Issue #45 -- June 10, 1999
** CONTENTS **
FrequentFlier.com in the News ~ Hertz + IBM Offer ~ Delta Shuttle Awards for Fewer Miles ~ Starwood Program Grows by One Million ~ URL for "USA Today" FFP Article ~ United Discounts LAX ~ US Airways Discounts LAX ~ America West Fare Sale ~ Restrictions on Pet Travel During Summer ~ Traveling with Children
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FrequentFlier.com in the News
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FrequentFlier.com (the parent website of this newsletter) made a couple of recent appearances in the mainstream media worth mentioning.
First, FrequentFlier.com was recommended as a resource in "Time" magazine's Asia edition (online here). The article, "Miles to Go..." by Shirley Brady, covers familiar how-to-choose-a-program ground, with an Asian perspective.
Second, in the July issue of "Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine," FrequentFlier.com gets another mention, together with an anecdote and some sage advice from yours truly. "Desperately Seeking Seats" (sound familiar?) by Melynda Wilcox and Lynn Woods includes some good info on the awards side of program participation, including a summary of the airlines' allocation of award seats:
% Seats Available
Airline for FFP Awards
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American 9.8%
United 7.7%
Northwest 6.9%
Continental 5.8%
TWA 5.7%
Delta 5.4%
Southwest 4.9%
US Airways 4.9%
(Source: "Kiplinger's")
Note the spread between the most and least generous airlines. The article is available online.
In addition to the above, the site was awarded the Surfer's Choice Award. The SCA is one of the most prestigious of the Internet awards, so we're honored to have it in the trophy case.
<< M I L E S >>
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Hertz + IBM = Bonus Miles
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Effective immediately, Hertz and International Business Machines, have teamed up on a promotion for Hertz customers to earn 5,000 bonus miles, 4 flight credits, 10,000 hotel points or 1,500 VIA Preference points when they rent from Hertz and purchase the new IBM ThinkPad 570, the IBM's latest ultraportable notebook. The promotion is valid through September 30, 1999.
When frequent travelers rent from Hertz and purchase the new IBM ThinkPad 570 during the designated time period, they will be eligible to receive 5,000 bonus miles from one of the following participating airlines: Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines, Midwest Express, TWA, United Airlines, US Airways or four flight credits from Southwest Airlines, 10,000 hotel points from Marriott Rewards and Priority Club Worldwide or 1,500 points from VIA Rail Canada.
To receive the bonus miles, flight credits, hotel points or VIA Preference points, members must submit proof of purchase for the IBM ThinkPad 570 (consisting of a copy of a cash register receipt, bill of sale or invoice marked "Paid"), a copy of the Hertz Rental Agreement, both dated between May 15, 1999 and September 30, 1999, along with the Official Mail-In Certificate. Members can obtain the Official Mail-In Certificate by visiting IBM's website or Hertz at the "Special Offers" section of hertz.com.
In addition, Hertz and IBM are offering a separate sweepstakes that gives consumers the chance to win one of twelve IBM ThinkPad 570s that will be given away each week in a random drawing for twelve consecutive weeks. The sweepstakes begins June 1, ends September 24, 1999 and is open to U.S. and Canadian residents. Non-winning entries from each week remain eligible for subsequent weekly drawings. No purchase or rental is necessary to enter.
The bonus offer is valid only in the U.S.A. and Canada. All frequent traveler program rules and conditions apply.
>> More <<
For more details about the Sweepstakes and the Official Rules visit the IBM website, the "Special Offers" section on Hertz' interactive website, or send a self-addressed stamped envelope by September 1, 1999 to: IBM ThinkPad 570 Sweepstakes Information, P.O. Box 3508, Westport, CT 06880.
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Delta Shuttle Awards for Fewer Miles
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To promote the Delta Shuttle's new service between Boston's Logan International Airport and Washington D.C.'s Ronald Reagan National Airport, Delta SkyMiles is reducing the miles necessary for round-trip award travel on the Delta Shuttle through Dec. 31, 1999.
The reduced-mileage award is valid across the entire Delta Shuttle system, which includes the new service between Boston and Washington, as well as Delta Shuttle flights between New York's La Guardia airport and either Boston or Washington D.C. SkyMiles members traveling on the Delta Shuttle can take advantage of a round-trip coach class award ticket for 15,000 miles versus the 25,000 miles normally required. All award travel must be completed by Dec. 31, 1999.
