U P F R O N T
This Week's Travel Newsbites
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Firstly, Song's "Be Nice" promotion cries out for comment.
Briefly, Song is giving flight attendants and airport agents 5,000 free-ticket vouchers with instructions to bestow them during the month of June upon passengers who manage to distinguish themselves by acts of sheer niceness.
An airline presuming to reward customers for being civil? Really, this is an insult to the traveling public and a perversion of the truth.
Passengers are rude because they're subjected to the manifold indignities inflicted upon them by the airlines -- cramped seating, oversold flights, irrational ticket pricing, mishandled delays, indifferent customer service, food barely fit for consumption... I could go on.
This offer is a misguided attempt to deflect attention from the real cause of the problem -- the crummy travel experience -- which is at the root of travelers' rudeness.
Delta, Song's parent company, has done as much to exasperate flyers as any airline, and more than most. Perhaps the search for politeness should begin closer to home.
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Members of Air Canada's Aeroplan program -- and indeed, members of the Canadian traveling public generally -- can breathe a little easier now that Canada's largest airline has narrowly averted what might have been its final crisis.
Late last week, the company wrested concessions required by 2 key financial backers from the Canadian Auto Workers union. The contract revisions will save Air Canada $32.8 million, part of $145.8 million in savings secured company wide. This latest round of cost-cutting follows last year's cuts totaling $802 million.
With the new labor agreements in place, sorely needed financing should be forthcoming, giving Air Canada more time to get back on a path to profitability... or at least to survival.
<< O N S I T E >>
FrequentFlier Forum Topics
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Phil, a OnePass elite member, can't seem to reduce his 500K-mile balance: "When I want to redeem them, it seems impossible." Notwithstanding a perfect 25-year credit history, Bank One cancelled George's Mileage Plus Visa card. Travelynn has details of a Delta SkyMiles Gold credit card offer featuring 1 year fee-free, with 10K bonus miles. Deadline to sign up is May 30. And much more...
Do you have questions, answers? Post them to the Forum!
> More - http://frequentflier.com/forum/index.cgi
<< M I L E S & P O I N T S >>
Triple AAdvantage Miles for Budget Rentals
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Budget has extended its triple-mile offer for AAdvantage members through Aug. 31.
The offer: 150 AAdvantage miles per day for renting a Midsize vehicle (Ford Mustang Coupe or similar) or higher at participating Budget airport locations in the U.S., Latin America and the Caribbean.
To receive the bonus, mention Budget Customer Discount (BCD) U031700 at the time of booking.
> More - http://www.budget.com/aatriplemiles
From Best Western: $20 Back
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Through June 20, members of Best Western's Gold Crown Club International program who stay at 2 different Best Western properties in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Texas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Kansas, North Dakota, Iowa, Illinois, Arkansas and Louisiana will receive a Best Western Travel Card worth $20. Cards may be used to offset charges at any Best Western hotel.
Register online at http://www.bestwesterntravel.com, or call 1-800-259-8741 and refer to code 2X.
Fairmont Hotels Doubles the Miles
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From June 1 until Sept. 6, members of the programs of Air Canada, Alaska Air and American will earn double miles at participating Fairmont hotels when purchasing Fairmont packages.
> More (Air Canada) - http://fairmont.com/aeroplan
> More (Alaska) - http://fairmont.com/alaska
> More (American) - http://fairmont.com/aadvantage
Hyatt Free Nights, Faster
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Between June 1 and Sept. 30, Hyatt Gold Passport members will earn 1 free night for every 2 qualifying stays at participating Hyatts worldwide. Stays must be charged to a MasterCard and be at "eligible rates" (most non-Internet rates qualify). Stays at Hawthorn Suites do NOT apply toward Faster Free Nights.
Free nights may be taken between June 15 and Nov. 30.
Registration is required.
> More - http://www.goldpassport.com/ffn6/english/default.asp
Thrifty Rolls Out Rewards Program
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Beginning on Mar. 5, Thrifty Car augmented its existing Blue Chip Express Rental Program with Blue Chip Rewards, which awards members with credits redeemable for free rental days. Every rental day earns 1 credit, and a free day is offered for 16 credits. Members have the option of earning airline miles in lieu of credits.
