Issue #61  --  September 30, 1999

<< M I L E S >>

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Double US Airways Miles for Full Fare Flights
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US Airways' Dividend Miles members flying on an unrestricted coach, first or Envoy Class fare will earn double Dividend Miles through Oct. 31, 1999.

This special offer is valid for members traveling on any US Airways, the US Airways Express carriers, US Airways Shuttle and MetroJet flights, and cannot be combined with any other Dividend Miles bonus or promotion.

To qualify for this program, US Airways' Dividend Miles members must register for double miles prior to departure and no later than Oct. 31, by calling US Airways Dividend Miles at 1-800-872-4738. Customers should refer to bonus request code 2120.

Reminder: Under a marketing agreement between US Airways and American Airlines, Dividend Miles members can use the miles earned for travel on American Airlines and American Airlines' AAdvantage members can use their miles to fly on US Airways flights. Dividend Miles and AAdvantage members who belong to both programs can combine miles from their AAdvantage and Dividend Miles accounts to claim award travel on US Airways, American Airlines, or on a combination of both airlines.

>> More <<
US Airways online

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Double Northwest Miles for Full Fare Flights
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Hot on the heels of the US Airways announcement (above) came a similar one by Northwest: Double WorldPerks miles for full-fare flights.

WorldPerks members traveling on first class, world business class or select coach class fares can earn double miles for worldwide travel through October 31.

To participate, passengers must enroll in the Worldwide Double Miles promotion by visiting Northwest's website or by calling 800-508-2000 extension #9299. Registration is required prior to departure but must be completed no later than October 30, 1999. Customers must be a WorldPerks member residing in the U.S. to
enroll in this promotion.

This offer is only good for Northwest coded flights operated by Northwest Airlines, Northwest Airlink or KLM. All qualifying travel must be completed by October 31, 1999 and must be First, World Business Class or select coach fare tickets (F, J, C, Y, or B class). This offer is available only to WorldPerks members residing in the United States and may not be combinable with any other fares, programs or promotions. Participants should allow four to six weeks after qualifying travel for Double Miles to be posted to their WorldPerks account.

>> More <<
Northwest

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Bonus Miles for Dollar Rentals
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If you're a member of either the TWA, Delta or Japan Airlines programs, Dollar has a bonus-mile offer for you.

Dollar Rent A Car is offering double miles to all TWA Aviators members who rent a mid-size car or larger for two or more days, and triple miles to all Delta SkyMiles members who rent a mid-size car or larger for three or more days through January 31, 2000. This offer is good at any participating Dollar location in the United States or Canada.

Aviators members must cite "T1099" and SkyMiles members must cite "D1099" when making reservations to receive their bonus miles. This bonus offer applies to leisure rates only.

Dollar is also offering double bonus miles to Japan Airlines Mileage Bank members who rent any size Dollar car, for any length of time through January 31, 2000. Mileage Bank members will receive an additional 300 bonus miles per rental transaction (600 total miles) through January 31, 2000. This bonus offer applies to leisure rates only and is available at participating U.S. locations. Blackout dates are December 16, 1999, through January 3, 2000. Members need only give their Mileage Bank frequent traveler number at the time of rental to receive their bonus miles.

For reservations and restrictions, program members can book online at dollar.com, or call their travel agent or the DOLLAR reservations number at 800-800-4000.

>> More >>
Dollar on line

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Miles-for-Mortgages at America West
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America West Airlines today announced that World Savings will offer America West FlightFund customers frequent flyer miles when they finance their homes through World Savings' FlightFund Home Mortgage Program.

America West FlightFund customers will earn 1,000 frequent flyer miles for every $10,000 of their loan amount. A $200,000 loan earns 20,000 miles, enough for a round-trip (off-peak) ticket anywhere America West flies in the continental United States, Alaska and Canada. There is no limit on the number of miles a member can earn. For more information, call World Savings toll free at 1-888-261-4064.

