U P F R O N T

Dog Days of Summer for Mileage Hounds
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This is a pretty quiet week in terms of new frequent-flyer offers. Many current promotions were put in place for the summer and expire Aug. 31. While it's a safe bet that, with no end to the weakness in the economy in sight, there will be promotions aplenty during the fall and into the winter months, there isn't much to get excited about in these waning days of summer.

In the meantime, keep your eye on the new "Sweeps & Freebies" section. There are a number of interesting prize drawings in this week's issue, and travel companies seem increasingly inclined to use sweepstakes-type offers to generate awareness and excitement.

Arf!

O N S I T E

FrequentFlier Forum Topics
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Ronald found a new AAdvantage Mileage partner. Dymand is looking for a moving company which offers miles. Gary shows how to earn 15,000 OnePass miles for investing $5,000 in a money-market account. Harper wants to transfer awards from US Airways to American. And much more...

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

> More...

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

eCheck In for an Extra 1,000 OnePass Miles
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Through Dec. 31, 2001, OnePass members will earn an extra 1,000 miles when checking in for their Continental flight at any of 280 eService Centers in 57 airports.

Bonus is only offered for those holding e-tickets, and only for the first-time use of eService.

Continental Adds Air Europa to OnePass
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Effective Nov. 1, 2001, members of Continental's frequent flyer program, OnePass, will be able to earn and redeem miles on all Air Europa flights and members of Air Europa's frequent flyer program, Fidelitas, will be able to do the same anywhere on Continental's network.

The reciprocal FFP arrangement is part of a larger joint marketing agreement, which includes code sharing.

Air Europa is the second largest airline in Spain and Portugal, with hubs at Madrid/Barajas and Barcelona airports and a fleet of 52 aircraft operating nearly 400 departures daily.

AOL AAdvantage Offers Mags-for-Miles
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AOL AAdvantage members can now redeem their miles for subscriptions to selected Time Warner magazines, as follows--

- 10 issues of Outdoor Life for 800 miles
- 12 issues of Motor Boating for 800 miles
- 12 issues of Field & Stream for 950 miles
- 6 issues of Freeze for 950 miles
- 8 issues of Ski for 950 miles
- 7 issues of Skiing for 950 miles
- 12 issues of Golf for 1,000 miles
- 12 issues of Popular Science for 1,000 miles
- 12 issues of Yachting for 1,000 miles
- 12 issues of Salt Water Sportsman for 1,300 miles

To redeem, go to http://aolaadvantage.com and click on the "Spend Miles" link.

SkyTeam to Add Member: Alitalia
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SkyTeam, the global airline alliance comprised of Aeromexico, Air France, CSA Czech Airlines, Delta and Korean, will expand its airline network with the addition of Italy's Alitalia.

Among other areas of co-op, Alitalia will be a SkyMiles partner, and Delta will be a partner in Alitalia's program as well. Exact dates have yet to be determined, but reciprocal FFP relationships should be in place this Fall, with full SkyTeam status and participation to follow.

To give you a sense of the financial import of these alliances, Reuters reports that Delta's CEO, Leo Mullin, expects the Alitalia tie-up to generate an extra $150 million for Delta. That's over and above the $500 million produced for Delta by alliance relationships already in place.

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Two New-Service Promotions from Northwest
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Worldperks members who fly Northwest's new Detroit - Charlottesville service between Aug. 1 and Oct. 31, 2001 will earn 1,000 bonus miles each way. Register prior to travel but no later than Aug. 31 at http://www.nwa.com/offers/dtwcho/.

Or, fly Northwest's new Minneapolis/St. Paul - Providence service between Aug. 13 and Oct. 31, 2001 to earn 1,000 bonus miles each way. Register prior to travel and no later than Oct. 15 at http://www.nwa.com/offers/msppvd/.

Online Rewards Watch: ClickRewards, Cybergold
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> ClickRewards Warns of Possible Trouble

Netcentives -- parent company of ClickRewards and heretofore one of the more stable players in the online rewards space -- included the following cautionary note in its 2nd quarter financials:

"At our current cash level, we have come to a critical point in the Company's history where continued operations are contingent on an additional cash infusion and further managing down our cost structure, which includes workforce reductions."

> More...

