U P F R O N T
Alliance Chatter
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We'd expected to have definitive news of a KLM-Air France tie-up, and KLM's inclusion in the SkyTeam alliance, this week. It now appears that there will be no announcement until Monday, earliest, after Air France meets with its unions, presumably to pre-brief them on the alliance plan.
As expected, Swiss will be joining up with the oneworld group (British Air, American, Qantas, Cathay Pacific, Iberia, LanChile, Finnair, Aer Lingus) by way of a commercial tie-up with BA which includes loan guarantees, joint ops, etc.
In a radical departure from typical bilateral and alliance-wide tie-ups, Swiss will shut down its own mileage program, TravelClub, and integrate its members into BA's Executive Club. No details yet, but it is expected that TravelClub members' miles will simply be transferred wholesale to Executive Club.
And regarding Continental's participation in SkyTeam, CEO Gordon Bethune weighed in with the following prediction: "I kind of look to be in there next spring. We're headed on that path."
B-A-A-A-A-A-A-D D O G G I E
In the Doghouse: Continental
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As indicated in last week's Crier, Continental's upcoming OnePass changes are objectionable in themselves. And, adding insult to injury, the airline's announcement was a case study in sleazy media manipulation.
But for all that, it fell just short of a "Doghouse" rating.
The knockout blow came on Thursday of last week, when (again surreptitiously) Continental extended through the end of next year a "promotion" associated with the new policy on elite-qualifying miles. Viz.: OnePass members may earn 100% elite-qualifying miles and full segments/points for CO discount fares (Q, S, T, L) by booking tickets at continental.com for flights between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2004.
But, you ask, that's a good thing, right?
It's a good thing compared to a poke in the eye with a sharp stick. But it's certainly not good relative to the current policy, or to the policies of most other major airlines.
And as with the other changes, the form and substance of this announcement insult the intelligence of some of CO's best customers.
Consider the core message: "You're still valuable, but only for a limited time, and only if you're willing to jump through hoops." You've heard of damning with faint praise? This is belittling with negligible thanks.
And then there's the matter of the website posting.
While the notice on continental.com claims to have been posted on Sept. 16, the same day the other changes were announced, it was actually posted 2 days later... a cheesy attempt to rewrite history, probably to disguise the fact that the extension was a feeble after-the-fact attempt to quell the cries of angry OnePass elites.
Arf!
M I L E S & P O I N T S
Alaska Re-Jiggers Mileage Plan
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Alaska Air has posted a long list of Mileage Plan changes for 2004 -- overwhelmingly negative from a consumer standpoint -- as follows:
Miles flown on Alaska or Horizon to qualify for base MVP status will increase from 15,000 to 20,000. And the requirement to qualify for MVP Gold status will increase from 35,000 to 40,000 miles per year.
The number of miles needed to redeem a 1-way first-class upgrade will increase from 5,000 to 10,000 miles.
Award levels for a first-class award ticket within the U.S. and Canada will increase from 60,000 to 80,000 miles.
The 50% discount available on any purchased fare when redeeming 15,000 miles will be capped at $250. Complimentary First Class upgrades also will no longer be available on fares purchased with this discount, although members may redeem miles for an upgrade at any time or purchase an upgrade on the day of departure if space is available.
And finally, citing as its goal "improving the availability of First Class seating," Alaska announced that, beginning Jan. 1, MVP Gold members who purchase higher fares will receive automatic upgrades to first class based on availability, while those who purchase discounted fares will only be eligible for upgrades 3 days prior to departure.
> More...
American Offers Bonus for Int'l Flights
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AAdvantage members will earn up to 60,000 bonus miles for travel between the U.S. and Japan or Europe from Oct. 15, 2003, to March 31, 2004.
Travel between the U.S. and Europe or Japan in discounted economy (excludes O, Q, L, N, G and S) earns 5,000 miles for 1 roundtrip, 10,000 miles for 2, 15,000 miles for 3, and 30,000 miles for 4. Roundtrips between the U.S. and Europe or Japan in first, business, or full-fare economy earn double that rate.
