UP FRONT..........................................................

Passenger Protection, Not
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U.S. airlines are no longer required to protect passengers stranded by a competitor's liquidation.

That protection was included in Section 145 of the 2001 Aviation & Transportation Security Act, which expired on Nov. 19. Recognizing the urgency of the situation, Congress moved to extend Section 145's coverage by attaching it as an amendment to the intelligence reform legislation currently being hammered out between the Senate and House.

In defiance of support from President Bush and a bipartisan majority of legislators, prominent Republican House members are blocking passage of the bill, and no resolution seems likely before Congress closes up shop for the year next Monday.

Which leaves consumers at the mercy of airlines' good will in the event 1 or more carriers cease operations.

This is hardly an academic matter. Even as we go to press, there's a news release on the wire services from AirTran, offering to fly travelers stranded by Southeast Airlines shutdown on Tuesday, on a space-available basis, for $50 each way, plus applicable taxes and airport fees. Under terms of Section 145, the maximum allowable charge would be $25 in each direction, $50 roundtrip.

I had previously opined that airlines would continue honoring the spirit of 145, even after its demise. AirTran's opportunistic gouging proves me wrong.

ON SITE...........................................................

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

In the "Airline Programs" Forum, Youwereinvited can upgrade his United elite status from Premier to Premier Exec for $200 and the time required for a short mileage run. "Is it worth it? I don't care about the lounge really - I hear that the chances of upgrades are (much?) higher with Premier Executive. Is this the case?"

Also in the "Airline Programs" Forum, TheAwsome1 reports that her Delta award-seat assignments were changed without her knowledge or authorization. "So," she warns, "check what you have booked."

In the "Hotel Programs" Forum, Public_consumption anticipates falling just short of Platinum elite in Starwood's program. The question: whether "they have any promotion to get you over the top like the airlines do, such as 'buying stays' or 'stay X nights before...'?"

And much more... Questions, answers? Post them to the Forum!

-> More: http://frequentflier.com/forums/index.php

MILES & POINTS....................................................

America West Adds Ameritrade as Mileage Partner
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Effective immediately, America West FlightFund members can earn up to 25,000 bonus miles for making new investment deposits with Ameritrade.

Miles are awarded in the following increments: 25,000 miles for a $50,000 deposit; 8,000 miles for a $5,000 deposit; 3,000 miles for a $1,000 deposit.

-> More: http://americawest.com/flightfund/ff_home.htm?c=zxameritrade11.30.04

"Buy in the Sky" to Earn America West Bonus or Discount
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FlightFund members who make purchases inflight from the SkyMall catalog can choose to earn 10 miles per $1 spent or a $20 discount on orders of $60 or more.

To get the bonus or discount, passengers must order from a special form, available by request from America West flight attendants on all flights.

-> More: http://americawest.com/flightfund/ff_home.asp?c=zxSkyMall11.29.04

Continental Offers Bonus for Online Booking Changes
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Between Dec. 1 and 31, OnePass members will earn a 1,000-mile bonus for making changes to existing reservations on the airline's website, rather than placing a call to the carrier's call center. Changes which qualify for the bonus: class of service, date, destination or departure time. Both paid and award reservations are eligible.

There's a maximum of 2,000 bonus miles per person.

-> More: http://www.continental.com/onepass/news/default.asp

Northwest Announces Award Increases, Elite Changes for 2005
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Beginning Jan. 1, 2005, all paid fares which normally earn miles on Northwest and WorldPerks elite-qualifying partner airlines will qualify as elite-qualifying segments and count toward earning elite status. Exceptions: Q, I, S, W, T, X, L fare classes on Continental and all Delta-operated flights. Currently, only the priciest unrestricted fares are counted as elite-qualifying segments. Computation of elite-qualifying miles will remain unchanged.

Also beginning Jan. 1, the WorldPerks award chart will be modified to reflect new award travel zones -- viz. dividing both the Pacific and South America into northern and southern regions.

Effective Jan. 1, award levels to/from some South America destinations will be raised. Example: a restricted coach award between the U.S./Canada/Caribbean/Mexico and the new southern South America region will be priced at 50,000 miles, versus the current 35,000 miles which covers award travel destinations throughout South America.