Additionally, SkyMiles members opting to purchase their Shuttle travel will receive double miles through Sept. 30, 1999.
The Shuttle routes between La Guardia and Boston or Washington offer travelers hourly departures, while the new Boston - Washington flights depart every other hour throughout the business day.
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Delta's website
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Starwood Program Has One Million New Members
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Four months after its debut, Starwood Preferred Guest has signed up one million new members. The industry's newest hotel loyalty program, Starwood Preferred Guest was also recently named as the best hotel loyalty program by "USA Today."
Starwood Preferred Guest is the new program for guests of Westin Hotels & Resorts, Sheraton Hotels & Resorts, St. Regis/Luxury Collection, W Hotels, Four Points Hotels by Sheraton and Caesars World. The program features a policy of no blackout dates and no capacity controls, allowing members to redeem stays when they want and where they want.
Starwood Preferred Guest's million new members join the nearly two million active members of the former Sheraton Club International and Westin Premier programs who were automatically enrolled in Starwood Preferred Guest when it replaced these programs.
In addition to no blackout dates and no capacity controls, Starwood Preferred Guest offers travelers instant awards, online redemption and 1-to-1 conversion of points to miles on 20 airlines.
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Preferred Guest online
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At China Southern: Miles for Promotional Fares
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China Southern Airlines, the largest airline in The People's Republic of China, announced that Sky Pearl Club Frequent Flyer mileage will be available on all international and regional flights, regardless of class bookings. (Regional flights are those to/from Macao and Hong Kong.)
Currently Sky Pearl Club members generate a minimum of 100% statute kilometers/mileage in The Sky Pearl Club on flights booked in Y class or above. Flights booked in T/K classes are awarded 70% of the actual mileage flown.
Under the new mileage structure, passengers in discounted classes of service aboard China Southern Airlines, flying internationally and on regional flights, will now be credited with 40% of the statute mileage flown. While this will seem paltry to those of us who expect 100% of actual flown miles for ALL economy fares, it's a step in the right direction for China Southern, which previously granted no miles whatsoever for promotional fares.
Ranked No. 1 in passengers carried in China for the past 20 years, China Southern Airlines connects more than 80 cities around the globe. Major business and vacation destinations served in China include Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Guilin and Kunming as well as international service, including Amsterdam, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Kuala Lumpur, Los Angeles, Osaka and Singapore.
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"USA Today" Article (continued)
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In last week's issue of The Crier, we mentioned the "USA Today" story which ranked the airline and hotel frequency programs. At the time, we were unable to provide a URL for the online version of the story. Thanks to Jill for digging deeper than we did and providing the following a hot link to the article in question.
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United Discounts LAX Flights
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Los Angeles is on "e-sale" at United Airlines.
United announced today that it will offer discounted "E-Fares" for most domestic and international round trip flights to and from its Los Angeles International Airport hub between June 24 and September 30, 1999. Tickets must be purchased by this Sunday, June 13. The discounted fares are available exclusively on the United website via the "E-Fare Specials" tab.
Sale prices apply to non-stop round trip flights in 37 domestic and international markets. Sample fares include Los Angeles-Las Vegas ($58), Los Angeles-Denver ($250), and Los Angeles-Boston, Miami or Orlando ($338). Travel can originate either in Los Angeles or in the other city on the itinerary.
Tickets require a 14-day advance purchase and a Saturday night stay, with a maximum stay of 30 days. Travel must be completed by September 30, 1999. Seats are limited and may not be available on all flights or dates. Tickets are nonrefundable, and payment must be made by credit card at the time reservations are made. Fares displayed do not include Passenger Facilities Charges of up to $12, which may be imposed depending on itinerary, or a $2 tax per flight segment. Class of service upgrades are not permitted.
United Airlines posts E-Fares at its website on a weekly basis for last-minute discount travel. The airline also delivers e-mail notification of the discounted fares to hundreds of thousands of subscribers every week. To receive notice of E-Fares, users must register with United Connection on the Web and complete a user profile. In addition to E-Fares, the United site gives consumers the ability to reserve and purchase travel with over 500 airlines through the United Connection service. The airline's frequent flyers also enjoy the ability to track Mileage Plus account information, request upgrades online and redeem miles for award travel.
