U P F R O N T

The Crier Turns 150
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Notice the issue number on this week's masthead: 150.

Through all the Internet's ups and downs over the past 3 years, and particularly during the last 15 months, we've kept our eye on the ball and continued bringing our readers the latest news and advice from the frequent-flyer front. And we pledge to do the same for another 150 issues.

Many thanks for your support and feedback.

O N S I T E

FrequentFlier Forum Topics
==========================

As always, there's plenty of activity on the Forum.

TomBrew reports that his double Delta miles posted. Ronald provides a link to a MilePoint offer: 200 NW miles plus a free magazine subscription for new sign-ups. Kel is looking for an enrollment bonus for joining the Wyndham program. 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

Continental Enhances OnePass Program
====================================================

Effective June 1, 2001, a number of OnePass policies and procedures have been changed (and all for the better).

> Retroactive credit on new OnePass accounts
OnePass now allows new members to receive credit for Continental flight activity up to 6 months prior to enrollment date, for a $25 fee. You must provide your ticket receipt and boarding pass to the OnePass Service Center to receive the retroactive credit.

> More miles available for purchase
The maximum number of miles available for purchase through the OnePass Mileage Purchase Option has been increased from 20% to 25% of the total needed for an award.

> One-way upgrade certificates
When members use their OnePass miles to upgrade, they'll be issued 2 1-way certificates instead of a single roundtrip certificate. That means if an upgrade is available on only 1 segment, you may use the remaining certificate toward a future flight.

> Waived fees for Platinum Elites
Express delivery fees for both paper reward tickets and reward certificates are now waived for Platinum Elites and the redeposit fee for unused reward tickets no longer applies.

Other changes include express delivery of rewards with less advance notice, automated upgrading for Elite members, and faster posting of missing mileage.

Redeem Fewer Miles for Cathay Pacific Awards
===========================

Through Oct. 31, 2001, AAdvantage members can claim reduced economy class AAdvantage PlanAAhead awards on Cathay Pacific for travel from Sep. 1 through Dec. 15, 2001. Normal and discounted mileage requirements are as follows:

                                     Miles Required
  From North America to:         Normal         On Sale
  =====================================================
  Hong Kong                      60,000          40,000

  Bangkok, Cebu, Denpasar,       70,000          45,000
  Fukuoka, Jakarta, Kuala
  Lumpur, Manila, Nagoya,
  Osaka, Penang, Seoul,
  Singapore, Surabaya,
  Taipei, or Tokyo via
  Hong Kong.

  Adelaide, Auckland,            75,000         55,000
  Bahrain, Brisbane, Cairns,
  Colombo, Delhi, Dubai, 
  Istanbul, Johannesburg,
  Karachi, Melbourne, 
  Mumbai, Perth or
  Sydney via Hong Kong

> More...

United Flights Earn 500-Mile Bonus
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Mileage Plus members can earn 500 bonus miles for qualifying roundtrips between Denver and Missoula or between Seattle and Victoria, B.C. Offer is valid for travel between June 7 and Sep. 30, 2001, and only for residents of the U.S. and Canada with tickets purchased in these locations.

Register by Sep. 30, 2001, online or at 1-800-447-6772, using offer code 190.

Kellogg's Doubles Miles-for-Breakfast Offer
================================================

To earn double AAdvantage miles for breakfast, look for pink ribbons on boxes of Kellogg's Special K or Smart Start cereals.

Beginning June 1, more than 15 million boxes of these Kellogg's cereals feature special certificates which allow purchasers to earn 1,000 AAdvantage miles if they contribute to the Komen Race for the Cure Series of 5K runs and fitness walks. Here's how it works:

- Collect 5 pink 100-mile Kellogg's AAdvantage Award Certificates from specially marked boxes of Kellogg's Special K or Kellogg's Smart Start cereals.

- Mail a minimum $10 donation for breast cancer research and community outreach programs to Komen Race for the Cure with 5 completed certificates.

- Earn 500 AAdvantage miles, plus an extra 500-mile bonus for the donation.