> Cybergold Will Bow Out

There's no ambiguity over the future of Cybergold. It hasn't any. Here's the notice on their website:

"NOTICE OF DISCONTINUATION OF SERVICE

"With the greatest regret we must inform you that, as of August 31, 2001, the Cybergold Service will be shutting down permanently. After this date, we will cease operations and discontinue our Service and your account will no longer be available on Cybergold.com.

"You will continue to be able to earn and spend cash with a reduced set of offers through August 31, 2001. Please unload, spend, or donate your account balance by August 31, 2001. After that date, the Cybergold Service will no longer be operational and you will lose any account balance you might have had prior to that time."

Cybergold is owned by Mypoints.com, which was recently purchased by United Airlines' e-business group. My guess is that the Cybergold closing is United's doing, imposing some old-economy discipline on its dot-com acquisition.

> 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 the Midwest From $118 R/T
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Midwest Express Airlines has released a fare sale for travel between Midwestern cities and destinations throughout the U.S. plus Toronto, Canada.

> More...

Flights on Sale to/from Cities in the East and Southeast
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AirTran Airways has released a fare sale with savings on travel to/from cities in the Eastern and Southeastern U.S. Fares are valid for travel through Dec. 12. Most U.S. airlines have matched this sale.

> More...

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

Great Escape Sweepstakes Rewards E-Users
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Through Nov. 30, 2001, OnePass members will be automatically entered in Continental's Great Escape Sweepstakes as follows--

1) Purchase a ticket at continental.com and fly (5 entries per ticket flown)
2) Check in at an eService Center (2 entries per check-in)
3) Purchase an eTicket and fly (1 entry per ticket flown)

The Grand Prize: a 5-night package to Hawaii for 2, including hotel, car and BusinessFirst airfare. Other prizes:

- 10 First Prizes: 2 BusinessFirst seats from the U.S.to Europe
- 25 Second Prizes: 2 first class seats from the U.S.to Mexico, Central America or the Caribbean
- 50 Third Prizes: 2 coach class tickets for travel within the U.S., or from the U.S. to Alaska or Canada
- 100 Fourth Prizes: A 1-year membership in Continental's Presidents Club
- 150 Fifth Prizes: 1 companion ticket for travel within the U.S., or from the U.S.to Alaska or Canada
- 200 Sixth Prizes: 1 positive space upgrade within the U.S., or from the U.S.to Alaska or Canada
- 300 Seventh Prizes: 5,000 OnePass bonus miles

> More...

Win Football Tickets from Northwest
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Northwest and Sprint are giving away 5 pairs of season tickets to both the Vikings and Lions home games.

Register by Aug. 25 to win the tickets by entering your WorldPerks number on the entry and then selecting your preferred team.

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"Travel + Leisure" Seeks Travel Pics
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Photographically inclined? Submit your best travel pic to Travel + Leisure by Oct. 31, 2001, for a chance to win a trip. Runners-up get travel bags.

Unlike sweepstakes, where a winner is drawn at random, this is a contest: winners are those who take the best photos.

> More...

[Other sweeps & freebies]

R E A D E R R A N T S & R A V E S

UA-US Merger Breakup Blues
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As a very frequent flier and someone who holds a Master's degree in anti-trust policy, I have sat in silence during the last year of talk, due to my conflicting opinion. However, I wanted to restate what may be an obvious point which reminds us that the loss of the merger is not all good news.

I live near Athens Georgia, which is one of dozens of medium sized cities in the US where there is only commercial service from US Airways Express. If US Airways fails or is radically restructured, so does my ability to fly without losing 2.5-3 hours one way to deal with Atlanta's Hartsfield airport.

The US Air + UA merger had one advantage which has been discounted or overlooked; it may have saved US Airways. I now wonder if anything can or if it is on its way to a TWA-like demise.

So, I know that all you city dwellers who have the luxury of choosing dozens of flights a day to any given location could care less about the health of US Airways. Some of us are concerned.

There once was an airlines called Piedmont. It was the best operation in the air I have ever experienced, with genuinely friendly and caring people. It was acquired and jammed together with Allegheny and some others to make US Airways and we Piedmont frequent fliers have suffered ever since. Where was all the opposition to mergers when Piedmont died?

- Jay

Until next week...