Infamy & Business as Usual

I gave serious consideration to suspending this week's Crier in consideration of the horrific terrorist events of Tuesday.

On reflection, the appropriate response to such an incident is, in my opinion, to observe a moment of silence, in memoriam, and then to carry on. As both Sen. Joe Biden and Peter Jennings said, terrorists are successful to the extent that they effectively disrupt the lives of their enemies. So by sticking to our regular publishing schedule, we're doing our small part in fostering a return to calm.

On a personal note, having worked in the airline industry for 20 years, I find it a terrible and deeply disturbing irony that our own commercial aviation system -- specifically, American and United aircraft -- would be the instrument of a terrorist attack on the country I love.

Above is the column that appeared in this space on September 12, 2001.

Keeping Our Forums Clean & User-friendly

As have all online bulletin boards in the past few months, the FrequentFlier Forum has been bombarded by spammers attempting to promote online pharmacies and other less wholesome products and services.

To keep such objectionable posts from cluttering up the Forums, we've instituted a new screening policy: All new Forum members are manually approved by an administrator before being allowed to post messages. Since adopting the new policy, the number of offensive and off-topic posts has been reduced to zero.

Our apologies to new Forum members who must now wait a few hours before being approved to post messages. It's an unfortunate but necessary extra step.

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FrequentFlier Forum Topics

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

In the "Airline Programs" Forum, dickybilly wants to earn elite status before the end of the year: "I live in the Dallas area and fly from DFW. I now have 20,100 American Airline miles for the year and want to make GOLD before end of 2006. Can anyone suggest the CHEAPEST RT flight(s) DFW to ??? which will make the 5000 miles I need for GOLD status?"

Also in the "Airline Programs" Forum, ChazeFroy reports on a targeted Northwest offer to attain elite status in their program: "A friend of mine just got a letter in the mail saying he has been upgraded to Silver Elite status on NWA. He has flown NWA two times this year, totaling 8 segments and 5,804 elite qualifying miles. How is this possible when NWA requires either 30 segments or 25,000 elite qualifying miles? Is NWA doing a promotion for semi-frequent fliers in hopes of retaining business?"

And much more. Questions, answers? Post them to the Forum!

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Amex Mileage Mall Opens for Business

Membership Rewards members can new earn two points for every $1 in purchases at more than 100 online retailers charged to an enrolled American Express Card through links on the new Bonus Points Mall.

As previously reported, Amex is introducing the mall as a replacement for the double points awarded for purchases charged to an American Express card at stand-alone supermarkets, gas stations, drugstores, the U.S. Postal Service, and wireless phone bill payments. The current double points offer will end in October.

Use the FrequentFlier Mile Search to find other miles-for-merchandise opportunities.

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Dollar, Thrifty Are New ATA Program Partners

Effective immediately, members of ATA's Travel Awards frequent flyer program can earn points when renting from Dollar Rent A Car and Thrifty Car Rental (both owned by Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc.). To promote the tie-ups, bonus points are on offer for rentals from both companies.

Dollar is offering double points (150 instead of the 75 points normally awarded) for rentals of a compact or larger vehicle for two or more days through November 15. Use the promotional code ATAD when making reservations and present a Travel Awards number at the time of pick up.

And Thrifty is offering triple points (225 points per rental) to Travel Awards members who rent a premium, luxury, minivan, convertible or standard-size SUV for two or more days through November 15. Bookings must be made using THRIFTY.com.

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Budget Offers Java Bonus for Rentals

No interest in miles and points?

Budget Rent A Car is offering two pounds of Dunkin' Donuts coffee after two rentals of at least two paid rental days through December 15.

To receive the coffee, customers must have a RapidRez or Fastbreak (BCN) number to register and must use the RapidRez or BCN number when renting.

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Dine for More Delta Miles

Delta SkyMiles members who register online and then spend $300 or more at restaurants participating in the SkyMiles Dining & Hotels by Rewards Network program before October 31 will qualify for SkyMiles Dining Elite status and earn an additional five miles per dining dollar spent for the remainder of 2006 and all of 2007.

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Delta Miles for Tech Research

Linmun Research is rewarding new subscribers to its isResearch emerging technology newsletter with as many as 35,000 Delta bonus miles.

To earn the bonus, subscribers should enter 'dmiles09freq' in the coupon code box when signing up.

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Marriott's MegaBonus Is Back

Between September 15, 2006, and January 31, 2007, Marriott Rewards members can earn 2,500 MegaBonus points for the second and subsequent stays charged to a Visa card at Marriott, JW Marriott, Renaissance, Courtyard, Residence Inn, SpringHill Suites, TownePlace Suites, Fairfield Inn and Marriott Vacation Club International hotels. A maximum of 10,000 points may be earned during the promotion. Registration is required.

