A Car is offering American Airlines AAdvantage members triple miles on leisure rentals of a mid- size car or larger for two or more days now through June 15, 1999.
All AAdvantage members must present the Dollar insert they received in their March statement when they arrive at the Dollar counter in order to receive their miles. Members must request promo code "3XMI" to identify the AAdvantage bonus.
Blackout periods are March 25 through April 10, 1999, and May 27 through May 29, 1999. This offer cannot be combined with any other offer. Certain rental rates may not qualify for frequent flyer miles. Triple miles offer is good at participating locations and for leisure rate rentals only of a mid-size car or larger, for two or more days.
>> Delta Offer
Dollar Rent A Car is offering double bonus miles to all Delta Air Lines SkyMiles members who rent a compact size car or larger on a Sunday, Monday or Tuesday through May 15, 1999. A minimum two-day rental is required.
SkyMiles members must mention "DLN2" when making reservations, to receive their bonus miles. This bonus offer applies to leisure rates only. Blackout periods are March 25 through April 10, 1999. This offer cannot be combined with any other offer. Certain rental rates may not qualify for frequent flyer miles. Frequent flyer awards are subject to a $.50/transaction tax recovery surcharge. All standard Delta SkyMiles program rules and conditions apply.
>> More <<
Dollar's website
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America West Will Offer Miles, Discounts, Upgrades
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Be on the lookout for some type of "We're Sorry" offer from America West in the next few days... their way of appeasing the thousands of customers who suffered through several weeks of anxiety as the threat of a flight attendant strike loomed large.
The airline and the flight attendant union finally reached agreement on Friday, in what was literally a last-minute accord. Otherwise, the union was poised to strike selected America West flights beginning Saturday, potentially stranding or inconveniencing as many as 100,000 passengers over the weekend. And that would only have been the beginning.
While a walkout was averted, the longstanding animosity between labor and management remains.
So, on both the special offers and the labor relations fronts, stay tuned.
>> More <<
America West
<< S T E A L S & D E A L S >>
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Frontier's Spring Fare Sale
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Frontier Airlines this week announced its Spring is in the Air Fare Sale, offering fares as low as $69 one-way, based on a roundtrip purchase, for travel from Denver to Salt Lake City. These fares are based on a 14-day advance purchase for travel on Tuesday, Wednesday or Saturday. Tickets must be purchased by April 4, 1999 and paid for within 24 hours of booking. Travel is good from April 12 through June 15, 1999. Passenger facility charges of up to $12 are not included in these fares and sale fares are not available for travel on May 28 and May 31, 1999. Once purchased, these fares are non-refundable and non-transferable, but may be reissued for a $60 change fee plus any applicable difference in fare. Previously purchased tickets may not be exchanged for these special fare tickets.
The following examples are based on roundtrip purchase: Atlanta to Seattle/Tacoma for $159 each way; Chicago/Midway to Phoenix for $159 each way; Denver to Dallas/Fort Worth for $89 each way; New York/La Guardia to Las Vegas for $159 each way; Denver to Minneapolis for $79 each way; Baltimore/Washington to San Francisco for $149 each way; New York/La Guardia to San Francisco for $149 each way; and Boston to San Diego for $159 each way.
>> More <<
The Frontier website
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Icelandair Holidays Savings
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Travelers seeking a Spring Break in Europe may take advantage of an extra $50 savings on Icelandair Holidays three-day, two-night packages to London (from $449), Glasgow (from $485), Edinburgh (from $494), Amsterdam (from $503), Stockholm (from $539), Copenhagen (from $479), Oslo (from $479) and Frankfurt (from $509). These prices are effective from April 1 to May 15, 1999; travel must be completed by May 15, 1999. Extra nights (maximum six nights) are available at additional cost and must be booked through Icelandair Holidays.
Packages include two nights hotel with breakfast and round-trip air from Icelandair gateways in Baltimore/Washington (BWI), New York (JFK), Boston and Minneapolis/St. Paul. All prices quoted are in US dollars and are per person, based on double occupancy. Hotel tips and taxes are included; however, airport taxes, transfers and personal insurance are not included. Additional hotel nights may be required due to Icelandair's schedule from North America to Iceland and other destinations in Europe. Discount may not be combined with other offers. Other conditions and restrictions may apply.
>> More <<
Icelandair Holidays: 1-800-223-5500, ext. 4
<< I N D U S T R Y N E W S >>
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Southwest Continues Expansion
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Southwest is on a roll, this week announcing 48 new flights to be added to its schedule in June, July, and August. The list includes 20 new nonstop flights between cities that previously had no nonstop service.
With these new flights, Southwest Airlines' customers can fly between Baltimore/Washington and Reno, Ft. Lauderdale and Los Angeles, or Indianapolis and Los Angeles on direct flights that stop but do not require a change of aircraft.
*The first fare listed is Southwest's highest unrestricted fare, which is available on every seat, every flight, every day between the two destinations. The second fare listed is based on seven-day advance purchase and roundtrip travel. Seats are limited and an overnight stay is required. Tickets must be purchased within one day of making reservations and are nonrefundable but may be applied, if unused, toward the purchase of future travel on Southwest. Fares do not include airport-assessed passenger facility charges of up to $3 each way and a federal tax of $2 per segment.