World Savings is a subsidiary of Golden West Financial Corporation. Headquartered in Oakland, Calif., Golden West is a savings and loan holding company with assets of $38 billion as of June 30, 1999. Currently operating 394 offices in 30 states under the name World Savings, Golden West has one of the largest multi-state thrift systems in the country.

>> More <<
America West

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ClickRewards Adds 9th Airline to Mileage Roster
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ClickRewards this week added America West FlightFund to the list of airlines programs which accept ClickMiles.

ClickMiles can now be converted to airline miles in 9 different airline programs, including those of all the U.S. majors.

>> More <<
ClickRewards

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

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Sabena Discounts Washington-Brussels Flights
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Sabena is marking the introduction of its new nonstop service between Washington-Dulles International Airport and Brussels, the capital of Belgium and the European Union, on Oct. 31, with a special round-trip fare of $330. The Belgian carrier will operate Airbus A330-200 aircraft five times weekly on the new route and will increase service to daily by summer 2000.

The $330 introductory fare is a non-refundable, instant purchase economy class fare valid for travel between Washington, D.C. and Brussels between Oct. 31 and Dec. 31, 1999 except for the holiday period of Dec. 12-24. The fares apply only to Sabena's flights SN 536 from Washington-Dulles International Airport and the return flight SN 535 from Brussels National Airport. Flights will operate daily except Mondays and Wednesdays.

The $330 introductory fare requires payment within 72 hours of booking and reservations must be made on or before Dec. 1. A minimum stay of one Saturday night is required and maximum stay is one month. Return travel can be no earlier than the first Sunday after departure. The number of seats available on the introductory fare is limited and other restrictions apply. U.S. and Belgium departure taxes and fees of approximately $55 are additional.

Sabena passengers can earn frequent flyer mileage in Delta SkyMiles, Qualiflyer and US Airways Dividend Miles.

>> More <<
Sabena online

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Southwest: $99 Each Way, Max
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Southwest Airlines is offering special fares of $99 or less each way between any two published destinations on its route map. In addition, the carrier is offering fares as low as $29 each way between select cities.

For example, a Southwest customer can travel between Baltimore and Los Angeles, Phoenix, Reno/Tahoe, or Oakland for $99 each way, which represents a savings of almost $100 each way. From Long Island's MacArthur Airport, the $99 each way fare is good for travel to Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Oakland, or Phoenix at a savings of $86 each way. From Orlando, Tampa, and Jacksonville, Customers can travel for $99 each way to San Diego, Los Angeles, Oakland, or Seattle, at a savings of over $150 each way. From Kansas City, a Customer can fly to either Tampa or Orlando for as low as $79 each way, a savings of $39.

The offer is good for roundtrip travel only, and an overnight stay is required. Seats are limited and will not be available on some flights that operate during peak travel times, including Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Spring Break holidays. Tickets must be purchased by Nov. 3, 1999, and the first date of travel is Oct. 7, 1999. Travel must be completed by March 31, 2000. Tickets must be purchased within one day of making reservations, and at least seven days before departure. Tickets are nonrefundable, but if unused, may be applied toward the purchase of future travel on Southwest Airlines. Fares are subject to change until ticketed, and any change in itinerary may result in an increase in fare. Fares do not include airport taxes of up to $12 roundtrip or a federal excise tax of up to $2.50 per segment.

>> More <<
Southwest

<< T R A V E L O N L I N E >>

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Preview Adds Partners, Content
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Preview Travel this week announced 3 new alliances.

Preview Travel has teamed up with VacationSpot.com to offer information on more than 100,000 vacation rental properties worldwide; Sportsware Technologies for data on more than 14,000 U.S. golf courses; and Media Odyssey, Inc. for information on hundreds of ski areas and resorts in the U.S. and Canada.

VacationSpot.com will provide Preview Travel members with access to over 100,000 vacation rental properties worldwide including villas, condos, homes and other distinctive accommodations.

