This Week's Travel Industry Newsbites

Following hard on the heels of last week's upbeat news from Delta, United and US Airways -- all of which made significant strides toward shoring up their long-term survival prospects -- Hawaiian Airlines emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on June 2.

Since declaring bankruptcy in Mar. 2003, Hawaiian has quietly, and successfully, renegotiated labor contracts and restructured its plane leases.

Hawaiian is the nation's 12th largest airline, with 135 daily flights and 3,339 employees.

At Northwest, meanwhile, labor-management relations continue to disintegrate.

As it did with mechanics in anticipation of a strike by the Airline Mechanics Fraternal Association, Northwest has begun hiring flight attendants in case the union representing Northwest's flight attendants, the Professional Flight Attendants Association, calls for a walk-out.

As other airlines either have done or are in the process of doing, Northwest is trying to wrest salary and benefits concessions from it various labor groups. Planning for the worst-case scenario, as Northwest is doing by preemptively hiring replacements, can only further demoralize a workforce that already faces a bleak future.

FrequentFlier Forum Topics

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

In the "Airline Programs" Forum, iwanttofly poses a back-to-basics question: "Dead simple, can I use my FF miles to buy award flights for a friend and his Mrs."

In the "Rental Car Programs" Forum, Evan shares a link to a Thrifty sweepstakes. Every day through July 31, someone will a year's worth of free gas.

In the "Miscellaneous Travel Topics" Forum, ARZ airs a long and very specific rant on Continental's transcon service. The conclusion minces no words: "[T]his is an airline either in trouble or not worth flying anymore due to declining value for fare."

And much more. Questions, answers? Post them to the Forum!

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Redeem Alaska Miles for Cruise Discounts

Between June 3 and June 17, Mileage Plan members can redeem miles to receive a discount on Glacier Discovery Alaska cruises with Holland America. Discount can be applied toward any of 20 sailings between July and Sept.

Discounted rates are offered for 20,000 miles per person, 40,000 miles per cabin.

To use miles for the discount, bookings must be made by phone: 1-800-820-2816.

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Fairmont Stays Earn Double AAdvantage Miles

From June 1 to Sept. 5, AAdvantage members will earn double miles on package stays at participating Fairmont Hotels & Resorts.

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Double American, Delta Miles at Viator.com

Through June 30, members of the programs of American and Delta will earn double miles -- 2 miles for every $1 spent -- on purchases of $300 or more for tours, transfers, theatre tickets, shows and theme parks at Viator.com.

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America West Adds Budget to Partner Roster

Effective immediately, members of America West's FlightFund can earn miles for qualifying rentals at Budget Rent A Car.

Normal earning rate is 50 miles per rental day. But to promote the tie-up, members will earn triple miles through July 1. Cite Budget Corporate Discount (BCD) number Y145001 to receive the bonus.

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Amtrak Bonuses for Partner Transactions

Through June 30, Amtrak is offering Guest Rewards members bonus points for transactions with program partners.

Members earn 200 points when registering for the promotion, 2,400 points for using 3 partners, and an additional 2,400 bonus points for charging $3,000 or more on the Amtrak Guest Rewards MasterCard.

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Bonus for Delta SkyMiles Business Credit Card Extended

Originally scheduled to expire on May 31, American Express has extended until Aug. 31 the special offer for the Gold Delta SkyMiles Business credit card: New cardholders earn a 15,000-mile bonus the first time they use the card -- a 5,000-mile increase over the normal 10,000-mile first-use bonus.

The annual fee is waived for the first year.

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Double Delta Miles for Song Flights

Through Sept. 30, SkyMiles members will earn 10,000 bonus miles when flying roundtrip on new Song transcon flights between New York (JFK) and Los Angeles, San Francisco or Seattle when tickets are purchased at flysong.com. (See "Steals & Deals" below for introductory fares.)

Registration is required. Bonus may only be earned once per member.

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More SkyMiles-for-Dining

Through July 15, SkyMiles members without a SkyMiles Dining and Hotels profile can earn up to 2,000 bonus miles; members with an existing profile can earn up to 1,500 bonus miles.

To earn 2,000 bonus miles, SkyMiles must create an online profile at http://skymiles.everydaymiles.com and register for the offer. Once registered, they can earn 500 bonus miles, in addition to the regular miles earned, for each qualified dining visit through July 15, up to 4 qualifying dining visits, in which they spend $25 or more at participating restaurants.

