U P F R O N T

This Week's Travel Newsbites
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The Big Squeeze

The airlines have begun releasing load factor reports for the month of Aug. And, no surprise, they're high. (Load factor is the overall percentage of seats occupied on an airline's network. From a performance standpoint, it's an measure of the alignment between supply and demand. From a customer standpoint, it's a comfort barometer: the higher the load factor, the less comfortable the passengers.)

Here's what we know so far. American, the world's largest carrier, had an Aug. load factor of 79.5%, up from 75.6% a year ago. Northwest boasted 82.6% occupancy, 1.9 points above Aug. 2002. And Continental's was 82.2%, up from 79.1% last year.

Have I developed an unhealthy preoccupation with load factors? I'm a bit claustrophobic, it's true. So I'll go to considerable lengths to travel on a flight with fewer passengers.

But my real concern is with the decreasing supply of available award seats for frequent flyer program members. In their efforts to "shrink into profitability," the mainline carriers are taking award seats off the table, even as they trot out more mileage-earning opportunities (viz. more program partners).

For years, a vocal group of naysayers has warned consumers that mileage programs were little more than Ponzi schemes which would eventually collapse under the weight of outstanding miles. The airlines may yet prove them right.

New Alliances Developing

KLM has confirmed that alliance discussions with British Air have been suspended, leaving a link-up with Air France the likely outcome-by-default. That would be a first step toward KLM's entry into the SkyTeam global alliance, co-anchored by Air France and Delta.

Separately, Reuters reports that BA and Swiss are close to announcing a tie-up which will include Swiss's membership in the oneworld alliance led by American and BA.

(Swiss -- formed in Apr. 2002 from the remains of failed Swissair and the regional carrier Crossair -- is struggling to survive and may be forced to merge with a healthier airline.)

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

Alaska Doubles Miles on New Horizon Routes
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To promote Horizon Air's new services between Seattle and both Idaho Falls and Pocatello, Mileage Plan members will earn double miles on the routes from Sept. 7 through Oct. 31.

Registration is not required.

> More...

Dine for AAdvantage Bonus Miles
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Through Oct. 31, participants in the AAdvantage miles-for-dining program will earn bonus miles as follows --

Dine 2 times . . . Earn 250 bonus miles
Dine 4 times . . . Earn 500 bonus miles
Dine 6 times . . . Earn 1,000 bonus miles
Dine 8 times . . . Earn 2,000 bonus miles

The bonus is in addition to normally earned miles, typically 10 miles per $1 charged to a registered credit card.

You must be a member of AAdvantage Dining with a current profile to participate. Register here with promotion code DINRF.

CO Bows Out of Hilton Reward Exchange
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Following Delta and United, Continental removed its name from the list of Hilton HHonors Reward Exchange partners, effective Sept. 1.

That means HHonors members may no longer convert Continental miles into HHonors points, or vice versa.

Continental remains a partner in the HHonors program, however, allowing members to earn both HHonors points and Continental miles for qualifying stays.

From EA$Y CHOICE: Double Credit
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Between Sept. 15 and Dec. 31, stays at Econo Lodge and Rodeway Inn hotels will earn double EA$Y CHOICE stamps for every night's stay. That's 2 stamps per night, and up to 10 stamps per stay.

Stamps are redeemable for discounts at Econo Lodge and Rodeway Inn hotels -- 10 stamps for a $50 discount, 6 stamps for $25, 3 for $10.

Stamps may also be redeemed for airline miles in the programs of American, American West (effective Sept. 18), Delta, Northwest, Southwest, United and US Airways. Six EA$Y CHOICE stamps are redeemable for 750 miles or 1 Southwest credit; 10 stamps convert to 1,500 miles or 2 credits.

> More...

Swissotel Stays Earn Double Midwest Miles
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Members of Midwest Miles will earn double miles for qualifying stays of 2 or more nights at Swissotel hotels between Sept. 1 and Oct. 31.

For details, contact Swissotel Hotels and Resorts at 1-800-637-9477.

Prime Stays Earn Double Points, Miles
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Between Sept. 1 and Oct. 31, Prime Rewards members will earn double points and miles when staying at AmeriSuites, Prime Hotels & Resorts, or Wellesley Inns & Suites hotels.

Normally, every $1 spent earns 10 Prime Rewards points plus 1 airline mile in the programs of American, America West, Continental, Delta or United. Those earnings double during the promotion.

