U P F R O N T
Industry Newsbites
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As expected, US Airways has applied to the Air Transportation Stabilization Board (ATSB) for a $900 million loan guarantee. Approval is far from assured, especially as US Airways has yet to secure cost concessions from key labor groups. To date, the ATSB has guaranteed a loan for America West, but denied requests from Vanguard and Frontier Flying Service.
Over the next 6-12 months, the Star Alliance will add 3 new airline partners: Asiana Airlines of South Korea, LOT Polish Airlines and Spanair of Spain.
After an extensive study of the most popular online travel agencies (Cheap Tickets, Expedia, OneTravel, Orbitz, TravelNow, Travelocity), Consumer Reports Travel Letter concluded as follows: "In the end, we found that to get the best fares you have to comparison shop." More...
Meanwhile, hearings by a Congressional commission investigating the effects of online travel sites on both consumers and travel agents begin today, Wednesday. The commission's findings will be presented on Nov. 15.
Nine months after the project began, American has finished repainting 130 TWA MD-80 and 757 jets in the "Silver Bird" livery. You will still see the occasional 767 sporting TWA colors, but only through next year when they will be retired from the fleet.
Based on current and projected growth rates, Ireland's discount carrier Ryanair will displace KLM, Lufthansa and BA as Europe's largest airline in 5 years.
O N S I T E
New on the FrequentFlier Forum
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Here's a suggestion from Dennis:
"I just got my AMEX statement and the enclosed newsletter clearly says that double SkyMiles will be earned at both Wal*Mart and walmart.com from June 15 - July 31. It is now etched in stone, so buy Wal*Mart gift cards at walmart.com through MyPoints or MileSource and pay for them with your Delta SkyMiles AMEX card. If you buy five $100 gift cards, you'll pay only about $2.00 in tax and shipping, and you'll get 1000 points at MyPoints or 1000 miles at MileSource and 1000 Delta SkyMiles. Then use your gift cards for all your Wal*Mart or Sam's Club purchases. Sweet Deal for six weeks!"
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
Wyndham Waives Communications Fees
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Wyndham Hotels is offering ByRequest members complimentary communications services, including free local and domestic long-distance phone calls, free high-speed Internet access, and free faxes and photocopies.
To receive the extra benefits, join Wyndham ByRequest and complete your first stay as a member at any Wyndham Hotel, Wyndham Garden Hotel, Wyndham Resort, or Summerfield Suites by Wyndham before September 30, 2002. Members who joined ByRequest prior to June 1, 2002, are automatically qualified -- no stay required.
> More...
Priority Club Doubles Rewards
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Priority Club Rewards members can earn double points or miles for all qualifying stays at Inter-Continental, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, and Staybridge Suites in the U.S., from June 15 through Aug. 15, 2002.
The bonus kicks in with a member's second and subsequent stays. To participate, you must be a U.S. resident and register in advance.
> More...
Bid OnePass Miles at New Auction Site
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Continental and eBay have joined forces to create an online auction site where OnePass members can bid miles for travel, concerts and sports events. Recent offerings included concerts by Britney Spears, Cher and Cyndi Lauper, tickets to Astros, Indians and Yankees baseball games, and Orlando vacation packages.
> More...
Northwest Adds Internet Partner
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WorldPerks members can now earn up to 7,500 bonus miles for AT&T Worldnet Internet access.
The first 2,000 miles will be posted after 60 days of qualifying service. Thereafter, receive 250 miles per month for 22 months, for a total of 7,500 WorldPerks miles. Offer available to new AT&T Worldnet members only, until May 31, 2003.
> More...
Earn SkyMiles at Ameritrade
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SkyMiles members can now earn up to 25,000 miles for opening a new Ameritrade brokerage account, as follows --
3,000 miles for new accounts with a minimum of $1,000
8,000 miles for new accounts with a minimum of $5,000
25,000 miles for new accounts with a minimum of $50,000
> More...
United Launches Mileage Card for Small Business
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The new United Mileage Plus Platinum Business Card rewards users with 2 Mileage Plus miles for every $1 charged on United purchases and 1 mile for every $1 charged on other purchases, up to a maximum of 150,000 miles earned per year.
Additional cards can be issued for other company employees, with all earned miles credited to the business owner's account.
There's a 5,000-mile bonus after the first purchase.
> More...
Air Canada Doubles Toronto-Ireland Miles
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Between June 13 and July 31, 2002, Aeroplan members can earn double miles for Air Canada flights between Toronto and Dublin or Shannon. Offer applies to members' first roundtrip or first 2 1-way segments.
Alaska Air, DineAir to Part Ways
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After July 31, 2002, Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan members will no longer be able to earn miles through the DineAir program.
No reason to go hungry for miles, though. Alaska's partnership with iDine will remain in effect.
> 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...
Sale fares to/from East Coast cities as low as $98 R/T
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Travel to/from Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Washington, D.C. is on sale from AirTran and US Airways. Sale fares are valid from now through Nov. 13 and do not have minimum- or maximum-stay restrictions, except for certain routes on US Airways.
Purchase tickets online only and BY THURSDAY, JUNE 13.
> More...
Viva Las Vegas with fares as low as $80 R/T
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United is offering sale fares between Las Vegas and West Coast cities, plus Washington, D.C., and America West has extended its Las Vegas companion sale, with roundtrip flights for 2 as low as $80 per person. For both airlines, travel is valid through Sept. 30. Purchase tickets online only, at least 7 days before departure, and by Sunday, June 16.
> More...
S W E E P S & F R E E B I E S
Win a Volvo from Northwest
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Register on Northwest's website by Aug. 31, 2002, to win a Volvo S80 T6. There's no purchase required, and you don't have to be a WorldPerks member to enter.
> More...
[Other travel-related sweepstakes and giveaways are online here.]
S I T E 2 S E E
LongTermParking.com
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LongTermParking.com proclaims itself "The Consolidated e-Directory for Off-Site U.S. Airport Parking," and promises savings of up to 70% at secured airport-area parking lots.
Looking at Los Angeles (my home city, where I'm all too familiar with the airport parking landscape), I found a good number of LAX parking lots on the list and offering worthwhile discounts.
> More...
F R E Q U E N T F L I E R F U N N I E S
Sometimes it DOES Take a Rocket Scientist (cont)
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Last week's humorous anecdote (with the punchline, "defrost the chicken") may owe more to urban legend than to historical fact. Thanks to Stewart for pointing us in the direction of the below website. There, under the page title "Catapoultry," our frozen chicken story is deconstructed and analyzed in excruciating detail.
It's no less funny for its time under the microscope.
> More...
Until next week...
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