U P F R O N T
Farewell to Summer
==================
Best wishes to all Crier readers for a safe and restful Labor Day holiday weekend.
It's been an interesting summer, both for what has and what hasn't transpired.
In the latter category, we haven't seen any additional airline bankruptcies. US Airways emerged from bankruptcy in March, ahead of schedule. And United has managed to elude liquidation. A year ago, that would have seemed a naively rosy prediction. We should probably count our blessings.
Judging from the quantity and content of the e-mails I receive from readers, the level of concern over disappearing airlines, and lost frequent flyer miles, has all but abated.
If there's a newly emerging theme, it's a growing concern about the award side of the major programs.
Programs are aggressively enlisting new program partners, creating ever more opportunities to earn miles. But even as outstanding demand for award seats balloons, the supply of seats has decreased by approx. 20% since 9/11.
More miles to be redeemed. Fewer available seats to redeem them for. This has the earmarks of an impending train wreck.
Bring on the Fall!
M I L E S & P O I N T S
Alaska Offers Multi-Segment Bonuses
===================================
Between Sept. 7 and Dec. 15, members of Alaska Airlines' Mileage Plan will earn up to 100,000 bonus miles, depending on the number of segments flown, as follows:
Segments |
Bonus Miles |
Total Bonus Miles |
5
|
5,000
|
5,000 |
10
|
10,000
|
15,000 |
15
|
15,000
|
30,000 |
25
|
25,000
|
55,000 |
35+ |
45,000
|
100,000 |
In addition, 100 Mileage Plan members will win 100,000 miles each in the 10-Million-Mile Giveaway sweepstakes. During the promotion period, members receive 1 entry for every segment flown, or 2 entries for every segment booked online at alaskaair.com.
To be eligible for both the bonus and the sweepstakes, advance registration is required.
> More...
American Extends Buy-Miles Programs
===================================
When we first reported on American's buyAAmiles and giftAAmiles in Aug. 2001, we predicted that these miles-for-sale offerings would eventually become permanent AAdvantage features, rather than limited-time opportunities with published end-dates.
Maybe next year.
For now, American has once again extended the deadline for buyAAmiles, giftAAmiles and the newer shareAAmiles "offers," this time through Jan. 31, 2004.
Cost to purchase miles: 2.75 cents per mile for up to 5,000 miles, 2.5 cents for 6,000 - 25,000 miles, plus a $25 processing fee and taxes.
To transfer AAdvantage miles to another member's account, it'll cost you $50 to transfer between 1,000 and 5,000 miles, $100 for 6,000 - 10,000 miles, and $150 for 11,000 - 15,000 miles, plus a $25 processing fee and taxes.
> More...
American Discounts Hawaii Awards
================================
AAdvantage members who redeem miles for first/biz-class award flights between California and Hawaii by Dec. 31 will save 15,000 miles for PlanAAhead awards and 30,000 miles for AAnytime awards.
With the discounts, the awards are priced at 60,000 and 120,000 miles respectively.
SkyMiles for Sale in Canada
===========================
Canada residents may now purchase SkyMiles online.
Per-mile pricing is the same as for U.S. residents: 2.75 cents per mile. But in addition to the 7.5% U.S. federal excise tax and $25 processing fee that U.S. consumers pay when buying SkyMiles, Canadians are subject to a 7% Canadian GST tax.
How do you say "Ouch!" in Canadian?
> More...
Marriott Doubles Points for Stays
=================================
Marriott Rewards members who charge their stays to a Visa card (ANY Visa card, not just the MR Visa) between Sept. 15, 2003, and Jan. 31, 2004, will earn double points for the second and subsequent qualifying stays.
Register online or by calling 1-888-MARRIOTT (627-7468).
IMPORTANT - MR members who have elected to earn airline miles instead of points will NOT earn the bonus. To participate in this promo, you must modify your profile to auto-award points, after which they may be converted to miles.
Separately, U.S. and Canadian (excluding Quebec) residents, are eligible for the Dream Vacation Sweepstakes from Aug. 26, 2003, through Jan. 31, 2004, if rooms are booked on Marriott.com and the reservation is guaranteed with a Visa card.
> More...
From Singapore Air: Bonus for Full-Fare Flights
===============================================
Members of Singapore Airlines' KrisFlyer program will earn 10,000 bonus miles for roundtrip flights in full-fare coach (B, Y fares), 20,000 miles for business (C, J), and 40,000 miles for first (P, F), booked between Aug. 25 and Sept. 30 and completed by Nov. 28.
