U P F R O N T

The Crier Turns 200
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Did you happen to notice the issue number on the masthead of this week's Crier? This is Issue #200. That means we've been publishing weekly for almost 4 years, an eternity by Internet standards.

In that time, we've seen the Internet inflate and implode; we've seen the airlines swing from the best of times to the worst; and we've marked the 20th anniversary of frequent flyer programs.

Thanks for making the Crier a part of your life, and for making it possible for us to continue publishing through these tumultuous times.

Newsbites from the (Un)Friendly Skies
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Predictably, the restructuring plan proposed by US Airways' management -- which depends on labor concessions for 2/3's of its return-to-profitability plan -- was panned by the airline's pilot and flight attendant groups. An inauspicious first step down the turnaround road. (See "Rants & Raves" below for another perspective on this.)

Separately, US Airways has been in code-share talks with Continental. While US Airways stressed that Continental is just 1 of several potential partners, there is a particularly good fit between the 2 carriers' route networks. And current US Airways David Siegel spent 7 years as a Continental exec.

Missouri-based Vanguard's application for a government loan guarantee has been denied by the Air Transportation Safety Board. According to the Board, Vanguard's application "... did not provide a reasonable assurance that Vanguard will be able to repay the loan, one of the factors the Board is required to consider under OMB regulations."

And Aer Lingus, facing a pilot walkout later in the week, is reported to be seriously considering shutting down its operations altogether, possibly this Friday.

O N S I T E

New on the FrequentFlier Forum
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Brenda just used her Delta SkyMiles Amex card to buy a new car. An encouraging report from Brian: "I've redeemed miles for travel twice in the past 30 days, and had little to no problem finding available seats (America West and United)." Zoherest has uncovered an interesting Star Alliance policy: No elite status matching among Star partner airlines. 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

Hyatt Extends "Faster Free Nights" Offer
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Hyatt's Free Nights offer has been extended from its original July 31 end date to Sept. 2, 2002.

The offer: earn 1 free night after every 2 stays when paying with the American Express card. Free nights can be redeemed through Oct. 31, 2002. These awards are in addition to the Gold Passport points members normally earn for Hyatt stays.

Register for the promotion here.

Choice Stays Earn Double AAdvantage Miles
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AAdvantage members can earn double miles for qualifying Choice Hotels stays in the U.S. and the Caribbean between June 1 and Aug. 31, 2002.

With the bonus, members will earn 500 miles per stay at Clarion, Quality, Comfort Suites, Comfort Inn, Sleep Inn and MainStay Suites Hotel, and 300 miles per stay at Econo Lodge and Rodeway Inn Hotel.

> More...

American Offers 5,000-Mile Bonus for Transcon
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Matching a similar promotion from Delta, American is offering AAdvantage members a 5,000-mile bonus for selected transcon flights in first and business class (P, F, J fares only).

Earn 5,000 bonus miles for each American roundtrip between New York/JFK and Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Phoenix, Seattle or Portland or between Boston and Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego or Seattle between May 16 and Aug. 15, 2002.

Register using promo code TRNSC.

America West Flights Earn Double Miles
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America West FlightFund members can earn double miles on nonstop flights between Raleigh/Durham and Phoenix or Las Vegas between May 31 and Aug. 31, 2002.

No registration required.

Delta Expands Online Awards Booking
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SkyMiles members can now book Delta award flights between the U.S. and Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands at Delta's website.

Award levels between the continental U.S., Alaska, Hawaii and San Juan or the Virgin Islands are as follows:

> More...

Aeroplan Will Offer Credit Card for U.S. Members
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At an unspecified date later this summer, Air Canada will begin offering Aeroplan members in the U.S. a mileage-earning credit card. (Of Aeroplan's 6 million members, 400,000 live in the U.S.)

The card will reward users with the industry-standard 1 mile for every $1 charged. Details on annual fees, APR and launch promotions were not available at press time.

From Noble Hotels, a Noble Rewards Program
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Noble House Hotels and Resorts is launching its own rewards program, Noble Rewards.

