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

Passenger Protection to Be Extended
...................................

After a protracted and seemingly irresolvable debate, both houses of Congress have voted to approve intelligence reform legislation which includes, as an amendment, a 1-year extension of Section 145 of the 2001 Aviation & Transportation Security Act (ATSA).

Section 145 mandates that U.S. airlines assist passengers ticketed on insolvent carriers -- like Southeast Airlines, which shut down on Nov. 30 -- on a space-available basis, for a fee not to exceed $50 roundtrip. The ATSA expired on Nov. 19, 2004.

The legislation does not take effect until signed by President Bush, probably next week.

As reported last week, AirTran took advantage of Southeast's demise and the expiration of Section 145, offering to fly stranded Southeast passengers to their destination for $50 each way, standby, plus taxes and fees -- twice the amount specified by Section 145. ATA made the same offer.

To its credit, US Airways abided by the spirit of 145, charging Southeast ticket-holders $25 each way to continue their trips.

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

FrequentFlier Forum Topics
..........................

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

In the "Airline Programs" Forum, Mahuja is looking for advice on TWA miles: "I have some old TWA miles (a little over 70K). I did not really pay attention to this until quite recently and did not receive any instructions on what to do with these when TWA merged with American. When I called American recently, they told me that members had two years to convert these miles to American and that this information was publicly available, so they were not responsible." Anyone in a similar situation should see Becky's response.

Also in the "Airline Programs" Forum, Ronald urges anyone with expiring Grupo Taca miles to donate them to charity: "No EXCUSES -- if the airmiles are to expire anyway or a portion of your miles are to expire, DONATE them to children INSTEAD of letting them expire." Amen. And the same goes for expiring miles in other programs. 'Tis the season!

In the "Hotel Programs" Forum, Mrcheaps has a link to Best Western's promotion offering triple AAdvantage miles through Jan. 31 (see "Miles & Points" below).

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

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

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

Alaska Discounts Award Travel
.............................

Alaska Mileage Plan members may now book discounted coach Saver awards for travel on Alaska or Horizon from Jan. 10 through Mar. 15, 2005, between San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, Sacramento, or Long Beach and cities in Colorado, Montana, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington.

The discount is 7,000 miles, reducing the actual award price from the normal 20,000 to 13,000 miles. In addition to the standard Saver award blackout dates, the 7,000-mile discount is embargoed on Feb. 17-21, 26-27, 2005.

Award bookings must be made online at alakskair.com to qualify for the discount.

More: http://alaskaair.com/shopping/OnlineAwards/AwardPromo.asp

Best Western Stays Earn Triple AAdvantage Miles
...............................................

Through Jan. 31, 2005, AAdvantage members will earn triple miles (750) for eligible stays at Best Western hotels.

Registration is required, as is membership in Best Western's Gold Crown Club International.

More: http://www.goldcrownclub.com/offers/BWAA3X.asp

Triple AAdvantage Miles for Le Meridien Stays
.............................................

AAdvantage members who stay 2 consecutive nights or longer at participating Le Meridien hotels worldwide between Jan. 1 and Mar. 31, 2005 will earn triple miles -- 1,500 rather than the normal 500 miles per stay.

Registration is required.

More: http://www.lemeridien.com/bonusmiles

SkyMiles Card Fee-Free for 1st Year
...................................

American Express now offers the Gold Delta SkyMiles Card with no annual fee for the first year -- a savings of $85. The card still awards new cardholders with 10,000 bonus miles after the first purchase and "always double miles" at qualifying stand-alone supermarkets, drugstores, gas stations, home improvement and hardware stores and the U.S. Postal Service.

More: https://www124.americanexpress.com/cards/delta/gold/

Convert Diners Points for More US Air Miles
...........................................

Through Jan. 31, 2005, members of Diners Club's Club Rewards program will earn a 30% bonus when converting their Club Rewards points into US Airways Dividend Miles.