Sportsware Technologies and Preview Travel will offer up-to-date information on more than 14,000 golf courses throughout the U.S, which will be integrated into Preview Travel's popular "Destination Guides" as well as other areas of the site. Preview Travel users will be able to research detailed course data including general course information and history, course layout and hole specifics, player reviews and fees.

Media Odyssey and Preview Travel will develop a comprehensive guide to ski areas in the U.S. and Canada. The ski information will be integrated into Preview Travel's "Destination Guides" as well as other areas of the site. Preview Travel users will have access to in-depth and current information on hundreds of ski resorts across North America. Ski information includes descriptions of resorts, as well as lift-ticket prices, photos and trail maps.

>> More <<
Preview

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Budget Joins Priceline.com
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Budget Rent a Car Corporation has signed an agreement to join priceline.com to offer customers name-your-price car rental. Priceline.com expects to introduce the car rental service in the fourth quarter with several major car rental companies.

Budget, which launched the car rental industry's first online bidding program -- BidBudget -- in June, is joining forces with priceline.com in an effort to gain share of the online market. Similar to BidBudget, customers will be able to name their own price for car rental on the priceline.com site. In addition, whenever customers buy leisure airline tickets on priceline.com, they will also be able to add car rentals at special rates.

<< I N D U S T R Y N E W S >>

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KLM and Alitalia Go All the Way
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Alliances are big news these days. Airlines ally, dis-ally, and then re-ally, resulting in constantly shifting who's-with-whom configurations.

KLM and Alitalia--which have been allies both bilaterally and, in the Northwest group, multilaterally--have now announced plans to take their relationship to the next level: a full merger.

While there remain many unanswered questions (ownership and control among them), it has been decided that there will be a single board, with one chairman and one CEO.

We continue to question the purported consumer benefits of airline alliances. In this case though, whatever the real value of "seamless service," at least with a merger we know that frequent flyer program benefits will be the same whether we're flying on KLM or Alitalia (or some other name which reflects the merged carriers... KLaMitalia?).

<< R E A D E R R A N T S & R A V E S >>

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AAdvantage/MCI Promotion (continued)
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On the offer I received, below the fine print was really tiny print saying "Limited to one bonus per frequent flyer member." Not per phone line, or per customer, but "per frequent flyer member" which I interpreted that they would verify duplicates by checking the FF number.
 
As a two-phone household, I've received "double" miles to previous MCI and Sprint offers. To get double miles, I was always careful to make two separate phone calls to switch each line separately. Never made mention of a "second" phone line, just pretended each call was my one-and-only. My two lines are also filed and billed separately with the local phone company. I'm about to change the other line to my wife's name, to *ensure* that we can get double miles.
 
I did not take advantage of this most recent 25,000K offer because I refuse to return to MCI and their scams. The last time I was an MCI customer, every third or fourth long distance call, MCI would intercept and "verify" something with me--my phone number, my name, etc, "to ensure security". But it was really to ensure the call was billed at "operator assisted rates" as high as $2.50 + $0.75 per minute.
 
 - Steve

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Hertz, bigzoo.com
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Thanks for such a well-written, concise newsletter. I LOVE "you guys".

Based on your comments about Hertz's rates, I went to their Web site and send an E-Mail to them:

I do not appreciate the snotty tone of your CEO, and I will not accept your price increase. I will simply take my business elsewhere if others have better rates. Price is the name of the game. Given today's commonplace poor customer service by many companies in the business world, since most all do have poor customer service, price becomes the differentiator!

I hope that you will reconsider your business paradigm. Thank you.

Also, here is a tip for your readers:

I used to use AT&T Connect 'N Save long distance at 7.5 cents a minute. But, I believe it's only offered in a few cities, AND the rate is higher when calling from out of your zone. Your calls are not tracked anywhere, so you have no way to verify the charges.

