Crabby Travelers Stage Springtime Love Fest

We've been publishing "Reader Rants & Raves" for almost 10 years. It's a repository for our subscribers' comments, positive and negative, about their first-hand travel experiences.

It's essentially unedited. If we have space available in that week's newsletter, we include each and every note received. (Assuming, of course, that they're on topic and G-rated.)

So if there is a common thread to any week's feedback, it reflects the shared concerns of our readers rather than any conscious effort on our part to thematically organize their feedback.

Which makes the latest crop of subscriber notes especially intriguing.

In the week since last week's newsletter, we received exactly three notes from subscribers. And for the first time since we've been publishing readers' comments, the feedback was uniformly positive. Nary a sour note.

American, Continental, Delta, US Airways... all come in for praise in this week's "Rants & Raves" (see below).

Could this signal a new warming trend, the beginnings of a turnaround in consumer sentiment toward the airlines? That seems unlikely. But it is possible so we'll be on the lookout for further indicators of a mood shift in the traveling public over the coming months.

Your thoughts?

FrequentFlier Forum Topics

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

In the "Airline Programs" Forum, JaiORD is seeking recommendations for tools to assist in the search for available award seats: "For those of you that have used Expert Flyer and/or KVS Availability Tool to search for seats (especially award seats) can you provide any feedback? I am looking to join one or the other and any user comments would be helpful in making a decision."

Also in the "Airline Programs" Forum, sal has the goods on a frequent flyer deal from an airline, Silverjet, which has no frequent flyer program: "Silverjet have come up with something called a FREEquent Flyer deal for their American passengers which effectively gives any passenger who's a member of any frequent flyer programme 50% off Silverjet tickets on their Newark-London route."

Questions, answers? Post them to the Forum!

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Double Aeroplan Miles for Auckland Flights

Between May 1 and July 31, Aeroplan members will earn double miles for Air New Zealand flights between Los Angeles or San Francisco and Auckland. (No miles awarded for Air New Zealand flights in booking classes G, K, L, and S.)

Registration is required.

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More ATA Miles-for-Wine

Through May 20, members of ATA's Travel Awards program can earn 500 points when enrolling in the American Cellars Wine Club, a 150-point increase over the normal 350-point enrollment bonus.

After enrolling, members earn one point for every $1 spent on monthly wine subscriptions.

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Earn More Continental Miles for Hyatt Stays

Between April 18 and July 31, Continental OnePass members will earn 1,000 bonus miles for qualifying stays at Park Hyatt, Grand Hyatt, Hyatt Regency, Hyatt Place, Summerfield Suites, AmeriSuites, and Hawthorn Suites hotels.

To earn the bonus, guest must be a member of Hyatt's Gold Passport program and opt to receive airline miles for stays.

Registration is required.

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Earn Hawaiian Miles for Wireless

Members of Hawaiian Airlines' HawaiianMiles program can earn 5,000 miles when purchasing cellphones and rate plans with Cingular, Verizon Wireless, Sprint, Nextel, or T-Mobile, 10 miles for every $1 spent on accessories, and 5,000 miles for new DirecTV accounts.

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Northwest Offers Miles for Lounge Memberships

Through the end of this year, WorldPerks members can earn bonus miles for purchasing first-time memberships in Northwest's WorldClub airport lounges.

Bonuses are 2,500 miles for new one-year memberships and 5,000 miles for new three-year memberships.

To earn the bonus, cite promotion code WCWB7 when enrolling.

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Bonus United Miles for Stays at Asian Conrads

Through October 31, Mileage Plus members can earn 1,000 bonus miles for qualifying weekend stays of two or more nights at participating Conrad hotels in Asia.

To qualify for the bonus, bookings must be made through Hilton reservations, requesting Plan Code H8, or through the hotel website using the "1,000 Bonus Miles" rate.

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Deal Alert from SmarterTravel.com

1) Tahiti Fares from $648

Air Tahiti Nui is offering discounted fares to Papeete, Tahiti. Advertised prices start at $758 roundtrip from Los Angeles or $858 from New York (JFK), not including additional taxes and fees.

Departures from Los Angeles are valid on select dates through June 20, and returns are valid from May 1 through June 26. New York fares are valid from April 27 through May 22. Book tickets by May 4.

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2) American Matches Southwest Fares from $92

American has matched many of the routes included in Southwest's new systemwide sale. Fares start at $92 roundtrip, and destinations include Chicago, Kansas City, Las Vegas, and Oakland.

Travel is valid on Tuesdays and Wednesdays through August 24. Book tickets at least 14 days in advance. American has not listed a booking deadline, but Southwest's sale expires on May 3, and American's sale will likely end then as well.

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Win a Trip for 2 to the Ball Game

Through June 15, enter American Airlines' "Fly Away Get Away" sweepstakes for a chance to win a trip for two to see a baseball game anywhere in the country, including $10,000 in American Airlines gift cards for the winner and a guest to travel to the game, plus a $15,000 MasterCard gift card which can be used towards baseball tickets, hotel stays, etc.

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[Visit http://frequentflier.com/sweeps.htm for more travel sweepstakes.]

Feedback from the Frontlines of Travel

"I am sure flyers have problems with getting FF seats but I have to tell you our experience is a little different.

"This past March, four of us flew from PHL to COZ on FF tickets. Two on US Air and two on AA. Next September all four of us are flying PHL to SFO driving up to Seattle and back to PHL. All four on Delta. We just booked round trip PHL to SAN for next February for a cruise to the Sea of Cortez. Again two on US Air and two on AA. The only secret was to PLAN AHEAD. The bookings were all done on the internet wihich was painless and were done about 10 Months ahead of time.

"I also would like to add kudos to the new AA site that shows all open dates for booking a FF flight as well as allowing passengers to hold the flight for two weeks allowing time to book the cruise/rental car/hotels etc." [GCC]

"I wish to share a Positive/Rave story about American Airlines.

"In November, 2006, I purchased two tickets, on American Airlines departing Chicago O'Hare and flying to Ixtapa/Zihautenejo, Mexico on February 3, 2007. The tickets were very reasonably priced and non-refundable. I did not purchase travel insurance.

"On January 26, I visited my orthopedic surgeon, with three stress fractures on my left foot, x-rays were taken and I was put into an aircast/boot. Still planned on going to Mexico. On January 30, I again visited the doctor with a stress fracture on my right foot. I was put into an aircast on that foot and told I was to put no weight on the front of either foot and to limit my activity. No travel for me... he wrote a note for me to submit to the airline.

"This was four days before our scheduled flight, on a non-refundable ticket. However, I went to American airline's web-site, got the address where to address refund requests. I wrote a letter inquiring about a refund and enclosed the note from my doctor.

"Without any further questioning or hassle, American Airline graciously applied a full refund to my charge. A real class act, for which we are very thankful." [Patricia S. - Bloomfield Hills, MI]

"I wrote to you about a year ago about the non delivery of my "free" Presidents club passes which were promised on renewal Jan 2006 and I got the royal run-around from Chase.

"I called them last November and told them if my passes were not forthcoming, don't renew the card. They arrived by special delivery 3 days later. This year, the passes arrived before the renewal went thru. Also, re Continental mileage use, I have had no problems using my mileage to upgrade to BusinessFirst on flights to and from the UK. Have not tried to get domestic flights however.

"Great Forum, thank you." [Tom - New Orleans]

Until next week...