SkyMiles members with an existing Dining and Hotels online profile can earn 1,500 bonus miles by first registering at http://skymiles.everydaymiles.com/1500bonus, and then completing 4 visits and spending $25 or more at participating restaurants.

NW Bonus for Paris Flights (Detroit Residents Only)

WorldPerks members who live in Detroit will earn 10,000 bonus miles for Detroit-Paris roundtrips in business class (J/C/Z) or 5,000 in coach (Y/B/M/H/Q/V/L/T/K) between June 13 and Aug. 31.

Registration is required prior to travel and no later than Aug. 17.

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Swiss Will Join Star Alliance

The Star Alliance airlines have voted to include Swiss International in the group. When the tie-up is in place, Swiss will be an earning and redemption partner in the frequent flyer programs of every Star carrier.

With the addition of Swiss and South African Airways over the next 12 months, Star will comprise 18 airlines operating 16,000 flights per day to 846 destinations in 151 countries.

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From US Air: Fast Track to Elite + Bonus Miles

Dividend Miles members who are residents of Ohio or Georgia will earn Silver Preferred elite status and 1,500 bonus miles for every US Airways or US Airways Express flight to and from any of 9 airports in Ohio or Georgia between May 11 and July 31. Elite status will remain in effect through Feb. 28, 2006.

Registration is required.

(This offer, which targets cities served by Delta, is apparently a counterpunch to a Delta fast track offer targeting travelers in US Airways markets, including Charlotte, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.)

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Deal Alert from SmarterTravel.com

1) Cross-country Sale Fares on Song from $99 Each Way

Cross-country fares are on sale with Song's current offer. Prices start at $99 1-way, and are the lowest available for most routes.

Travel is valid through Aug. 26. Book tickets at least 7 days in advance, and by June 11. Travel between Los Angeles and New York is valid beginning on June 12. Travel between New York and San Francisco or Seattle is valid beginning on July 4. (See "Miles & Points" for bonus SkyMiles offered for these flights.)

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2) London Sale Fares from $292

1-800-Fly-Europe is offering late summer and fall London fares that start at $292 roundtrip. Departures are available from most major U.S. cities.

Departures are valid midweek from Sept. 1 through Oct. 31. Book tickets by Aug. 31. Fares require a Saturday-night stay, and the maximum stay is 180 days.

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Win a Trip for 2 to Beverly Hills

Enter Conde Nast Traveler's Movie Survey Sweepstakes by June 28 for a chance to win a trip for 2 to Beverly Hills, including a 4 nights at the Raffles L'Ermitage hotel, 2 1-hour spa treatments, roundtrip air, and hotel transfers.

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[Visit http://frequentflier.com/sweeps.htm for more travel sweepstakes.]

Feedback from the Frontlines of Travel

"I'm becoming more frustrated with attempts to book using FF Miles.

"FF miles are based on round trip travel. Case in point... SFO to Miami-no seat problem on flight #1 going-for a return flight though, no miles seats on Miami to SFO on flight #2. So I called up the same flight #2 going from Miami to SFO and FF seats were available. Guess what!-no FF seats available to get back to Miami from SFO were available. I tried every date for a four week period. This was on United and American." [Bruce - Livermore, CA]

"Just want you to know, milepoint.com removed US Airways from its list without notifying anyone & US Airways didn't either. It is getting harder & harder to redeem hard earned miles. Neither one of them even responded to my emails!" [Joe & Cindy]

"There are two things I'd like to raise.

"1) The gentleman who had difficulties getting his frequent flyer miles due to his cancer should find out where their headquarters are and CALL ( not write) and ask for the president's office and you will speak with someone in that office and watch what happens. I've done that numerous times with Sears when I haven't been satisfied and I just did it with Chase Visa and got instant results when customer service just blew me off.

"2) Is it possible to buy a gold card for VS [Richard Branson's airline, whose name triggers blocking filters in many e-mail browsers]? Also they used to accept American Express Platinum card to get into the club, what are the chances that you might have some influence to talk to the VS powers that be and try to get that reinstated? We fly with VS 3-5 times a year and although we fly coach, we are frequent fliers over the past 11 years and we do have a platinum card from American Express. Anything you could do to help would be greatly appreciated." [Tania M.]

Until next week...