The promo is limited to singaporeair.com/USA and Canada website roundtrip bookings originating in the U.S. or Canada.
In addition, new KrisFlyer members who join the program and earn miles within 6 months of enrollment will receive 3,000 bonus miles.
> More...
New United Dining Members Earn 500 Miles
========================================
If you're not already a participant in the Mileage Plus Dining program, join before Sept. 7 to earn 500 bonus miles.
The program -- operated by iDine and virtually identical to the dining-for-miles programs offered by most other major programs -- awards 10 miles per $1 spent at over 10,000 participating restaurants nationwide.
> More...
S T E A L S & D E A L S
Deal Alert from SmarterLiving.com
=================================
This week's hot deals from SmarterLiving.com...
Cross-Country Fare Deals Starting at $198
-------------------------------------------------
American and Southwest have announced coast-to-coast sales starting at $198 roundtrip, as well as fares starting at $78 roundtrip to/from cities all over the country. Alaska is offering a similar sale for travel on the West Coast.
Book tickets at least 14 days in advance, and by Thursday, Aug. 28, on Alaska, America West, and Southwest. American hasn't announced a booking deadline.
> More...
Web-Only Cancun Sale Fares from $307
----------------------------------------------
Delta has announced a sale on fall flights to Cancun, Mexico, for travel between Sept. 1 and Nov. 22. Book tickets by Friday, Aug. 29.
> More...
R E A D E R R A N T S & R A V E S
This Week's E-Mailbag
=====================
"On flights that qualify for a 'meal' (few and far between as they are) Delta is now offering all coach passengers the choice of nothing -- or purchasing an Atlanta Bread Company sandwich at a cost of $8.00. It is served in a cardboard box. And cookies are $2.00 each. Ok, so it's coach. What do you expect?
"And while the crammed in Coach passengers are dining on their cardboard box lunches, guess what Delta serves in First Class? You guessed it. The same cardboard box lunch from the Atlanta Bread Company (complete with a plastic wrapped plastic fork and knife) plus one paper napkin -- one whole napkin! With the cookie thrown in for good measure. And just because you're traveling in Delta's new definition of First Class, you don't have to pay the $8.00. Mr. Mullin went over the line on this one. He continues to amaze his best business customers with a blatant display of 'we don't want you here.'"
- Chris
F R E Q U E N T F L I E R F U N N I E S
True (Funny) Travel Stories
====================================
After every flight, pilots fill out a form called a gripe sheet, which conveys to the mechanics problems encountered with the aircraft during the flight that need repair or correction. The mechanics read and correct the problem, and then respond in writing on the lower half of the form what remedial action was taken, and the pilot reviews the gripe sheets before the next flight. Never let it be said that ground crews and engineers lack a sense of humor. Here are some actual logged maintenance complaints and problems as submitted by Qantas pilots and the solution recorded by maintenance engineers. By the way, Qantas is the only major airline that has never had an accident.
(P = The problem logged by the pilot)
(S = The solution and action taken by the engineers)
P: Left inside main tire almost needs replacement.
S: Almost replaced left inside main tire.
P: Test flight OK, except auto-land very rough.
S: Auto-land not installed on this aircraft.
P: Something loose in cockpit.
S: Something tightened in cockpit.
P: Dead bugs on windshield.
S: Live bugs on back-order.
P: Autopilot in altitude-hold mode produces a 200 feet per minute descent.
S: Cannot reproduce problem on ground.
P: Evidence of leak on right main landing gear.
S: Evidence removed.
P: DME volume unbelievably loud.
S: DME volume set to more believable level.
P: Friction locks cause throttle levers to stick.
S: That's what they're there for.
P: IFF inoperative.
S: IFF always inoperative in OFF mode.
P: Suspected crack in windshield.
S: Suspect you're right.
P: Number 3 engine missing.
S: Engine found on right wing after brief search.
P: Aircraft handles funny.
S: Aircraft warned to straighten up, fly right, and be serious.
P: Target radar hums.
S: Reprogrammed target radar with lyrics.
P: Mouse in cockpit.
S: Cat installed.
P: Noise coming from under instrument panel. Sounds like a midget pounding on something with a hammer.
S: Took hammer away from midget.
Source unknown
[Thanks to Geoff and Yoshiko, both of whom contributed the above for the amusement of other Crier readers.]
Until next week...
|