So, for example, transferring 40,000 Club Rewards points nets 26,000 US Air miles, a 6,000-mile bonus.

Registration is required prior to making the transfer, at http://usairways.com/dm/2857 or by calling 1-800-872-4738, bonus request number 2857.

Independence Air Doubles Points for Online Bookings
...................................................

Through June 30, 2005, members of Independence Air's iCLUB will receive double points for Independence Air flights booked online at FLYi.com. (The Independence program normally awards 1 point for every $1 spent. So with the bonus, members will earn 2 points per $1 and earn a free ticket after spending $750 instead of $1500.)

More: http://www.flyi.com/faresale.htm

Double Miles or Points for Priority Club Stays
..............................................

Between Jan. 17 and Apr. 30, 2005, Priority Club Rewards members will earn double points or airline miles for qualifying stays, beginning with the second qualifying stay, at InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Hotel Indigo, Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express hotels

For stays at Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites hotels, the bonus is for the first stay, provided it is a minimum of 5 nights, and for subsequent stays of any duration.

Registration is required.

More: http://priorityclub.com/double

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

Deal Alert from SmarterLiving.com
.................................

1) Caribbean Fares on Delta from $158

If you're planning a trip to The Bahamas or the Virgin Islands this winter, check Delta's new Caribbean sale before booking. Prices start at $158 roundtrip, and departures are available from both coasts.

Travel is valid on Mondays through Thursdays from Dec. 14, 2004, through Feb. 13, 2005, and must be completed by Feb. 16, 2005. Book tickets at least 7 days in advance, and by Dec. 16. A 3-night minimum stay is required, and the maximum stay is 30 days or Feb. 16, 2005, whichever comes first.

More: http://www.smarterliving.com/air/deal.php?id=7958

2) JetBlue Offers Free Companion Flights

JetBlue is once again offering its "Free Friend Fare" promotion for travel this winter. Destinations include Boston, Denver, Oakland, and Washington, D.C., among others.

To take advantage of the promotion, travelers must travel together on the same flights and dates (either 1-way or roundtrip). For every 2 fares purchased, travelers will receive 2 free companion fares. When booking, select the total number in your group. Companions must pay taxes and fees on the free tickets.

Travel is valid through Feb. 15, 2005. Book fares online at least 7 days in advance, and by Jan. 2, 2005.

More: http://www.smarterliving.com/air/deal.php?id=7904

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

Win 500K AAdvantage Miles from Celebrated Living
................................................

Enter the 2nd Annual Celebrated Living Readers' Choice Platinum List Survey Sweepstakes by Feb. 15, 2005, for a chance to win 500,000 AAdvantage miles (the grand prize) or 1 of 10 runner-up prizes of 50,000 AAdvantage miles each.

To enter, cast votes online for your favorite hotels, destinations, spas, golf courses and cruise lines to be included on the Celebrated Living Platinum List.

More: https://aapcustom.com/celebratedliving/

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

Feedback from the Frontlines of Travel
......................................

"I had to reply to your comment regarding AirTran's, " opportunistic gouging proves otherwise." While I agree that the bill is very important to consumers in this age of "airline demise" I do feel however that AirTran is not the airline to criticize. This bill was set forth in 2001 and I don't think that AirTran's charging $50 each way instead of the $25 is by any means "GOUGING". Let's face it, operating costs including fuel costs have certainly increased greatly within the past year alone. Air Tran offers consumers some of the lowest airfares in today's market.

"No, I am not an employee of AirTran but a travel consultant who has seen my share of changes in the industry over the past 25 years. Gone are the days of goodwill between the airlines. I once was employed by the now defunct World Airways so I am aware of the airline's trials and tribulations and yes they have changed over the years.