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United online
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US Airways Discounts Los Angeles Flights, Too
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Most likely in response to United's discounts (see above), US Airways announced that it is offering special $338 round-trip Internet fares for travel between Los Angeles and six eastern area cities -- Baltimore, Boston, New York (LaGuardia), Newark, Philadelphia, and Washington's Ronald Reagan National and Dulles airports.
Fares under this sale program require tickets to be purchased roundtrip via US Airways' Internet reservations system at least 14 days prior to departure with a Saturday night minimum stay. Travel is valid between June 24 through Sept. 30, and tickets must be purchased no later than June 13.
These fares do not include applicable airport passenger facility charges of $3 to $12, depending on the itinerary, or a $2 federal excise tax applied to each flight segment.
To take advantage of this limited time offer, Internet users should visit US Airways' Web site -- usairways.com -- and click on the words Book Flights. US Airways' easy-to-use Internet travel reservations and information system will help you do the rest. Tickets must be purchased online at the time that the reservation is made. All applicable fare sale rules apply and tickets must be purchased using an approved major credit card.
As an added bonus, each time users purchase a ticket on usairways.com and fly on US Airways or MetroJet, they will earn 1,000 bonus Dividend Miles for US Airways flights and 500 bonus miles for MetroJet flights through Dec. 31, 1999.
This offer is not valid with any other promotion, including without limitation, senior and infant discounts. Some other restrictions apply.
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US Airways' website
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America West Fare Sale
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Now through June 18, 1999, America West customers can book fares ranging from $34 to $199 each way based on round-trip purchase. In addition, travelers can bring up to two companions and take advantage of special companion-fares ranging from $29 to $129 each way based on round-trip purchase. Travel may commence June 22, 1999 and must be complete by Sept. 30, 1999.
Tickets are non-refundable and must be purchased within 24 hours of making reservations. Minimum stay, advance purchase and other restrictions apply.
Sample sale fares follow. Fare savings are available in additional markets.
*Fares quoted are each way based on round-trip purchase and do not include a $2 federal excise tax which will be imposed on each flight segment of the itinerary. A flight segment is defined as a takeoff and landing. Fares quoted are for off-peak travel. Off-peak travel applies to Tues., Wed., and Sat. Off-peak travel to Florida is Sun. through Wed. and from Florida is Tues. through Fri. Peak fares are available at slightly higher prices. Each adult may take up to two companions at the companion fare. Fares are subject to change. Seats are limited and may not be available on all flights. Tickets are non-refundable. Minimum Saturday night stay is required and a 30-day maximum stay. Fourteen-day advance purchase is required. Passengers facility charges of up to $12 per round-trip may apply, depending on itinerary. No blackout dates apply.
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America West online
<< I N D U S T R Y N E W S >>
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Restrictions on Pet Travel During Summer
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Planning to take your pet with you on vacation this summer? If you're traveling by air during the peak summer vacation months, be prepared for Fido to be bumped!
Many vacationers learned that the hard way last summer when several airlines refused to allow pets to be transported in the baggage areas of their planes. Whether or not there is an embargo this year, major U.S. carriers reserve the right to turn away any pet if the temperature is "extreme" in your originating, connecting or destination airport.
The reason is simple: the U.S. Department of Agriculture requires airlines to ensure that animals traveling as baggage are not exposed to extremes of heat or cold for extended periods during travel. The rules require that animals not be subjected to temperatures exceeding 85 degrees F. for more than 45 minutes in animal holding areas or on an aircraft awaiting departure.
For pug or snub-nosed dogs, such as the American Staffordshire, English Bulldog, or Boxer, which suffer in warm temperatures, the restrictions are even tighter. Some airlines will not accept them if the temperature on any part of the trip exceeds 70 degrees.
If you're lucky and you've booked your flight early, you might be assigned one of the few slots (as few as two on some flights) available for pets in the cabin. However, note industry experts, most pets do end up in the baggage compartment. Since it's likely temperatures will exceed 85 degrees in many parts of the country much of the summer, you should be prepared for airline to refuse your pet -- sometimes as late as the day of the flight.
