Issue #112  --  Sep. 21, 2000

<< O N S I T E >>

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

Hal makes the (good) point that sometimes it's better to buy a cheap ticket than it is to earn miles. Kathryn is looking for the best way to get from Heathrow to London. Howard wants to know whether purchased SkyMiles count toward elite status. And Ronald has a number of mileage-earning suggestions.

Do you have questions? Do you have answers? Post them to the Forum!

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The FrequentFlier Forum

<< M I L E S >>

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Delta Offers Bonus for First Online Purchase
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Delta is offering SkyMiles members 4,000 bonus miles for first-time purchases at delta.com.

The 4,000 bonus miles are valid for first-time online purchases only. Tickets for roundtrip travel must be purchased at delta.com between September 16 and December 31, 2000, to receive the bonus miles. This offer is valid on any fare purchased at delta.com. Travel must be completed during that same time period.

In addition, first-time online purchasers and all SkyMiles members will receive the standard 1,000 bonus miles for completing round-trip travel purchased at delta.com. SkyMiles members also receive a one-time bonus of 10,000 miles when purchasing three round-trip tickets at delta.com between September 16 and December 31, 2000. Travel must be completed during that same time period.

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Delta

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Fly 3 Roundtrips to Earn 10,000 Dividend Miles
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US Airways' Dividend Miles members can earn 10,000 bonus miles when purchasing three roundtrip tickets through US Airways' website and flying on US Airways, US Airways Express, US Airways Shuttle or MetroJet by December 31, 2000.

Register for the offer online at by entering registration number 2269 prior to making the online reservation. Or can call US Airways at 1-800-872-4738 and enter the bonus registration number.

The 10,000-mile offer can be combined with other usairways.com booking bonuses. Members receive 5,000 bonus Dividend Miles the first time they book online and 1,000 bonus miles thereafter, when they purchase a roundtrip ticket at usairways.com and fly on US Airways, the US Airways Express carriers, US Airways Shuttle or MetroJet through December 31, 2000. Registration for the first time bonus or the 1,000 miles bonus is not required.

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US Airways

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New Grand Cayman Flights Earn Double OnePass Miles
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Continental will promote the launch of new flights between New York/Newark and Grand Cayman with double miles for OnePass members.

To qualify, register using promo code 50031 and fly roundtrip between December 14, 2000, and February 14, 2001.

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Continental

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America West Adds Hotel Partner
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America West has added Grupo Posadas to FlightFund as its newest hotel partner.

FlightFund members now earn 1,000 miles for qualifying stays at Caesar Park Hotels in Brazil and Argentina, and Fiesta Americana Hotels in Mexico, and 500 miles for qualifying stays at Fiesta Inn Hotels in Mexico.

To promote the tie-up, FlightFund members earn double miles from now through December 31, 2000.

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Triple WorldPerks Miles for Dollar Rentals
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Dollar Rent A Car is offering triple bonus miles to Northwest Airlines WorldPerks members who rent a mid-size or larger car for two or more days, through December 15, 2000. With the bonus, members receive 150 Bonus Miles per rental day instead of 50.

To receive the bonus, mention promotion code NW900 at the time of rental.

<< S T E A L S & D E A L S >>

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Deal Alert from SmarterLiving.com
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Two hot deals from SmarterLiving.com...

>> Coast-to-Coast Fare War
Southwest Airlines has released a system-wide fare sale including coast-to-coast fares from $198 round-trip. Purchase tickets by Thursday, September 28. America West, National Airlines, and US Airways are offering similar sales.

For more details, go here.

>> East Coast Travel Starting at $119 R/T
US Airways has put East Coast travel on sale, with round-trip fares starting at $119. Tickets must be purchased by Monday, September 25. An additional $10 discount applies to tickets booked online.

For more details, go here.

<< I N D U S T R Y U P D A T E >>

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"Consumer Reports" Rates Airports
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In the way that they do, "Consumer Reports" has weighed in with ratings of U.S. airports. Here's a summary of their findings on 2 rated dimensions--value and convenience. The full article includes ratings on additional factors, including services and choice.

1. Value (i.e., lower fares)

>> Better
   Dallas/Ft. Worth Int'l.
   Lehigh Valley Int'l. (Pa.)
   Long Island MacArthur (N.Y.)
   Orlando Int'l.

