UP FRONT..........................................................

Award Seat Availability -- "No Problem"?
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The title of the USA Today article, dated Aug. 1, certainly was an attention-getter: "Test shows frequent-flier seats not hard to come by."

The science behind this dubious pronouncement involved making test bookings on 13 popular award-travel routes using all of the Big 6 carriers. The principal finding: saver awards were available, exactly as first requested, 73% of the time.

That rosy picture is completely at odds with the preponderance of anecdotal evidence, and with consumer polls, including a current FrequentFlier.com survey which addresses this very issue.

Comments are welcome. And by all means, do cast your vote in the FrequentFlier.com poll at http://frequentflier.com/vote-awards.htm.

-> More: http://usatoday.com/travel/news/2004-08-01-awards_x.htm

Industry Newsbites (Signs of the Times)
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We've been reporting on a variety of industry performance metrics in recent weeks, including load factors (high) and quarterly earnings (generally dismal). This week, it's flight ops.

According to figures just released by the DOT for the first 6 months of 2004, the good news (robust demand, as evidenced by a record 3.5 million domestic flights) again went hand in hand with the bad (the highest percentage of delayed flights since 2000).

The number of flights between Jan. and June was up 13% from the same period in 2001, the busiest on record. But more than 20% of those flights arrived late (defined as more than 15 minutes later than scheduled).

Call me a sentimental curmudgeon, but the old days of slack demand (lighter loads and, yes, higher fares) and better service (fewer complaint-worthy infractions in general, and fewer delays in particular) are looking awfully good.

The DOT's Air Travel Consumer Report is online here.

ON SITE...........................................................

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

Ron wonders: "If a frequent flier ticket is issued to my wife in her name can I get the ticket changed to my name? Is there a cost to do so?" (Yes to both questions.) Becky got her first choice of travel dates when redeeming CO miles for a saver-level award trip to Brazil... only to discover that the award level had increased from 35,000 to 50,000 miles on Aug. 1. SEC snagged 6 WorldPerks award ticket to the Grand Cayman Islands (congrats!) and is looking for activity and lodging suggestions. And much more...

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

-> More: http://frequentflier.com/forum/index.cgi

MILES & POINTS....................................................

American Offers Short-Haul Awards for Less
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Between Sept. 1, 2004 and Feb. 28, 2005, AAdvantage members may redeem 15,000 miles for Short-haul (less than 750 nonstop miles each way) roundtrip coach-class MileSAAver award trips. That's a 10,000-mile discount from the 25,000 miles normally required. Short-haul first or business-class roundtrip saver awards are discounted as well, to 30,000 miles, down from 45,000 miles regularly.

Discounted short-haul awards must be booked online at http://www.aa.com.

Lower rates apply to flights operated by American, American Eagle or AmericanConnection carriers in the continental U.S. and Canada.

-> More: http://www.aa.com/shorthauls

More AAdvantage Dining, Hotel Miles
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Between Aug. 1 and Nov. 15, AAdvantage members who have their Citibank AAdvantage credit cards enrolled in the Rewards Network (previously iDine) Dining and Hotel programs will earn a) 250 bonus miles for dining twice at participating restaurants; b) double miles for hotel stays at Bonus hotels booked through the AAdvantage Hotel program and completed during the promo period; and c) 750 bonus miles for dining at a participating restaurant and booking and completing a hotel stay.

Register at the below link.

-> More: http://aa.rewardsnetwork.com/site/bonus.jhtml

America West Partners with NetBank
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Members of America West's FlightFund program may now earn miles for banking services at online-only NetBank, including online checking, money market accounts, direct deposit and online bill payment.

Members earn 2,500 miles for opening and funding a NetValue or SuperValue checking account, 2,500 miles for opening and funding a money market account, 1,500 miles for initiating direct deposit with NetBank, and 500 miles for enrolling in and using NetBank's online bill payment service.

-> More: http://www.flightfund.com

Bonus for Charging CO Lounge Memberships
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Through Sept. 30, OnePass members will earn 2,500 bonus miles and have the $50 initiation fee waived when using the Continental Airlines Consumer Credit Card from Chase to purchase a Presidents Club airport lounge membership.

-> More: http://continental.com/OnePass/news/continental/co_20040801_01.asp

ShareBuilder Is New SkyMiles Brokerage Partner
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SkyMiles members may now earn miles for qualifying transactions with online brokerage ShareBuilder.

Non-elite SkyMiles members will earn 2,000 bonus miles, and Medallion members 3,500, when opening and funding a new individual, joint, custodial, Education Savings Account or IRA. Thereafter, members earn 500 miles for each quarter they remain subscribed to either the Standard or Advantage Investing Program.

-> More: http://www.sharebuilder.com/skymiles

Bonus Miles for Fiesta Stays
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Through Dec. 31, Fiesta hotels in Mexico (Fiesta Americana Grand, Fiesta Americana, Fiesta Inn) are offering bonus miles and other perks for qualifying stays.

Fiesta is awarding 1,000 miles per night in the following programs: AAdvantage, SkyMiles, Club Premier/Aeromexico, Mileage Plan, Frecuenta/Mexicana and OnePass. Plus, guests receive complimentary Gold Membership in the Fiesta Rewards Program, and a free-night certificate for a subsequent trip

Request the Fiesta Rewards Promotion when booking and again at check-in, citing promotional code PROMOFR004.

