U P F R O N T

FFP Members Unnerved by US Airways' Woes
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This week, the situation at US Airways (or at least the public's perception of it) went from bad to worse. On Monday, the carrier suggested it might have to file for bankruptcy protection if employee groups and suppliers could not be persuaded to participate in a proposed cost-cutting program.

And if the incessant media buzz weren't enough, the company sent an e-mail to Dividend Miles members which included the following rather ominous warning:

"Clearly, our preferred approach, which we are vigorously pursuing, is to reach an accord with our stakeholders, including our employee groups and vendors, on a restructuring plan and to obtain the federal assistance. As the filing with the SEC indicates, however, if US Airways is unable to do so, alternative restructuring scenarios in the context of a judicial reorganization also must be considered. Simply stated, this means reorganization under the protection of the U.S. bankruptcy laws."

No wonder we've been deluged with panicky e-mails from Dividend Miles members. E.g.:

"Can you advise what should be done with US Airway Miles in light of their potential bankruptcy filing?" - Bob

"I would like to insure my USAir miles, How do I do that? Is there a online form or enrollment page?" - Stephen

"What happens to our ff miles on US Airways if the company goes bankrupt?" - RSS

Valid concerns and good questions all. While it wasn't directed specifically at the US Airways situation, we have an article on the site which addresses the problem generally. It's online here.

And of course, we'll keep our readers apprised as things develop.

O N S I T E

New on the FrequentFlier Forum
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Scott wonders: If US Airways goes bankrupt, will I lose all my miles? Tbird suggests a 1,500-mile bonus for WorldPerks Visa cardholders. Jeff shares a Southwest Airlines joke. And much more...

Do you have mileage-related questions, answers, anecdotes? Post them (and read others') on the FrequentFlier Forum.

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

Upper Class Passengers Get Handsprings
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Members of Virgin Atlantic's flying club who fly in Upper Class between May 15 and Sept. 30, 2002, from the U.S. to London will receive a new Handspring Treo 180, a combination GSM world phone, Palm OS organizer and e-mail appliance.

Visit http://www.virgin.com/handspring to join flying club, if you're not yet a member, and to pre-register. Registration is required before travel commences.

US Airways Gets Golf
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For the golf-obsessed, US Airways Golf program offers both miles-for-golf and golf-for-miles.

For example, members can earn up to 60,000 Dividend Miles for attending a Jim Flick golf school. Or, they can bid miles to attend a Jim Flick school. Other benefits include discounts from the Golf Warehouse, golf tips and course reviews, special fares and mileage promotions.

Register for US Airways Golf at http://www.usairways.com/golf/.

AAdvantage Doubles Miles for Switzerland Flights
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Between June 1 and July 31, 2002, AAdvantage members can earn double miles for nonstop first- or business-class trips between the U.S. and Zurich or Geneva on American Airlines or SWISS. Double miles are limited to fares booked in F, J or D on American, and F, J or C on SWISS.

Register using promo code LXAA2.

Delta Offers Double SkyMiles for Seoul Flights
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Between May 1 and July 31, 2002, SkyMiles members can earn double bonus miles on Delta-coded business- and economy-class flights operated by Korean Air between selected U.S. cities and Incheon International Airport/Seoul.

And from May 20 through July 31, 2002, you will also earn double bonus miles on Delta-coded business- and economy-class flights operated by Korean Air between Atlanta or Dallas/Ft. Worth and Seoul.

> More...

Holiday Inn Offers 50th Anniversary Discount
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To promote the 50th anniversary of the chain, participating Holiday Inn hotels are offering guests who stay two consecutive nights a discount equal to 50% off every second night (up to 10 consecutive nights) when booked at the non-discounted rate through Nov. 17, 2002.

It is not necessary to be a Priority Club member to qualify for this offer.

Historical note: the first Holiday Inn hotel opened in Memphis on Aug. 1, 1952. Today, there are more than 1,000 Holiday Inn hotels in the U.S. and more than 70 other countries.

> More...

From Diners Club: Account Updates On The Go
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Diners' new Club On The Go allows cardmembers to have account alerts sent directly to their e-mail, cellular phones, PDA's or other wireless devices.

Members can select the frequency (daily, weekly, etc.) and choose to receive account balance info, payment due or past-due reminders, unusual spending warnings, and new service notifications.

> 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...

Summer fares to London and Manchester from $390 R/T
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American has extended its sale on summer fares to London and Manchester, England. Travel is valid for departures through June 15, with returns by July 15. Purchase tickets at least 7 days before departure and by Thursday, May 30.

> More...

Sunshine on sale: Savings to/from Florida from $98 R/T
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Flights to/from cities in Florida are on sale from AirTran and US Airways, and Delta has released a similar sale between Atlanta and cities in Florida. Travel is valid through Oct. 9. Purchase tickets online only and at least 7 days before departure. On AirTran and Delta, book tickets by Thursday, May 16.

> More...

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

From DL Express: "Summertime, Family Time"
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Enter the Summertime, Family Time sweepstakes by June 30, 2002, either online at http://flydlx.com or by mailing a 4" x 6" postcard to the Delta Express/Orlando "Summertime, Family Time" sweepstakes, P.O. Box 20521, Atlanta, GA 30320-2521 including first and last name, address (street address, city, state and zip code) and home telephone number.

Grand prize: a travel package for 4, including roundtrip air to Orlando on Delta or Delta Express; 5 nights at the Orlando Holiday Inn Family Suites Resort; 6-day Avis car rental; airboat ride at Boggy Creek; Medieval Times Dinner; $50 gift certificate; and 1-day pass to Walt Disney World Resort theme park.

[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

Why Premium Passengers Won't Fly Anytime Soon
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"David was right in the 5 of the 10 items you listed. One additional one that you neglected to list was the quality of the food in first class on American was inedible. I mean it was a lousy joke. I left it."

- A different David

S I T E 2 S E E

Gotta Fly, Gotta Eat, (Got Pix)
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"You fly, you get food. You like it or you don't. But you eat it." So says the AirlineMeals website, a compilation of photos of inflight meals from 40 of the world's airlines.

For your delectation: everything from a first-class appetizer from JAL of caviar, duck foie gras with mushrooms and truffles to a sorry-looking coffee-and-a-roll service on Alaska Airlines. Ignore the airbrushed studio-lit shots lifted from corporate websites; best are the garish documentary-like snaps that inadvertently capture the real horror of inflight dining.

The handiwork of a 31-year-old Dutch designer, AirlineMeals reminds me of the good ol' days of the 'Net, when quirky websites sprouted like digital weeds (the site devoted to airsickness bags comes to mind).

> More...

Until next week...