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

Industry Newsbites (Signs of the Times)
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In what is shaping up to be a more intriguing skirmish than anyone had anticipated, Southwest's bid for assets of bankrupt ATA goes well beyond expanding at Chicago Midway airport by buying gates at fire-sale prices.

The Indianapolis Star reports that Southwest's pitch to the bankruptcy court would give Southwest a 35% ownership stake in ATA, and calls for the ouster of ATA management, including founder and chairman George Mikelsons.

The bankruptcy judge will choose between the Southwest proposal and a more conventional cash-for-gates offer from AirTran (which ATA endorses) later this week.

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Which -- and this was his point -- raises the question: with such bleak prospects, would anyone be inclined to lend US Airways money or purchase their stock? The answer, of course, is "Not likely." Which may also be the answer to the ultimate question, that of their survival.

Shop Online to Decrease Stress, Increase Miles
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Without repeating the offers (see http://frequentflier.com/ffp-news.htm), we'd just remind Crier readers that most major programs are offering bonus miles for holiday shopping at their online mileage malls. So before heading for the bricks-and-mortar mall, check out your preferred airline's online merchant network.

To earn miles, begin shopping at the malls' homepages:

American: http://aadvantageeshopping.com/
Continental: http://continental.com/onepass/earn/shopping/
Delta: http://www.skymilesshopping.com/holiday/
Northwest: http://www.nwa.com/mall/
United: http://mponlinemall.com/
US Airways: http://dividendmilesonlinerewards.com/

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, Tivopot is finding that even the highest-priced awards can be hard to come by. "They (Continental) say the seats have not yet been released (it's 7 months in advance). Does anybody know a way around this, or should I just wait? EasyPass rewards are SUPPOSED to mean that as long as there is a seat, you can have it. Not the case here."

Also in the "Airline Programs" Forum, ET shares details of a 4,000-mile award discount for WorldPerks members.

In the "Credit Card Programs" Forum, CMCM faces a familiar dilemma in the search for a new mileage card: "I don't carry a balance, so that % is irrelevant to me, I just want to accumulate miles with the most widespread use and fewest restrictions. And most airlines to use the miles on, too."

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

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

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

Hug a Tree, Earn AAdvantage Miles
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American is offering AAdvantage members 10 miles for every $1 donated to the National Parks Foundation.

In addition to miles, those donating $125 or more will receive a complimentary National Park Pass, good for a full year's entry into any Park that charges an entrance fee.

Donations are tax-deductible, minus $.022 for every mile earned.

More: https://donate.nationalparks.org/Donate/Donate-DO-OnlineEntry.asp

Delta Will Streamline Elite
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The headline of Delta's news release was an attention-getter: "Delta Enhances SkyMiles Medallion Program, Reduces Service Fees for All Customers." There's a long history of such apparently good-news announcements being used cynically, highlighting minor improvements to afford cover for onerous policy changes which negatively affect a program's value.

In this case, while there are indeed negatives lurking in the details, partly offsetting the enhancements, the net effect at least is positive.

In part, the goal -- and this is long overdue -- is to eliminate the disconnect between award miles and elite-qualifying miles (EQMs). In pursuit of that goal, beginning Jan. 1, 2005, Delta will implement the following changes:

~ Increase the EQMs awarded on deeply discounted economy fares (L, ,T, U) from 50% to 100% of actually flown miles. With the change, all eligible discounted coach fares (H, Q, K, S, L, U, T) will earn 100% of actual flown miles, or 500 miles, whichever is greater, as BOTH award miles and EQMs.

~ Decrease from 200% to 150% the percentage of EQMs earned for first/biz class. Again, the change does away with the discrepancy between EQM and award-mile earning rates.

~ Decrease the minimum number of EQMs awarded for short flights from 750 to 500 miles.

Other elite changes:

~ The requirement to reach Platinum Medallion status will decrease from 100,000 to 75,000 miles. This change was clearly to maintain parity with Continental and Northwest, which are co-partners with Delta in the SkyTeam alliance.

~ All elite members will be able to upgrade at the time of booking when purchasing full-Y fares (Y, B, M).

