U P F R O N T

Next Week (Thanksgiving)
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The Crier will NOT be published next week, in consideration of Thanksgiving.

Best wishes to all for a happy holiday. May your travels be safe and hassle-free.

United, Rising (Really!)
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On a swing through Chicago last week on business, I took time to have cocktails with a United employee, a mid-level Mileage Plus manager with whom I regularly discuss the program and the industry generally.

Since the gentleman in question was not speaking as a United spokesman in any official capacity, we'll just call him Ben, in keeping with United's current penchant for punchy single-syllable names.

The evening of our meeting being the very day that United released news of its upcoming elite changes (all positive, as reported in last week's Crier), that was naturally a discussion item. Long conversation short: Ben assured me that it was absolutely not a good-news/bad-news ploy on United's part. There are no customer-unfriendly changes in the pipeline.

Ben was also pretty enthused about Ted, United's new low-cost subsidiary set to begin flying out of Denver on Feb. 12. I've been a Ted-Schmed naysayer since the project was in the rumor stages. It's a dicey distraction for a company which faces more than enough challenges managing its core business. And the guerilla launch marketing has been too cute by half.

I was midway through explaining my misgivings to Ben when it hit me: Ben wasn't just stoked about the trees; he was jazzed about the entire forest.

And the forest, as Ben sees it, is a whole new attitude at United. A bit more innovative; a tad less risk-averse. And more customer-focused.

A true corporate-culture change at United? Since when, I asked. Ben located the turnaround point as the hiring of John Tague, Executive Vice President - Customer, in May. Tague was previously the CEO of low-fare carrier ATA, and brings a much-needed entrepreneurial spirit to stodgy United.

Earlier this month, United made another key appointment: Martin White, the new Sr. V.P. - Marketing. White has recent marketing experience with US Air and Delta. More interestingly, he logged significant time at Brierley and Partners, the venerable loyalty marketing agency which once managed Mileage Plus, and still counts Hertz, Hilton and Sony among its clients.

And now we have Ted.

I'm still not impressed with the substance of Ted. But to the extent that it (he?) presages a new day at United, and a better travel experience for United's customers, Ted is welcome news indeed.

O N S I T E

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

Dave provides a link to the latest SkyMiles-for-Internet-Access offer from AT&T. Christy raises the perennial question: How to transfer miles? Jahjes can't book a WorldPerks saver award for next Oct. and wonders if they exist at all. 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

Hertz Is New AirTran Partner
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Effective immediately, members of AirTran's A-Plus Rewards program may earn credit for Hertz rentals.

Normal earning rate will be a half credit for qualifying rentals of up to 4 days, and a full credit for rentals of 5 or more days.

As a launch promotion, members will earn double credits on qualifying Leisure weekend and weekly rentals through Mar. 31, 2004 (2-day minimum for Leisure Weekend Rate rentals, 5-day minimum for Leisure Weekly Rate rentals).

To earn credits, provide an A-Plus membership number at the time of reservation, rental or return.

> More...

Alaska Puts LAX Awards on Sale
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Mileage Plan members can save 7,000 miles on award travel between Los Angeles (LAX) and selected Horizon Air cities (mostly smaller cities in the Pacific Northwest).

Offer is valid for travel between Jan. 5 and Mar. 16, 2004. Award reservation must be booked online at alaskaair.com in order to receive the discount.

The full list of eligible Horizon Air cities is here.

Triple HHonors Points for Alamo Rentals
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Members of the Hilton HHonors program will earn triple HHonors points and up to 15% off Alamo's retail rates on qualifying paid rentals at participating Alamo locations between Nov. 1, 2003 and Feb. 29, 2004.

To receive points, HHonors members must present an Alamo Rental agreement or keys when checking in at a Hilton, Conrad, Doubletree, Embassy Suites, Hampton Inn, Hilton Garden Inn, Hilton Grand Vacations Club, Homewood Suites or Scandic hotel.

> More...

Dollar Rentals Earn Double Southwest Credits
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Through Feb. 12, 2004, Rapid Rewards members will earn double credit (1 credit vs. the standard half credit) on rentals of premium, luxury, convertible, minivan or sport utility vehicles for 2 days or more with Dollar Rent A Car.

To receive the bonus, cite your Rapid Rewards membership number and promotion code WN39 when booking.

> More...

Starwood Limits Elite Perks
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Effective Jan. 1, 2004, Starwood hotel bookings made through "pre-paid channels" (i.e., Expedia, Hotels.com, Hotwire, Orbitz, Priceline, Travelocity, Travelweb, etc.) will not be eligible for elite upgrades and other benefits.

Starwood cites the difficulty of delivering elite perks to customers of the online discounters. And with its Best Rate Guarantee in place, Starwood argues that consumers have no compelling reason to buy through the affected sites.

This is part of the ongoing trend among hoteliers and airlines to drive sales through preferred distribution channels, principally their own websites, which yield higher profit margins for the suppliers.

> More...

Mileage Plus Dining Bonus
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Participants in the Mileage Plus Dining program who complete 4 qualifying Dining transactions between Nov. 1 and Dec. 31 will earn a 25% bonus on all mileage-earning Dining transactions during 2004.

Pre-registration is required (link below).

> More...

Diners Points Net More United Miles
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Diners Club Rewards members will earn a 30% bonus when exchanging Club Rewards points for miles in United's Mileage Plus program between Nov. 15, 2003 and Jan. 15, 2004.

Club Rewards points normally convert to miles at a 2:1 rate, so 2,000 points would equal 1,000 miles. With the bonus, 2,000 points would net 1,300 miles.

> More...

Ski Vail, Earn Bonus US Air Miles
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Between Dec. 20, 2003 (when service begins) and Jan. 31, 2004, Dividend Miles members will earn bonus miles for flights to Vail, Colorado from both Philadelphia and Charlotte.

Earn triple miles on first and selected coach class fares (F, A, Y, B) and double miles on other coach fares (M, H, K, Q, V, L).

Registration required.

> 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...

Thanksgiving Travel as Low as $138
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It's not too late to save on your Thanksgiving flight, with sale fares from American, Delta, and US Airways. Sale fares start as low as $138 roundtrip, for travel on Thursday, Nov. 27, and Friday, Nov. 28. Book tickets by Friday, Nov. 21, on Delta; American and US Airways have not announced specific booking deadlines.

> More...

Fly to Mexico this Fall from $226
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Squeeze in a trip to Mexico before the holidays and save with American's sale fares from $226 roundtrip. Fly to cities including Acapulco, Cancun, Guadalajara, and Mexico City, for travel through Dec. 18. Book tickets at least 3 days in advance and by Monday, Dec. 1.

> More...

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

Vote to Win 500,000 AAdvantage Miles
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Celebrated Living magazine is seeking opinions (best hotels, spas, destinations, etc.) for its Readers' Choice Platinum List Survey.

All survey participants will be automatically entered into a sweepstakes. Grand prize: 500,000 AAdvantage miles. Plus 10 prizes of 50,000 miles each.

Cast your vote by Feb. 23, 2004, at http://www.celebratedliving.com.

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

Until next week...