Issue #47 -- June 24, 1999
** CONTENTS **
A Silver Platter for FrequentFlier.com ~ Delta SkyMiles for Sale ~ Double US Airways Miles ~ AAdvantage Will Absorb Reno Miles ~ New Best Inns Program ~ TWA Discounts London ~ US Airways' London Deal ~ Sheraton's SureSavers ~ American Fortifies West Coast ~ E-Tickets Surpass Paper ~ Fighting Jet Lag ~ A Voice from the Industry
<< S I T E N E W S >>
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Thank You, Jeeves
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FrequentFlier.com (the website "parent" of this newsletter) just received another noteworthy award, the Silver Palate award from Ask Jeeves. (You can see it at http://frequentflier.com/ffp-awds.htm.)
Ask Jeeves, if you're not familiar with the site, is like a search engine, except that instead of keyword searches, it responds to natural-language queries. And, again unlike search engines (but like Yahoo), the Jeeves site recommendations are compiled by people, rather than by bots (robots) or spiders that "crawl the 'net." You might, for example, type in "How do I earn more frequent flyer miles?" And Jeeves would respond, naturally, by directing you to FrequentFlier.com.
>> More <<
Check out Jeeves yourself
<< M I L E S >>
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SkyMiles for Sale
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Do you know where you want to go, but your mileage balance is not quite sufficient to qualify for an award ticket? That's a complaint we hear at FrequentFlier.com often.
Effective June 15, 1999, you can purchase extra miles with the new Mileage Purchase option from Delta. Depending on the award you're redeeming, you can purchase up to 20,000 miles, in increments of 1,000 miles, for 2.5 cents per mile, plus applicable transportation taxes and fees. The Mileage Purchase option is available for the SkyMiles and SkyChoice Delta awards shown in the chart below, which are valid for travel within or between the continental U.S., Alaska and Canada.
SkyMiles Awards: Miles Eligible for Purchase:
Coach Class D111 1,000-5,000 miles
(25,000 miles)
First Class D311 1,000-5,000 miles
(40,000 miles)
SkyChoice Awards: Miles Eligible for Purchase:
Coach Class E111 1,000-20,000 miles
(50,000 miles)
First Class E311 1,000-20,000 miles
(80,000 miles)
>> Terms
Mileage Purchase is available for SkyMiles award tickets only and cannot be applied toward upgrades, partner airlines (except valid on the Delta Connection carriers) or Round-The-World Awards, or award certificates. Purchased miles do not count toward qualification of any Medallion level and are only applicable toward the redemption of SkyMiles (not Frequent Flyer) awards.
Only the mileage required for current itinerary may be purchased. Unused Award Tickets are non-refundable and can only be returned for redeposit to the member's SkyMiles account. Unless otherwise specified, all standard Delta SkyMiles program rules and conditions apply.
Also from Delta, when you fly Delta in paid first, business and full coach class (booked in Y) between June 17 and August 25, 1999, you'll receive a 70% mileage bonus, in addition to the 50% or 25% Class of Service bonus you normally receive when you travel in paid first or business class.
To qualify, you must enroll in this promotion by calling 1-888-558-3358 by July 31, 1999, and entering promotion code 7029.
>> More <<
Delta
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Double Dividend Miles for Full-Fare Flights
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US Airways' Dividend Miles members flying on unrestricted full coach, first-class or transatlantic envoy class fares will earn double Dividend Miles through Aug. 25, 1999.
This offer is valid for members traveling on any US Airways, US Airways Express, or low-fare MetroJet flights, and cannot be combined with any other Dividend Miles bonus or promotion.
To qualify, Dividend Miles members must register for double miles prior to departure, and no later than July 31, by calling US Airways Dividend Miles at 800-872-4738. Customers should refer to bonus request code 2222.
>> More <<
o US Airways' website
o MetroJet's website
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AAdvantage Will Absorb Reno Miles
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As expected, Reno Air announced confirmed this week that their QQuick Miles rewards program will end on December 31, 1999 and that effective January 1, 2000 each member's remaining miles will be automatically credited to the American Airlines AAdvantage program. QQuick Miles members who currently do not have an American Airlines AAdvantage account have been enrolled in the American Airlines AAdvantage program.