Now I am using bigzoo.com for my long distance. They charge 3.9 cents a minute from anywhere in the US at any time. Plus, you can go on-line to their site and look at a list of your calls and call durations.

The connections are great. I have no complaints about bigzoo. I do wish their system would recognize the number you are calling from, so that you would not have to enter your code.

Keep up the good work!

Yer pal,
Bruce

[Bruce--Thanks for the bigzoo.com tip. That's a new one. Regarding the Hertz increase, it looks like most of the other majors quietly matched Hertz. That, unfortunately, makes it difficult for consumers to register their displeasure, except by giving their business to a small operator, or by not renting at all... neither of which are practical options in many instances.]

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UA/Amtrak Miles
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Normally, persons booking an air/rail trip (using the exclusive United/Amtrak combination package sold exclusively by a Illinois travel promoter known as "Amtrak Vacations") are entitled to 1000 United Mileage Plus Bonus Miles for the rail portion of their trip, plus the normal air miles for the United portion (see Amtrak web page). An air-rail trip involves taking an Amtrak train in one direction and a United flight in the other direction, and essentially prices the air portion at rates equivalent to 1/2 of an economy roundtrip air ticket.

This spring, my travel agent mumbled something about 10,000 miles being available for the rail portion of my air-rail trip, but I only received the 1,000 miles and assumed he was mistaken as this item had not been mentioned anywhere (not in associated literature nor on Amtrak's or United's web pages). I only received the basic 1000 miles after writing to United upon receiving zero miles by my July statement.

It turns out that there was a special promotion last spring, for air-rail trips completed before June 1. I just confirmed this with Amtrak Vacations (800-336-9244), after having been alerted by another air-rail traveler, who was also unaware but was told of this when inquiring as to why he had not received the basic 1000 miles (they essentially said, why no, you get 10000 miles).

9000 extra miles is worth going after, particularly since this has not been publicized anywhere. Persons who booked this type of trip and completed travel by 6/1/99 may want to check whether they received all the miles that they should have received.

 - Erik

[Thanks, Erik.]

<< B A C K O F T H E B U S >>

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Crashing, Burning, Outsourcing
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In the midst of this high-flying economy, a few big names in the news this week were flying at less than cruising altitude.

>> Shoney's

I'm not a market analyst, and I don't live in an area where Shoney's are prevalent. But I've traveled enough in the South and Southeast to know that Shoney's fast food restaurants are pervasive in some parts of the country.

That pervasiveness is on the wane.

By the end of October, Shoney's will close 72 restaurants in 14 states. That's over and above the 104 restaurants sold last year and the 53 closed and 10 sold already this year.

After the sales and closings, Nashville-based Shoney's Inc. will operate and franchise 1,117 Shoney's, Captain D's, Pargo's and Fifth Quarter restaurants in 28 states. Still impressive, but scant consolation to those Shoney's employees caught in the closures.

>> Huffy

Venerable bicycle-maker Huffy--in business since 1934, and currently enjoying a 25%+ share of the U.S. market--will close its two U.S. bicycle plants and contract out all production to overseas manufacturers. As a result, 600 Huffy workers will lose their jobs.

Huffy has already moved much of its production offshore, with 70% sourced to manufacturers in China, Taiwan and Mexico.

>> London Fog

London Fog (can you say 'raincoat'?) filed for bankruptcy protection this week.

The company's reorganization plan includes shuttering the majority of its 140 retail outlets, resulting in layoffs for a third of the company's 1500 employees.

London Fog--founded in 1922 and once considered a premier brand--has suffered from lower-cost competition and distribution missteps. The company's debt now exceeds $100 million.

>> So...?

No dire conclusions are to be drawn from these events... they may or may not be related; they may or may not presage a weakening (or a strengthening) of the economy at large. I just happened to notice all 3 events reported on the same day, and it reminded me that there is more to business than the upside.

Until next week...