U P F R O N T

UA + US = NOT
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Amid the fireworks of last week's Independence Day celebrations, there was a one very LOUD fizzle, the sound of the United-US Airways merger deflating and sputtering to ground like a leaky helium balloon.

For the record (and you'll know this if you're regular Crier reader), we consider this a positive for travel consumers. Commercial aviation is more like hell than heaven, and industry consolidation, with its concomitant decrease in competition, would only make matters worse.

We'll have more to say about the frequent flyer implications in future issues, but for now here's our best guess: US Airways will join the Star Alliance (comprising United, Lufthansa, Singapore, etc.) and link Dividend Miles with the frequent flyer programs of the other Star members. That too should be a plus, at least for US Airways customers.

Book Watch: "Up in the Air"
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Disclosure: I haven't had a chance to read this book yet. But on the strength of an interview with the book's author by NPR's Terry Gross, and a review by Christopher Buckley in the July 8 issue of the "New York Times" Book Review, I have to recommend you put Walter Kim's new novel, "Up in the Air," on your summer reading list.

The story's protagonist lives and breathes travel, and his overriding life ambition is to earn 1 million frequent flyer miles. Need I say more? (If you buy the book through the FrequentFlier Bookstore, we receive a small affiliate commission from Amazon, which helps defray the costs of publishing the FrequentFlier site and newsletter.)

> More...

O N S I T E

Last Week's Issue
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If you were too busy tending the barbecue to read last week's issue (published on July 4, Independence Day in the U.S.), you can check it out online here.

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

Ronald has tips on earning flooz, discounts at eBags, America West mileage offers, Northwest bonus miles, etc. Greg is wondering about miles for Enterprise rentals. Adele has started down the dining-for-miles road. And much more...

Do you have questions, answers? Post them to the Forum!

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M I L E S & P O I N T S

Delta Discounts CVG Award Flights
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Between now and Aug. 31, 2001, SkyMiles members can request award tickets between Cincinnati and 16 other cities for 15,000 miles, instead of the normal 25,000. (We reported last week on similar Delta award discounts to/from Dallas.)

The 15,000-mile reduced SkySaver awards are valid for flights between Cincinnati and Austin, New York (JFK or LaGuardia), San Jose, Dallas/Fort Worth, Tampa, Fort Lauderdale, Philadelphia, Tucson, Jacksonville, Phoenix, West Palm Beach, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Richmond, Washington, D.C. (Reagan National), New Orleans and San Antonio. Delta is also offering a reduced SkySaver award for nonstop travel between Cincinnati and San Juan, Puerto Rico for 20,000 miles.

To check actual award seat availability for these cities or others, or to redeem miles, SkyMiles members may call the number on the back of their membership card.

Travel must be completed by Aug. 31.

Use SkyMiles for Vacation Discounts
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For a limited time, Delta SkyMiles members can redeem their miles for discounts on Delta Vacations packages. Save up to $200 when redeeming miles towards the purchase of a vacation package of 3 nights or more.

    Miles Redeemed:      Value of        Valid for Packages
                       Certificate:     with a Total Price of:
     2,500                  $50             $750 and above
     5,000                 $100           $2,000 and above
     7,500                 $150           $3,000 and above
    10,000                 $200           $4,000 and above

United Rewards First-Time Online Bookings
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If you haven't yet made an online booking at United's website, there are now more reasons (at least 1,000) to do so.

The first time you book a United roundtrip at united.com and complete travel before Dec. 31, 2001, you'll earn a 1,000-mile bonus. And if you're a Premier, Premier Exec or 1K member, you will earn 3,000 bonus miles. That's in addition to the 1,000 bonus miles earned for every United roundtrip purchased online and completed by that date, giving you a total of 4,000 bonus miles. Use promotion code MPN 951.

Aeroplan Discounts Awards
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Aeroplan is offering members selected award flights for 20% less than the normal mileage requirement.