All QQuick Miles elite members will maintain their elite status in the American AAdvantage program effective January 1, 2000. In addition, between August 31, 1999 and December 31, 1999, Reno Air QQuick Miles members may earn QQuick Miles on all American Airlines and American Eagle flights worldwide. Reno Air passengers may presently earn American Airlines AAdvantage miles; accordingly Reno Air frequent travelers may choose to earn either American Airlines AAdvantage Miles or Reno Air QQuick Miles on all American Airlines or Reno Air flights during the wind-down of the Reno Air QQuick Miles program. QQuick Miles may be earned on Reno Air flights through December 31, 1999 and awards may be redeemed through the QQuick Miles program through December 31, 1999.
Reno Air, for now, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of American Airlines. See article in Industry News below for more on Reno's integration into American.
>> More <<
Reno
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AA + Swissair & Sabena: Codeshare Now, Miles Later
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American Airlines has formed a marketing alliance with Swissair and Sabena.
The airlines plan to begin codesharing on selected transatlantic routes as soon as possible after obtaining all necessary governmental approvals, followed by reciprocal frequent flyer program participation.
Under the arrangement, American and Swissair will codeshare on each other's flights between Chicago and Zurich, and on Swissair's flights between Zurich and both Boston and Miami, with American placing its "AA" designator code on Swissair's flights and Swissair placing its "SR" code on American's. Likewise, American and Sabena will codeshare on each other's flights between Chicago and Brussels, and on Sabena's flights between Boston and Brussels, with American placing its "AA" code on Sabena's flights and Sabena placing its "SN" code on American's.
The airlines plan to expand the arrangement later to include other transatlantic flights, as well as connecting flights beyond each other's gateway cities. They also plan to extend the alliance to other members of the Qualiflyer Group, including Austrian Airlines.
Once the alliance is implemented, members of American's AAdvantage program will earn mileage credit when they travel on codeshare flights operated by Swissair and Sabena, and members of Swissair's and Sabena's Qualiflyer program will earn mileage credit when traveling on codeshare flights operated by American. Later this year, American, Swissair and Sabena intend to establish a frequent flyer arrangement that will enable customers both to earn and redeem mileage credit on each other's flights.
>> More <<
o American
o Swissair
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New Frequent Guest Program for Best Inns
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Best Inns & Suites has launched a new frequent guest program, known as Best Guest, that gives members a free room after staying nine nights at participating hotels across the U.S.
The company has also debuted a Silver Edition for seniors that allows for the traditional 10 percent room discount, plus a free night after nine paid nights.
Those who sign up to become members of Best Guest or The Best Guest Club Silver Edition between now and Oct. 31, 1999 will also be eligible to win $5,000 worth of American Express Travelers Cheques or hundreds of other prizes with automatic entry into the Best Guest Sweepstakes. First-through fifth-place prizes include everything from Cannon Snappy QT Cameras to Roadside Assistance Kits.
All entries must be postmarked no later than Oct. 31, 1999 and received no later than Nov. 8, 1999. Prizes will be awarded in a random drawing on or about Nov. 15, 1999. For a copy of the official sweepstakes rules, call 1-877-877-5622.
Best is the mid-market/economy hotel chain with 280 properties open or in development nationwide.
>> More <<
Best Inn's website
<< S T E A L S & D E A L S >>
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TWA Discounts London
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Trans World Airlines is putting London on sale from 10 U.S. cities -- Chicago, Denver, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Diego, Seattle and San Francisco. In addition, every TWA Aviators member who buys a non-refundable round-trip ticket to London at these sale fares will receive a free roundtrip bonus ticket to London for use next winter.
The sale ticket is a 7-day advance purchase fare and must be purchased by June 30th for travel between June 25, 1999 and September 30, 1999. Certain restrictions apply.
To qualify for the free coach ticket, Aviators members must travel between June 25th and September 30th, 1999, and they must register for the promotion by June 30th. Members may do so through the TWA website, or by calling the Aviators Service Center at 800-325-4815. The promotional code number is 37566.
