U P F R O N T

From the "Let 'Em Eat Cake" Files
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Except for an inexplicable uptick in management turnover at Fortune 500 companies (among other departing execs: Delta's Leo Mullin, Boeing's Phil Condit, Disney's Roy Disney, Travelocity's Mike Gilliland), Thanksgiving week was a yawn news-wise.

Into that news vacuum stumbled bankrupt Air Canada, hell-bent on assuming the mantle of anti-Thanksgiving poster boy. Seems that Air Canada's management team -- which has come under fire for faring disproportionately well even as the company floundered and workers lost their jobs -- wanted to energize its harried employees, and decided that rewarding outstanding customer service was the answer.

So far, textbook B-school thinking.

One hundred workers were chosen at random, and awarded... tata!... a coupon redeemable at Harvey's (a hamburger chain owned by AC's catering company) for 1 hamburger. Value: $5.00. Oops, those are Canadian dollars. Converted to U.S. currency, that's a whopping $3.78. In the face of such beneficence, recipients were understandably nonplussed by the award's use-it-or-lose-it clause: the burger vouchers expire on Dec. 31.

Want fries with that?

O N S I T E

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

There's an extended thread on the relative merits of the various Amex cards. Ronald has discovered multiple Red Lobster promos, including tie-ins with Marriott and Fairfield Resorts. MikeMike is looking for ways to boost his Delta elite-qualifying miles before the end of the year. 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

AirTran Matches Elite
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Between Dec. 1 and 31, AirTran will award elite status in their A-Plus Rewards program to elite members of other airline programs.

To receive complimentary elite status in A-Plus Rewards, travelers will have to prove that they are indeed elite-level members of another program by faxing a copy of a current account statement.

Elite members of A-Plus Rewards receive free business class upgrades (on higher coach fares), $35-$50 standby upgrades off any fare, advance seat assignments, special check in lines, early boarding, and waived change or cancellation fees (on higher fares).

[For those who don't know, most airlines routinely match elite status in the programs of their competitors, although it's rarely publicized. See the similar offer from Frontier below.]

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Credit Checks Earn Alaska Miles
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Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan members can now earn miles when they order credit-check products and services from TrueCredit.com.

Among the products offered: a 3-in-1 credit report (files from the 3 national credit bureaus), a credit score and analysis, debt analysis, plus 350 Mileage Plan miles, for $44.85.

> More...

Continental Awards Bonus for Ski Packages
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OnePass members who book a Continental Airlines Vacations ski package of 5 or more nights between Nov. 15, 2003 and Feb, 10, 2004, for travel between Dec. 1, 2003 and Apr. 15, 2004, will earn 1,500 bonus miles.

Use Promotion Code PASSDECSKI when booking.

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Delta Offers More Miles, More Comfort
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Through Jan. 31, 2004, SkyMiles members will earn up to 2,000 bonus miles (1,000 miles each way) for flying Delta's new single-class 737-800 service between Atlanta and Kansas City, Chicago-Midway, or Houston-Hobby.

The flights in question are Delta's experiment in offering all-coach seating with extra legroom (36-inch pitch), upgraded snack and beverage service, onboard computer outlets, etc.
Registration is required.

[If any Crier readers have flown on these services, please drop me a note with your impressions.]

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More Miles for Delta AMEX Card Charges
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SkyMiles members will be awarded 100 bonus miles for every eligible purchase of $100 or more charged to their Delta SkyMiles Credit Card or Delta SkyMiles Business Credit Card from American Express between Dec. 1 and Dec. 31.

> More...

Frontier's Systemwide Bonus
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Members of Frontier's EarlyReturns program will earn 2,000 bonus miles for booking and completing their next flight by Jan. 31, 2004. Offer is valid for 1 trip only.

> More...

Frontier Offers "Quick Ascent" to Elite
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For a limited time, elite members of other airlines' programs will be upgraded to Ascent status in Frontier's EarlyReturns program. (Ascent is Frontier's entry-level elite tier, normally attained at 15,000 miles.)

To participate, e-mail the member's name, EarlyReturns number, and a recent statement verifying 2003 elite status in another program, to quickascent@flyfrontier.com. Or fax the info to 1-720-374-4375 (attn: Quick Ascent).

Bonus for CA Crowne Plaza Stays
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Through Feb. 29, 2004, Priority Club Rewards members will earn 5,000 bonus points for the second stay at any of 14 participating Crowne Plaza hotels in California.

Members will receive a 5,000-point promotion card for the first stay, which can be cashed in for a 5,000-point bonus certificate during the second stay.

> More...

5,000 United Miles for Broadband Access
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Mileage Plus members who sign up for Comcast broadband Internet access by Dec. 31 will receive 5,000 bonus miles after service installation, the first month of service for $1, and a free Motorola cable modem (after mail-in rebate).

> 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...

Hawaii Sale Fares on United from $406
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Escape to Hawaii this winter without spending your whole vacation budget with United's sale fares to Honolulu, Kauai, Kona, and Maui/Kahului. Sale fares start at $406 roundtrip for travel from Jan. 7, 2004, through Mar. 18, 2004. Book your tickets by Monday, Dec. 8.

> More...

The East Coast from $78
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Book a flight to/from the East Coast or Midwest and save with sale fares from AirTran and US Airways. Delta has announced a similar sale for travel to/from Atlanta.

Travel is valid through Mar. 10, 2004. Book tickets at least 10 or 14 days in advance, depending on your airline, and by Tuesday, Dec. 16 on AirTran and Delta. US Airways has not announced a specific booking deadline.

> More...

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

From American: A Wish List Sweepstakes
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Enter American's Wish List Sweepstakes by Jan. 15, 2004, to win jewelry or 50,000 AAdvantage miles.

AAdvantage members who login and book an American flight on AA.com are automatically entered. Or, register to enter without making a purchase by signing up at the link below.

Receive up to 4 additional entries by forwarding the sweepstakes information to family and friends.

> More...

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

S I T E 2 S E E

Milestones in the Sky
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Forbes is commemorating the first 100 years of aviation (since Dec. 17, 1903) with a suite of short pieces and slideshows on its website.

The lead-in article begins with this provocative line from Omaha's resident sage, Warren Buffet: "If there had been a capitalist down there at Kitty Hawk, he should have shot down Orville and saved us a lot of money." (Buffet's Berkshire Hathaway holding company lost a bundle investing in US Air.)

I particularly recommend the "Milestones in the Sky" slideshow, which cycles through images of the Wright brothers' bi-plane at Kitty Hawk to the Concorde, by way of the DC-3, B747, etc.

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Until next week...