Issue #20 -- November 5, 1998
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Hilton, ANA Link Programs
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Beginning November 1, members of All Nippon Airways' ANA's Mileage Club can earn mileage credit for stays at Hilton hotels; and travelers who are also members of Hilton's HHonors program can earn both ANA miles and HHonors points for the same business-rate stay.
To launch the new partnership, members of ANA Mileage Club earn double ANA miles for qualifying business-rate stays between November 1, 1998 and February 28, 1999.
The addition of ANA brings to 28 the number of airlines associated with the HHonors program. HHonors' travel partners also include five car rental companies and Princess Cruises.
>> More <<
o ANA
o Hilton
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BA Revamps Economy Class
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British Airways is spending more than $251 million on its new World Traveller economy-class service.
New features include:
-- New scientifically designed seats with adjustable headrests, footrests and more knee room.
-- Personal video screens for every passengeer, with at least 12 channels including a dedicated children and family channel.
-- New menus and equipment, including meals created by British TV celebrity chef Brian Turner and a clever double-decker tray.
-- Self-service, help-yourself snack bars.
-- "Feed Kids First" policy, the first airline professionally supervised play area at Heathrow, baby buggy service and an onboard "treasure chest" offering free toys and games.
-- New interior designs for aircraft, using bold colors and fabrics to give a brighter, fresher look.
-- A hassle-free trip through the airport for business travelers with telephone check-in and the first fast bag-drop service.
-- In-flight comfort kit with phone cards and vouchers for discounts and preferential treatment at Planet Hollywood restaurants.
The new ergonomically designed seats provide contoured back and side lumbar support, adjustable "ear" flaps to rest one's head and footrests to help make passengers' legs more comfortable.
The new seats have been fitted on the airline's 20 longhaul Boeing 777s, and will be installed over the next two years on 60 additional aircraft, including B747s.
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Pilots Give Thumbs-Down on Continental-Northwest Marriage
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In another setback to Northwest's plans to acquire a controlling interest in Continental, the Allied Pilots Association representing 9,000 American Airlines pilots has petitioned the federal government to disallow the get-together.
The pilots' stated objection to what they characterize as a "virtual merger" is basically the same as that expressed by the Department of Justice: that consolidation, whether real or through code sharing, will lead to an increase in prices and a decrease in service.
My guess is that the pilots' real concern is the potential for pilot job cuts as a result of the consolidation and streamlining that typically attend such arrangements. After all, when did pilots' unions--whose history has been one of single-minded self interest--add consumer advocacy to their charters?
Notwithstanding real versus stated agendas, the danger of increased prices from decreased competition is real. And should be weighed against the prospect of more frequent flyer miles when we consider the pros and cons of the alliance between Continental and Northwest, as well as those between American and US Airways, and between Delta and United.
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MileNet Offers Surfing-for-Miles
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Not enough miles for that getaway to Hawaii? Check out MileNet, a new Internet program which rewards your attention with free air travel.
Powered by advertising and electronic commerce revenues, MileNet rewards its users with free MileNet points for every second they are connected to the Internet. MileNet points are then redeemable for frequent flyer miles. Current partners include American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines. By sending the program to friends, users increase their earning rate and create a community of connections called a MileNet tree. Users' trees are shown graphically and grow like an electronic pet as their tree of friends expands. Instant messages, called TreeNotes, can be sent within each tree.
To participate, you must download the MileNet software, available as a free download at http://www.milenet.com and other major Internet download sites. Users begin earning MileNet points immediately upon installation and every second they are connected to the Internet provided that the MileNet advertising window is not obscured. MileNet points can be redeemed for frequent flyer miles at a 1:1 ratio with any of MileNet's airline partners.
I'm a sucker for simplicity, and this seems like a complicated way to earn miles. If you're more tolerant of complexity than I am (or more desperate for miles), this is worth looking into.
>> More <<
MileNet
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ClickRewards' 65 Million Mile Giveaway
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As part of what's being billed as the largest online shopping promotion ever, ClickRewards will offer Internet shoppers 65 million bonus "ClickMiles" -- or the equivalent of 1,000 times around the world. The Buy & Fly Holiday Bonus ends December 30.
To qualify... Actually, in the e-mail announcement of this promotion from ClickRewards, the details were so convoluted that, rather than trying to communicate them in the e-mail, they referred me to the site "for complete details." If they can't communicate their own offer in 25 words or less, I certainly can't.
At the risk of belaboring the point, marketers should subject all promotions to a simplicity test BEFORE unleashing them on us poor dim-witted consumers. Please.
>> More <<
ClickRewards
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AAdvantage Miles Spur Charitable Giving
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American is reporting a milestone of sorts in the use of AAdvantage miles by charities to elicit contributions: 50 million miles sold, $30 million raised for worthy causes.
In just three years, the AAdvantage Fund Raising program has worked with hundreds of charities across the United States to award more than 50 million American Airlines AAdvantage miles to donors, helping raise more than $30 million for philanthropic causes. That's enough miles to send two thousand AAdvantage members around the world!
National charities and community-based groups alike have benefited from using AAdvantage miles as donor gifts. Organizations in virtually every non-profit area -- from health care to the arts, colleges to professional organizations, religious groups to zoos -- have used AAdvantage miles as part of their fund raising programs.
