U P F R O N T
Airlines Shower Frequent Flyers with Offers... Finally
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As we've been predicting they would, the airlines have finally thrown open the mileage floodgates, with most major N. America carriers offering their frequent flyer program members some or all of the following--
o Double miles for all flights through Nov. 15
o Discounted awards, including domestic coach awards reduced to 15,000 miles
o Liberalized Elite requalification and extension policies
See "Miles & Points" for full details.
O N S I T E
Miles for Relief (Updated)
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If you're interested in donating miles toward the 9/11 relief efforts, we've posted the updated list of available options on the FrequentFlier.com website at http://frequentflier.com/reliefmiles.htm.
New on the FrequentFlier Forum
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KC wants more e-mail from e-Rewards. Tamara is wondering about late postings qualifying for the AA 20 promotion. Deborah recommends an Alaska Air promo: earn 500 bonus miles by dining 5 or more times at DineAir restaurants during Oct. And more...
Do you have questions, answers? Post them to the Forum!
> More...
M I L E S & P O I N T S
Airlines Push Mile Offers to Spur Travel
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It's been many years since we've seen systemwide double-mile bonuses offered industrywide. But then neither have we seen -- ever -- 20% capacity cuts AND half-empty planes. These are truly unprecedented times.
History aside, the passenger-starved airlines have ponied up various combinations of mileage bonuses, award sales and elite-member enticements to prime the travel pump.
Here's a summary, airline by airline, of the current offers:
> Air Canada
Double Miles: Yes (through Dec. 15.)
Registration: N/A
Bonus Miles Qualify for Elite: No
Award Sale: No
Other: N/A
> Alaska
Double Miles: Yes
Registration: http://www2.alaskaair.com/
Bonus Miles Qualify for Elite: No
Award Sale: No
Other: Current year elite status extended through Dec. 2002
> American
Double Miles: Yes
Registration: http://www.aa.com/offers or 1-800-882-8880; code DBLAA
Bonus Miles Qualify for Elite: No
Award Sale: Yes
Other: Current year elite status extended through Feb. 2003
> America West
Double Miles: No
Registration: N/A
Bonus Miles Qualify for Elite: N/A
Award Sale: N/A
Other: N/A
> Continental
Double Miles: Yes
Registration: http://onepass.continental.com or call 1-800-346-6090; code 50095
Bonus Miles Qualify for Elite: Yes
Award Sale: No
Other: N/A
> Delta
Double Miles: Yes
Registration: 1-888-558-3358; code 2014
Bonus Miles Qualify for Elite: Yes
Award Sale: Yes
Other: N/A
> Midwest Express
Double Miles: No
Registration: N/A
Bonus Miles Qualify for Elite: N/A
Award Sale: No
Other: N/A
> Northwest
Double Miles: Yes
Registration: http://www.nwa.com/offers/doublemiles or 1-888-955-7878, ext. 4467
Bonus Miles Qualify for Elite: No
Award Sale: Yes
Other: N/A
> Southwest
Double Miles: No
Registration: N/A
Bonus Miles Qualify for Elite: N/A
Award Sale: No
Other: N/A
> United
Double Miles: Yes
Registration: http://offers.mileageplus.com/MNPN51 or 1-800-447-6772; code 168
Bonus Miles Qualify for Elite: No
Award Sale: Yes
Other: N/A
> US Airways
Double Miles: Yes (through Dec. 31, 2001, for Shuttle flights)
Registration: http://www.usairways.com/dividendmiles/7437.htm or 1-800-872-4738; code 7437
Bonus Miles Qualify for Elite: No
Award Sale: Yes
Other: Membership threshold lowered for qualifying elites (see below)
US Airways Lowers Elite Requirements
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US Airways will reduce by 25% the number of miles required to qualify for elite status next year.
To take advantage of the reduction, you must fly one US Airways roundtrip between Oct. 4 and Dec. 31, 2001. After the qualifying roundtrip, you'll earn Silver status for flying 20,000 elite-qualifying miles or 24 segments during 2001; Gold at 40,000 miles or 48 segments; and Chairman's Preferred at 80,000 miles or 80 segments.
