U P F R O N T

More Alliance Chatter (AF, KL, NW)
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As expected, on Thursday of last week, Air France and KLM signed an agreement to merge, subject to approval by the various governments and regulatory bodies concerned.

So the stage is set for a significant bulking up of the SkyTeam alliance, with the forthcoming addition of Continental, Northwest and KLM, as we've been predicting.

What's surprising is the lackadasical pace at which Northwest, at least, is moving in that direction. Here's what Northwest chief Doug Steenland had to say on the subject: "With respect to SkyTeam, we would anticipate at the earliest we would look to join that global alliance in the summer or fall of 2004."

Dollars and Sense
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Financial results for the airlines' summer season, Jul 1. - Sept. 30, have been trickling in over the past week.

The overall picture is encouraging, with a number of carriers making dramatic swings from losses in last year's 3rd quarter to profits in 2003.

There is cause for concern. US Air in particular has to be singled out for special scrutiny. In spite of their apparent success in reorganizing and emerging from bankruptcy protection in very short order, and against the backdrop of widespread profitability industrywide, the best they could do was a $90 million loss for the quarter. That does not bode well for their long-term survival.

Here's what we know so far:

                   * millions

O N S I T E

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

Robert wants to earn HHonors elite status without logging any hotel stays. Peterlew56 wonders if the expiration date on his US Air bump voucher can be extended. SethG is looking for mileage-earning opportunities with Verizon. And much more...

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

> More...

M I L E S & P O I N T S

America West Lowers Bar for Elite Qualification
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Swimming against the tide of raising requirements for elite qualification, America West will confer Silver Elite status on FlightFund members who fly 2 cross-country roundtrips between Oct. 26 and Dec. 31.

The following coast-to-coast flights qualify: L.A.-New York/JFK (beginning Oct. 10), L.A.-Boston/Logan (from Oct. 26), and San Francisco-New York/JFK (from Dec. 12).

Registration is required.

> More...

Continental's Buy-a-Bonus for 2004
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Between Jan. 1, 2004 and Dec. 31, 2004, OnePass members may earn a 50% mileage bonus on Continental flights by enrolling in the The Extra Mile promotion by Dec. 31, 2004, and paying the following fees:

• For $50, earn up to 5,000 bonus miles.
• For $100, earn up to 10,000 bonus miles.
• For $150, earn up to 15,000 bonus miles.

Enroll in The Extra Mile online to earn an additional 1,000 bonus miles.

The bonus miles are in addition t any Elite and/or most promotional bonuses for which members qualify.

Bonus miles do NOT count toward elite status.

> More...

More Miles for Marriott Stays
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Between Oct. 1 and Dec. 16, Marriott Rewards members will earn up to 500 bonus miles for qualifying Marriott stays. Bonus may be earned up to 4 times for a total of 2,000 miles.

Registration is required.

> More...

Radisson Points for Multi Stays
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Through Jan. 15, 2004, members of Radisson Gold Rewards will earn bonus points (redeemable for airline miles) for multiple stays, as follows:

• 1st stay, earn 1,000 points per night (base).
• 2nd stay, earn 2,000 total points per night.
• 3rd stay, earn 3,000 total points per night.
• 4th stay, earn 4,000 total points per night.
• 5th stay, earn 5,000 total points per night.

Registration is required.

> More...

Song Charges Earn Bonus - CLARIFICATION
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Further to last week's story on this offer, triple miles are awarded for eligible purchases made at http://www.flysong.com only when using the following Amex cards: Classic, Gold and Platinum Delta SkyMiles cards, and Delta SkyMiles Business cards.

I.e., Amex-issued cards from Hilton, Starwood, etc. do NOT earn the Song bonus.

Again, the promo period is Oct. 15 and Dec. 31.

Earn Bonus Grocery Miles from United
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Between Oct. 15 and Dec. 16, Mileage Plus members enrolled in Grocery Miles can earn up to 10,000 bonus miles for shopping online at Safeway.com and Vons.com, as follows:

• Shop 3 times, earn 1,500 bonus miles.
• Shop 6 times, earn 4,000 bonus miles.
• Shop 9 times, earn 10,000 bonus miles.

Bonus is in addition to the normally earned 125 miles for every $250 in purchases.

> More...

More Ways to Earn US Air Elite Status
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In addition to US Air and United flights, Dividend Miles members may now earn elite-qualifying miles when flying Caribbean Star and Caribbean Sun Airlines.

> More...

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...

Southwest Systemwide Sale from $58
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Save on short-haul and coast-to-coast flights, with Southwest's systemwide sale fares. The lowest fares are available for travel on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays; fares on other days will be higher.

Travel is available through Apr. 2, 2004, except for Florida flights, which are valid through Mar. 17, 2004. Book tickets at least 14 days in advance, and by Thursday, Nov. 13.

> More...

Low Sale Fares to Mexico on 5 Airlines
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Now's a hot time to find a deal to Mexico, because 5 airlines have announced sale fares or new service to cities south of the border. Destinations include Acapulco, Cancun, Guadalajara, Ixtapa, Mexico City, Monterrey, and more.

> More...

S W E E P S & F R E E B I E S

From Northwest: Check-In Instant Win Game
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Play the Check-In Instant Win Game from Northwest to win a $5,000 Northwest Airlines WorldVacations gift certificate. In addition to the grand prize, instant winners will be chosen at random to win 2,500 WorldPerks miles, 25,000 WorldPerks miles or a Nikon Coolpix 3100 digital camera.

You must be a WorldPerks member to play.

> More...

[Visit http://frequentflier.com/sweeps.htm for more travel sweepstakes.]

Until next week...