U P F R O N T

Good, Bad News for United
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In last week's Crier, we reported on United's success in securing concessions from its pilot union, a critical step in restoring profitability and avoiding bankruptcy. And in the intervening week, United has made progress with yet another key union group, the flight attendants.

Notwithstanding these generally positive developments, an article in this week's Boston Globe suggests that bankruptcy remains United's most likely next move. The Globe article cites several industry analysts, whose consensus opinion is that United's progress is too little, too late.

Links to the Globe story and other United media coverage can be found on the Business Travel Coalition's "United Watch" site.

B-A-A-A-A-A-D D O G G I E

In the Doghouse (& Out of Business): National Airlines
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When Las Vegas-based National Airlines shut down last Wednesday, it was with no notice to employees or customers. Suddenly, the company had grounded its 18 planes, fired its 1,500 employees, and disconnected its website server.

Local news coverage showed stunned LAX employees scuttling away from news cameras and customers, too stunned and demoralized to bother telling waiting passengers what had happened.

Stranded passengers were left uninformed, unassisted.

It was a particularly shameful performance in an industry in which shamelessness is all too common.

If you participate in the National Comps program, frame your membership card. While your points are worthless, you are at least left with a souvenir, albeit of an airline which, at least at the end, treated the traveling public with a shocking lack of respect and consideration.

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

Shop at Safeway for Alaska Air Miles
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Alaska Airlines' Mileage Plan members can now earn 125 miles for every $250 spent at participating Safeway locations in Alaska, Washington, Idaho and Montana.

To earn miles you must be BOTH a Mileage Plan and Safeway Club Card member.

Use your Safeway Club Card between now and Dec. 10 to be automatically entered to win 1 of 500+ prizes: 500 winners will each receive 20,000 Mileage Plan miles; 4 winners will receive a trip for 2 to Los Cabos, Mexico.

> More...

Alaska Adds Hotel Partner: Fairmont
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Fairmont Hotels & Resorts is the newest addition to Alaska Air's Mileage Plan partner roster.

Normal earnings are 500 miles for each qualifying stay. As a special introductory offer in effect through Feb. 28, 2003, members will earn double miles.

> More...

Asia Miles Convertible Through Points.com
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Members of Asia Miles, Cathay Pacific's loyalty program, can now convert miles to/from other programs participating in the Points.com exchange network.

Other Points.com partners include Air Canada, American, Six Continents Hotels, Alaska Airlines, America West, Delta, Midwest Express, Sprint, FTD.COM and GiftCertificates.com.

> More...

Midwest Express Sells "Business Miles"
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Businesses wishing to purchase Midwest Express frequent flyer miles for use as sales incentives can now do so online.

The minimum order is 100,000 miles, at a cost of $2,737.50 (@ 2.5 cents per mile plus 7.5% Federal Excise Tax plus a $50 processing fee).

> More...

Six Continents Stays Earn Triple Miles
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Through the end of the year, Priority Club members will receive triple miles in the programs of 3 new airline partners: Japan Airlines, South African Airways and Saudi Arabian Airlines.

Offer is in effect through Dec. 30 for Saudia Arabian Airlines and South African, and through Dec. 31 for JAL, for stays at Six Continents Hotels (InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Staybridge Suites).

> More...

Sprint Is New United Telecom Partner
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Mileage Plus members can earn up to 6,000 bonus miles by switching to Sprint 7 cents AnyTime service.

The first 5,000 miles are awarded in 2 stages: 2,500 miles after the first and another 2,500 miles after the sixth Sprint invoices. Plus, receive an additional 1,000 bonus miles by signing up for the offer online.

Then, on an ongoing basis, earn 5 miles for every $1 spent with Sprint, excluding taxes, credits, fees, surcharges and operator services.

> 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...

Nonstop flights to/from Phoenix starting at $58
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You won't have to worry about missed or delayed connections on your next trip to Phoenix, and you'll spend less too, thanks to Southwest's new sale fares on its nonstop flights. Travel is valid between Dec. 3, 2002, and Apr. 4, 2003. A 14-day advance purchase is required.