And don't expect to find a boarding kennel for your pet at the last minute. "High quality kennels book up quickly for the summer," notes Dan Charleton of Best Friends Pet Care, the largest company in the boarding kennel industry in the U.S., with 34 facilities in 17 states. "Last summer, we were actually turning people away during the peak July-August vacation periods."
If you're considering traveling with your pet, be sure to ask your airline representative for specific details regarding its policy on pets and summer heat. If you decide to play it safe and give your pet a vacation of its own at a quality pet resort, book early.
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Best Friends Pet Care
<< R E A D E R R A N T S & R A V E S >>
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Reader Feedback: Traveling with Children (continued)
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[snip]
But I mostly was inspired to write due to the reader's rants about flying with children...
Jasper is 8.5 months old and has flown 6 legs on United from Colorado Springs to Denver to Santa Barbara, from L.A. to Denver to Colorado Springs, from Denver to San Francisco and from Sacramento to Denver. He is a great little traveler for the most part, he has his own Mileage Plus frequent flier number and a passport in preparation to fly to Italy. All flights have been on United and it's been a mixed bag.
After carefully reading books such as "Have Kids Will Travel" and Lonely Planet's "Traveling with Kids" I had decided that we would always buy a seat for Jasper or use miles to get him a seat. Every indication is that it is much safer in case of sudden stops and common sense would dictate that it is more comfortable for both child and parent. But given the expense it is understandable that not every one opts to get the seat. Most airlines do offer discounts of from 10 to 50% on airfares for children under 2, but you often have to ask for it or it wont be offered. And if the child is near the 2 year age limit you should probably bring a birth certificate or passport.
Interestingly, on Jasper's first trip we were able to get 3 seats together for Mom and Dad, the flight attendant indicated approval upon hearing we had a seat for Jasper (then 3 months old) and informed us that his car seat had to be in the Window seat. As soon as we placed him in the seat we could see why this made sense--if you put a baby's car seat in the middle or aisle seat it isn't possible to get past it from the inner seats and it creates a safety hazard. The noise of the plane's engine put Jasper to sleep and the flight went very well.
The return flight, also on United, couldn't have been more different. First, due to THEIR mistake, United did not have 3 seats together for us and had to assign our seats at the counter. They set us up with 3 seats near each other: an aisle, an aisle and a middle seat. I mentioned that the baby's car seat had to go in the window position. The counter agent said she was unaware of any such rule. We got on the plane and put Jasper in the middle and James and I took the aisle seats. A flight attendant came down the aisle and very tartly said about Jasper "he'll have be moved to a Window seat!" I pointed out that I had told the counter agent that very thing only to have it denied. She then said "or you'll have to hold him!" Instantly and furiously, through gritted teeth I informed her "that's NOT going to happen!" She then challenged me: "Is that car seat FAA approved?" My response: "Don't even GO there!" Luckily bodily injury (to her, by me) was averted when the lucky passenger who was assigned to the window seat showed up. I told the flight attendant that the whole matter could be solved right there if the window passenger would kindly agree to take my husband's aisle seat so the 3 of us could have the 3 seats together on one side of the aisle, which she kindly agreed to, and we moved Jasper to the Window. To just cap things off, though we had been told previously that we couldn't upgrade to 1st class as it was full, a different flight attendant came and found us to say that yes, there was space now available and we COULD upgrade--like I really wanted to relive the hassle of getting all the baby gear moved at that point, no thanks! Oh by the way he slept through most of that flight too unfazed by all the fuss.
So...mixed points for United. I really feel like it wouldn't take much from the airlines to go from "barely tolerating" people traveling with their kids to making it a "competitive advantage." United could make big strides just by communicating a common set of guidelines to all of their employees. A little "customer relations" training wouldn't hurt. But a real focus on making travel with kids not just bearable but actually enjoyable might net them some customer loyalty and additional revenue.
Each time I fly with Jasper fellow passengers have remarked on what a good flyer he is--partly that's due to his general good nature (lucky us!) but I like to think its partly due to Mom's preparations based on frequent flying experience and reading the right guide books. But its a shame that its sometimes in spite of the airline and not because of it.
- Jackie
Until next week...
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