U P F R O N T
This Week's Travel Newsbites
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Over the past week, the bankruptcy drumbeat intensified.
Delta in a SEC statement released on Monday warned that a bankruptcy filing would be necessary if pilots did not accede to management's proposed salary cuts.
Underscoring the seriousness of the situation, Delta's stock price took a 15% hit and Standard & Poor's cut Delta's long-term outlook.
And in its own SEC filing, US Airways cautioned that if cost cuts on the order of 25% were not forthcoming, the company would have to "re-examine its strategic options, including but not limited to asset sales or a judicial restructuring."
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The theme of US Air's survival plan, as revealed to employees last week, is smaller, simpler.
Fares will be lowered and simplified, to compete with the discount carriers.
And US Air's current 3-hub network will be reduced to a 2-hub system with more point-to-point routes. Philadelphia and Charlotte would remain hubs -- the former for Europe flights, the latter for the Caribbean -- but Pittsburgh operations would be cut back and that airport would lose its hub status.
In a positive sign, the carrier's pilot union endorsed the plan.
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Inconspicuously absent from last week's roundup of the larger airlines' first-quarter financial results was ATA, which didn't release its results until last Friday.
In contrast to the generally positive results posted by other discount carriers, ATA reported a $65 million loss for the period, significantly worse than the $11 million loss for last year's first quarter.
<< O N S I T E >>
FrequentFlier Forum Topics
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Cornroaster has a link to Frontier's anniversary sweepstakes. Will wonders whether he can earn Gold status in AAdvantage for non-flight miles. Scarlett discovered miles of unknown origin in her Delta account. And much more...
Do you have questions, answers? Post them to the Forum!
> More...
<< M I L E S & P O I N T S >>
Choice Hotels Is New Alaska Air Mileage Partner
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Effective immediately, Mileage Plan members can earn miles at more than 3,500 Choice hotels in the U.S. and the Caribbean as follows: 250 miles for qualifying stays at Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Sleep Inn, Clarion or MainStay Suites hotels; 150 miles for stays at Econo Lodge or Rodeway Inn hotels.
> More...
Double Alaska Miles Between Anchorage and Denver
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Between June 6 and June 30, Mileage Plan members will earn double miles on Alaska Airlines flights between Anchorage and Denver.
Registration is required.
> More...
San Salvador Flights Earn AAdvantage Bonus
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Between June 10 and Sept. 30, AAdvantage members will earn up to 60,000 bonus miles for 6 roundtrip flights between Los Angeles and San Salvador, El Salvador.
Fly 1 roundtrip to earn 5,000 bonus miles, 2 roundtrips to earn an additional 10,000 bonus miles, and a third roundtrip to earn 15,000 more miles -- for a total of 30,000 bonus AAdvantage miles. Repeat the process to earn an additional 30,000 miles.
Registration is required.
> More...
Avis Offers Richer Elite Perks
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Avis has relaunched Preferred Select, the elite tier of its Preferred Service program reserved for customers who rent at least 15 times in an 18-month period.
In addition to complimentary upgrades, a free Wall Street Journal at major airport locations, access to lowest mileage cars and priority service, Preferred Select members who rent 15-20 times receive a copy of "Best of Quick City Guides," plus a free rental day and 2 travel publications after 21-30 rentals, and a free weekend rental, and free airline companion ticket after 31+ rentals.
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Free Nights at Best Western
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Between May 15 and July 15, Gold Crown Club International members can earn 1 free night after 2 qualifying Best Western hotel stays charged to a MasterCard. Bonus may be earned only once per member.
To earn the free night, members must register, either online at http://www.goldcrownclub.com or by calling 1-800-237-8483, offer code MC2X.
Double Delta Miles for CVG-CMI Flights
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Between May 14 and July 31, SkyMiles members will earn double miles on Delta Connection/Atlantic Coast Airlines flights between Cincinnati-(CVG) and Champaign's University of Illinois-Willard Airport (CMI).
Register at http://delta.com/deltaoffers.
Frontier Doubles Miles to Alaska
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Between May 9 and June 30, members of Frontier's EarlyReturns program will earn double miles on the carrier's new Denver-Anchorage flights.
> More...
Marriott Turns 20 (Million)
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In what the company claims is a record for hotel loyalty programs, Marriott Rewards registered its 20 millionth member. To promote the event, Marriott presented member # 20 million with free airfare and a week's hotel stay anywhere in the world plus lifetime Platinum Elite status.
> More...
Double Priority Club Earnings for 2 or More Stays
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Between May 17 and Aug. 31, Priority Club Rewards members will earn double points or miles for the second and subsequent stays at InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites hotels.
Registration is required.
> More...
Osaka Flights Earn United Bonus
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Between June 10 and Sept. 30, Mileage Plus members can earn up to 50,000 bonus miles for multiple roundtrip flights between Chicago O'Hare and Osaka, Japan (flights 877 and 878 only).
For first and business-class flights (F, A, C or D booking class), earn 15,000 miles for the first roundtrip, 15,000 for the second and 20,000 for the third, for a total of 50,000 bonus miles.
For full-fare coach flights (Y, B, M, H or Z booking class), earn 7,500 miles for the first roundtrip, 7,500 for the second and 10,000 for the third, for a total of 25,000 bonus miles.
And for discounted coach flights (Q, V, W, S or T booking class), earn 5,000 miles for the first roundtrip, 5,000 for the second and 7,5000 for the third, for a total of 17,500 bonus miles.
Registration is required.
> More...
United Offers Voucher in D.C. Area
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Mileage Plus members in Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia who enroll in GroceryMiles between May 10 and June 10 will receive a $25 discount voucher for travel on United, United Express or Ted.
Once enrolled in GroceryMiles, members earn 125 miles for every $250 spent at Safeway, Dominick's, Vons, Pavilions, and Genuardis supermarkets.
> 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...
New York Sale Fares on Delta from $158
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Delta is offering sale fares between New York's JFK airport and select U.S. cities. Departures are valid through July 31, and prices start as low as $158 roundtrip.
Book tickets at least 14 days in advance, and by Wednesday, May 19.
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Sale Fares on US Airways from $130
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US Airways has announced domestic sale fares starting as low as $130 roundtrip. Departures are valid through Oct. 6.
Book tickets at least 7 days in advance. US Airways has not listed a booking deadline, so these fares could disappear at any time.
> More...
<< R E A D E R R A N T S & R A V E S >>
Feedback from the Frontlines of Travel
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"Not sure if this has been brought up before but I wanted to bring to the attention of your readers the dining promotion with Delta. Just eat five times through July 31 using the iDine program to earn an extra 1000 miles. That's over and above the regular 10 miles for every dollar spent.
"Since these are meals I would be buying anyway (I do alot of entertaining for business) the miles are basically free. LOVE this program!"
- Jamie
[Editor's Note - We've covered this offer but it's worth repeating. And to the larger point, yes, dining miles are 1 of the best deals out there. And when there's a promotion in effect, it just gets better.]
<< S W E E P S & F R E E B I E S >>
Win Round the World Tickets from US Airways
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US Airways' Round the World sweepstakes promotes the carrier's entry into the Star Alliance with a grand prize of first-class RTW tickets for 2 on any combination of Star airlines. Other prizes: first-class tickets to any Star destination worldwide, business-class tickets to Europe, etc.
Enter online (link below) and receive additional entries for each ticket purchased at usairways.com for travel on US Airways between Apr. 26 and Aug. 31.
> More...
[Visit http://frequentflier.com/sweeps.htm for more travel sweepstakes.]
Until next week...
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