America West has matched these fares, but its flights are not necessarily nonstop. Purchase tickets online only and by Friday, Nov. 22.

> More...

Off-peak holiday airfares starting at $127
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Time is running out to book your holiday flights, but you can still save money if you avoid the busiest travel days. Seven airlines have announced sale fares to domestic and Canadian destinations for selected off-peak dates. The lowest fares for all airlines are for travel on Nov. 24, 25, 28, and 29, Dec. 25, and Jan. 1; travel on other days will be higher.

> More...

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

This Week's E-mail Bag
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"I am a frequent flyer. More long haul than domestic but 255,000 base miles on DL to date and another 60K scattered about.

"In the past few weeks I have been doing a lot of domestic work with one week where I had 8 legs. (I know that is not a lot by some standards). I was gate searched on 7 of the 8 legs. My last day had me making three legs to get home without leaving an airport nor exiting security. I got searched at security (random) and searched at all three gates.

"I have asked about 2 dozen travelers, all with bag tags indicating heavy travel, and most on premium upgrades, what bugs them the most today. All said the same thing. Enhanced security is fine, gate searches are a giant pain.

"If the TSA or airlines are wondering what besides the economy and fear is holding travelers back, it is the hassle factor!"

- Eric

"After a relatively statistically significant observation (last 5-6 round trips in 2 months) I have made and cross referenced with others I meet on United Airlines flights, I wanted to write to you to share a new theory that we have, wondering what UA's response may be.

"One of the perks UA has been advertising is based on the Economy Plus seating that they have been offering. These seats to have more room, I enjoy them quite a bit as I hop from flight to flight, but recently, the equipment on my regular flights have not had the Economy Plus configuration even when different planes were used (which I can tell based on the fact that some business class seats had power adapters and some did not, when I sought an upgrade due to crampedness of the seats). UA reps at the airport claim not everything is upgraded but we are getting increasingly convinced that in fact they are trying to cram more passengers per flight without the extra room they give to Economy Plus seating.

"With increased $ and mileage cost of upgrades, lack of complimentary upgrades to frequent travellers (I fly 60-75K a year on UA) even when 4+ hours of delays are experienced due to technical difficulties and when over 50% of the First class seats are available, and decreased availability of economy plus seating is decreasing the reasons to fly UA every leg of the trip."

- Mehmet

"Response about the Hertz rental site and ideas to get great cars for cheap: I rent cars about once a month. The Hertz site rarely gives me as good a deal as I can find on Orbitz.com. Go to Google and search for Hertz CDP and you find lots of great awards to use. After I book on Orbitz, I call up the 800 number and have them put in my upgrade. A lot easier and I usually get a great car."

- Michael

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

From Hilton: "Share Your Holidays" Sweepstakes
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Every time you use your Visa card at a U.S. Hilton HHonors hotel (Hilton, Conrad, Doubletree, Embassy Suites, Hampton Inn, Hampton Inn, Hilton Garden Inn, Homewood Suites) between Nov. 16 and Dec. 31, you'll be automatically entered in a drawing to win 1 of 46 grand prizes of $2,000 each.

To enter without making a purchase: Hand-print your name, address, city, state, zip, day and evening phone numbers, and the words "Visa and Hilton HHonors Share Your Holidays Consumer Sweepstakes" on a 3" x 5" card, and mail in a stamped #10 envelope to: Visa and Hilton HHonors' Share Your Holidays Consumer Sweepstakes, P.O. Box 812420, Chicago, IL 60681-2420. Mail-in entries must be postmarked by Dec. 31.

> More...

R E L E V A N T R E A D S

"Famous Names in Aviation" Crossword
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If you subscribe to this newsletter AND enjoy crossword puzzles, you'll want to check out the New York Times online crossword puzzle page. Alongside their current daily crossword -- which is only available to paid subscribers -- is a no-fee puzzle with the theme, "Famous Names in Aviation."

It's sponsored by Delta, so several clues are Delta-related. But the commercial spin aside, it's an engaging puzzle. And if you've never worked a Times online crossword puzzle, you're in for a treat. They've done a first rate job of meshing the old-fashioned brain-teaser with Internet technology.

> More...

Until next week...