> More...

United Offers "Free" Upgrades for Elites
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United has ratcheted up the perks for Mileage Plus elites who travel on full-fare coach tickets.

Effective immediately, Premier members may request 1-class upgrades from full-Y (most Y- or B-class fares using e-tickets) without using miles, certificates or cash.

Policy applies to travel within the U.S., Canada, Hawaii, the Caribbean and Central America. Upgrade clearance is based on elite level (100 hours in advance for 1K members, 72 hours for Premier Executive and 48 hours for Premier).

Needless to say, upgrades are subject to availability. And that, indeed, will be the test: can elites actually upgrade in practice? If so, this is a real step forward.

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...

Autumn Savings to Europe from $216
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Fly to Europe this fall and have euros to spare with sale fares from American, Lufthansa, Northwest, and United. All 4 airlines' sales are for travel in Sept. and Oct.; you can also fly American at these prices during the Dec. holiday period.

Specific travel dates and booking deadlines vary by airline.

> More...

Spin the Wheel and Save Up to 50% to Las Vegas
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America West is offering discounts to Las Vegas based on a promotion called the "Wheel of Savings." You can get 5% to 50% off its base sale fares, but you don't find out how much until after you agree to make a purchase.

In order to have a turn at the wheel, buy a ticket between Las Vegas and any of America West's cities, for travel through Dec. 16. Be sure to book online only and by Monday, Sept. 8. No advance purchase is required.

Then, after you agree to buy a ticket, your discount will be randomly selected as 5% - 50% off the original fare.

> More...

S W E E P S & F R E E B I E S

From CO: "Win on the Web" Sweepstakes
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Between Sept. 1 and Dec. 31, enter Continental's "Win on the Web" sweepstakes to win BusinessFirst tickets to Europe, lifetime airport lounge memberships, etc.

Entries are awarded automatically for online bookings, flight e-check-in and other online transactions at continental.com. Mail-in entries are also accepted.

The contest is open to legal residents of the Continental U.S., 21 years of age and older.

> More...

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

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

This Week's E-Mailbag
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"Herewith a complaint about the World Perks service; I have been traveling a few times all over the world with KLM and have accumulated airmiles to Platinum Level and enough points to get several upgrades. Never used my points until I had a flight from Hong Kong to Quito with KLM over Amsterdam.

"Called about twenty times and every time I was told there were no seats available for upgrade with these flights. At one time I asked World Perks when there would be chairs in business class available for upgrade and all she came up with was maybe after nine months there would be a "small change" I could upgrade with World Perks points on a flight from Kong -Amsterdam with KLM; however she couldn't tell me for sure, I first had to buy the ticket and than check again.

"If indeed business class is sold out I don't have a problem with that but what a surprise when I boarded the flight KL888 from AMS to Quito : I counted twenty empty chairs in business class ! Filed a complain in the plane and even the steward offered my a bottle of wine, great service from KLM crew but in the end the couldn't change me to business class either.

"After arrival I have sent about twenty e-mails to both World Perks and KLM, still they tell me there were no chairs available for World Perks members on this flight and there are not going to be on my flight back to Hong Kong from Quito the 4th September. World Perks blames it on the KLM that they don't offer enough chairs for upgrade for WP members and KLM can't help me any further since I am not a member of their Flying Dutchman Program. However, I only fly KLM but since I live in China I cannot become a member of Flying Dutchman. This has been a frustrating experience; having so much airmiles accumulated in such a short time and all they offer me is a free cup of coffee in KLM Business Class lounge on Schiphol Airport. It would be appreciated if World Perks would have been more clear that there is no way WP points can be used for upgrades on KLM flights, however they promote their program if it has equal status as Flying Dutchman."

- Pieter \

F R E Q U E N T F L I E R F U N N I E S

True (Funny) Travel Stories
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"I had an interesting experience at the airport this Monday morning that might qualify as a joke, or at least a pun.

"When I arrived at the gate, I realized that I didn't get a receipt when I checked-in. So I went up to the gate, handed the agent my boarding pass, and told the agent 'I'd like a receipt please.' She told 'No, I can't do that.' At first I didn't understand how they could be out of receipts, but then she said in a brisk, irritated, voice, 'Sir, this is a very full flight, please understand.'"

[Thanks to Jay, who contributed the above for the amusement of other Crier readers.]

Until next week...