Issue #90  --  April 20, 2000

<< U P F R O N T >>

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Crossing the Digital Divide
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I often hear it said that the Internet, and e-mail in particular, is a corrosive social force; that the Internet is weaning us off "real" (meaning face-to-face) human interaction. My own experience suggests otherwise. I have met a significant number of people through e-mail correspondence who are now important parts of my personal and professional life. Case in point...

After a series of e-mails related to problems with a vendor we both use, it came to light that John "Johnny Jet" DiScala and I both live in the greater Los Angeles area. So this past Sunday we met, for the first time, for breakfast.

John, it turns out, leads a double life. During traditional work hours, he's a college recruiter, crisscrossing the country in search of student prospects. The rest of the time, he's the Grand Poobah of JohnnyJet.com (see review in the "Site2See" section below). As I did with FrequentFlier.com, John launched JohnnyJet.com as a labor of love. And, as happened with FrequentFlier.com, John's labor of love developed into a demanding business. So we had a lot to talk about, some of which was actually relevant to readers of The FrequentFlier Crier...

After consuming stacks of Zagat-recommended pancakes and solving most of the world's problems, I asked John what he would suggest to Crier readers if he had but a single travel recommendation to share. His response:

"If I had one bit of advice... Wow that's hard. Maybe log on to JohnnyJet.com? Just kidding! What comes across my mind first is to be Nice, real nice to everyone who works for the airline (especially the gate agents). They have the power to make or break your trip. I always have a box of chocolates in my bag to show my appreciation if they are pleasant or if they let me slide. It's always good to know people in the airport."

John obviously takes appreciation seriously: He uses his frequent flyer miles to take his mom on a trip every year.

John and I will be getting together again. But (and this tells you what a true frequent traveler he is) it won't be for almost a month, when he returns to Los Angeles from his next recruiting trip. In the meantime, we'll keep in touch with e-mail.

<< M I L E S >>

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1999 Mileage Plus Award Report
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Since the airlines began divulging figures for their frequent flyer programs (in compliance with their various "Customers First" plans), we have been reporting them here.

These stats are of more than academic interest. Our hope is that consumers will begin considering this data when choosing an airline, just as they might judge airlines on the basis of on-time performance, leg room, or lost baggage record. But such cross-program comparisons are currently impossible, and will remain so until the airlines agree on common reporting metrics.

We received United's results today, as follows:

          1999 Mileage Plus Awards
  United award tickets              2,240,336
  Mileage upgrade awards              362,123
  Partner airline tickets             811,105
  TOTAL                             3,413,564

The total represents 8.7% of United's revenue passenger miles (= passengers x miles flown, a measure of an airline's actual production) for the year. And significantly, United is reporting awards that were actually used. That might seem to go without saying, but we've seen at least 1 airline report redeemed awards--which only tells you that a certificate was issued, not whether the member was able to use it for a flight.

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Double AAdvantage Miles for Transcon Flights
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Fly roundtrip coast-to-coast on American Airlines nonstop flights and earn:

o 20,000 bonus miles in first and business class
o 12,000 bonus miles in full fare economy class
o 5,000 bonus miles in discounted economy class
 
Bonus applies to round-trip, nonstop travel between New York (JFK or Newark) or Boston and Los Angeles, San Jose, San Francisco, San Diego or Seattle. Bonus will be halved for one-way travel.
 
This offer is valid between May 1 and July 31, 2000. To receive your bonus, you must register before your trip but no later than June 30, 2000, by calling AAdvantage Dial-In at 1-800-882-8880. Press 1, # * 26 and, when prompted, enter promotion code TRSCN.

>> More <<
American

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Earn Miles with Hyatt Gift Certificates
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Earn 300 Mileage Plus bonus miles for every $100 you spend on the purchase of Hyatt Gift Certificates.

Certificates can be used to treat a friend or family member to a weekend getaway, a spa treatment or a meal. Offer valid only on certificates purchased between March 15 and June 15, 2000. For information, call 1-800-555-9655 or visit Hyatt's website.

>> More <<
o Hyatt
o United

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Bank Online, Earn AAdvantage Miles
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Next month, members of American's AAdvantage program will be able to earn miles for online banking.

Beginning May 1, 2000, AAdvantage members in the United States can earn AAdvantage miles when they open a new checking or money market account, purchase a Certificate of Deposit (CD), maintain designated account balances, as well as use a variety of other services at BankDirect, an Internet bank.

