Issue #43 -- May 20, 1999
** CONTENTS **
United and Hilton ~ United Miles for Auto Insurance ~ LanChile to Join Oneworld ~ ClickRewards Turns One Million ~ Northwest KidCares ~ United's Memorial Day Sale ~ Northwest's Memorial Day Sale ~ Air France Concorde Promotion ~ Sabena Summer Sale ~ DOJ Accuses American ~ Consumer Reports Rates the Airlines ~ Air France Severs Ties with Korean Air ~ United's April Online Bookings ~ The Invisible Passenger in Seat 48A
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In Memorium
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My father died this week. And I'd be remiss if I didn't mention his passing and say a few words about his approach to travel, which has so influenced my own.
My dad was a great traveler. He had lived overseas, and as a marketing executive traveled often on business. He was for years on a first-name basis with a particular ticket agent at Pan Am's Manhattan ticket office. And he counted among his friends several among the Pan Am management ranks as well. So even when he had an economy-class ticket, he rarely traveled in coach (or steerage, as he called it). As a result of his loyalty to Pan Am, and theirs to him, a shelf in our hall closet was full to overflowing with blue-and-white vinyl Pan Am cabin bags that we children used for years as schoolbags and to carry ice skates to the rink.
My dad was also an accomplished jazz pianist. And his traveling years coincided with the glory days of aviation, when some transcon flights boasted onboard piano bars. The image of him playing piano, a la Bobby Short, on the upper deck of a jumbo jet as it powers cross the country, fueled by plenty of complimentary martinis (my dad, that is), will forever be central to my vision of travel's potential.
Even as air travel became commodified and declined, he continued to insist that flying should at least be civilized. And when it didn't meet that minimum expectation, he was lavish with his criticisms.
Let's hope that where he's gone, all seats are first class, and all inflight meals are memorable. And if they aren't already, I know they will be by the time I join him.
<< M I L E S >>
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United Miles + HHonors Points for Flights
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For the first time, Hilton HHonors members and United Airlines' frequent flyers will be able to earn both HHonors points and Mileage Plus miles for all qualifying United flights.
Called Mileage plus Nights, this opportunity to have it both ways is being offered by Hilton HHonors and United Airlines Mileage Plus from June 1, 1999 through May 31, 2000.
Hilton is currently the only hotel company that allows travelers to earn both hotel points and airline miles for the same business-rate stay - what Hilton calls Double Dipping. And now Hilton and United are taking the concept into the air, by offering one HHonors point for every Mileage Plus mile flown on qualifying flights.
This promotion is open only to U.S. residents. To receive this offer, travelers must register by calling 1-800-930-3098 by August 31, 1999. For complete information including terms and conditions, travelers may call the HHonors automated account inquiry system at 1-800-552-0852 and request fax-back document #128.
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o Hilton online
o United
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United Miles for Insurance Quotes
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Separately, United Kemper Auto & Home have teamed up to offer Mileage Plus members a new opportunity to earn miles toward free travel.
Mileage Plus members can receive at least 250 miles by requesting a free, no obligation quote on their auto insurance through Kemper's new direct response division at http://www.ekemper.com/ual.
Kemper is the seventeenth largest property and casualty insurance company in the United States, with $3.7 billion in annual revenues and over $11.1 billion in assets.
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LanChile to Join Oneworld
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American Airlines, British Airways, Canadian Airlines, Cathay Pacific Airways and Qantas Airways today welcomed Linea Aerea Nacional de Chile (LanChile) as the newest member of oneworld.
LanChile will be the eighth member of the global airline alliance and the third carrier to join since oneworld was announced last September. Finnair and Iberia also recently entered the alliance and plan to offer oneworld services and benefits later this year.
LanChile plans to start offering oneworld services and benefits in 2000, after its customer service employees have taken part in the oneworld training and communications program, and after its computer systems have been linked with those of the other oneworld carriers.
LanChile is a privately owned airline formed in 1929 and currently operates approximately 120 flights a day. It serves 17 points within Chile and operates an international network with service to 22 points in 15 countries. Its fleet of 46 aircraft consists of narrowbody and widebody aircraft types ranging in size from the 119-seat Boeing 737-200 to the 218-seat Boeing 767-300.
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ClickRewards Turns One Million
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Netcentives Inc., a developer of online rewards, incentive and loyalty marketing programs, reports that the ClickRewards Shopping Network has reached one million members.
