Business As Usual... Not

Anxious to calm the fears of customers following their bankruptcy filings, both Delta and Northwest are assuring the traveling public that nothing will change. It will, they promise, be business as usual.

For their part, travelers are nervous, worried that their flights may be disrupted or cancelled, that their frequent flyer miles might disappear.

Notwithstanding the airlines' assurances to the contrary, it won't be business as usual. And while there are reasons for concern, they aren't the reasons uppermost in consumers' minds.

In the short term, both Delta and Northwest will shrink. That means fewer flights to fewer destinations. It means fewer seats available for sale, and for frequent flyer program members looking to redeem their miles. It means downsizing from wide-body to narrow-body jets, and from larger aircraft to regional jets, resulting in fewer first-class seats.

And making matters worse, the reduction in capacity overall will almost certainly be exacerbated by a further tightening up on award-seat availability.

So, the bad news for frequent flyers: In the coming weeks and months, members of Delta and Northwest's programs are likely to find it more difficult to redeem their miles for award travel. And elite members of those two carriers' programs will find upgrades in shorter supply.

While it's much more difficult to predict longer-term scenarios, there's some reason to hope that Delta and Northwest customers will benefit from the companies' reorganizations.

Worst case: one or both Delta and Northwest throws in the towel and shuts down completely, freezing members' mileage accounts and leaving them empty-handed. Outright liquidation, though, is highly unlikely. And if it were to come to that, there's at least a chance that another airline would pick up the failed carrier's mileage program in the asset sale.

More likely, Delta and Northwest will follow in the footsteps of United and US Airways, emerging from Chapter 11 after two or three years, either as slimmed-down companies or as a merger candidates.

In fact, perhaps the best outcome from the standpoint of frequent flyers would be a merger, either between the bankrupt carriers and healthier counterparts, or between Delta and Northwest themselves. In either case, the resulting company would have a significant size advantage over its independent parts, which means more routes and flights for earning and redeeming miles, and more seats available for award travel.

As members of US Airways' program will discover when the merger with America West is fully in place, bigger is better.

FrequentFlier Forum Topics

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

In the "Airline Programs" Forum, interluke has the following observation about online award booking: "If one is forced to use the phone to book a transatlantic flight (I wanted to fly to London, return from Paris) on US Airways, one has to use 50,000 miles for the ticket, as opposed to 40,000 miles when booking online.

"The problem is that a) one cannot make this kind of reservation online and b) if I were a non-member, the charge would have been $5 above the price paid for an online reservation. Half a domestic ticket seems quite out of proportion to a $5 charge."

Also in the "Airline Programs" Forum, denverflora's award booking on United was cancelled with no notice: "I called United who said that because we had an open-jaw flight, we could not have a stop over as well (we apparently had too many hours in one city). Now, THEY booked the flights for us, they confirmed the itinerary, and THEY charged us $$ for the tickets. But then THEY decided the itinerary was invalid. So they deleted it."

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

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Air Canada Offers Rise & Miles Bonuses

Between Sept. 1 and Dec. 12, Aeroplan members will earn the following bonus miles.

1) Double miles for roundtrips or two one-way segments in Executive First (J & C booking classes) on Air Canada flights between Canada and Europe, Asia, India, Tel Aviv, South America, Mexico, Australia, and between Honolulu and Sydney and Zurich and Delhi.

2) A 25% bonus for flights within Canada and between Canada and the Continental U.S. (including Alaska), excluding Florida, operated by Air Canada and Air Canada Jazz as well as Air Canada 4-digit flights operated by Air Georgian Limited (doing business as Air Alliance), Central Mountain Air and Exploits Valley Air Services Ltd.

Eligible fares: Executive class (J, C booking classes), Latitude Plus (Y booking class), Latitude (M, U booking classes), Tango Plus (L, B, H, V, Q, A booking classes).

3) A 25% bonus for roundtrips or two one-way segments in Hospitality class (S, Y, M, B, H, V, Q, L & I booking classes) on Air Canada between Canada and France, Germany, the U.K., Italy, Switzerland, South America, Australia, or Mexico, and between Toronto and Hong Kong and between Honolulu and Sydney.

Registration is required.

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WORLDHOTELS Stays Earn Double American Miles

Between Sept. 1 and Dec. 31, AAdvantage members will earn double miles when booking stays at participating WORLDHOTELS on the worldhotels.com website, and 1,000 bonus miles for superior or deluxe room type bookings or 2,000 bonus miles for suite bookings.