Southwest Airlines also will start service to Raleigh-Durham International Airport on June 6, with twelve flights daily: four to Baltimore/Washington, four to Nashville, two to Chicago Midway, one to Tampa, and one to Orlando.
>> More <<
Southwest online
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United's 1998 Online Sales: $200 Million
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In a clear indication of the direction travel sales are moving, United Connection racked up over $200 million in online ticket sales in 1998, marking a 63% increase over the previous year and outstripping other Internet-based travel planning products on the market. The numbers are continuing to climb this year, with record sales of over $22 million in February. The figures include flights with United Airlines as well as over 500 other carriers.
United attributes the growth to the overall growth of electronic commerce, the convenience of do-it-yourself online booking, and United's introduction of two new programs last year: online upgrades for United's Mileage Plus members as well as web-based "E-Fares" that allow travelers to access and purchase last-minute weekend travel discounts through United's website.
Introduced in 1995, United Connection services allow travelers to book their own travel online with over 500 airlines, 45 car rental companies and 30,000 hotels around the world. The program can be used to check airline schedules, shop for the lowest fares, purchase tickets, select seats, and research and reserve hotel rooms and rental cars directly from the user's desktop.
Domestic E-Fare rates are posted on United's website every Wednesday, requiring departure on the coming Saturday and return on the following Monday or Tuesday. International E-Fare rates and E-Fare specials offering discount fares with less restrictive departure and return dates are posted every Thursday. Users purchase tickets online through United Connection services and print receipts directly from their computers, avoiding mail delays and pickups at ticket offices.
>> More <<
United Connection
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Starwood Partners with Microsoft
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One of the world's largest hotel companies and the leader in online travel have joined forces with the announcement of a new marketing deal between Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. and Microsoft's MSN Expedia.
Designed to drive incremental traffic and sales to Starwood's websites and MSN Expedia's site, the agreement with Starwood represents the largest hotel deal ever done on MSN.
The Starwood-MSN Expedia deal is global and encompasses all of Expedia's international websites. Specific features of the agreement are as follows:
-- As a result of the Starwood-MSN Expedia deal, Starwood's websites now serve as travel portals, enabling travelers to book entire trips from Starwood's sites. As a new member of Expedia's Associates Program, Starwood allows travelers to book air travel and car rentals -- in addition to hotels -- directly from its websites. Starwood's websites include: http://www.starwood.com; http://www.sheraton.com; http://www.westin.com; http://www.caesars.com; http://www.luxurycollection.com; http://www.fourpoints.com; http://www.starwoodvacations.com; http://www.preferredguest.com
-- Starwood will be featured on MSN Expedia's home page, allowing the more than 5 million monthly visitors to Expedia two direct links to Starwood's websites.
-- MSN Expedia will proactively market Starwood Preferred Guest, Starwood's new hotel frequency program. In an industry first, travelers will be able to sign up for Starwood's frequency program from Expedia's site.
-- Under their joint marketing agreement, Starwood and MSN Expedia will develop promotions, links, banners and non-interactive marketing programs to drive traffic to MSN Expedia and Starwood's websites and to market Starwood Preferred Guest, Starwood's new hotel frequency program.
>> More <<
Starwood's website
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Frontier Offers Online Ticket Sales
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Frontier Airlines will implement a new Internet booking engine that enables full access to Frontier's inventory via the World Wide Web. With Frontier's enhanced Web site capabilities, customers can view actual inventory and availability of the airline's schedule and prices. The booking capabilities are the result of technological advancements made by EDS, which also provides Frontier's state of the art reservations system. The airline recently renewed its agreement with EDS to provide reservations and telecommunications services.
Through special Internet offers, customers will be able to take advantage of special fares while the airline sells additional seats to various cities across its extensive route system. In addition, the airline plans to offer future e-mail "heads-up" messages and explore other distribution methods.
>> More <<
Frontier's site
<< M I S C E L L A N Y >>
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Site2See, & Review
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This week, rather than the usual "Site2See" recommendation, this is a request for your feedback on a site I've already reviewed: Southwest's.
As I said last week, I consider Southwest's site to be a disaster. Butt-ugly. A pimple on the nose of the Internet. You get the idea. And, lest I be branded an across-the-board Southwest-basher, I'm a big fan of Southwest's efforts in other areas. Many other areas.
Ironically, when I raked their website over the coals, I thought I was making a pretty uncontroversial comment. Surprise! I received a number of e-mails supporting the Southwest site, or at least certain aspects of it.
So, having my judgement challenged (and not for the first time), I'm curious: what's your opinion of the Southwest site? Good, bad, ugly, other-worldly?
Pay their site a visit and send in any comments you have. I promise to include feedback (G-rated only) in the next issue. (We only use initials when reprinting correspondence, so don't worry about having your name or e-mail address broadcast across cyberspace.)
The Site2Visit
Until next week...
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