According to a survey conducted by NFO Research, ClickRewards members spent an average of $434 online in non-travel related goods and services over the past year. Sixty-five percent of these active online shoppers are more likely to buy from Web sites that offer ClickMiles for their purchases.
The NFO study, commissioned by Netcentives, found that online merchants offering rewards programs are more likely to benefit from ClickRewards' members' increased spending:
o 49% of the ClickRewards members say their selection of a web site is influenced by the offer of a reward program
o Nearly two-thirds of ClickRewards members say that the offer of ClickMiles makes them more likely to purchase than if ClickMiles are not offered
o 88% plan on purchasing through ClickRewards at least once every three months
According to the NFO research, ClickRewards members are active, highly affluent Internet shoppers. According to the survey results:
o ClickRewards members spent an average of $434 online on non-travel related goods and services over the past twelve months
o ClickRewards members spent an average of $754 online on travel services over the past 12 months
o 95% of ClickRewards members plan on spending the same or more online over the next twelve months
o 52% of ClickRewards members are male and 48% are female
o Average ClickRewards members age is 41 years old
o 77% of ClickRewards members are their household's primary shopper
o ClickRewards members have an average income of almost $80,000
o 67% of ClickRewards members own their own homes
The study also looked at how members are redeeming their rewards, and found that 62% of respondents shop at participating ClickRewards network sites for the ClickMiles, while 29% are interested in the desirable rewards or merchandise that are redeemable with ClickMiles.
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ClickRewards
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Northwest Raises 3 Million Miles for Kids
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Nearly three million Northwest WorldPerks miles have been donated to its new KidCares program since the program was launched in mid-February.
KidCares, a part of Northwest's AirCares charitable assistance program, enables children needing medical treatment that would be unavailable near their home to use donated WorldPerks miles for free travel.
Northwest KidCares is available to children age 18 years and younger who need to travel for medical treatment that is unavailable in their home area. The request must be made and the application completed on behalf of the child by a qualified non-profit organization or medical facility. Priority is given to families with financial need and without insurance which would cover the cost of travel. One adult companion may accompany the child at no additional cost from and to cities served by Northwest Airlines or the carrier's partner airlines.
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A minimum donation of 5000 WorldPerks miles can be made by calling 800-327-2881. Larger donations in increments of 1000 miles will also be accepted.
Application forms for KidCares travel can be obtained by calling Northwest Airlines Reservations at 800-225-2525 or from the AirCares section of the Northwest Airlines web site at http://www.nwa.com
<< S T E A L S & D E A L S >>
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United's Memorial Day Sale
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United Airlines this week announced a Memorial Day sale with fares reduced up to 60 percent for passengers able to travel within the holiday weekend.
The fares apply to travel throughout the United States including Alaska and Florida but excluding Hawaii. They also apply to Canada.
The fares must be purchased at least seven days in advance of travel, require a Saturday night stay, and are nonrefundable. These sale fares were published in about 25,000 markets.
The lowest fares are available for travel outbound on Saturday, May 29, with the return the next day, Sunday, May 30. Examples of round-trip fares: Chicago-Des Moines, $88; Chicago-Denver, $138; Denver-Atlanta, $178; Chicago-Los Angeles, $198; Los Angeles-Washington, D.C. (Dulles), $268; Los Angeles-San Francisco, $58.
Slightly higher fares are available for a longer trip outbound on either Friday, May 28, or Saturday, May 29, with the return on Sunday, May 30, or Monday, May 31. Examples: Chicago-Toronto, $188; Chicago-New York, $238; Denver-Boston, $348; San Diego-Washington, D.C. (Dulles), $468; Los Angeles- San Francisco, $158.
The fares quoted do not include passenger facility charges of up to $12 which may apply depending on the passenger's itinerary. Fares quoted also do not include a $2 per flight segment tax. A flight segment is defined as one takeoff and one landing. Fares to Canada do not include a $5 navigation surcharge in each direction.
These fares are available at United's website as well as through travel agents and United's reservations offices.
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United online
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Northwest's Memorial Day Fare Sale
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Northwest Airlines is offering its own Memorial Day sale fares to destinations in the United States and Canada over the upcoming long holiday weekend.
For travel outbound Saturday, May 29 and returning on Sunday, May 30, fares range from $44-$134 each way, based on a roundtrip purchase.
For a longer weekend, travel outbound either Friday, May 28 or Saturday, May 29 and returning on Sunday, May 30 or Monday, May 31, fares range from $99-$234 each way, based on a roundtrip purchase.