Specify the "Extra Extra" offer when booking.

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More America West Miles at Marriott

Between Sept. 19 and Dec. 31, America West FlightFund members will earn 2,000 America West elite-qualifying bonus miles for three or more stays at Marriott hotels.

The miles are in addition to the three miles per $1 spent at full service hotel brands and one mile per $1 spent at Marriott select service brands.

Registration is required.

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America West to Sever Frequent Flyer Ties with British Air

One of the casualties of the upcoming merger of America West and US Air and the consolidation of their mileage programs is America West's longstanding relationship with British Air, which will be terminated.

FlightFund members can continue earning miles for BA flights through Dec. 31. Miles can be redeemed for awards booked on BA through Feb. 15, 2006, with award travel completed by Jan. 31, 2007.

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New Credit Card Promises Aviation Awards

The latest travel rewards credit card is geared more toward would-be pilots and astronauts than to road warriors.

Issued jointly by the Aviation Week Group (publisher of Aviation Daily, Aviation Week & Space Technology, etc.) and the First National Bank of Omaha, the Aviation Week Leading Edge Visa card allows users to earn points redeemable for travel, merchandise and such high-altitude experiences as a flight in a MiG over Moscow (946,000 points), a full-day tour of Kennedy Space Center for 10 people (249,200 points) or an aerial dogfight over the Arizona desert (104,600 points).

Cardholders earn one point for $1 in purchases charged to the card. The card has no annual fee and a variable annual percentage rate (Prime + 8.5% or 11.99%, whichever is greater), currently 12.19%.

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Continental Bonus at ShopOnePass

Continental OnePass members who shop at three participating ShopOnePass retailers during the month of September will earn a 1,000-mile bonus. (Offer does not include purchases made at Heinen's, Randalls, ShopRite, OnePass Wireless, Marriott Vacations, OP Dining & Hotels.)

As always, to earn miles, shopping must originate on the ShopOnePass site.

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From Hertz: Bonus Points, Discounted Awards

Between Oct. 1 and Dec. 15, Hertz #1 members will earn 100 Awards Points for every qualifying rental. To earn the bonus, member must include his #1 Club Number in the booking and request "ZE1" in place of any other frequent traveler number.

Separately, between Oct. 1, 2005 and Jan. 15, 2006, members may redeem their Awards Points toward a Free Weekend Day for 250 Points - a 50% discount. Four Free Weekend Day Certificates can be combined for an extended Weekend getaway.

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Walk for Hope, HHonors Points

Hilton HHonors members who participate in a Walk for Hope event to raise money to find a cure for breast cancer will earn 5,000 HHonors bonus miles. Members may earn an extra 5,000 for registering one additional participant.

A listing of October events throughout the country is on City of Hope website.

Registration is required.

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Points.com Middle Mans Miles-for-Magazines

Members of participating loyalty programs can now redeem their miles and points through Points.com for subscriptions to more than 40 magazines and newspapers, including Time, Outdoor Life and the Wall Street Journal.

Subscriptions are available for as few as 400 miles.

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United Offers Bonus Miles for Asia Flights

Through Dec. 15, Mileage Plus members will earn 5,000 bonus miles for up to three qualifying roundtrips between the U.S. and Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, People's Republic of China, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand or Vietnam.

Qualifying tickets: first (F, A), business (C, D), economy (Y, B, M, H, Q, V, W) class fares.

Registration is required.

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US Air Adds Air One to Dividend Miles Program

Effective Sept. 15, Dividend Miles members can earn and redeem miles for travel on Italian carrier Air One. Miles earned on Air One count towards earning Preferred status. Lounge privileges will be extended to Preferred members and those traveling in Y Class.

Air One operates a fleet of 29 B737s, principally within Italy.

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Double US Air Miles to New Zealand

Between Oct. 1 and Nov. 30, Dividend Miles members will earn double miles for Air New Zealand flights to Auckland from San Francisco and Los Angeles, and to Christchurch from Los Angeles. (No bonus for L, G, S & K fare classes.)

Registration is required, by Nov. 15.

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Deal Alert from SmarterTravel.com

1) Sale Fares on Midwest from $148

Fall and winter flights to and from the Midwest are on sale with Midwest's latest offer. Prices start at $148 roundtrip, and destinations include Boston and Milwaukee.

Travel is valid on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays from Oct. 2, 2005, through Feb. 17, 2006. Book tickets at least 14 days in advance, and by Sept. 23. Fares require a one-night stay, and the maximum stay is 30 days.