Registration prior to travel is required. Use promotion code EUR04 for Europe, JPN04 for Japan.
Avis Offers 1-for-3
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Avis customers will earn a free weekend rental after every 3 rentals between Sept. 1 and Dec. 31. The free weekend certificate can be redeemed between Oct. 2, 2003, and May 17, 2004.
Register at http://www.avis.com or through the Avis reservation center (1-800-722-5909).
Conrad Triples Miles-for-Stays
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Stays at Conrad hotels between Sept. 15 and Dec. 31 will earn triple airline miles. To receive the bonus, stays must be booked online, using Rate Code MG.
> More...
Delta Re-Revises Elite Policies
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Following months of rumors that Delta would roll back some of the elite changes which have created such a high-profile backlash among their best customers, the carrier has announced further revisions to SkyMiles. At least this time, Delta has done no harm.
First, the changes do not include any retreat from the most controversial policy: viz. reducing to 50% the number of elite-qualifying miles awarded for deeply discounted fares (L, T, U).
Effective Jan. 1, 2004, SkyMiles will award unlimited complimentary 500-mile upgrades to Platinum Medallion members purchasing Y, B and M fares at time of booking, and to Gold and Silver Medallion members purchasing Y and B fares (within 100 hours of departure for Gold and within 72 hours of departure for Silver Medallion members), subject to availability.
In addition, Medallion members reaching certain 2003 year-end thresholds will receive the following:
a) The option to award Silver Medallion status to a friend or to apply 15,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) toward Medallion status for 2005 if the year-end balance is between 75,000 and 149,999 MQMs. (Members earning 150,000 or more MQMs at year-end still have the option to award Gold Medallion status to a friend or to apply 30,000 Medallion Qualification Miles toward Medallion status for 2005.)
b) Two additional Platinum Medallion Upgrade certificates (PMUs) if the 2003 year-end balance is between 125,000 and 149,999 MQMs; or 4 additional PMUs if the 2003 year-end balance is 150,000 MQMs or higher.
> More...
SaveSkyMiles Makes Case in USA Today
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In today's Atlanta edition of USA Today, the disaffected Delta elites behind SaveSkyMiles.com (http://saveskymiles.com) ran an ad expressing solidarity with Delta frontline employees, alleging that Delta's management is equally blind to the best interests of the company's staff and its best customers.
The ad is here: http://brains.org/Delta_Ad.pdf.
Hyatt Offers Bonus for New Members
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Hyatt is offering new Gold Passport members 1,000 bonus points for every eligible night's stay between Sept. 1 and Nov. 30.
To qualify, you must both enroll in Gold Passport and have eligible Hyatt stays during the promotion period.
> More...
Northwest Will Match Rental-Car Miles
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Northwest has dubbed it the Worldperks Mileage Accelerator. What that means is this: between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31, every mile WorldPerks members earn with participating rental-car partners will be matched, effectively doubling members' earnings.
To participate, register at http://www.nwa.com/promo/accelerator and enter registration number 8046. Thereafter, every eligible rental from Alamo, Dollar, National or Thrifty during the promo period will earn the bonus.
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...
Europe on sale: London for under $200
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British Airways' winter sale offers a trifecta of good deals: fares to Europe as low as $198 roundtrip from 27 U.S. cities, free England stopovers, and discounted London hotel rooms. In addition, you can save an extra $10 per ticket by booking online and signing up for British Airways' Executive Club program.
Virgin Atlantic (VS) has announced a similar sale for travel between 4 U.S. cities and London. There are no free stopovers or hotel discounts, but you can fly to London (Heathrow) from New York (JFK or Newark) for as low as $178 roundtrip, from Washington (Dulles) for $246, or from San Francisco for $356. These fares include a $20 online booking discount.
For the lowest fares, you can travel on British Airways between Oct. 30 -Dec. 17 or Dec. 24, 2003 - Apr. 4, 2004, or on VS from Nov. 1 - 30 or Jan. 1 - Feb. 29.
On both airlines, book tickets at least 7 days before departure and by Thursday, Sept. 25.