The fares must be purchased 7 days prior to departure, are non-refundable, and may require a Saturday night stay. Seats are limited and other restrictions may apply.
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Northwest's website
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Air France Discounts Concorde
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Air France is celebrating the summer of 1999 with special Concorde prices.
More than 70 destinations across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Western Asia are included in the supersonic promotion via the airline's hub at Charles de Gaulle in Paris.
The supersonic offers start May 20, 1999, with three special Concorde promotions:
-- Pay the round-trip business class fare of $6380 between New York and Paris, upgrade free to fly Concorde in one direction with free continuing flights to 64 destinations in Europe. Valid for departures in July and August with all travel completed by September 5, 1999.
-- Free stopover in Paris in both directions.
-- Pay the round-trip first class fare of $8486 between New York and Paris, upgrade free to fly Concorde round-trip with free continuing flights to 74 destinations in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Western Asia. Free stopovers in Paris in both directions. A minimum four-day advance reservation and ticketing is required.
-- Frequence Plus members can redeem 200,000 frequent flyer Miles for two round-trip Concorde tickets New York to Paris (half as many miles as usual) good for travel between July 1 and August 31, 1999.
The average Concorde supersonic flight time is 3 hours and 25 minutes versus a subsonic flight of 8 hours. The Air France Concorde operates with a crew of 3 pilots, one purser and 5 flight attendants. The aircraft's cruise speed is Mach 2.02 or 1,350 miles per hour at an altitude of 60,000 feet.
Complementary travel beyond the Charles de Gaulle hub in Paris includes Brest, Biarritz, Bordeaux, Clermont-Ferrand, Lyon, Montpellier, Marseille, Nice, Nantes, Pau, Strasbourg, Toulouse and more than a dozen other cities in France. Free travel is also included to 26 other countries in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Western Asia depending on the specific offer.
Also continuing this summer is the Air France special half-price Concorde Companion Fare. Buy a discounted round-trip Concorde fare at $10,100 and take a companion along for $5,050 round-trip. Free stopovers in Paris in both directions along with free continuing flights to 64 destinations in 18 countries. A minimum four-day advance reservation and ticketing is required.
Travel must originate in the U.S. Taxes and government-imposed fees are additional. Eastbound airport hotel accommodations available at JFK for Concorde passengers originating outside New York and arriving on a connecting flight the night before. Fares must be point to point for all domestic connecting service to JFK, no add-ons permitted. Other restrictions may apply. Subject to limited availability, government approval and change or withdrawal without notice. Offers cannot be combined with any other promotions.
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Tickets can be purchased through your travel agent or Air France Reservations (800-237-2747).
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Sale at Sabena
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If the Concorde is a little rich for your blood, Sabena Airlines is running a special sale on summer air fares from Boston, New York, Newark and Chicago to Brussels. Fares are valid for travel between now and August 31, 1999, but the purchase deadline is May 31.
The Boston, New York and Newark round-trip economy sale air fare to Brussels is priced at $627 for travel Mondays through Thursdays. The Chicago-Brussels round-trip sale fare is $687. Fares are $50 higher if travel is on Fridays through Sundays.
These non-refundable fares require ticketing and payment within 72 hours of reservations booking. Minimum stay is one Saturday night and maximum stay is 30 days. Children can fly on the special fares for 75 percent of the price and infants fly for 10 percent.
Fares do not include departure taxes and fees of approximately $55. These fares earn mileage on frequent flyer plans and reservations changes are possible prior to departure for a fee of $150 per flight.
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Reservations can be made through travel agents or Sabena at 1-800-955-2000.
<< I N D U S T R Y N E W S >>
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DOJ Goes After American for Anticompetitive Activity
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The U.S. Department of Justice has formally charged American Airlines with anticompetitive tactics at its Dallas-Fort Worth hub.
Specifically, the DOJ alleges that American lowered fares and increased capacity on routes to and from DFW served by competing low-cost carriers, in a conscious attempt to drive those carriers from the market. After successfully defending its turf, the DOJ claims, American restored fares to their original levels. Because American controls 70% of DFW traffic, it is able keep prices high.
The practice of reducing fares temporarily to artificially low levels in order to maintain a monopoly in the long run is known as predatory pricing. Victims of American's predatory practices include Vanguard, Sun Jet and Western Pacific. And, of course, the traveling public, which was denied the opportunity to travel on the lower fares offered by American's would-be competitors.
The DOJ is also investigating similar practices by other airlines.
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Consumer Reports Rates the Airlines
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The June issue of Consumer Reports confirms it: airline customers are a generally dissatisfied lot.