WorldPerks Bonus for Memphis-Ft. Lauderdale Flights
===================================

Earn 2,000 WorldPerks bonus miles by flying roundtrip on Northwest's new service between Memphis and Fort Lauderdale, before July 31, 2001.

To be eligible, you must reside in the U.S., Mexico or Canada, and register prior to travel, but no later than June 30, 2001, by calling 1-888-955-7878 and entering registration number 4444* or visiting http://www.nwa.com/offers/memfll.

Continental, Transbrasil Link Frequent Flyer Programs
==================================

Continental and Transbrasil have announced a "broad strategic marketing alliance," which will include code share flights and reciprocal frequent flyer program participation, when the necessary government approvals have been obtained.

Hilton Adds Turkish Air to HHonors
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Effective immediately, HHonors members can earn 500 miles in Turkish Airlines' Turkish Miles program for every qualifying stay at more than 2,100 participating hotels worldwide. The addition of Turkish Airlines brings the total number of HHonors' airline partners to more than 55.

OfficeMax Offers Extra ClickMiles
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Purchase from OfficeMax online by June 14 to earn up to 2 ClickMiles for every $1 spent, as follows--

- Spend $150 to $199 and receive 300 miles.
- Spend $200 to $249 and receive 400 miles.
- Spend $250 or more and receive 500 miles.

> More...

Online Rewards Watch: MyPoints
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MyPoints (http://mypoints.com) has been taken OFF the critical list.

This week, United announced it will purchase the struggling online rewards program for upwards of $100 million. MyPoints will continue to operate as an independent program, so its 16 million members can rest assured that their points will remain viable for the foreseeable future. The first manifestation of the new relationship: travel on United will be added to the MyPoints award chart.

S T E A L S & D E A L S

Deal Alert from SmarterLiving.com
=================================

This week's hot deals from SmarterLiving.com...

Domestic, Caribbean, and International Fare Sales
-------------------------------
American Airlines has announced fare sales on both domestic and international travel valid through Nov. 15. Delta has released a similar sale on Caribbean travel.

> More...

Sale on Summer and Fall Travel to/from the East and Southeast
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US Airways and Midway Airlines are offering fare sales on travel to/from the Eastern and Southeastern U.S. Purchase tickets by Monday, June 11.

> More...

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

Orbitz: Giving Away Planet Earth
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To celebrate its official launch, every hour of every day for 6 weeks, from June 4, 2001 through July 15, 2001, Orbitz will give away 1 roundtrip ticket to anywhere in the contiguous 48 states.

In addition, each week 1 entrant will win an all-expenses-paid trip for 2 to any international destination. Register at Orbitz (http://www.orbitz.com) to qualify.

"Free Tickets to Florida" from Delta
======================================

Delta Express will award 1 winner free Florida travel for a year (12 travel vouchers) on Delta, and a 3-day vacation package for 2 people to visit Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Enter between June 1 and 30, 2001, at http://www.eCityofTravel.com/contents_ns.html.

I N D U S T R Y N E W S B I T E S

Orbitz -- the Low Fare Leader?
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"We're the cheapest." "We're the fastest." "We're the best."

This week's official launch of Orbitz, the online travel agency jointly owned by the 5 largest U.S. airlines, has triggered an outpouring of self-promotion by Orbitz's competitors, including Hotwire, Cheap Tickets, Travelocity and Expedia.

Orbitz commissioned a study by Arthur Andersen, proving that its prices are lower than its competitors'. But WebTravelNews reports that a study by investment bank Pacific Crest determined that Travelocity's prices were lowest overall, and Orbitz's the highest. Cheap Tickets, meanwhile, is trumpeting its Bizrate.com ratings, which are better than Travelocity or Expedia's. And Hotwire cites results of a KPMG study which shows its prices beating Travelocity's 81% of the time and Expedia's 77% of the time.

While the potential for anti-competitive behavior remains a concern in the long term, in the short term the appearance of the Orbitz would-be-juggernaut seems to be fueling the competitive fires, and should be a boon to cost-conscious travel consumers through the summer.

Notwithstanding the claims and counterclaims, it seems fair at this point to say, definitively: There's no single solution to the problem of getting the best price on your next airline ticket. Comparison shopping is still required.

Until next week...