The free roundtrip ticket to London is good for travel between November 1, 1999 and March 31, 2000. Some blackout dates and certain restrictions apply. There is no limit to the number of free tickets an Aviators member can earn.
>> More <<
TWA online
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US Airways' London Sale
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US Airways is also offering its customers a round-trip economy class award ticket to London for each round-trip economy class ticket purchased from the United States to London Gatwick Airport by June 30 and flown between now and Sept. 30.
Award tickets under this promotion are valid for travel between Nov. 1, 1999 and March 31, 2000. Award travel is not valid between Dec. 16, 1999 and Jan. 15, 2000. Children's fares and unpublished fares are not eligible as part of this offer.
Award certificate seats may be limited or unavailable for certain flights or dates. Passengers are responsible for applicable federal taxes, fees, security and other charges of up to $108 per ticket.
To register for this special promotion, customers should call US Airways' Dividend Miles Service Center at 1-800-872-4738 and refer to bonus request number 2100. Travelers must be Dividend Miles members to qualify, and must register prior to departure.
Upon completion of the first London trip, US Airways will mail a non- transferable award certificate to the traveler for the second roundtrip Economy Class ticket from the United States to London.
US Airways operates two daily nonstop round-trip flights between Philadelphia and London Gatwick Airport, and one daily nonstop round-trip flight between Charlotte, N.C., and London Gatwick. Together, US Airways and US Airways Express provide connecting service to London from more than 175 cities.
>> More <<
US Airways online
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Sheraton's SureSaver Discounts
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Travelers can save up to 50% this summer with the newly launched Sheraton SureSaver rates, available at nearly 150 Sheraton hotels in North America from July 1 through Sept. 6.
Sheraton SureSaver rates start at $49 per night, per room at the Sheraton Mesa Hotel & Convention Center in Arizona and Sheraton Houston Brookhollow Hotel. Rates start at $50 at the Sheraton Crested Butte Resort in Colorado, and $55 per night at the Sheraton North Houston Hotel.
Hotels offering rates from $59 per night per room include: Sheraton Tucson Hotel & Suites, Sheraton Suites Fairplex in Pomona, Sheraton San Marcos Golf Resort and Conference Center in Arizona, Sheraton Orlando North Hotel and Sheraton Denver West. Rates start at $65 per night for the Sheraton Crescent in Phoenix and Sheraton Suites Elk Grove in Illinois. Rooms start at $69 per night at the Sheraton Indianapolis North, Sheraton Park Central Dallas, Sheraton Suites Market Center in Dallas, Sheraton Milwaukee, Sheraton Edison, Sheraton Parsipanny, Sheraton Fort Lauderdale Airport, Sheraton Gainesville, Sheraton Suites Cypress Creek in Fort Lauderdale and Sheraton Imperial Hotel & Convention Center in Durham, NC.
Sheraton SureSavers are subject to availability and must be booked in advance, and no later than August 30. A 14-day advance purchase may apply to weekend rates at some hotels. The rates may not be combined with any other promotion and are not applicable to groups. Rates do not include taxes or gratuities and other restrictions may apply.
>> More <<
Sheraton online
<< I N D U S T R Y N E W S >>
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American Fortifies West Coast Position
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Continuing its West Coast expansion, American Airlines has selected August 31 as the date for integrating all Reno Air operations into American. The airline also said it is nearing completion of the first phase of a $245 million improvement project for its passenger terminal at Los Angeles International Airport.
When Reno Air's operations are folded into American, they will add more than 150 nonstop flights a day to American's West Coast route network, including a number of major markets running north and south along the coast. This will be in addition to the 20 new West Coast flights to 19 cities American is introducing to its existing route network this summer.
American's acquisition of Reno Air for $124 million was announced last November, and the tender offer was completed in December. Since then, both carriers have been hard at work planning for the integration of Reno into American.
After August 31, Reno Air employees will be wearing American Airlines uniforms, Reno's 25 MD-80 and MD-90 jet aircraft will belong to American's fleet, all of Reno's flights will be American flights, and all airport signage will change from Reno to American.
Starting in January, the former Reno aircraft will be put in American's livery and will receive new American Airlines first class and main cabin interiors, including new seats, wall coverings and overhead storage bins.
