U P F R O N T

Cause: Slow Rebound; Effect: More Miles
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> Cause
Earlier this week, United reported October passenger traffic was off 26% over last year. American's traffic dropped 28%. And Delta CEO Leo Mullin said that revenues decreased 35% - 40% from year-ago levels and warned that revenue and traffic likely wouldn't recover until the second half of next year.

> Effect
Miles, miles, everywhere miles...

The U.S. airlines' double-mile offers have been extended through Dec. 15. All the major hotel chains have promotions in place. And in this issue, we report on new or renewed offers from 3 Asian carriers.

Assuming Mullin is correct in his downbeat prediction for a turnaround in travel, expect to see more new offers, and extensions of current offers, in the months to come.

A summary of the latest airline and hotel promotions is online at http://frequentflier.com/offers.htm.

The Concorde Is Back!
==========================

Today (Wednesday) marks the return of the Concorde to Transatlantic service for both Air France and British Airways. The supersonic jets were pulled from service more than a year ago after an Air France Concorde crashed just after takeoff, killing 109 passengers and crew. Tires, gas tanks and other vulnerable systems have been reengineered and upgraded to prevent a recurrence of what was the only mishap in the storied aircraft's long history.

Cheers and bienvenue.

O N S I T E

New on the FrequentFlier Forum
==========================

Glenn wonders: Where are my double AA miles? Larry warns: I can't redeem my ClickMiles. And Tom wants to know: Which airline program awards the most miles when renting a car from Dollar? And more...

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

> More...

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

At Hyatt: "Faster Free Nights"
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Gold Passport members will be rewarded with 1 free night for every 3 nights spent at Hyatt hotels between Nov. 15, 2001, and Feb. 28, 2002. A maximum of 5 free nights can be earned.

Redeem free nights between Dec. 1, 2001, and May 31, 2002 at participating Hyatts.

> More...

ANA Increases Bonus, Decreases Miles-for-Upgrades
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All Nippon Airways will double ANA Mileage Club miles on its international flights between Nov. 15, 2001, and Mar. 31, 2002. Bonus can be earned on all normal adult fares, business discount fares and Star Alliance Around The World fares. Registration is required prior to or after travel, but no later than April 20, 2002.

Additionally, ANA will reduce the number of miles necessary for upgrades by as much as 40%. On ANA transpacific flights, upgrade from Club ANA business class to first class for 25,000 miles per flight (normally 40,000 miles); and from economy class, including promotional fares, to Club ANA for 15,000 miles per flight (normally 25,000 miles). Prior registration is required.

For further details, contact ANA Mileage Club at 1-800 262-4653 or http://www.fly-ana.com.

From JAL: More Miles, Cheaper Upgrades
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Japan Airlines is offering members of JAL Mileage Bank double miles and the "More-for-Less" upgrade campaign.

JMB members flying JAL, Japan Asia Airways or JALways between Nov. 15, 2001, and Mar. 31, 2002, will earn twice the standard mileage credit on eligible fares. Register using code A1A at 1-800-JAL-MILE or at http://www.japanair.com.

Between Dec. 1, 2001, and Mar. 31, 2002, JMB members can upgrade from coach to business or business to first class for fewer miles on all JAL- or JALways-operated international flights to/from Japan.

Cathay Extends Online Booking Bonus
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Cathay Pacific is extending its 10,000-mile online-booking bonus through Mar. 31, 2002, for travel through Mar. 31, 2003.

U.S. residents who are members of AAdvantage and the Cathay CyberTraveler program can earn the bonus by purchasing a qualifying roundtrip ticket between the U.S. and Asia at http://www.cathay-usa.com.

Delta Increases Class-of-Service Bonuses
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Delta is offering SkyMiles members 2 new class-of-service bonuses for Delta, Delta Shuttle or Delta Connection flights.

Members will receive a 50% bonus on their actual miles flown for business/BusinessElite travel (J, C or D classes) from Nov. 1 through Mar. 31, 2002. That's twice the normal business-class bonus.

And for full-fare coach flights (Y/Y06-class tickets), between Nov. 1 and Dec. 31, 2001, members will earn a 25% class-of-service bonus. Normally, coach tickets earn no class-of-service bonus.