"So, for what my comments are worth I don't feel that AirTran is by any means taking advantage of the situation." (Chervyl in Gaithersburg, MD)

[Editor's Note - While there's no definitive standard for what constitutes gouging, $50 each way I think goes way beyond the airline's cost to transport one extra passenger in a seat that would otherwise have gone empty. And the spirit of 145 was that the protection would be provided at cost -- i.e. airlines were not expected to make a profit on the back of other airlines' misfortunes.]

.........../

.........../

"I am pleased to report that I heard back from Starwood Preferred regarding the complaint I had with respect to my stay at the Four Points Sheraton in San Diego this summer (referenced in your most recent newsletter).

"They have reinstated 3,000 of the 6,000 points that I used for the stay. I am attaching a letter from the Corporate Service Consultant. I am pleased with the response I got from them and wanted to pass this along to you as well. I think that most people take the time to complain, but do not take the time to pass along kudos when good things happen." (Colleen)

.........../

"I traveled (full fare) Edmonton (Canada) to Phoenix on America West. I rented a car and drove to Tucson. On my return trip, I was unsure how much time it would take to drive back to Phoenix, so I arrived *many* hours early...and checked in. I was not given a seat assignment and told to pick it up at the gate counter. Not a problem, I thought. I had a couple of hours to wait until the gate agents came, and when they did, I asked. They explained that the flight was overbooked, but surely not everyone would show. I asked why it should be me that didn't get the seat, rather than one of the others who were still not checked in. (No answer).

"Anyway, after a while, the plane boarded (including some who managed to run up long after the "official last time for boarding" had passed. And the plane was full! Only I was without a seat. They went to ask for volunteers, but there were none. And so they closed the gate and pushed back, leaving me in the Phoenix airport.

"Now, I had thought that all legitimately ticketed passengers were equally entitled to a seat, and that they would have to find *someone* who would volunteer. But not so. They arbitrarily chose me, despite my being checked in long before almost all the other passengers. The counter person gave me a $400 voucher and put me on a ticket to Calgary with a connection to Edmonton, arriving only some four hours later. That part was ok, although I am still wondering why I was the chosen victim. But wait! It gets better.

"A few days later I was in Vancouver and decided to travel again to Tucson. I went to the America West counter in Vancouver and asked about a ticket for the next day. I was quoted $460 (taxes included) in Canadian dollars. This would be great, I thought, because the $400 US coupon would easily cover that! Not so!! And this is a warning to anyone taking an overbooked airline up on their offer of a voucher. One cannot use a voucher on an "ordinary fare"!! Instead, there is a "voucher fare". How much? Well, how does $576 US sound. At the current rate of exchange, the difference was $189 US! So, my $400 voucher was in fact worth only $211. (I have no reason to think that this practice is unique to America West). First they screw you, then they pat you on the head and say "sorry, we'll try harder next time; take this as a token of our good wishes". And then the token is a large screw." (Jeff)

.........../

"We arrived in London after a night flight, longing for a long shower and clean clothes. Alas, this was not to be. Our luggage never showed. BA gave us each a tee-shirt and some itty bitty toothpaste, deodorant, toothbrush etc. Was this what we were to use for 10 days in Europe?????? Packed away in the MIA suitcase were 10 days worth of everything else. We quickly changed our plans and skipped the day at the British Museum out of necessity and dashed off to Marks and Spencer to buy a few days worth of clothing, everything from top to bottom. This was not fun. We are not people who enjoy shopping. Of course we laid out all the money for these purchases and assumed we'd be quickly compensated. To make a long story short, a month has gone by and not a word is heard from BA. I've sent them endless emails and get automated responses, of the species: your letter is very important to us etc. Meanwhile the credit card bills are ours to pay.

"Is this any way to treat customers? Where's that well known polite British demeanor? Not at BA!

"My advice: there are loads of carriers that will take both you AND your luggage across the Atlantic. Fly any of the others. BA has nothing to recommend it. The seats are tortuously uncomfortable and on arrival, after a miserable flight, if you don't have your clean clothing joining you, your vacation will be ruined. Ours was!" (Rosanne)

.........../

Until next week...