A host of award levels will increase from Mar. 1, 2005. Among them: restricted business-class awards increase from 80,000 to 100,000 miles for travel from the U.S. to Europe, from 90,000 to 120,000 miles for travel to Asia, and from 110,000 to 150,000 miles for travel to the South Pacific.

And also beginning Mar. 1, 2005, the cost of mileage upgrades to Europe and to North/South Asia will rise from 10,000/20,000 miles to 15,000/30,000 miles for upgrades from full-fare coach and discounted coach respectively.

While the policy change on elite-qualifying segments is good news, its effect is limited to a very few program members. The award increases affect far more members, and amount to a material devaluation of current and future WorldPerks miles.

-> More on elite: http://nwa.com/features/wpupdate/
-> More on awards: http://nwa.com/features/awdchgs/

Double Southwest Credits for Alamo Rentals
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Through Jan. 31, 2005, Rapid Rewards members will earn double credit (1 credit per rental rather than the usual 0.5 credits) for Alamo rentals of 2 or more days.

To earn the bonus, members should cite Corporate ID/Rate 7000219 when making reservations and present their Rapid Rewards membership number at the rental counter at time of pickup.

-> More: http://www.southwest.com/

United Cruises Doubles the Miles
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Mileage Plus members will earn double miles for all cruises booked through United Cruises by Dec. 31, 2004 for travel through Dec. 31, 2005.

Visit the United Cruises website or call 1-888-UAL2SEA.

-> More: http://www.unitedcruise.com/

United Triples Miles to Vietnam
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Mileage Plus members will earn triple miles on United's new roundtrip flights between Hong Kong and Vietnam from Dec. 10, 2004 through Mar. 31, 2005.

Registration is required, at http://united.com/offer/mpa234, as is the use of an e-ticket.

FREQUENTFLIER FITNESS.............................................

Holiday Travel Fitness
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Provided by Healthy Travel Network (www.healthytravelnetwork.com)

If you're traveling during the holidays and are envisioning yourself sitting on your aunt's couch all day, eating and drinking, find some creative ways to get your family and friends up and moving.

~ Bundle everyone up for a walk after dinner to look at the neighborhood holiday lights and decorations. Plot a different course each night during your trip.
~ Insist on visiting the department store at the far end of the mall.
~ If you live within walking distance of a nice cafe or restaurant, walk to lunch or dinner. If not everyone wants to walk, let someone drive and meet you there.
~ Take the kids ice-skating or roller-skating and lace up.
~ Park at the far corner of the lot at the mall.
~ Schedule a family tennis, basketball, or badminton tournament.
~ Build a snowman or go cross-country skiing.
~ Take everyone for 9 holes of golf at a par 3 golf course.
~ Take a power walk around the mall before shopping.
~ Act like a kid again and go sledding or have a snowball fight.

Find more ideas and a holiday fitness planner at http://www.healthytravelnetwork.com/newsletter-2004-november.shtml.

STEALS & DEALS....................................................

Deal Alert from SmarterLiving.com
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1) London Fares Plus 2 Free Nights' Hotel from $240

Travelers on both coasts can take advantage of British Airways' free hotel stays offer during London's less busy low season for travel. Prices start at $240 roundtrip, and include airfare and 2 free nights in select central London hotels.

Low-season travel is valid from Dec. 24, 2004, through Mar. 13, 2005; however, sale fares are also available on select dates through Aug. 31, 2005. Travel at the lowest prices is valid on Mondays through Wednesdays. Book airfare at least 7 days in advance, and by Dec. 2. A Saturday-night minimum stay is required.

-> More: http://www.smarterliving.com/air/deal.php?id=7842

2) Domestic Fares on AirTran from $39

Travelers looking for the flexibility of a 1-way flight this winter should check AirTran's latest sale before booking. Prices start at $39 1-way, and destinations include Atlanta, Boston, Denver, and Orlando.

Travel is valid on Mondays through Saturdays through Mar. 2, 2005. Book tickets at least 10 days in advance, and by Dec. 14.

