U P F R O N T

A Tax on Frequent Flyer Miles, Not! (with Your Help)
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In last week's Crier, I mentioned the bill recently introduced in the House of Representatives which will, when enacted, relieve us all -- consumers, employers, airlines, the IRS -- of the niggling anxiety over the tax status of frequent flyer miles. The bill, the Frequent Flyer Tax-Free Liability Act of 2002 (a.k.a. the Meeks-Foley bill), says it simply and clearly: Frequent flyer miles, no matter how they're earned or redeemed, are NOT taxable.

I hope that you will show your support for the bill by taking the following 3 steps:

1) First, go to http://thomas.loc.gov/. Enter HR 4374 (the bill number) in the search box to retrieve the bill and read it online.

2) Next, if you agree with the bill's content, go to http://www.house.gov/ and click on the "Write Your Representative" link on the lower left of the homepage. Use the search function to locate contact information for the House member representing your district.

3) And finally, send your Representative a note requesting his or her support for the bill. I've posted my own letter online. Feel free to cut and paste.

In the coming months, we'll track the bill as it makes its way through Congress and keep you apprised of its progress.

U.S. Airlines Report Grim First-Quarter Financials
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The quarterly financial reports have been issued, with the 8 largest U.S. airlines reporting another $2.4 billion in losses. That's on top of a punishing $9 billion loss for 2001.

M I L E S & P O I N T S

From Hyatt: Faster Free Nights
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With the Faster Free Nights promotion with American Express, Gold Passport members can earn unlimited free nights at Hyatt worldwide from Apr. 15 through July 31, 2002.

Earn 1 free night after every 2 stays when paying with the American Express card. Free nights can be redeemed between May 1 and Sept. 30, 2002. These awards are in addition to the Gold Passport points members normally earn for Hyatt stays.

Register for the promotion at https://www.goldpassport.com/.

WebMiles Says "So Long & Bye Bye"
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Here's the final e-mail missive from the popular WebMiles rewards program:

"The events of September 11, 2001 have negatively impacted the economy and in particular, the travel industry. Consumers are traveling less and there is likewise a depressed demand for programs that offer travel rewards. For WebMiles, Inc. this has meant lost partnerships and lost revenue for the company. WebMiles has come to a point where it can no longer continue to offer its travel rewards program to consumers. On April 15, WebMiles members will no longer earn miles in the WebMiles program. Members of the WebMiles program that are eligible for redemption can redeem their miles in accordance with the program rules until May 8, 2002."

If you have a WebMiles account with at least 8,000 miles (the minimum redemption level, worth a $100 travel discount), run don't walk to the WebMiles site and cash in while you still can. Again, the deadline to redeem miles is May 8, 2002.

United Doubles Miles for Chicago Flights
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Between May 1 and July 31, 2002, earn double Mileage Plus miles for qualifying roundtrips between Chicago and Buffalo, Cincinnati, Harrisburg, Hartford or Orange County.

Double miles are also on offer through June 30, 2002, for qualifying roundtrips between Chicago and any of the following: Cedar Rapids, Cincinnati, Dayton, Des Moines, Minneapolis, Omaha, Richmond, Spokane, St. Louis, White Plains, Wichita.

Either bonus may be earned a maximum of 3 times, on qualifying fares. Register online or by calling 1-800-447-6772 and entering offer code 202 for the first offer, or 279 for the second.

Redeem Fewer AAdvantage Miles for Cathay Pacific Awards
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For a limited time, AAdvantage members can redeem fewer miles for Cathay Pacific flights.

Flights between N. America and Hong Kong are discounted from 60,000 to 40,000 miles, and from 70,000 to 45,000 miles for flights to other points in Asia and Japan. Also discounted: Cathay flights between New York and Vancouver, from 30,000 to 20,000 miles.

Valid for travel through May 31, 2002, and between Sept. 1 and Dec. 15, 2002. Award must be claimed by May 31, 2002.

ClickRewards, the Endgame
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Remember ClickRewards? According to their latest communiqué, there's still time to file a claim for the value of your unredeemed ClickMiles at the time the company went bankrupt.

"The last day to file a claim in the Netcentives' bankruptcy case for damages arising from the rejection of ClickRewards Member Agreement is May 20, 2002. If you do not file a claim by this date, then you will be forever barred from claiming any right to receive anything for the rejection of your Member Agreement."

> More...

ClickRewards, the Sequel
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Meanwhile, the "new" ClickRewards has gone live. It looks to be a distinctly generic rewards program, with no competitive advantages over other similar programs. The list of earning and redemption partners is short, and the earning rate at most retailers is a rather paltry 1 ClickMile for every $1 spent.

The new program has been stripped of its former airline-mileage awards, with the exception of a single redemption option: cash in 900 ClickMiles for 500 US Airways Dividend Miles.

As if the program weren't weak enough already, the expiration policy alone will be a deal-breaker for some: "ClickMiles earned on or after April 15, 2002 except as set forth in section (3) below; expire at the end of the calendar year at least two years after the date that they are earned. For example, ClickMiles earned on April 1, 2002 will expire on December 31, 2004."