>> Worse
   Chicago O'Hare Int'l.
   Denver Int'l.
   LaGuardia (N.Y.)
   Miami Int'l.
   Newark Int'l.
   Westchester County (N.Y.)

2. Convenience

>> Better
   Colorado Springs
   Long Beach (L.A.)
   Manchester (N.H.)
   T.F. Green (R.I.)
   Stewart Int'l. (N.Y.)

>> Worse
   Chicago O'Hare Int'l.
   Denver Int'l.
   Hartsfield Atlanta Int'l.
   Miami Int'l.

The link below is to the "Consumer Reports" website where you can see some, but not all, of the survey. To read the whole article, you'll have to subscribe or purchase the October issue of the magazine.

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Consumer Reports

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Merger Outlook: Grim and Grimmer
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The Senate Commerce Committee this week adopted a resolution opposing the United-US Airways merger. While the resolution technically has no effect on the outcomes of the DOT and DOJ reviews, it is certain to undermine the merger's chance of being approved.

The Senators apparently did not find credible the airlines' promises that combining 2 companies would result in lower prices and better service. According to John McCain, the committee's chairman: "I do not believe that this proposed merger can be accomplished without great harm to the traveling public.''

Across the pond, another major merger-in-the-works was scrapped by the mergees themselves.

British Airways and KLM today announced that they have terminated merger discussions due to a host of business and regulatory issues. As a practical matter, the combination of the world's 4th and 12th largest airlines would have had major repercussions in the alliance arena. If BA and KLM had proceeded with a merger, BA reportedly planned to quit Oneworld (American, BA, etc.) and join the Wings group (Northwest, KLM, etc.). For now, Oneworld members can breathe easy.

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American, Pilots at Odds (Again)
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In what could develop into a replay of the recent labor discord (and consequent service disruptions) at United, American's pilots have rejected a 1-year extension of their current contract.

Next step: the pilots' union and American will have to hammer out an entirely new contract, presumably along the very generous lines of United's pilots' new agreement.

<< B U S I N E S S T R A V E L T I P S >>

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Surviving the Airport
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The following is part of a continuing series of business travel tips from Chris McGinnis's "The Unofficial Business Traveler's Pocket Guide--165 Tips Even the Best Business Travelers May Not Know."

>> Rule 240

If you suspect that you are being delayed for something other than a weather or air traffic problem, approach the gate agent and confidently assert your suspicion, give a reason why you cannot wait, and ask to be booked on the next flight out on that airline or a competing airline. This is called Rule 240 and all the major airlines include it in their contract of carriage. (The terminology is from old CAB, or Civil Aeronautics Board jargon, when airlines were regulated.) If there are no acceptable flights available, the airline must refund your money, even if you are holding a "nonrefundable" ticket.

Rule 240 requires the original carrier to pick up the tab for any additional expense in getting you to your intended destination via another carrier. Rule 240 applies to other direct flights to your final destination as well as to any connecting flights that may exist. When you really want or need to get out of town, ask the gate agent: "Can you 240 me?" (It is important to use their lingo.) They should code your ticket, and you will be on your way.

Newfangled electronic tickets can present problems for those hoping to 240 their way out of a flight cancellation mess. In order to get coded over to another airline, you must first obtain a paper ticket from the original carrier (at the gate or customer service counter) before making arrangements with another carrier to accept your ticket.

Chris McGinnis
Travel Skills Group
http://www.travelskills.com

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

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True (Funny) Travel Stories
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Reported comments to reservations agents...

Dealing with a customer angry about ticket prices, the reservationist was not making any headway. The lady was upset and couldn't understand why she was unable to buy a ticket from San Diego to Seattle for $39. When the caller persisted, the agent finally said, "Ma'am, we're the ones with the Eskimo on the tail... not the dog on the side of the bus."

[FrequentFlier Funnies are true stories told by pilots, reservations agents and other travel industry professionals, from William Joric's "Air Sick Humor." The book can be purchased at the FrequentFlier Bookstore at
http://frequentflier.com/ffp-books.htm]

<< S I T E 2 S E E >>

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Airline Terrorizes Terrorist
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Just like many United passengers, the jihad will have to wait.

According to this story in "The Onion," United's delays have become so disruptive that at least 1 air terrorist has vowed never to fly them again.

Warning: politically incorrect material.

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The Onion

Until next week...