-> More: http://www.smarterliving.com/air/deal.php?id=7913

SWEEPS & FREEBIES.................................................

Win a Cruise in WSJ's "Open Seas Giveaway"
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Enter Wall Street Journal's "Open Seas Giveaway" by Dec. 15 to win a 6-night transatlantic cruise for 2 on the Queen Mary II, including airfare to London to join the cruise. Other prizes include 5 $2,000 American Express Gift Cheques and 25 subscriptions to WSJ.com.

To enter, visit www.wsj.com and click on the banner ad for the Giveaway located on the homepage or go directly to the giveaway entry form located at www.wsj.com/fallcontest.

-> More: http://online.wsj.com/marketing/fallcontest/contest_rules.html

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

READER RANTS & RAVES..............................................

Feedback from the Frontlines of Travel
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"This past August I used (wasted) 6,000 of my hard earned Starwood Points.

"I had family visiting San Diego and I wanted to stay at a hotel close to the home they had rented. I chose the Four Points Hotel in San Diego. I used points for two nights, and then paid for five nights. The first two nights were 'free.' The hotel was pretty marginal (my sister-in-law commented that the setting and decor looked like a government office). The room was marginal. Refrigerator stuck in a corner, light switch in the bathroom was functional, but just barely. I stayed there two nights. Checked out and then got the room I actually paid for. This room was on the same floor and just three doors down from the 'comp' room. The decor was much newer, the amenities (refrigerator, microwave and bathroom) were all much nicer. Had I known I would have been treated to such a marginal room I would have used the points and stayed at a 'real' Sheraton hotel in San Diego, not this Four Points excuse for a Sheraton. I did write to Sheraton and they 'are investigating.' I don't expect too much as it is now almost December." (Colleen)

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"After following the misadventures of several writers to this column, I was happily surprised this week when at the last minute El Al allowed my wife to change her flight which had been booked on my Delta air miles.

"We had made plans in May to fly together in November returning at the very end of the month. Because Delta does not operate flights to Israel, we were placed on a code share flight, me with a discounted Delta ticked and her with an El Al ticket. It became clear at the end of August that we would have to return earlier than anticipated. There was no trouble in switching my flight to the desired date or to moving my wife up a couple of days, but not to the date of my return. Through a series of misadventures Delta 1st, did not place my wife on the wait-list until a month before flight time when we visited Delta's offices in Tel Aviv to receive the tickets. 2nd, told us to keep in contact with Delta both in the US and in Israel to see if progress was made on getting her a seat, and half of the time did not know what to do. 3rd, on the morning of the flight home an elite special services person for partner awards told us there would be no point in her even going to the airport. As we were flying to New York from Pittsburgh, we decided to go to check in together, where El Al placed her on standby, and an hour before flight time, not only found her a seat, but also seated us together.

"I might add that because of the fact that we were ticketed on different air lines, even though we purchased to tickets from Delta and only dealt with them, we were not seated together until the day before the originating flight, and there was quite a bit of discussion as to whether or not it would be possible at all. It took several calls to Delta (on my expense) and quite a bit of patience. Although El Al was very nice, had good service on the flight (better than much of Delta's), palatable food and acceptable entertainment, if the opportunity presents itself again for one intercontinental flight on air miles and one paying, I think we will choose Continental as the Delta partner and book through them since we will only be working through one airline." (Aryeh and Sheila)

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"After registering my Entertainment book online I received a special offer via Entertainment for a travel certificate valued at 'up to' $75 on a 'qualifying' purchase of $150 or more at united.com. As a perfect example of why the airlines are in trouble the certificate came with 5 pages of instructions and the infamous terms and conditions that will probably make my 'special offer' null and void.

"I'm glad that when I redeem a coupon at my supermarket I don't have to comply with such nonsense and I only have to buy the product before the coupon expires. This is not a problem specific to United as I am sure that all the airlines have the same terms and conditions. Why can't we just buy the ticket and present the coupon for the refund. Just like when I buy laundry detergent with a $1.00 coupon." (Richard)

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Until next week...