AirTran Offers 4th Flight Free
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Members of AirTran's A-Plus Rewards can earn 1 free trip after 3 roundtrips in coach or 1.5 roundtrips in business class through the end of the year.
> More...
Alaska Adds Partners
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Alaska has 3 new partners, all of which are offering bonus miles to promote the new tie-in.
> Hawaiian Airlines
Mileage Plan members can earn double miles when they fly on Hawaiian Airlines between Oct. 1, 2001, and Feb. 28, 2002.
> Alamo
Earn double miles and save up to 15% with Alamo when renting a compact car through a minivan for 4 to 14 days in the U.S. or Canada through Feb. 28, 2002. Request I.D. number 691779 and Rate Code AN at time of reservation.
> National
Save up to 15% with National when you rent any car type at participating locations around the world through July 17, 2002. Plus, through Feb. 28, 2002, earn double Mileage Plan Miles for 4 - 14 day rentals in the U.S. or Canada. Request I.D. number 5033659 at time of reservation.
Colorado Ski Packages Earn 10,000 Bonus Miles
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Book an American Airlines Vacations Colorado ski package for a minimum of 5 consecutive nights between now and Nov. 30 and complete travel between Nov. 15, 2001, and Feb. 28, 2002, and receive 10,000 AAdvantage bonus miles.
Book online at AAvacations.com to receive an additional 1,000 bonus miles.
> More...
LanChile Offers Bonus, Discount for Online Bookings
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LanChile is offering 20,000 LanPass frequent flyer kilometers for first-time bookings on the airline's website. Subsequent online purchases earn 4,000 bonus kilometers.
Purchase tickets online before Oct. 31, 2001, and receive a 5% discount.
> More...
Emirates Discounts FCL Upgrades
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Members of Emirates Skywards can upgrade from business to first class for half the usual number of miles on Emirates flights between Nov. 1., 2001, and Jan. 15, 2002.
> More...
Online Rewards Watch: ClickRewards
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Netcentives, parent company of ClickRewards and MaxMiles, has filed for protection under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.
According to an official statement: "Netcentives intends to maintain operation of all existing loyalty programs and services, including its ClickRewards, Delta SkyMiles Shopping, and United MileagePlus Shopping rewards networks, the Email Marketing Group and other related services while it seeks to sell business assets in an auction expected to occur in November."
Company spokesman Bill McGee attributed the company's demise to "trying to do too much, too soon." According to McGee, a number of companies in the travel, financial services and loyalty industries have expressed interest in buying ClickRewards. The overriding question: will the acquiring company continue ClickRewards' current operations, protecting the value of its 5.4 million members' accounts; or will the purchaser take the technology and walk away from the program's members and their miles?
That question will not be answered until the auction in Nov. Until then, the ClickRewards program will operate as usual.
My recommendation (and what I have done myself): cash out your ClickMiles now, while you can.
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...
Sale Extended: Coast-to-Coast Savings From $188 R/T
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ATA has extended its "Get Up and Go" sale for purchase through Thursday, Oct. 11. American, Northwest, and United are offering similar sales for travel through Feb. 13, 2002. Purchase by Friday, Oct. 12.
> More...
Nationwide Sale Fares Starting at $68 R/T
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Southwest Airlines has extended its nationwide fare sale on roundtrip and one-way fares throughout its system. Purchase tickets by Thursday, Oct. 11. Most other U.S. airlines have matched this sale.
> More...
S W E E P S T A K E S & F R E E B I E S
Win a Free Weekend at a Kimpton Hotel
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Travel Holiday, celebrating a century of publishing, will draw 100 winners in this month's prize drawing. Fifty will receive 2 nights at the new Hotel Monaco in New Orleans, 50 2 nights at Vancouver's Pacific Palisades Hotel.
To enter, e-mail your name, address, and daytime phone number to travelholiday@hotmail.com or send a card to Travel Holiday, 1633 Broadway, New York, NY 10019.
> More...
Until next week...
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