Pre-enrollment is not necessary to receive the extra business-class bonus. But to receive the coach bonus, members residing in the U.S., Canada, U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and other Caribbean islands must enroll at http://delta.com or call 1-800-558-3358 and reference promotion code 2017.

Priority Club Lowers Bar for Elites, Extends Status
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Priority Club Worldwide is extending Gold and Platinum elite status for members through Feb. 28, 2002, and reducing the number of hotel nights required to attain elite status for 2002.

To achieve Gold level for 2002, members must stay 15 nights within this calendar year at any Inter-Continental, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express and Staybridge Suites hotel, rather than the normally required 20 nights. Platinum level members must stay 50 nights instead of 60.

> More...

AirTran Extends "Fly Three, Get One Free" Offer
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AirTran's "Fly Three, Get One Free" promotion has been extended through Mar. 31, 2002.

Originally scheduled to expire on Dec. 31, 2001, the promotion rewards A-Plus members with a free ticket for every three coach-class roundtrips or one and one-half business-class roundtrips.

> More...

Continental Caveat
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While Continental followed other major U.S. carriers in extending its double-mile promotion through Dec 15, 2001, they were alone in making a significant change to the terms of the original offer.

Whereas OnePass double miles earned through Nov. 15 count toward elite status, those earned between Nov. 16 and Dec. 15 DO NOT. To differentiate the offers, Continental has assigned them different promotion codes: 50095 and 50099, respectively, for the earlier and later versions.

Think of these as separate promotions, requiring separate registrations.

Online Ticket Charges Earn Mileage Plus Bonus
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Through Dec. 31, 2001, Mileage Plus members can earn 1,000 bonus miles for every roundtrip ticket charged to the Mileage Plus Visa card at united.com. That's over and above the 1,000-mile online booking bonus already in effect.

Travel must be completed before Jan. 31, 2002.

> More...

AAdvantage Hotel/Car Vouchers... NOT!
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Buried at the bottom of the most recent AAdvantage statement was the following: "Effective Dec. 31, 2001, AAdvantage will no longer issue complimentary car and hotel awards with flight certificates. Any complimentary car and hotel awards issued prior to Dec. 31, 2001 will need to be redeemed within 12 months from their date of issue."

Marriott Partners with China Southern
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Beginning Nov. 15, members of China Southern's Sky Pearl Club can earn miles for stays at participating Marriott-branded hotels. Stays at rack or corporate rates earn 800 km; stays at PRC national rates or promotional rates earn 400 km.

Through Jan. 31, 2002, Marriott stays will earn double credit.

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...

Domestic & International Savings on Winter and Holiday Travel
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Most major U.S. airlines have matched the domestic and international fare sale initiated by American. Travel is available through Mar. 2002, including the Christmas and New Year's holidays, with the best values on international flights. Book online and save an additional 10%. Purchase by Tuesday, Dec. 4.

> More...

Air Jamaica Extends Winter Caribbean Sale
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Air Jamaica has extended its Caribbean fare sale until December, offering savings on travel between select U.S. cities and destinations in the Caribbean. Fares are valid for travel through March 14, 2002. Purchase tickets at least three days before departure and no later than Tuesday, Dec. 4.

> More...

S W E E P S T A K E S & F R E E B I E S

Win a Million Miles in "Feel Like A Million" Contest
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Through Dec. 21, consumers can enter the Healthy Choice "Feel Like A Million" contest. Grand prize: 1 million airline frequent flyer miles from American, United, Northwest or Delta.

To enter, explain how Healthy Choice products make you "feel like a million." Winner will be chosen based on creativity, originality and relevance to the "feel like a million" theme. Each entry must be accompanied by 10 original UPC symbols from any Healthy Choice product, excluding Pudding and Novelty Ice Cream products.

All entrants will receive a 6-month subscription sampling of health-related magazines such as Prevention, Shape, Fitness and Self, or 200 free airline miles.

> More...

[Other travel-related sweepstakes and giveaways are online at http://frequentflier.com/sweeps.htm.]

Until next week...