U P F R O N T

Alliance Chatter
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After months of speculation and anticipation, it appears that KLM's inclusion in the Delta-led SkyTeam alliance is imminent.

Reuters is reporting that discussions between KLM and Air France have gotten down to the finer points of bringing the 2 airlines, which would retain their separate names and national identities, under the control of a single holding company.

And Northwest, according to a recent report in the St. Paul Pioneer Press, is also on the verge of joining SkyTeam.

More next week.

O N S I T E

Servers Behaving Badly (Still)
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The server problems mentioned in last week's Crier continue to confound and bedevil us.

Actually, last week's bug was squashed, only to be replaced by another. The good news is that the problem only manifests itself (intermittently, as temporarily unavailable pages) in a very specific section of the website. The bad news: the section in question is the FrequentFlier Forum, where our regular website visitors like to hang out and trade tips.

People more technically proficient than myself are grappling with these demons of Internet darkness and have sworn blood oaths to prevail.

Once again, thanks for your patience while we get the problem resolved.

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

Continental Giveth, Continental Taketh Away
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On Monday, Continental announced it would provide "Royal Treatment" for its best customers. What they've dubbed EliteAccess is a package of airport benefits and services, including priority check-in, expedited security screening, priority boarding and baggage handling, guaranteed aisle or window seat (or 1,000 bonus miles), and space-available upgrades.

These are pretty standard benefits. What's new, aside from the catchy name, is that in addition to first/biz-class customers and OnePass elite members, EliteAccess is being extended to those traveling on full-fare coach e-tickets. So there is a small net gain to support the hyperbole.

> More...

On Tuesday, with considerably less fanfare -- in fact, the word 'stealth' comes to mind -- Continental posted on its website a notice of changes to the OnePass program to take effect Jan. 1, 2004.

First, following squarely in the footsteps of Delta, Continental will reduce the number of elite-qualifying miles awarded for travel on heavily discounted coach tickets (Q, S, T, L fares) from 100% of flown miles to 50%. Plus, those cheap tickets earn no elite segments/points whatever.

Second, upgrades will be more costly, as follows:

a) A 1-way, 1-class upgrade from select coach fares (Series 0) will double in price, to 15,000 miles.

b) When upgrading from K fares to BusinessFirst, OnePass members will have to pay $200 each way, in addition to the required miles.

c) And when upgrading H and K fares to BusinessFirst for flights to/from Hawaii, members will also pay $200 each way, in addition to the miles.

> More...

Double OnePass Miles for Air Europa Flights
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Through Nov. 30, OnePass members will earn double miles for the Air Europa portion of any Air Europa/Continental codeshare flights between the U.S. and Europe.

> More...

Delta Offers Bonus for Points Transfers
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Through Oct. 31, SkyMiles members will earn 5,000 bonus miles when transferring the equivalent of 20,000 miles from a partner account to their SkyMiles account.

Delta has points-exchange agreements in place with Diners Club, Hyatt Gold Passport, Le Meridien Moments, Marriott Rewards, American Express, Priority Club Rewards, Radisson Gold Rewards and Starwood Preferred Guest programs.

The number of points needed to qualify for the 5,000 bonus miles varies among programs. Amex Membership Rewards points, for example, are worth 1 airline mile each, so 20,000 MR points could be exchanged for 25,000 Delta Miles, including the bonus. A Marriott Rewards member, by contrast, would have to exchange 60,000 points to receive 25,000 OnePass miles.

SkyMiles members may also transfer points from various loyalty programs via Points.com. But so many points are lost in the conversion process that it probably defeats the purpose of the bonus.

A maximum of 2 bonuses or 10,000 bonus miles will be awarded per partner program.

Pre-registration is required.

> More...

SkyTeam Offers All-Alliance Awards
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Following similar moves by the Star Alliance and oneworld, the other major global airline alliances, the SkyTeam group has consolidated the member airlines' individual award-travel charts into a single chart.

With the newly unified award chart, members of the mileage programs of any SkyTeam airline -- Aeromexico, Air France, Alitalia, CSA Czech, Delta -- may use a combination of SkyTeam airlines for an award trip, all on a single award ticket. (The other SkyTeam airline, Korean, will follow suit early next year.)

The alliance award chart also includes an around-the-world award, on a combination of SkyTeam airlines, at 140,000 miles for coach or 240,000 miles for first class.

> More...