The program will allow members to earn American and Delta miles for stays at any one of 12 Noble House properties in the U.S.

[As we go to press, there was still no Noble Rewards info on the hotel's website. If you're interested, check back later in the week.]

> More...

Shangri-La Stays Earn Double Sky Pearl Miles
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Members of China Southern Airlines' Sky Pearl Club can earn double miles for qualifying-rate stays at Shangri-La and Traders hotels between June 1 and Aug. 31, 2002.

During the same period, receive savings up to 40% at all Shangri-La and Traders hotels as part of the new "Rate Break" promotion.

> 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 and fall savings to the Caribbean from $298 R/T
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American Airlines has announced a fare sale from cities throughout the U.S. to destinations in the Caribbean, with travel available through Nov. Departure is valid between June 12 and Nov. 11, and return travel must be completed by Nov. 14.

> More...

Vanguard offers summer and fall fares from $118 R/T
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Vanguard Airlines has released savings on summer and fall travel, featuring cities in the central U.S. Travel is valid through Dec. 19 and does not require an advance purchase. Book tickets by Tuesday, June 18.

> More...

S W E E P S & F R E E B I E S

Win Miles, Vacation in Noble House Sweeps
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Register online to enter Noble House Hotels and Resorts' Summer Spectacular Sweepstakes to win 250,000 AAdvantage or SkyMiles miles and a 3-night weekend vacation for 2 at any Noble House hotel.

Sweepstakes period: June 1 through Sept. 29, 2002.

> More...

[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

US Airways' Future
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"I was glad to see your opinion about the survival of US Airways."

"I've worked for US Airways for 19 years as a passenger service agent. I'm also President of the Communications Workers of America Local 2000, representing 600 passenger service agents in Maryland, D.C., and Virginia.

"I must take exception to your remark about labor's "intransigent greed." The passenger service agents didn't have a raise from 1989 to 1999. We lost our defined benefit pension plan in 1991 (no, there was no grandfather clause) and converted to a defined contribution plan. We lost our sick time. All in all the CWA figures that during the 90's each passenger service agent lost $22,000...at least. Not to mention all the times we have been downsized, rightsized, and tenderized. All of this happened to this group because it was not unionized.

"Since we don't teach labor history in our schools, I used to naively think that labor unions had outlived their usefulness. It took the CWA 4 years, 3 votes, and millions of dollars to counteract the anti-union drive led by the Company. We finally got out 1st contract in December of 1999. It is the best thing that could have happened to this group.

"The unionization of the group has not decreased the productivity of this group. We are an extremely valuable group of workers...our productivity is 40% higher (based on passenger boardings to number of workers) than our non-unionized brothers and sisters at Delta, American, and Continental. In fact, our productivity is the highest in the industry.

"I would agree that management should be throttled for its incompetence. Unions are not always perfect or right, either. However, any financially bad union contract has been signed by an irresponsible management.

"The one thing I can say is that the 35,000 people that make US Airways happen everyday,(remember an additional 11,000 have been furloughed) will do all that is necessary to make sure US Airways survives.

"Please tell your constituents that their US Airways frequent flier miles are safe with us. We will survive and endure."

- Pamela Terry/CWA Local 2000

S I T E 2 S E E

In Any Language, Just Say 'G-O-A-L'
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I've never been a big soccer fan. But I've traveled through Asia, Europe and Latin America enough to know that the sport is huge outside the U.S. It's no exaggeration to say that most of the world has Footballitis.

If you're a fan, or a fan-wannabe, you can follow the 2002 FIFA World Cup, being played in Japan and Korea, at ESPN's Soccernet site, link below.

(Ok, I'm embarrassed. I get the 'World Cup' part. But what's FIFA? I'm guessing that there are a billion-plus soccer fans worldwide who can decode that acronym. But despite my sincere desire to be in the know as well, and notwithstanding 30 minutes spent on the World Cup site -- which includes no end of soccer minutiae -- I remain clueless. Anybody know?)

> More...

Until next week...