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2) Two-for-One Companion Fares on Icelandair from $365

Two people traveling together to Iceland can take advantage of Icelandair's two-for-one companion fare promotion. Prices start at $365 per person ($730 roundtrip total) for travel through October.

Travel is valid through Oct. 31. Book tickets by Sept. 30. A Saturday-night minimum stay is required, and the maximum stay is 30 days. Travelers must fly together on the same itinerary.

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Win Trips, Tickets, Miles from Alaska Air

Enter Alaska Airlines' "Take 10" sweepstakes by Nov. 8 for a chance to win one of 10 Alaska Airlines Vacations for up to 10 people, or 10 pairs of first-class tickets, or 10 prizes of 100,000 Mileage Plan miles, etc.

There are multiple ways to enter.

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Feedback from the Frontlines of Travel

"Has anyone been able to get an international free flight on Continental using the "standard" (lower) mileage requirement? I know I can't!" [Ron W.]

"We jumped on a last minute advertisement by Celebrity Cruises via its web site for a 7-day cruise to Bermuda for $400.00 per person -- guaranteed cabin to be assigned at check in on the day of the cruise.

"We do not drive and NYC doesn't have any direct public transportation from Manhattan (NYC) which is just a few miles across the Henry Hudson River to the Cape Atlantic Seaport in Bayonne, NJ. NYC taxi's automatically double their normal fare to New Jersey -- over $100.00 for a 12-mile ride. Actually, the Cape Atlantic Cruise Port is in an isolated area away from the City of Bayonne.

"Therefore, I called Celebrity's 800 number after searching the Internet for public transportation directions including Celebrity's web site. Celebrity advised me that they provide a free shuttle bus that leaves NYC's Port Authority Bus Terminal and NYC's Pennsylvania Station at the Amtrak train station entrance on West 31st Street and 8th Avenue for Cape Atlantic Cruise Port, Bayonne, NJ.

"Unfortunately, Celebrity told us (Friday morning -- September 2) that they couldn't include us for the bus transportation because of 'the late booking.' So,we went to the NYC's Pennsylvania Station at the Amtrak train station entrance to get the bus at 1:15 PM and hoped for the best.

"There was a 65 seat capacity bus. Four (4) NYC passengers and us. We had no problem with the bus driver when we showed him our confirmation. His only comment was 'Celebrity should have called our office to include your name on the list.'

"Celebrity had all of our information correct when we checked in at the cruise port. We were assigned an ocean view cabin. The ship was just about half full. As soon as we were settled in our cabin (September 3), I went to the Concierge on the Zenith and explained our transportation situation, how we arrived by the shuttle bus and requested that she make arrangements as the bus driver suggested that Celebrity include our names on the list for the return bus. I was told by the Concierge that she would take care of it with their Miami office.

"Unfortunately, on the day of our 10th wedding anniversary, September 9, a day before we returned to the Bayonne port, Celebrity's Guest Relations told us that their Miami office sent an e-mail stating that 'we booked too late to be included for the return bus.' Stress we didn't need after a relaxing, fun and enjoyable cruise, especially on a big day for us.

"Please keep in mind that (1) this is a free shuttle bus service provide by Celebrity Cruises, (2) no voucher or coupon is need to board the bus, (3) Celebrity had an entire week to call the bus company and add our names to the list, especially when the bus had 61 empty seats.

"So, we met the bus at 10:00 AM with the same four NYC passengers and talked to the bus company's dispatcher at the port. He said that there 'wasn't a problem for us getting on the bus, and that Celebrity should have contacted the company and included our names on the list. There are over 50 empty seats, pick two and relax.' Also, he said that 'Celebrity called and added two new passengers to the list that were taking the AMTRAK from NYC to Washington, D.C.'

"I talked to that couple on the bus. They told me that they contacted their travel agent by e-mail and asked that they be changed from the bus to Washington, D.C. to the shuttle bus to NYC so they could take the train home.

"So, the 65 seat capacity bus left for NYC's Pennsylvania Station with 8 passengers.

"Based on this situation, it's clear that there's a problem with Celebrity personnel not being able to think on their own if something is out of the norm like dealing with a late booking and trying to help its customers, especially Captain Club Members (we have 11 sailings with Celebrity.)

"This is probably our last cruise with Celebrity Cruises because they lack the understanding and compassion to provide quality and professional customer service for late bookings, especially when the cruise line offers a "last minute deal" at a reduced cost." [Michael Z. - New York, NY]

Until next week...