Charge on Amex to Earn Triple SkyMiles on Delta
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Between Sept. 1 and Oct. 31, SkyMiles members who use an Amex card to purchase Delta tickets will earn triple miles on nonstop flights between and through Atlanta and 3 Southern California airports, LAX, Ontario and John Wayne in Orange County.

Registration is required.

> More...

Hilton Offers More Points (Fewer Miles)
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Between Sept. 3 and Dec. 31, members of the Hilton HHonors program may elect to receive 50% more HHonors points in place of the normally awarded combination of points and airline miles.

Follow the below link to register for the offer.

> More...

Up to 20,000 Points for Hilton Platinum Card
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Hilton HHonors members can earn up to 20,000 bonus points for acquiring a Hilton HHonors Platinum credit card from American Express by Sept. 30.

Earn 7,500 bonus points after the first purchase using the card. Then earn 2,500 bonus points each month from Oct., 2003 through Feb., 2004 for using the card 5 times each month (minimum of $100/month spent).

Bonus is only available to new cardholders.

> More...

JetBlue Quadruples Points for FL-CA Flights
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Between Sept. 12 and Oct. 12, members of JetBlue's TrueBlue program will earn 48 points for direct roundtrip flights between Ft. Lauderdale and L.A. (Long Beach).

To earn the bonus, tickets must be purchased at jetblue.com. To register, log on to http://jetblue.com/blueplate and provide your e-mail address and TrueBlue password.

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...

Florida, Caribbean, and Europe Sale from US Airways
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US Airways has announced a massive sale to destinations all over the world, so you could save on a winter trip to the beaches of Florida or the Caribbean, or avoid the crowds by visiting Europe during the off-season.

Florida and Caribbean travel is valid through Feb. 12, 2004; Europe fares are valid from Nov. 1 through Feb. 29, 2004. Book tickets at least 7 or 14 days in advance, depending on your destination, and by Friday, Sept. 26.

> More...

Fall Fare Sale on JetBlue from $58
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JetBlue is offering sale fares as low as $58 round-trip on flights to and from California, Florida, San Juan, PR, and other destinations throughout its system. Travel is valid to/from most cities through Dec. 17, 2003, or Feb. 10, 2004.

Book tickets at least 7, 14, or 21 days before departure, and for most destinations, by Tuesday, Sept. 30.

> More...

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

From Southwest: Sweep 16 Sweepstakes
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Sign up by Sept. 30 to receive e-mail announcements from Southwest to be entered automatically in the Rapid Rewards Sweep 16 Sweepstakes. Winners will receive Rapid Rewards trips, Hyatt Gold Passport points, car rental gift certificates from Hertz, or other prizes.

> 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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"Chances are, you're seen this by now. Nonetheless, here is Continental's most recent OnePass program change.

"I would urge folks to write in and ask them to consider the results of their actions. It's not going to increase my company's spending any, but if I only get 1/2 of my miles towards Elite, I predict that other airlines with better-timed flights are going to get a lot more of my business next year!"

- Jim

"Jeff's experience [see last week's Crier] has been similar to mine---I have tried several times to book reward seats with Air Canada, and have had very poor results. I have never yet been able to get even a single seat, never mind two, on a flight to a desirable destination, at a time of year that might be popular. I would dearly love to know how Air Canada allocates reward seats. At the same time Air Canada is out recruiting more partners to award points---credit cards; Big box retailers, etc, all give points---but what's the point if you can't redeem them?

"I personally don't call it the Air Canada Reward program--it's more like the Air Canada Punishment program.

"I recently cancelled my Aeroplan Visa gold card for just that reason."

- John

"Delta has made some commendable changes in their SkyMiles program this year. However, Delta has chosen not to advertise a very important change which amounts to a slap in the face for 2003 Platinum fliers: For 2004, the first year in which Platinum flyers will be required to use upgrades, Delta will only award 20 500-mile certificates to begin the year. Based on Delta's earnings chart, this implies that Platinum fliers would have flown only 50,000 miles during 2003. I have flown 100,000 miles so far this year, and it is a sad fact that I would be better off as a Gold Medallion flyer (as a Gold medallion flier, I would be awarded 500-mile certificates according to actual miles flown - in other words I would have 40 certificates to start 2004, not 20). Am I angry? No. I have 85 accrued certificates on a competing airline. When my 20 Delta upgrades run out, I will simply not fly Delta."

- Tim S.

Until next week...