> More...
Domestic fall and winter sale from $98
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Book at least 3 weeks before you fly to take advantage of sale fares on domestic and Canadian routes from America West, American, Delta, Northwest, and United. Most fares do not require a Saturday-night stay, only an overnight stay, which makes this sale useful for those considering a midweek trip.
Travel is valid through Jan. 31, 2004, on American, Delta and Northwest; America West's sale fares are for flights through Dec. 16, and you can fly all the way through Mar. 6, 2004, on United. On all 5 airlines, purchase tickets at least 21 days before you travel. Book by Sunday, Sept. 28, on 3 airlines; American and United haven't announced booking deadlines.
> More...
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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"I have a question regarding Delta's bonus for transferring miles. I'm specifically interested in transferring Starwood points. It is my understanding that if I transfer 20,000 points to airline miles, Starwood would give me 5,000 bonus miles. Would Delta's offer be in addition to this?
"20k points + 5k points = 25k points going to Delta = 25k miles + 5k miles = 30k miles for me.
"Am I seeing this right? Combined with I do believe that Starwood allows points to be transferred between accounts, this could be intriguing, at least for us small-timers."
- Jennifer
[Good catch! In the terms and conditions of the offer, it says: "Members of Starwood Preferred Guest who transfer 20,000 points will receive 20,000 miles plus a 5,000 mile bonus, pursuant to Starwood Preferred Guest terms & conditions. 5,000 mile promotional bonus from Delta will also be awarded." So yes, in effect this transfer results in a 10,000-mile bonus.]
"Were you aware Alaska is reworking the benefits for frequent fliers? The biggest changes apply to the unlimited upgrades available to the highest class of frequent flier MVP Gold. After reading the rants and raves about delta I don't have any reason to complain. I have not flown coach in over 5 years (I fly every week) by using upgrades. Last year they changed from paper upgrades issued based on flights/miles to unlimited upgrades. Next year they will only be upgrading certain fares. I still think Alaska has the best program available. This Christmas we will be flying first class to Australia again on miles."
- Mark
[See "Miles & Points" section for more on the Alaska changes.]
"Regarding Continental following Delta's lead in awarding only 50% of normal miles on a deeply discounted fare: I have a friend who is a Delta employee who informed me that Delta (and I assume Continental) wish to dump flyers like myself who are 'unprofitable.' Let me explain...
"With the discounted carriers flying so many places, the Majors are matching 'super low' fares offered by the likes of Southwest, AirTran, etc. I used to fly Delta enough to qualify for Medallion (for seven years). BUT I would fly mostly to AirTran destinations - even if I had to drive an hour or so to a 'higher priced' Delta destination. Because I (and many others I assume) used this tactic to save our employers money, and because Delta chose to offer fares that were lower than their costs, we continue to be a headache to the major airlines.
"The new changes effectively lock me out of Medallion - particularly since I live in a Delta hub city and only have a single segment and mostly short haul flights (segment credits were also eliminated). It would now take 100 flights at 250 miles per segment to qualify for SILVER Medallion. That's NUTS!
"Delta and I dumped each other, and I don't know about Delta, but I'm much happier. I have a LIFETIME Elite status on AirTran and get free upgrades more often than not. My flights are on time and I'm one of 12 in Business Class - not 36.
"Moral of the story: You don't grow by having fewer regular customers."
- Bob
"I was surprised to read in today's Crier that someone had problems redeeming Air Canada Aeroplan miles. My experience has been the opposite - I was able to book Christmas travel between SFO and Montreal for five with no difficulty - and all direct flights, too! In contrast, both United and Delta have been very problematic in redemptions without resorting to odd times and very strange and difficult multiple connections (with Delta being slightly better). I think in most service areas, including food, courtesy, cleanliness, age of aircraft, quality of airport lounge, and on-time performance, Air Canada is appreciably better than United or Delta, with their older, grubby aircraft and less-than friendly cabin staff. If the majors continue to treat their customers like a necessary evil, they will continue to lose ground to the competition."
- David
Until next week...
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