Hawthorn Says: "Stay Here. Stay There. Stay Free"
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Through Dec. 31, Gold Passport members will earn 1 free night at a Hawthorn Suites after the second and every subsequent Hawthorn stay at different locations. There's no limit to the number of free nights which may be earned.

Free nights may be redeemed at participating Hawthorn Suites from Aug. 15, 2004 - June 30, 2005.

-> More: http://www.hawthorn.com/hyattgoldpassport/promo.asp

Wine.com Discount for Mileage Plus Members
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Through Aug. 31, Mileage Plus members will receive a $20 discount on purchases of $100 or more at Wine.com in addition to the normal 4 miles per $1 spent.

Use promo code UAWINE at checkout.

-> More: http://www.wine.com/promos/united.asp?s=united&cid=united

STEALS & DEALS....................................................

Deal Alert from SmarterLiving.com
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1) Three-Day Southwest Sale from $39 O/W

Southwest has announced systemwide sale fares on nearly every route it flies for 3 days only. Prices range between $39 and $99 one-way, and departures are valid through Jan. 14. Fares may be combined for roundtrip travel.

Book tickets at least 7 days in advance, and by Thursday, Aug. 12.

-> More: http://www.smarterliving.com/air/deal.php?id=7042

2) Europe Fares on US Airways from $414

In an attempt fill a few remaining seats for flights on specific days, US Airways is offering Europe sale fares starting at $414 roundtrip. Departures to Frankfurt, Madrid, Munich, and Paris are valid on select dates in Aug.

Book tickets by Friday, Aug. 13.

-> More: http://www.smarterliving.com/air/deal.php?id=7066

SWEEPS & FREEBIES.................................................

"Take Me to the Hilton" Sweepstakes
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Fill out the online form (link below) by Dec. 20 to be entered into a drawing to win a 7-night stay for 2 at a Hilton anywhere in the world, including airfare. Other prizes include a week in Hawaii and free hotel stays.

-> More: http://travelandleisure.com/contests/takeme2thehilton/index.cfm

READER RANTS & RAVES..............................................

Feedback from the Frontlines of Travel
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"I'm with Ron, who complained about being a Continental Silver Elite and 11 months before the trip, couldn't get Business Class seats at a regular award level. Continental is NW's partner, and obviously shares the bigger airline's award travel policies. I was in exactly the same situation - I'm a Northwest Silver Elite and I tried for only ONE World Business Class seat to Berlin 9 months before my trip. I ended up ponying up 160,000 WorldPerks miles for that trip. I can't remember the last time that I actually GOT a round-trip award at the "base" price... Northwest always manages to find a way to make sure that at least part of my flight has to be "Rule Buster" level, even flying at hideous times like midnight and six a.m. I guess unless you're flying to Podunk, in the middle of the state of Nowhere, you're going to cough up more miles on NW.

"And to Michael, who complained of NW's trick of reserving exit row and forward cabin seats for elite status fliers? If you're willing to take another seat when you purchase, most of those "premium" seats become available the day of the flight, since a lot of the Elites get their First Class upgrade. Yep, it's annoying...and even as a Silver Elite, I can't touch those seats if I'm flying with someone who ISN'T an Elite. At least Michael HAS a choice, and can evidently easily switch to another airline. Living in Detroit, NW's biggest hub, I can't switch without going through major gymnastics to get from here to anywhere." (Sonia)

.........../

[More responses to Michael's rant last week about Northwest reserving exit and front-row seats for elite members...]

"Yes, I've been there too. And it's not entirely new. When my family of 4 and I flew from India to the States last year, we were seated separately on each leg of the journey - despite 'pre-confirmed' seat bookings made at the NWA offices in Delhi, India that showed we had confirmed "bulkhead" rows lined up on 2 of the 3 legs.

"Of all people who may elicit compassion from an airline, I thought a family traveling 8000 kms. with two small children would. Why is it every airline I've been on lately helps families with small kids, except Northwest?" (Dan in Delhi)

"Yesterday, Aug. 9th, my wife and I returned from Gatwick on NW 43 connecting with NW 105 to Phoenix. The check-in agent at Gatwick actually moved us on the MSP-PHX leg from the back of the plane to the exit row (11) without being asked and saying - "here, you'll need these seats after the long flight from the UK". The surprising part is that neither my wife nor I are Premium members, we probably paid less than the vast majority of other paying customers for the coach tix and in fact this was our first NW roundtrip to anywhere in many years - Phoenix is not exactly a major NW destination." (Warren)

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"Like the question on United, I am worried about my Delta mileage... do you believe they will be able to avoid bankruptcy? What would happen to the miles in the event that they file?" (Case in Dallas)

[Again, we'll try to address this issue in the near future.]

.........../

[These will be the final comments in the thread regarding seating for oversized travelers...]

"The whole seat/size issue is another example of the selfish way most Americans expect others to conform to our view of the world. If you are big, buy a bigger seat. I have friends that do it and they view it as part of their lot in life. A small cost for being viewed as more successful, more intimidating or whatever benefits big people get in life. Note on average tall men make more money than shorter men. But I digress. If when you become disappointed that you don't get everything your way, be glad that other people may not get everything their way." (Matthew)

"If anyone objects to passengers of large size being forced to buy two seats, picture yourself in this situation - you get trapped between two 350 lb. people - one in the aisle seat and one in the window and you in the middle, and you will never, ever ask why very obese people should buy two seats!" (CE)

If you have a rant or a rave, e-mail us at rants@frequentflier.com.

Until next week...