>> More <<
American online
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At United, E-Tickets Surpass Paper
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United Airlines this week announced that for the first time since the launch of its E-Ticket product in 1994, more customers traveled on electronic tickets than on paper tickets. May ticketing reports revealed that 51% of the more than 7,000,000 tickets used on United worldwide were electronic tickets.
United launched electronic ticketing in November of 1994 on United Shuttle flights. Since that time, it has been expanded to their entire domestic system and the vast majority of United's worldwide network. With the recent launch of E-Ticket service in Chile and Venezuela, electronic ticketing is available to 95% of the destinations served by United worldwide. Developed by United's Information Services Division, United's E-Ticket software is used by 13 airlines throughout the world.
>> More <<
United's site
<< R E A D E R R A N T S & R A V E S >>
Dear Tim:
I am a Flight Service Manager for American Airlines New Hire Flight Attendants at LGA (New York's La Guardia Airport). I am writing in response to Readers Feedback 03JUN99, "Traveling with Children."
I would like to thank this reader for sharing their experience with your subscribers. I have forwarded these comments to my direct reports. I will also be sharing these comments with our Training and Professional Development Team.
I enjoy reading the weekly summary of Travel News and Opinions, keep up the good work. Please forward this to J.P. You have my authorization to publish this e-mail.
James H.
American Airlines
LGA-Flight Service
[Editor's note. Thank you, James, for taking the time to write. It is SO refreshing to hear from someone in the industry. And all the more so when it's to acknowledge that there are problems that need to be addressed. We have many readers representing the airline, hotel and car rental industries, but we hear from them altogether too infrequently. And when we do, it's most often for purposes of self-promotion or self-defense. Perhaps it's too much to expect, but it would be great to see a dialogue develop between consumers and service providers.]
<< T R A V E L W I S E >>
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TravelWise: Jet Lag Solutions
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Many of us have experienced that long international flight, only to arrive drained of energy just from the travel itself. After arriving at the destination, we find ourselves settling in for that leisure vacation or the ever-important business meeting, only to be combating jet lag.
>> So, how does it all work?
The body normalizes itself to day and night by light and dark. At night, the pineal gland, located in the brain, releases melatonin which regulates the sleep cycle, and induces sleep. However, when we travel over great distances and trough many times zones in relatively short periods of time, the production of melatonin is upset, leading to changes in the wake-sleep cycle, causing "jet lag."
>> What do I do to fight off jet lag?
General tips:
-- Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of liquids before, during and after your flight to avoid dehydration. Also, avoid alcohol, which contributes to and worsens dehydration.
-- Exercise. Staying fit before your trip will help to fight off the effects of jet lag. Also, don't forget to exercise, walk, and stretch while onboard the plane.
-- Sleep. Try to get a good nights rest the day before departure, and on those long flights, do try to get some sleep time.
-- Relax. After arrival, take it easy; get accustomed to the new environment and surroundings so that you're ready to go the next day.
-- Sunlight. If you are traveling east, try to expose yourself to light in the morning, but if you're traveling west, you'll want exposure to light in the afternoon.
>> Using Melatonin
In the United States, melatonin is available as a dietary supplement at most health food stores. In other countries, it is only available as a prescription drug. Clinical trials show that melatonin is effective in the treatment of the symptoms of jet lag, if taken properly. Recommendations for taking melatonin are three to five milligrams (3-5 mg), at local (destination) bedtime as follows:
--Eastbound travel: at local (destination) bedtime for six nights after arrival.
--Westbound travel: at local (destination) bedtime for four nights after arrival.
Melatonin is only effective if you plan on being in your destination's time zone for several days. Other sleep aids for use in flight, and those quick, one or two day, long haul jaunts are available, and you should consult your travel medicine specialist or regular physician for more information. It is also important to remember that if you choose to try melatonin, ask your physician or pharmacist to recommend a trusted, reputable brand, because as a dietary supplement, melatonin is less regulated than a prescription drug.
Happy travels, and until next month, TravelWise!
Brent W. Burkey, Medical Student
MCP Hahnemann School of Medicine
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
For more travel health resources, visit the International Health and Travel Medicine website.
Until next week...
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