Starting July 8, 2001, reduced mileage rates can be booked for reward travel on selected Air Canada transborder routes in when you fly between July 16 and Sept. 30, 2001. To take advantage of this sale you must book on-line at least 8 days in advance and have at least 15,000 Aeroplan miles in your account.

> U.S. Long-Haul Nonstop Rewards Sale @ 20,000 miles

Between San Francisco and Edmonton; Miami and Vancouver; Jacksonville, and Toronto; Charleston, S.C. and Toronto; Norfolk, VA. and Toronto.

> U.S. Long-Haul Nonstop Rewards Sale @ 12,000 miles

Between Greensboro, N.C. and Toronto; Kalamazoo/Battle Creek, and Toronto; Cincinnati and Toronto; Indianapolis and Toronto; Albany and Montreal; Manchester, N.H. and Montreal.

> More...

Aeroplan Adds Hotel Partners
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Also at Air Canada, Aeroplan has added to its hotel roster, and all the new miles-for-stays partners are promoting their participation with bonus miles.

Between July 1 and -Sept. 30, 2001, Pan Pacific Hotels are offering Aeroplan members double miles (1,000) for qualifying stays. During the same period, Wyndham Hotels and Summerfield Suites are offering triple Aeroplan miles (1,500). And between July 1 and Aug. 30, 2001, Shangri-La and Traders Hotels are offering quadruple Aeroplan miles (2,000)

> More...

NWA Sweetens Bonus for Online Bookings
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Northwest and Sprint have joined forces to reward WorldPerks members with an additional 250 bonus miles each time they book travel online at http://www.nwa.com through December 31, 2001.

To qualify, you must earn WorldPerks miles on a qualifying flight, be a Sprint long distance customer in good standing and register online at http://www.nwa.com/offers/sprint250 prior to travel, and no later than November 30, 2001. All travel must be completed by December 31, 2001. One 250 mile bonus will be awarded for each reservation confirmation number. This offer MAY be combined with other online booking bonuses from Northwest and additional Sprint long distance Bonus Miles offers.

At Alaska: Miles for Sale
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Mileage Plan members now have the option of buying miles if they're short of an award level.

Instant Miles allows members to purchase miles in increments of 1,000 miles for $25, up to:

- 3,000 miles per award if award value is 30,000 miles or less
- 5,000 miles per award if award value is over 30,000 miles

Earn Double AAdvantage Miles-for-Flowers
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Between July 31 and Aug. 31, 2001, AAdvantage members can earn 20 miles for every $1 spent at 1800FLOWERS.com, twice the normal earnings rate. Elite members earn even more -- 300 additional miles for Exec Platinum, 200 for Platinum, and 100 for Gold members.

Use promotion code AAJ at http://www.1800flowers.com.

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...

Domestic Sale Fares to/from the East and Southeast From $78 R/T
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AirTran Airways has released a system-wide fare sale with savings in all of its markets for travel through Nov. 7. Book online and receive an additional five percent discount.

> More...

Savings on Summer and Fall Travel to Europe
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British Airways has released a sale on fall travel to Europe. Also, United, Lufthansa, and Continental are offering savings on summer fares. For all sales, purchase tickets by Thursday, July 12.

> More...

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

MilePoint Refer-A-Friend Prize: Greek Vacation
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from June 28 through Aug. 31, 2001, MilePoint is offering a Refer-A-Friend Sweepstakes, where MilePoint members and referred friends who register at MilePoint, will be entered to win a 6-day trip for 2 from MilePoint and FAR&WIDE Travel to Athens, Greece.

The package includes 3 nights at the first-class Divani Palace Hotel and a 3-day cruise aboard Royal Olympic Cruises to the Greek Islands. The MilePoint member name will be entered in the Refer-A-Friend Sweepstakes, once for each friend who registers at MilePoint. And, the newly registered friend is entered too.

[Other sweeps & freebies]

Until next week...