"Up Front" Blog Entries

Following are some of Tim's recent blogs:

• Coming soon to a plane near you: The Big Squeeze
  Flights, already full, will be even more so.
• Airline bankruptcy twofer raises specter of more shutdowns
  With two airlines down, the question is: How many to go?

FrequentFlier Forum Topics

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

In the "Airline Programs" Forum, steph88 is up against the one frequent flyer number per booking rule: "I have a reservation on a KLM flight from ATL-AMS-LCA. The ATL-AMS is operated by KLM (a Delta code share); AMS-LCA is operated by Cyprus Air (not a Delta code share, only a KLM code share). My question. I would like to have my Delta FF# on the ATL-AMS and NWA FF# on the AMS-LCA since Delta isn't a partner with Cyprus Air.

"I've been told that I can only have one FF # attached to the full reservation. and even if I have DL FF # on ATL-AMS and nothing on the AMS-LCA flight that I can't get NWA credit if I turn it in later. Is this correct?"

And in the "Credit Card Programs" Forum, there are some interesting replies to a post by mrfatboy regarding credit card bonuses: "I have read that people sign up for the cards, do the minimum to get the bonus miles/points and then cancel. 1) Does this method damage your credit rating? 2) Can you use this method on the same card year after year. For example, If i signed up on a United Plus card, get my 21k points, cancel, can I repeat year after year and still get more points?"

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

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Pay with Amex to Earn More AirTran Credits

Through December 31, AirTran A+ Rewards members will earn extra credits when charging their AirTran flights to an American Express card.

The bonus is a one-half credit for every one-way AirTran coach ticket (Y, B or M fares only) charged to the card, a 50% bonus, or one extra credit for every one-way business class ticket, a 67% bonus.

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ATA Shuts Down, Leaves Travel Awards Members Empty-Handed

When last week's Crier was published, the big news was the shutdown of Aloha, and the loss of frequent flyer miles by the members of that carrier's AlohaPass program. The very next day, April 3, ATA filed for bankruptcy and suspended operations. As were AlohaPass members, ATA Travel Awards members were left empty-handed.

For the second time in a single week, members of a medium-sized loyalty program saw their accumulated points instantly disappear. For context, even in the worst days of the past decade -- which included a period in 2005 when more than half the nation's flights were being operated by airlines in bankruptcy -- there were very few cases where mileage program members lost their earnings. There was the demise of Legend in 2000, National in 2002, and Independence in 2005.

Is there a lesson here for travel consumers? The airlines in question shared some or all of the following characteristics: small, regional, low cost. (SkyBus fits the profile as well, but that carrier didn't have a loyalty program.) If that turns out to be the theme going forward, the safest bet during these tumultuous times in the travel industry may be to stick with the legacy airlines.

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Earn Delta Elite Miles for Hilton Stays

Through May 31, Delta SkyMiles members will earn 1,000 Medallion Qualification Miles and 1,000 bonus SkyMiles for every stay of two or more nights at Hilton Family hotels. The bonus can be earned an unlimited number of times during the promotion period.

Registration is required.

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Bonus Miles and a Discount for US Air Europe Flights

Dividend Miles members who use a MasterCard to charge US Airways tickets to Amsterdam, Brussels, Dublin, Milan, Venice, or Zurich will earn bonus miles and receive a discount.

For business class, use eCertificate USENVOY to receive 20,000 bonus miles and a 20% discount. And for coach, use eCertificate USEUROPE to receive 5,000 bonus miles and a 10% discount.

Offer applies to flights booked on usairways.com by May 5 and flown by May 10. Registration is required.

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Deal Alert from SmarterTravel.com

1) Air France Europe Fares from $486

Flights to France and beyond are on sale from Air France. Fares start at $486 round-trip for travel through mid-June.

Travel is valid from April 8 through June 15. Book by April 15, 11:59 PM ET.

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2) Florida Fares on USA3000 from $49 Each Way

In addition to its Caribbean and Mexico sale, USA3000 is also offering Florida sale fares from $49 one-way and $98 round-trip. Cities include Ft. Lauderdale, Ft. Myers, and Sarasota.

USA3000 has not listed specific travel dates or a booking deadline.

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Win a Trip to Orlando

Enter Southwest's "Discover Aquatica" sweepstakes by April 30 for a chance to win a trip for four to Orlando, including air, four nights' hotel, and passes to Aquatica, SeaWorld's new water park.

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[Visit FrequentFlier.com for more travel sweepstakes.]

Feedback from the Frontlines of Travel

"Thank you so much for keeping me and others like me up to date on the always confusing world of mileage programs.

"In particular, I wanted to commend you for suggesting that members of Aloha's program (I'm one, or was) to cash in their miles before it was too late. Unfortunately by the time I saw your article on SmarterTravel it was too late for me. I lost quite a few thousands of miles.

"Looking ahead, I plan to fly Hawaiian for short-haul, and United on flights to the mainland and international. Hopefully I won't get stuck with worthless miles again." [Adam - Honolulu, HI]

"I noticed that you have written a piece about Delta's Best Fare Guarantee and I thought you would be interested in my recent experience with Delta.

"I am taking the liberty to forward to you a series of correspondence between me and Delta regarding the handling of my Best Fare claim. [Editor's summary: David paid $339 for his Delta ticket on delta.com and subsequently found the same flight offered by CheapTickets.com for $252.]

"I think it speaks for itself, but I would be happy to clarify anything, in case you may have any further interest.

"I appreciate what you are doing in keeping the public informed on the airline and travel industry." [David Z. - Los Angeles, CA]

In a follow-up email, David reports as follows: "It appears that Delta has altered its terms and conditions sometime in the past few hours to state the following:

Delta must be able to verify the lower online published fare at the time of the claim and that the lower fare is not available at delta.com. This underlined phrase was not there when I made the claim. However, this is going to be difficult for me to prove since I do not have a screenshot prior to the change. Unless somebody other disgruntled customer was lucky to capture it."

"In response to Bonnie's question re: China Air [in last week's Crier].

"I flew China Air in March 2008 from Hong Kong to Beijing. China Air is a quality airline with standards equal to what you will be used to in the US or Western Europe. They not at a Singapore or Emirates level but at a standard United domestic. The service was good, the plane clean both inside and out, baggage handling at Beijing was very efficient.

"All instructions were in Mandarin and English.

"The fleet appeared to be made up of Airbus's and the larger trans ocean fleet are 747's, 777's, A340's, and A330's.

"I don't know if they are government owned but I wouldn't worry." [Eric L.]

"Does China Air partner with anyone? I just learned it is a different airline from Air China? I am holding tix from Shanghai to Beijing in October connecting from the DL ATL-SHANGHAI flight; any problems to anticipate?" [I.]

Until next week...