Miles are earned as follows:

o 1,000 miles for each new checking account or money market account
o 2,000 miles for using BankDirect's bill pay service for 12 months
o 1,000 miles for signing up for payroll direct deposit

o 100 miles per month for every $1,000 maintained in a checking account
o 50 miles per month for every $1,000 maintained in a money market account
o 1,000 miles for every $1,000 dollars spent on a two-year CD purchase
o 500 miles for every $1,000 dollars spent on a one-year CD purchase

>> More <<
o American
o BankDirect

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Lower-Mile Awards Between S. America and Europe
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Delta has introduced new travel awards for business and economy class flights between Central or South America and Europe.

With the new awards, SkyMiles members may redeem fewer miles for award travel between Central or South America and Europe via the United States and redeem a single award versus the two awards that were previously required.

For example, SkyMiles award tickets between Brazil and Europe are now 90,000 for economy class and 140,000 for business class, versus the old rates of 110,000 and 155,000 miles respectively.

>> More <<
Delta

<< 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...

>> 21 U.S. Cities to London from $298 R/T

British Airways is offering sale fares to London this spring from 21 US cities, with round-trip fares starting at $298. Travel is valid between May 1 and June 15.

For more details, go here.

>> Fare War: Kids Fly for as Little as $98 R/T

US Airways, Northwest and TWA are offering kids' fares from $98 round-trip. Two children may fly at these special rates for each adult flying. Travel is valid through September 6.

For more details, go here.

<< T R A V E L O N L I N E >>

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United By Any Other Name
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Henceforth, United will be easier to find on the Internet.

If you had trouble committing www.ual.com to memory, you now have 2 new URL (website addresses) choices for reaching United's website.

Same site, different addresses.

>> More <<
o United: http://www.ual.com
o United: http://www.united.com
o United: http://www.unitedairlines.com

<< B U S I N E S S T R A V E L T I P S >>

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What to Bring and How to Bring It
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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."

>> Choose the Best Luggage (Part 2 of 2)

o New airline rules limit liability for any handles or wheels that are broken when wheeled suitcases are checked in. If possible, always carry on your wheels and check larger suitcases.

o Remember, personal luggage tags are easily shorn from bags. Be sure that you have proper identification inside as well as outside your bag. And remove all airline-issued claim tags., or your checked baggage may end up at the wrong destination.

o Did you know that if you use your luggage exclusively for business travel, you can write it off as a business expense? So go ahead and splurge a little. You'll be glad you did.

Chris McGinnis
Travel Skills Group
http://www.travelskills.com

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

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United Promotional Elite
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Thought you'd find this interesting: My wife and I are both members of United's Mileage Plus program. I'm a Premier Executive member (50,000+ miles per year), and she flies only occasionally. Last week, she received a complimentary Premier card valid for 2 months, as part of a promotion from United, touting their increased legroom, etc, and entitling her to all of the privileges of Premier Membership for two months. I can't imagine how many thousands of other travelers got this bonus, and I'm sure it is a nice introduction to the program for them, but this is the first time I've seen an airline entice future travelers, while at the same time taking away a benefit of their existing travelers. By taking away a benefit, I'm referring to the increased number of folks in the premier line at check-in, the increased number of folks who will take advantage of early boarding, and more competition for the same, few number of upgrades available. I'd like to see the airlines go back to offering discounts, bonus miles, etc, that everyone can benefit from, and no travelers get penalized. I don't see them giving away too many of their memberships to the Red Carpet Club

 - Curt

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Northwest Rave; United Rant
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I see Rants and Raves made an appearance last week. I usually rant but this time I have to give credit where it is due.

In February my wife and I were on a Sunday thru Sunday ski trip, flying from Baltimore to Boise and driving to Sun Valley. Got the tickets on Northwest, back in November, real nicely timed flights, for $178 each, yes, round trip. Plus a 4,000 mile bonus for buying on the internet for the first time. We're there for 24 hours and get a call - a family member who had been ill had suddenly become much worse and was not expected to survive.

I called NW and explained the situation to the agent who was very helpful. He found flights the next morning and even went so far as to be sure we would be seated together. Then it came time to talk about money. He pointed out, we had not stayed a Saturday night, as required by our special fare. He put me on hold while he checked with his supervisor.

He quickly returned with word that the Saturday night requirement would be waived. He offered apologies for charging the $75 per person change fee. As I told him, both he and NW had exceeded my expectations and I was very grateful.

Gotta throw in a rant.......