My question to them is the same as my advice to you: Why bother?

> More...

Hertz Offers 25,000 SkyMiles for Used Car Purchases
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Purchase a used car from Hertz Car Sales between Apr. 15 and July 15, 2002, to earn 25,000 Delta SkyMiles.

For complete details and the nearest Hertz Car Sales location, call 1-800-654-3131 and mention promotion code 930580.

Earn OnePass Miles for Auto Club Memberships
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OnePass members will earn 500 miles upon enrolling and an additional 500 miles for every 6 months of subsequent membership for memberships in Signature's Nationwide Auto Club.

For more information, call Signature's Nationwide Auto Club at 1-866-235-0923.

Air Canada Will Launch Zippy Low-Cost Service
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Coming to western Canada this summer -- a new discount airline modeled on Southwest. Its name: ZIP (our nominee for "Best New Airline Name").

Calgary-based ZIP will operate an all-B737 fleet, competing against Canada's dominant low-fare carrier, WestJet. According to the company's news release, all ZIP flights will qualify for Aeroplan miles. What's not mentioned is the earning rate. Since Air Canada only awards 50% or 75% of actual-flown miles for discounted coach fares, it's a safe bet that ZIP flights will only earn 50%, and possibly less.

> More...

S T E A L S & D E A L S

Deal Alert from SmarterLiving.com
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This week's hot deals from SmarterLiving.com...

Sale Fares to London and Europe from $368 R/T
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British Airways has announced a sale on spring and summer travel from the U.S. to destinations in Europe, including cities such as Amsterdam, Athens, Barcelona, London, Milan, Prague, and Vienna. Flights to Europe include free stopovers in London in either direction. Virgin Atlantic is also offering sale fares to London, starting at $368 roundtrip.

> More...

Sale Fares to/from Midwestern Cities Starting at $134 R/T
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Summer travel to/from cities in the Midwest is on sale from Midwest Express, with sale fares to/from most cities it serves valid between May 13 and Sept. 30. Book tickets at least 21 days before travel and no later than Friday, Apr. 26.

> More...

S W E E P S T A K E S & F R E E B I E S

Win a Trip to Outer Space
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The grand prize in the new sweepstakes from US Airways is a flight into space aboard a sub-orbital spacecraft. Additional prizes include other space-themed tours. The sweepstakes launches on May 1, 2002.

To enter, begin by registering online. Once registered, you can enter by flying on a qualifying US Airways business fare, or simply by mailing in your contact information. In either case, the deadline for entries is Sept. 30, 2002.

[Other travel-related sweepstakes and giveaways are online here.]

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

Thumbs Up/Down on Travel Agents (cont)
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[If you're wondering what all the fuss about travel-agent commissions is about, there's a good backgrounder story from Reuter's here: http://biz.yahoo.com/rb/020421/biztravelagents_1.html.]

This is in response to Shirley...

I owned a travel agency for 14 years. I never marketed my business, it was all built on word of mouth and reputation. I worked very hard at "beating the system" and finding lower airfares than my competition. In doing so, I built a loyal following of clients that grew continually. I sold my business in 1998 and 4 years later, I STILL have people calling me from time to time, wanting my help with airfares. You have not worked with the right travel agent!

- George

Hi, all! I would like to make some comments about travel agents, airlines help desks, and travel clients. I've been two and worked with the other. Most of my experiences as a client have been great. As a travel agent, the ones I worked with always tried to do the best for the clients. Mistakes were made, but the work was usually done right. Some clients don't want the best deal. I've worked at an airline and known many help desk personnel. Some times they did think about their work after hours, but they did have policy they had to follow, sometimes with little leeway.

All in all, I guess it is "to each, his own."

- Hilda

Admiral's Club
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AA is going around conducting focus groups on frequent fliers opinions on the Admiral's Club, and I was just in one. I learned a LOT your readers might want to know.

1. You can get in one without a ticket (at least at some airports if you call ahead and get cleared. (You used to be able to do this routinely before 9/11.) Call the Club directly -- either using your directory if you have or by going to the revamped AA.com and looking it up. (haven't tried this.)

2. If you miss a flight or just want to check in there you can get terrific service at their desk. (I didn't know this and I have been a member for 2 years!) In fact anything you need travel wise they will try to do for you -- often going far beyond what would seem to be the "call of duty."

3. They are now allowing luggage to be left in the luggage areas again -- after 9/11 they had been forced to stop b y the FAA, but if it has gone through the security once, now it can be left if you want to go to the bath room or just set it down and walk away for a while. Like to get food, which they don't allow in!

4. They are considering adding food to the amenities offered -- it was the #1 request.

5. They are adding wireless service access to many clubs -- the newest technology the name of which escaped me. It is a paid service but you can pay for a time usage subscribe.

6. The focus group members rated the Admiral's Clubs above all the other similar services at other airlines.

- Carroll

Until next week...

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