Media Query: Bag Check?

A journalist for a major newspaper would like to talk to business travelers who sometimes or always check their baggage when they fly, and have had it lost or misplaced by their airline recently.

If you fit this description and are willing to talk about your experience, please send your office and cell numbers and e-mail address, with a brief description of what happened with your baggage, to this e-mail address by Monday, August 6.

FrequentFlier Forum Topics

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

In the "Airline Programs" Forum, Flying Texan has an upbeat take on mileage programs: "Our nuclear family of 4 flew to Australia, via AA and Air Tahiti in 2004; after accruing 370,000 AA miles since then (primarily through Gary & Tim's respective web sites), we have booked business or first class transport to Naples & Helsinki for next summer (our open jaw was Naples-Rome). It took 3 calls, but yes, once you score a helpful rep, it definitely is a worthwhile 'hobby'."

And in the "Contests & Sweepstakes" Forum, DJHerm has posted details and links to several new and noteworthy travel sweepstakes.

Questions, answers? Post them to the Forum!

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ATA Points Now Available for Sale

Want to buy some ATA Travel Rewards points for your own account, or to give to another member? Now you can, for 10 cents per point, plus a $25 "transaction fee" and 7.5% excise tax.

With a roundtrip domestic award priced at 6,000 points, that means you'd be paying in excess of $600 for enough points for a ticket you almost certainly could have purchased for less. 'Nuf said.

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25K Bonus Miles for CO Credit Card

Yet another credit card bonus... this one from Continental.

New Continental Airlines World MasterCard holders will receive a 20,000-mile bonus after using the card for the first time, and an additional 5,000 bonus miles on the first anniversary of their cardholder account.

Other card benefits: a 5% discount on Continental tickets for one year; two airport lounge passes annually; two travel discount certificates.

The annual fee for the card is $85.00.

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Use PayPal, Earn Bonus Northwest Miles

To promote its new relationship with Northwest, PayPal is offering WorldPerks members a 500-mile bonus for every Northwest ticket purchased via PayPal through September 30.

To qualify for the bonus, bookings must be made on nwa.com, and travel must be completed by December 31.

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Bonus Priority Club Points at Staybridge

Through September 30, Priority Club members can earn one or more of the following at Staybridge Suites: 1,000 bonus points per stay; 3,000 bonus points for stays of five consecutive nights; 4,000 bonus points for stays of seven consecutive nights.

To determine which Staybridge offers which bonus(es), use the online booking tool.

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New Program from Sun Country Air

Customers of Minnesota-based Sun Country Airlines can now earn free flights in the carrier's new loyalty program, Ufly Rewards.

Ufly Rewards members earn 10 points for Sun Country Airlines roundtrip coach flights and 14 points for roundtrip first-class flights. On the redemption side, 100 points can be cashed in for a roundtrip coach ticket for travel within the 48 contiguous states; 150 points are required for roundtrip coach trips to Mexico; and 200 points is the price for roundtrips to Anchorage or the Caribbean. For first-class awards, just add 50 points to the coach price.

The program boasts that awards are not capacity-controlled, a most unusual and highly welcome feature.

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Bonus United Miles for Latin America Flights

Between September 1 and November 15, Mileage Plus members will earn double miles for eligible flights to/from Mexico City, Guatemala City, and San Salvador. And for qualifying U.S.-South America flights, they'll earn 5,000 bonus miles for full coach fares (Y,B,M, or H booking classes) and 2,500 bonus miles for discounted coach (Q,V,W,S or T booking classes).

Registration is required.

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Deal Alert from SmarterTravel.com

1) Northwest Fares from $98

Northwest has a new U.S. and Canada sale for travel through mid-November. Destinations include New York, Indianapolis, and Philadelphia.

Travel is valid from July 25 through November 14. Book tickets at least 21 days in advance. Book by August 9, 11:59 PM ET.

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2) New Southwest Fares from $29 Each Way

Southwest is promoting its "everyday low fares" with an offer starting at $29 one-way or $58 roundtrip. Destinations include many of Southwest's popular destinations such as Las Vegas, Chicago, and Orlando.

Southwest hasn't listed travel dates or a booking deadline, but fares must be booked at least 21 days prior to travel.

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Win a Trip for 2 to Los Cabos

Enter Spa magazine's "Vacation Giveaway" sweepstakes by September 30 for a chance to win a trip for two to Los Cabos, including five nights at Dreams Los Cabos Suites Golf Resort & Spa, and roundtrip airfare.

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

Feedback from the Frontlines of Travel

"I am aware of a worthwhile organization who is requesting donated air miles to help get military widows/widowers (of spouses killed in the war) and their children out to Disney Nov 30-Dec 3 for some fun. Can you help promote this with your subscribers, or suggest a way to advertise the need? If so it is www.snowballexpress.org. Thanks in advance for your consideration!" [Barbara W.]

[If any Crier readers would like to donate miles, please email the publisher and we'll put you in touch with Barbara.]

"I enjoy the newsletter. I have a question. I hope you can direct me to someone that can help me. I would like to use some of my miles. Who do I contact or where do I go online? I've tried to figure it out for my last two trips and ultimately ended up just buying my ticket." [Lois G.]

[FrequentFlier.com responds - Since you are apparently new at this, you might be best served by calling the reservations center of the airline which hosts your frequent flyer program and have a customer service agent assist you in making your award bookings. Most airlines now charge a "service fee" of $10 or so for bookings made through their call centers (versus online bookings, which remain free).

Eventually, you will want to familiarize yourself with the airline's online booking feature so you can attempt to make fee-free bookings before resorting to calling the reservations line.]

"I have 30,000 Delta miles and am having a problem getting a flight, always out. Can I trade these for anything else?" [Jeff D.]

[FrequentFlier.com responds - Your options are quite limited. If you're a reader, you can cash in miles for magazine subscriptions. And Delta's new SkyMiles Online Auction allows members to bid miles for various goods and services. Further info is here.]

Until next week...