U P F R O N T
Next Week: 9/11
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As are all publishers, I've been mulling over the question of what, if anything, to do to commemorate the first anniversary of 9/11.
On one hand, the urge to declaim long and loud about an event which hit so close to home on so many levels is almost overwhelming.
Over the course of 20 years in the airline industry, I knew many pilots and flight attendants. As a business traveler, I flew on all 4 of the flights the terrorist ultimately hijacked. And having been born and raised in Manhattan, I watched the World Trade Center towers being built.
So I have as much residual anger and anguish and confusion as the next American. And next week, realistically, when it comes bubbling up to the surface, I expect to be either speechless or incoherent.
On the other hand, to suspend next week's issue altogether would amount to capitulation.
So the plan (subject to change) is to put one foot in front of the other and, with equal measures of humility and defiance, simply publish this newsletter as usual.
O N S I T E
New on the FrequentFlier Forum
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The following comments from Paul make him this week's Forum poster boy. "... and now thanks to what I learned on this website I am back over 250K and ready for another European Vacation! (Hopefully mine will be as exciting as the Griswalds!!!) We are spending 3 nights in Munich, 2 Milan, 1-2 Geneva, and 1 Zurich all courtesy of Hilton. I will probably pay for one night at Munich and Geneva because those 2 seem to have some really nice upgrades and that way I'll be assured of being upgraded.
"Thanks guys and gals. Without what I learn on this website this would not be possible, until much further down the road.
"PS - You might be thinking how I can afford to do all this even with free hotel stays, well I'm not a millionaire but I did the next best thing... I married a flight attendant. So free flights + free nights + flexible employment + no children (yet)+ Frequent Flier Forum = lots of travel!!!!"
Do you have mileage-related questions, answers, anecdotes? Post them (and read others') on the FrequentFlier Forum.
B-A-A-A-A-D D O G G Y
In the Doghouse: United
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[This is a new section, devoted to program-related developments which warrant more than the usual dose of critical comment. While United is the "launch customer," last week's bad-news announcement from US Airways makes them our charter doghouse resident.]
When airlines claim that they're making things simpler, it's a safe bet that they're actually making them worse. Remember Northwest's elimination of off-peak awards? That, according to Northwest's public pronouncements, amounted to a plus for WorldPerks members: simplicity.
So when I spied the S-word lurking in a recent United Airlines press release, I felt the unmistakable chill of foreboding. From last Thursday's announcement: "Consistently, we receive feedback from our best customers that upgrades are too complex and not simple to use. Today we are announcing a number of policy changes to make travel easier."
As suspected, that was just a disingenuous prelude to the bad news. Beginning in Oct., Mileage Plus members will pay more for upgrades, whether they use miles or cash.
The cash price of 4 500-mile upgrades will rise from $125 to $200 for elite members, and from $200 to $325 for non-elites. Using miles, 8 500-mile upgrades will cost 50,000 miles.
North American upgrades for Y and B bookings will increase from 5,000 miles currently to 8,000 miles, and from 10,000 to 15,000 miles for other fares.
International upgrades for Y and B bookings, currently available for between 8,000 and 13,000 miles, will increase to 15,000 miles; and upgrades from C, M or H codes will increase from between 15,000 and 25,000 miles to 30,000.
One bright spot: Effective in the first quarter of 2003, Premier members may request upgrades up to 48 hours before departure instead of the current 24 hours.
Woof!
M I L E S & P O I N T S
Amex Adds, Deletes Int'l Program Partners
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American Express has added Delta and Virgin Atlantic to its International Airline Program, which offers Centurion and Platinum cardholders free companion tickets when purchasing first- or business-class tickets on 20 carriers.
Virgin replaces British Airways, which has been embroiled in an acrimonious dispute with Amex over transaction fees.
> More...
Multiple Offers from Best Western
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> Northeast Promo
Gold Crown members can earn double airline miles, or both points and miles, for stays between Sept. 1 and Dec. 31 at Best Westerns in Delaware, Maryland, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington, D.C. and West Virginia. Registration is required for double airline miles and you must mention rate plan "NG" at check-in to receive the miles-and-points award.
> Northwest Air Promo
Between Sept. 1 and Dec. 31, program members will receive double WorldPerks miles after every the second stay at participating Best Western hotels in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Tennessee and Wisconsin. Registration required.
> United Promo
Gold Crown members will earn 500 United bonus miles after the second stay at Best Western hotels between Sept. 1 and Oct. 31.
The 500-mile bonus extends until Dec. 31 for stays in the following states: California, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Virginia, Washington, D.C., West Virginia and Wisconsin, as well as in Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Peru, Venezuela and Uruguay. Registration required.
