Issue #121  --  Nov. 21, 2000

<< U P F R O N T >>

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Thanksgiving Travel? Thanks, but No Thanks!
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
If you'll be traveling over the Thanksgiving holiday period, you have my sympathy. It will be the busiest air travel week of the entire year, and the data-gatherers are forecasting that the number of flyers will exceed last year's record.

Sunday, November 26, will have the distinction of being the worst day ever in the history of U.S. commercial aviation, with 2.24 million travelers flying home from holiday visits. (It's also my birthday, which I take to be a bad omen.)

Compounding the problems presented by the sheer volume of traffic is the labor discord currently affecting many airlines, including United, Northwest, Delta, and Continental. If employee unrest manifests itself as work slowdowns or walk-outs during the holiday period, an already difficult situation will just get worse.

Having been on 7 flights during the past month, I would just as soon not see another airport for the rest of the year. So I'll be staying close to home this Thanksgiving. Rather than gloat, and in keeping with the (hopefully) helpful nature of this publication, here's the advice I'd give my own mother if she were coming to visit me this Thanksgiving--

o Stay home. We'll talk by phone. Failing which...

o Arrive at the airport early. Begin by leaving home early, as airport-area parking lots will be full to overflowing. And when you do actually get to the airport, lines for Red Caps, ticketing, security clearance, check-in and boarding will be l-o-o-o-o-o-n-g.

o Be patient and courteous. Rage happens... On-the-way-to-the-airport rage, at-the-airport rage, in-the-jetway rage, stuck-in-a-too-small-seat rage, you-call-this-food? rage, and so on. If you're medicated, double up on your dosage. Otherwise, be ultra-courteous. Resolve to have a calming effect on everyone around you. Even if you only succeed in calming yourself, you will at least have reduced the overall frustration and anger quotient.

o Pack light, or check your bags. The airlines are generally not enforcing size restrictions on carry-on bags. So you increasingly see the boarding process, and ultimately the flight itself, delayed because 300 bags just can't be squeezed into storage space designed to hold 200 bags. Do the math, and pack (or check your bags) accordingly.

o Enjoy the miles. Through it all, console yourself with the thought that you will earn miles for your trip. Visualize that free trip to Aruba. This time of year, that may be the best you can hope for.

<< O N S I T E >>

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

Rita has information about the Hersheys Save and Soar program. Mhall is wondering about sold-out summer award flights. Kelley is seeking assistance in traveling to China to adopt a child. Topherm2 wants to bring guests with him when he visits the Crown Room airport lounge.

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

>> More <<
The FrequentFlier Forum

<< M I L E S >>

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Countdown to Elite: 5 Weeks to Go
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
If you haven't yet accrued the necessary miles, segments or points to qualify for elite status in 2001, you have just over 5 weeks to do so.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Delta Discounts SkyMiles Awards
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Delta is making a number of award flights available to SkyMiles members at reduced mileage levels, as follows--

Shuttle flight awards are reduced from 25,000 to 15,000 miles (Award Code D117). Availability: until December 31, 2000.

Flights between New York and selected Europe cities (Brussels, Lyon, Nice, and Zurich) are reduced from 50,000 to 35,000 miles (Award Code D134). Availability: until December 14, 2000.

Flights between the U.S./Bermuda/Canada/Caribbean/Mexico and Panama City, Panama and San Salvador, El Salvador are reduced from 35,000 to 25,000 miles (Award Code D195). And flights between the U.S./Canada and Guadalajara and Mexico City are reduced from 30,000 to 25,000 miles (Award Code D196). Availability: between October 2000 and December 15, 2000.

Flights between the U.S./Bermuda/Canada/Caribbean/Mexico and Japan are reduced from 60,000 to 45,000 miles (Award Code D194). Availability: between November 1, 2000 and March 31, 2001.

>> More <<
Delta

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Continental Allows Mileage Transfer
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Continental's new MilePass promotion allows OnePass members to transfer miles among OnePass accounts from November 14, 2000, through January 31, 2001. There's a service charge of $4 for every 500 miles transferred.

Here's how it works--

 - Members can transfer miles to only one account or receive miles from no more than five accounts. Each member is limited to giving OR receiving miles -- you cannot do both.
 - There is no limit on the maximum amount of miles that can be transferred to an eligible account.
 - Transfers must be made in blocks of 500 miles, with a minimum of 2,500 miles.
 - Allow 1-3 days for miles to be transferred -- once miles are transferred, a ticket can be redeemed.
 - Miles transferred do not qualify toward Elite status.
 - Transfers are non-reversible.
 - MilePass is only available to OnePass members residing in the U.S. and Mexico.

Do factor in the service charge (just under $0.01 per mile transferred) when considering this option. For most purposes, we reckon the value of an airline mile at $0.02. So you'll be paying almost half as much again to obtain more miles, or to give them away. That probably makes sense for small transfers, but beware the economics of large ones.

To make a transfer, call the OnePass Promotional Line at 1-800-554-5522.

>> More <<
OnePass

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Chase Offers OnePass Miles for New Business Accounts
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Chase Manhattan Bank is offering up to 50,000 OnePass miles to small business owners who bring new deposits to Chase.

The 2-level program offers 50,000 Continental OnePass miles when new business checking and money market accounts are opened with $30,000 or more in combined balances, or 25,000 miles for $20,000 or more in combined new balances. Existing customers can participate in the offer by bringing equivalent new deposits to Chase.

Prospects or current customers can call 1-800-CHASE24 or visit a local branch to take advantage of the offer. To earn the reward, businesses must keep the deposit balances at Chase for a minimum of three months and over those three months maintain an average monthly balance of $30,000 or more for the 50,000 mile offer and $20,000 or more for the 25,000 mile offer. The offer is valid until December 31.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Win ClickMiles for Accessing CNN Online
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
With all the focus on the still unresolved U.S. Presidential race, you are probably already spending an inordinate amount of time watching and/or surfing CNN. I know I am. Here's a way to make your time with CNN even more rewarding.

Enter CNN's "Reap the Rewards" sweepstakes to win the grand prize of 1 million ClickMiles from ClickRewards, or daily 10,000 ClickMiles prizes.

Beginning November 6, 2000, access any CNN web site (http://cnn.com, http://cnnfn.com, http://cnnsi.com) and click on the "CNN Reap the Rewards" banner or button located there. Follow the instructions at the sweepstakes web site to fill out the Official Entry Form. Online entries for each daily prize drawing ends 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time each day during the sweepstakes. Online entry for the Grand Prize drawing ends 11:59 p.m. December 10, 2000.

You can also enter by mail. Beginning November 6, 2000, print your first and last names, address, daytime telephone number, age, and e-mail address, if available, on a standard postcard, and mail to: "CNN Reap the Rewards Sweepstakes"; P .O. Box 20136; Atlanta, Georgia 30325.

<< S T E A L S & D E A L S >>

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Deal Alert from SmarterLiving.com
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
This week, a single hot deal from SmarterLiving.com...

>> Last-Minute Thanksgiving Sales

Still wondering where to go for Thanksgiving dinner? Most major U.S. airlines are offering last-minute sales for travel departing Thanksgiving Day and returning the next day.

For more details, go here.

<< B U S I N E S S T R A V E L T I P S >>

Continued next week.

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

Continued next week.

<< S I T E 2 S E E >>

Continued next week.

Again, have a great Thanksgiving holiday.