"We've found that just about every kind of charity can benefit by offering AAdvantage miles," said Bruce Chemel, president of the American Airlines Advantage Marketing Division. "Miles have a universal appeal, especially since the AAdvantage program has more than 32 million members. And the charities find members are excited about getting something more than a coffee mug or tote bag -- now they can give to their favorite charity, add miles to their accounts and be that much closer to enjoying a vacation."
So if you're a charity wondering how to maximize contributions, consider adding miles to your list of incentives. And if you're a charitable donor, it's no less blessed to give when you receive miles in return.
>> More <<
Information on AAdvantage Fund Raising: 1-888-233-6636
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Reservations Anyone? Everyone?
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Taking a cue from affiliate programs such as Amazon.com's, Travelocity and Preview Travel are bringing their travel information and booking functions to a website near you. To MANY websites near you.
>> How it Works <<
Here's how Preview positions the new service in its official announcement: "Preview Travel, Inc. (Nasdaq: PTVL), a leading online consumer travel service and information resource, today announced that its popular Farefinder and Travel Newswire services are available for Web sites to incorporate into their own online offerings free-of-charge. Webmasters, producers and editors can easily add Preview Travel's award-winning Farefinder and Travel Newswire content to their sites by going to: http://www.previewtravel.com/Syndication."
>> Mixed Feelings <<
This kind of syndication is another step toward the mall-ification of the Internet, with Amazon.com and Travelocity pervading cyberspace much the way MacDonalds and Wal-Mart have pervaded physical space. Would I, wearing my marketing hat, do what Preview and Travelocity are doing? In a nanosecond! But wearing my "Citizen of the Internet" hat, I'm sorry to see the cyberlandscape moving inexorably in the direction of homogenization.
>> More <<
o Preview
o Travelocity
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Sneak a Peek at Travelocity's New Look
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Speaking of Travelocity, The Sabre Group (Travelocity's parent company) is previewing its new site design for Travelocity, the online travel booking site. The new design and site features, many of which will debut later this month to the public, can be viewed at http://www.travelocity.com/sneakpeek. Beginning in mid-November, Travelocity's four million members will have simpler and faster access to the site's extensive database of travel information.
Phase two of the launch will include a new Express Buy feature that will reduce the number of clicks it takes to make a reservation -- compressing the process from 12 pages to three clicks.
>> More <<
Travelocity
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"1-2-Free" at Northwest
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Between now and December 18, Northwest passengers who purchase and use two roundtrip -- or four one-way -- full-fare coach or first class tickets will receive a certificate redeemable for a free roundtrip ticket to any Northwest destination in North America.
Certificates are good for travel between January 11, 1999 and May 21, 1999 and are not subject to capacity controls (i.e. may be redeemed for any available coach seat). Itinerary must include a Saturday night stay.
Terms and conditions: Fares must be booked in F, Y, -UP, -26 or -27 classes for domestic travel completed by December 18 (travel to and from Hawaii is not eligible). Tickets must be issued as Northwest e-tickets, passenger must be a WorldPerks member and provide WorldPerks numbers at time of ticketing. Limit of two free certificates per passenger. Certificates must be redeemed for travel between January 11, 1999 and May 21, 1999. Certificates may be transferred to family members only. Certificate travel will be booked in Y class and there are no blackout periods. Other restrictions may apply.
>> More <<
To qualify for the "1-2-Free" promotion, travelers must register for the program before purchasing tickets. Registration can be done through Northwest's award-winning web site (http://www.nwa.com) by clicking on the "1-2-Free" feature or by calling 1-800-508-2000, ext. 3733. Once registered, customers will be immediately enrolled in the program and all eligible purchases will be automatically credited.
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United Delays Startup of Carry-on Crackdown
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United Airlines' controversial plan to strictly enforce carry-on limits has been postponed at Denver International Airport, one of United's principal hubs.
The new procedure, originally scheduled for implementation this Sunday, would have required all carry-on bags to fit through a 9-by-14 inch "template" mounted on the front of security x-ray machines. However, since Denver's security checkpoints are used by all airline passengers, not just United passengers, enforcement could not be effected without the concurrence of other DIA airlines.
United has begun gradual phase-in of the new procedure at Chicago O'Hare.
>> More <<
United online
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America West's Flight Attendants Ready to Strike
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On Monday, flight attendants at America West voted to authorize a strike if contract negotiations with management cannot be brought to a satisfactory resolution. The flight attendants have been working without a contract since 1994.
Whatever transpires from here on out, this is likely to be more bad news for America West customers, who suffered through many months of delays and cancellations during the recent dispute between the airline's management and mechanics.
>> More <<
America West
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Better Than a Poke in the Eye with a Sharp Stick
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United States citizens can now visit Hong Kong for up to three months without a visa. The Hong Kong Tourist Association announced last week that it has extended effective immediately the current one-month visa-free period for U.S. citizens to three months. U.S. travelers to Hong Kong must have a valid U.S. passport and are required to obtain a visitor visa in advance in order to travel to mainland China.
Guess this is intended to help stimulate travel to Hong Kong...?
>> More <<
Hong Kong Tourist Association
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Site Suggestion
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Love 'em or loathe 'em, we've gotta lug 'em. Laptops that is.
They're an indispensable part of business travel, constant companions on the road and in the air. You can complain about your dislocated shoulder and your laptop's wimpy batteries. Or you can visit Roadnews.com and become a true laptop-Samurai.
>> More <<
Roadnews.com
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