The report scores 18 U.S. carriers, giving high marks to Midwest Express, and low marks to the three majors: American, Delta and United. Overall, though, consumer satisfaction levels are low.
One interesting statistic: according to CR's research, airline spending on inflight meals decreased 26% between 1992 and 1998.
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Air France Severs Ties with Korean Air
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Following in the footsteps of Delta and Air Canada, Air France has discontinued code-share flights with Korean Airlines.
Korean's safety record has been tarnished recently, leading to a government investigation and punitive measures. Additional accident investigations are underway, and could lead to further disciplinary steps.
The most recent KAL mishap was the crash of an MD-11 cargo plane in April, which killed nine and injured more than 30 in Shanghai.
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United's April Online Bookings: $30 Million
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United Connection bookings soared in April, with a record-breaking $30 million in online travel sales.
The figures continued a strong performance streak that saw United Airlines' online travel planning product log an industry-leading $200 million in sales in 1998, including flights with United as well as over 500 other carriers.
The increase reflects rising awareness of the United Connection service, which is accessed through United's Web site, as well as the growing response of air travelers to the convenience of do-it-yourself online booking.
"The Internet has opened up a whole new era of choice and convenience for air travelers, and the dynamic growth in our online bookings shows that consumers welcome the do-it-yourself approach to buying air travel," said Mark Koehler, Director of Electronic Distribution for United Airlines. "We believe this segment of the business will become an increasingly important factor as consumers become more comfortable with electronic commerce and more aware of the
Internet booking and buying option."
Introduced in 1995, the United Connection service enables travelers to use the Internet to book travel with over 500 airlines, 45 car rental companies and 30,000 hotels around the world. The program can be used to check airline schedules, shop for the lowest fares, purchase tickets, select seats, and research and reserve hotel rooms and rental cars directly from the user's desktop.
Discounted "E-Fares" for last-minute weekend travel to selected domestic and international destinations are available exclusively through the United Connection service, as are seasonal specials such as Valentine's Day and Cherry Blossom fares.
The airline also offers up to 1,000 bonus miles per round trip to Mileage Plus(r) members who purchase travel through United Connection. United's frequent flyers also have the ability to track their account activity and request flight upgrades at the United Web site.
>> More <<
United Connection
<< R E A D E R R A N T S & R A V E S >>
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The Invisible Passenger in Window Seat 48A
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By Angela Collins
An "un-smile" is my well-understood greeting as I call the flight attendant with desperate eyes. She glances over me having invented her own definition of flight-non-attendant. Death Valley sounds refreshing to my arid throat as thirst culminates in my glands. Oh what I wouldn't do for a small drop of that glorious element H20 right about now. I watch, like a four year old watches the ice cream man drive past when there is no dollar in her pocket, the more gracious and attentive attendants cater to the needs of the passengers in every row but my own.
Oh wait, here she comes again. This time I build up my extroverted qualities and shout out firmly, "excuse me." Everyone looks except her. Her, being my lovely attendant who conveniently quickens her pace and raises her nose to pretend that there was never a need for her qualified service. I press the armchair button and glare at the meager glow of a weak lightbulb incased in a plastic box with a stick figure of a helpful waiter. Only a 50k would resemble my cry for service at this moment in time. Ten minutes later my flight attendant replies, "yes." "Water please," I beg. She looks away without a response and follows her elevated nose back to her hiding place behind the curtain. Minutes endlessly pass while I feel my throat glue together, cutting off the flow of oxygen and forming a serious condition of dehydration.
The next day (o.k. so we passed over the international date line) she, (you remember, the cooperative flight attendant), arrives with a puny white foamed cup of water only found nowadays in corporations cutting below the line expenses in order to provide their over-paid-well-to-do above the line executives larger paychecks each month. No, I am not testy, just thirsty.
As the twenty hour red eye flight continues the non-attendant builds her skills as a professional ballerina. She pirouettes around my one seat to pleasantly ignore me with grace. Another hour passes with no service. My five ounces of water has digested and now I need to visit the restroom. I make my way to the cubical bathroom and contemplate what harm it would really do to drink the faucet water. I try to pretend that I do not understand English as I reread the two warning signs in red: THIS IS NOT DRINKING WATER; DO NOT DRINK! I back down from my rebellious intention and return to my seat. My seat, being the only seat without a well-balanced meal and a refreshing cup of gingerale.
In misery, I give up and decide that sleep attends me much better.
Until next week...
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