> Canada Sweepstakes
Between Sept. 1 and Nov. 30, use your Diners Club card to charge a stay at a Best Western hotel in Canada to be automatically entered into a drawing for up to 100,000 Aeroplan Miles. Open to Canada residents only.
> More...
Boston Bonus from Delta
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SkyMiles members will earn 2,005 bonus miles for Boston-originating flights purchased on delta.com.
To receive the 1-time bonus, purchase a roundtrip ticket originating from Logan International Airport by Nov. 15 and complete travel by Dec. 31.
Inter-Con Stays Earn Triple Points, Miles
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Priority Club members will earn triple points or airline miles for qualifying stays at Inter-Continental hotels through Dec. 31.
Bonus is credited automatically... no need to pre-register.
> More...
From Northwest: Mileage Mania
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Between now and Dec. 31, WorldPerks members who complete 1 or more of 15 eligible transactions will earn bonus miles, up to a total of 200,000.
Each designated activity earns points. For example, electronic check-in earns 5 points; first-time enrollment in WorldPerks earns 10 points; a roundtrip domestic flight in M/H/Q booking class earns 50 points; etc.
At the end of the promotion, all earned points will be converted to bonus miles: 20-49 points convert to 1,000 bonus miles; 50-99 convert to 1,500; and so on, up to 2,000 points which convert to 200,000 bonus miles.
Register by Nov. 30. Only activity completed after registration will qualify for points and miles. Only U.S. and Canada members are eligible.
> More...
Northwest Discounts FL Awards
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WorldPerks members can fly to select destinations in Florida for 20,000 miles, a 5,000-mile discount, between Sept. 1 and 30. Discounted awards must be booked online to be eligible.
> More...
Earn Bonus Dividend Miles for Car Rentals
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Through Oct. 31, Dividend Miles members can earn 250 bonus miles when booking online and completing a qualifying rental with Alamo, Avis, Dollar or Hertz.
Follow the link below for details and promo codes.
> 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...
Fall flights to Florida starting at $118 R/T
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Delta's new sale offers low fares for fall flights to Florida, allowing you to visit the Sunshine State after the weather cools down. Travel is valid through Nov. 5. Book tickets at least seven days before departure and by Tuesday, Sept. 10.
> More...
Southwest and JetBlue offer West Coast savings from $38 R/T
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Competition is heating up between low-cost airlines Southwest and JetBlue, which are contending for budget travelers' dollars with very low fares to/from California, starting at $38 round-trip for travel between the Los Angeles area and Las Vegas.
> More...
R E A D E R R A N T S & R A V E S
This Week's E-Mail Bag
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"On the "endangered mile" topic, you can also exchange Continental One Pass miles into Amtrak's Guest Rewards program. Miles and points are exchanged one-to-one and points in Amtrak Guest Rewards can be redeemed for Amtrak travel, as well as hotel, car rental and retail certificates."
- Guy
"Travel, and all the trials that accompany it, seem to upset quite a few of your readers. We all have so much to be thankful for, we are free to drive on our next vacations.. like sweet William, the Mensa member. We are free to complain about how negative "everyone else is," and the fact that we have miles to loose, does say something about our lifestyle. Luggage gets lost, lines move slowly, people are... well... human. But our realities are just dreams for the vast majority of the world out there.
"I have backpacked in about 80 countries so far, and I travel for the thrill of not knowing what lies ahead. My travels are governed by self imposed challenges, and whatever those challenges are, I try to confront them with kindness and dignity. Wherever I go I always remember that as screwed up as "home" can be, it still is the best place on earth, just ask a little girl in Calcutta."
- TravlinAsh
"I just read that Continental Airlines charged a family $810 to check 3 bags to Paris that exceeded 62 linear inches! My next flight is on Delta so I called them. Any bag over 62 linear inches is subject to an $80 surcharge per domestic segment. Your second checked bag can't exceed 55 linear inches! Are they serious ?! Every one of our suitcases is at least 62 linear inches. This is ludicrous. Why would they want people to check 2 smaller bags as opposed to one bigger one? It is more work for them. And shouldn't weight matter more than a few inches? Are airlines really going to be enforcing these outdated and unfair limits? And they wonder why fewer people are flying?"
- Ann
"Some will rent you a van and you can drive in 3-1/2 hours for $140. Some will drive you in their bus for $50-$100 in about 4-1/2 (many stops). Or the plane will get you there in less than a hour, but it costs $550.
"There is no constitutional or God given right to a cheap airfare. You get what you pay for. Just think if the planes were cheaper than buses, rental cars or trains those companies would all be out of business. Oh wait! That's right, the trains are out of business and so is Trailways and almost Greyhound, too. Please bring back regulation. PLEASE!!!
"There are bus people, train people and plane people. Different strokes for different folks. Support the bus companies, trains and car rentals."
- Bob
Until next week...
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