(Some program members will receive targeted offers that differ somewhat from the advertised promotion.)

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Earn More Southwest Points at Hilton

Between September 1 and November 30, Southwest Rapid Rewards members will earn double credits (1.0 credit instead of the standard 0.5 credits) for stays at participating Hilton, Doubletree, Embassy Suites, Hampton Inn, Hilton Garden Inn, Hilton Grand Vacations Club, Homewood Suites or Waldorf=Astoria Collection hotels in the U.S.

To earn the bonus, request Plan Code Y1 at Hilton, Hilton Garden Inn and The Waldorf=Astoria Collection hotels or Plan Code YY1 at Doubletree, Embassy Suites Hotels, Hampton Inn, Hampton Inn & Suites, and Homewood Suites by Hilton hotels.

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United Reserves Economy Plus for Elites

Effective September 12, United's Economy Plus seats -- the roomier seats in the first few rows of the coach cabin -- are available only to Mileage Plus elites, United Global Services members, those purchasing an annual Economy Plus Access package, and flyers who purchase an upgrade when checking in.

Previously Economy Plus seats were also automatically given to travelers who purchased full-fare coach tickets (Y, B, M, E and U classes).

This is good news for Mileage Plus elites, who will face less competition for the limited number of Economy Plus seats. More generally, United is to be commended for putting the interests of its most loyal customers ahead of the interests of those simply paying the highest ticket prices.

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Deal Alert from SmarterTravel.com

1) Europe Flights on United from $400

Europe flights through March 2007 are on sale from United. The sale fares start at $400 roundtrip, and destinations include Berlin, London, Paris, and Rome.

Departures are valid Mondays through Wednesdays from October 30, 2006, through March 31, 2007. Book tickets at least 21 days in advance, and by September 18. Fares require a Saturday-night stay, and the maximum stay is 30 days.

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2) American Fares from $78

American has matched AirTran's new systemwide sale (reported in last week's newsletter) for travel through early 2007. The sale fares start at $78 roundtrip, and destinations include Chicago, Miami, and New York.

Travel is valid Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays through February 1, 2007. Book tickets at least 10 or 21 days in advance, depending on the route. AirTran's similar sale expires September 19, so American's sale will likely expire then as well. Fares may require a one-night stay.

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Win a Trip to Any Marriott, Anywhere in the World

Enter Marriott's "Virtual Tour" sweepstakes before October 31 for a chance to win one of three trips for two to a Marriott hotel of the winner's choice, including seven nights' accommodation, air and $1,000 spending money.

Other prizes: five home theaters featuring 42-inch flat-screen TVs, and five $5,000 shopping sprees at ShopMarriott.com.

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

Feedback from the Frontlines of Travel

"There are rumors of a possible merger between Continental and United. That worries me. I have a lifetime membership in the Continental lounge (Presidents Club). If the two merged, would my membership be safe, or would it be canceled (assuming United were the surviving partner)?" [Mark T.]

[FrequentFlier.com replies - The honest answer: Nobody knows. As an historical note, when American acquired TWA, they did not honor lifetime memberships in TWA's airport lounges. But TWA was in Chapter 11 at the time and was on the brink of liquidation. A Continental-United tie-up would be a merger between viable enterprises, so there would be moral pressure, if not a legal requirement, to keep promises already in place.]

"You may want to point out a very disappointing change (again!) with Delta SkyMiles program - and I would LOVE for you to try to get a quote from someone in their marketing department on this one.

"As of 2007 PLATINUM MEDALLIONS (the top tier) will NO LONGER have free access to the Crown Rooms! This seems to defy logic when, through SkyTeam using a sameday ticket you can have access (supposedly) to any of the SkyTeam lounges... which (if Delta is a founding member of SkyTeam) does not seem to 'pass the make sense test'! So... let's put this into perspective. All other top tier 'Elite Plus' members of SkyTeam can come to the Crown Room on a same day ticket with their cards.... and a top tier Delta Platinum/Elite Plus can go to any other airline lounge with a same ticket on that airline... BUT not on their own (e.g. Delta) airline?

"Yes... I do see the 'discounted rate' offered for Platinums... but this change seems to defy explanation. I am particularly frustrated as (for those of you who are truly long term Frequent Flyers) I am not only a multi-Million miler on Delta (and what small inconsequential gifts they provide for having spent numerous hundreds of thousands of dollars for flying them!) BUT I am also an original 'Flying Colonel' (which used to provide 'lifetime membership to the Crown Rooms'... perhaps I failed to ask WHOSE life time!).

"Good luck for getting the answers to this one.... and thank you for the good work!" [Peter L.]

Until next week...