Strangely enough, about 8 years ago I was at Sun Valley with more or less the same group, and 2 brothers with us received a very similar call. We had flown out on United, on "package deal" (bulk rate) tickets. United refused to discuss getting these guys home on another flight using those tickets, telling them it was full coach fare or nothing. I mean we talked to like 10 different United people and not a one would do anything. They just did not care. The brothers had to buy full fare tickets (on Delta). Delta at least did give them a 50% rebate after a doctor's note was presented.

Thanks

 - Steve

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US Airways' Website
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US Airways may have made some aesthetic and logistical improvements to their web site that make it appear up to par with the other airlines' web sites, but the "Upgrade with a capital 'U'" as you put it is only from coach to business.

The fact is that the new look still covers the old systems. The online booking system still has a lot of major bugs. For instance, if you're not careful, you'll stack itineraries on top of one another if you don't "Cancel" in between tries. And, one of the biggest problems is that the reservations system doesn't give preference to US Airways flights, especially for international itineraries. It will often choose flights on other airlines over US, which not only seems to be bad for business at US Airways, but also makes it difficult sometimes to book those roundtrips on US required to get that online booking bonus!

Whilst US Airways has come a long way with it's new online look, it still needs another upgrade to make their web site truly "first class."

Regards,
 - Nathan

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DFW Rant
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I was so shocked and appalled by my recent experience in Dallas Forth Worth, I wanted to write and suggest that you warn your readers.

The logistics of renting a car have always been tiresome. But someone in Dallas has created a system which passes into the unbelievable.

The airport has opened a new, off-site rental center, which has all 11 rental companies combined at one location. The problem is that it is six miles away from the terminal.

To get from the terminal to the center, you must take a bus. During much of the day and night, buses only run every 30 minutes. There is no one to help get your luggage onto the but. At 11 pm, the bus was so full we were stacking luggage on top of ourselves. After waiting for the bus to make additional stops, we finally arrive at the station, where you get to carry your bags another 50-100 yards to the counter. After dealing with the counter (or bypassing it), it is another 50-150 yards to the cars.

I was able to bypass the counter (Budget FastBreak). From the time I had my bags on the curb waiting to get on the bus to when I was in the car, it was 55 minutes.

Returning the car is about the same. They advise that customers allow an hour (AN HOUR) to return the car. I returned the car at 3 pm on a weekday and it took an hour and ten minutes from the time I dropped off my luggage with the skycap, through returning the car, to the time I got off the bus from the rental center.

And, we are allowed to pay for this marvel. The taxes are 25% plus an additional $4.21 per day, worse than New York.

I strongly advise your readers to take a taxi to the hotel or business location and arrange to pick up a rental car at the hotel or an in-city location. This rental center is the most ill-conceived idea in travel I have seen in 15 years of frequent flying.

 - Jay

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

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True (Funny) Travel Stories
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A woman called and said, "I need to fly to Pepsi-cola on one of the computer planes." I asked if she meant to fly to Pensacola on a commuter plane. She said, "Yeah, whatever."

                             * * *

A business man called and had a question about the documents he needed in order to fly to China. After a lengthy discussion about passports, I reminded him he needed a visa. "Oh no I don't. I've been to China many times and never had to give one of those." I double checked and sure enough, his stay required a visa. When I told him this he said, "Look, I've been to China four times and every time they have accepted my American Express."

[FrequentFlier Funnies are true stories told by pilots, reservations agents and other travel industry professionals, from William Joric's "Air Sick Humor." The book can be purchased at the FrequentFlier Bookstore at http://frequentflier.com/ffp-books.htm]

<< S I T E 2 S E E >>

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JohnnyJet.com
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If you've been a citizen of cyberspace as long as I have, you'll know what I mean when I call JohnnyJet.com a travel portal in the classic sense.

There was a time when portals were, and were expected to be, gateways to other sites. With the pressure to keep visitors on a single site as long as possible (to maximize revenue from banner ads), the come-here-to-get-there approach has all but disappeared: the help-the-other-guy model has been replaced by the enrich-yourself model.

JohnnyJet.com is a throwback. It is first and foremost a list of links, to every imaginable type of travel-related site, arranged under category headings ranging from 'Packing' to 'Attractions' to 'Senior Travel' to 'Traveler's Health.' If you have a question, or an area of interest, JohnnyJet.com can point you in the right direction.

In addition to the links--an enormous contribution in itself--there are travel tips from Johnny's chiropractor, travel humor, and of course the Skygirls--flight attendants from Delta and United who weigh in on such inquiring-minds-want-to-know questions as "Which city has the nicest people?" (More importantly, they'll give you the inside scoop on joining the Mile High club.)

See you at JohnnyJet.com's...

>> More <<
JohnnyJet.com

Until next week...