Credits earned are valid for 12 months from the date of issue, "provided the Program is still in existence."
Through Sept. 30, members earn double credits when booking on Thrifty.com.
> More - http://thrifty.com/
United Brings Bonus Miles to Washington
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Between June 15 and Sept. 30, Mileage Plus members will earn 2,500 bonus miles for United, United Express or Ted roundtrips from/to Dulles, Reagan-National or Baltimore/Washington airports, up to a maximum of 15,000 miles for six trips.
The bonus mile offer is combinable with United's previously announced "Go Around the World" free-ticket promotion.
To register for the bonus mile offer, visit www.united.com/offer/mpda84 or call 1-800-447-6772 code 790.
Triple United Miles at Park Hyatt Hotels
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Mileage Plus members will earn triple miles for stays at participating Park Hyatt Hotels between May 15 and Aug. 15.
Participating hotel locations: Carmel (CA), Toronto, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Beaver Creek (CO), Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia.
For reservations, visit parkhyatt.com or call 1-800-233-1234 and request offer code UATRPL.
US Air Bonus for Osaka Flights
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Dividend Miles members can earn up to 50,000 bonus miles for flying roundtrip between Chicago and Osaka on United's new flights 877 or 878 from June 10 through Sept. 30.
For first or business class fares (F, A, C, or D fare classes), earn 15,000 bonus miles for the first roundtrip, another 15,000 for the second, and an extra 20,000 for the third, for a total of 50,000 bonus miles.
For full coach fares (Z, Y, B, M. H fare classes), earn 7,500 bonus miles for the first roundtrip, another 7,500 for the second, and an extra 10,000 for the third, for a total of 25,000 bonus miles.
And for selected discounted coach fares (Q, V, W, S, T, L fares), earn 5,000 bonus miles for the first roundtrip, another 5,000 for the second, and an extra 7,500 for the third, for a total of 17,500 bonus miles.
Registration is required.
(Note - The same bonus is available to Mileage Plus members.)
> More - http://www.usairways.com/dividendmiles/8857.htm
<< 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...
Worldwide Sale on United from $98
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United is offering sale fares from Boston, Raleigh, and Washington, D.C., to a variety of worldwide destinations including cities in the U.S., Caribbean, Europe, and Asia. Travel dates vary by destination.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Travel must be booked by Thursday, May 27.
On most international routes, book at least 7 days in advance. Most domestic fares do not require an advance purchase.
> More - http://www.smarterliving.com/air/deal.php?id=6659
Bermuda Sale Fares on US Airways from $245
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US Airways has extended its Bermuda sale with prices from $245 roundtrip. Departures are valid through July 26.
Book tickets at least 7 days in advance, and by Saturday, June 26.
> More - http://www.smarterliving.com/air/deal.php?id=6432
<< 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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"I had a TWA Aviators Frequent Flyer Account with the last activity in June of 2000. When TWA went under I thought the miles in this account (63,000 miles) were lost. Apparently they were honored by American for at least some accounts. I just tried to call American and they told me that they have no way to access the old TWA account and that the miles are no longer available. Since I never received any notification I wanted to know if this is correct."
- James
[Editor's Note - American made a good-faith effort to inform Aviators members of the procedure for transferring their miles to AAdvantage, and the deadline for doing so. And well beyond the official cut-off date, they continued honoring transfer requests. Unfortunately for the few who fell between the cracks, like James, both the published and internal deadlines have come and gone.]
If you have a rant or a rave, e-mail us at rants@frequentflier.com (mailto:rants@frequentflier.com).
<< S W E E P S & F R E E B I E S >>
Win a Vacation from Smarter Living/Site59
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Enter the Smarter Living/Site59 Sweepstakes to win 1 of 2 $1,000 last-minute vacation packages from Site59.
All entries must be received by Aug. 10.
> More - http://www.smarterliving.com/sweepstakes/index.php?id=2
[Visit http://frequentflier.com/sweeps.htm for more travel sweepstakes.]
Until next week...
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