~ The unlimited complimentary domestic upgrades from discounted coach fares will be confirmable up to 5 days in advance for Platinum members, 3 days in advance for Gold members, and 1 day in advance for Silver members. (Replaces the current multi-tiered, hour-based upgrade schedule.)

Separately, and with various effect dates, $50 will the standard fee for the following: ticket change fees (down from $100); SkyMiles award-ticket reissues/date changes (down from $100; SkyChoice awards and waitlisted awards may be changed without a fee); unaccompanied minor fees (increased from $40 each way for a non-stop flight/$75 each way for a connecting flight/free on Shuttle); and fees to travel with a pet in the cabin (down from $75 each way; increased from free on Delta Shuttle).

My opinion: So far, so good. Yours? E-mail us with your feedback at rants@frequentflier.com.

More: http://delta.com/skymileschanges

More Delta Miles for SkyMall Purchases
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In addition to bonuses for shopping on Delta's mileage mall, SkyMiles members will earn 15 miles for every $1 spent at SkyMall through Dec. 31. That's 5 times the normal 3 miles-per-$1 payout.

More: http://www.skymall.com/delta15

Frontier Ups Elite Bonuses
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Effective Dec. 1, elite members of Frontier's EarlyReturns program began receiving larger elite bonuses.

Ascent members now receive a 25% mileage bonus -- up from 10% previously -- on all Frontier and Frontier JetExpress flights; and Summit members will receive a 50% mileage bonus, up from 25%. (Frontier's website has not yet been updated to reflect the change.)

More: http://frontierairlines.com/travel/ff_tier_levels.asp

Join Netflix to Earn 3,000 United Miles
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Mileage plus members who join the Netflix video-rental service for $17.99 a month by Jan. 31, 2005, will earn 1,000 miles after the first month of membership. In addition, subscriptions charged to a Mileage Plus Visa card earn 2,000 miles after your first month as a member.

More: http://united.com/page/article/0,6722,50997,00.html

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

Deal Alert from SmarterLiving.com
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1) Europe Fares on Northwest from $426

Planning a flight to Europe this winter? Check Northwest's latest sale before booking. Prices start at $426 roundtrip, and destinations include Amsterdam, Brussels, Paris, and more.

Travel is valid on Mondays through Thursdays through Mar. 16, 2005. Book tickets at least 21 days in advance, and by Dec. 16. A Saturday-night stay is required, and the maximum stay is 30 days.

More: http://www.smarterliving.com/air/deal.php?id=7951

2) Amsterdam, Brussels, and Paris from $649

Travelers who want to see a lot of Europe without spending a lot of time or money will find Go-today.com's package to Amsterdam, Brussels, and Paris appealing. Starting at $649, this winter vacation features airfare, accommodations, and transport between the cities.

This package includes roundtrip airfare, 2 nights at Amsterdam's Novotel, 2 nights at Brussels' Hotel Vendome, and 2 nights at Paris' Tim Hotel Nation. Transportation between cities is by high-speed Thalys train service and daily continental breakfast will be provided.

Travel is valid on select dates from Jan. 6 through Mar. 10, 2005. Book by Jan. 6, 2005.

More: http://www.smarterliving.com/air/deal.php?id=6847

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

Win $10,000 from Best Western
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Through Feb. 22, 2005, enter Best Western's High Speed IQ Challenge for a chance to win $10,000.

The online trivia contest (which generates sweepstakes entries) can be played once per day.

More: http://clients-00.eprize.net/bestwestern/highspeed/

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

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

Feedback from the Frontlines of Travel
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"Once upon time I had acquired Platinum status on American, mostly from TWA points, that transferred over to American. Since American has taken over TWA assets they've pulled most of their flights out of St. Louis and re-routed through Chicago and Dallas. I have five first class upgrades sitting in my account. Flying from Chicago to Orlando I was not allowed to use those certificates because I didn't pay full fare and I'm not at least Gold Status. I'm basically being penalized because my travel frequency has dropped. There were 6 open seats in first class. What American (and most other airlines) don't understand is that their poor customer service decisions affect my future choices in flying.

"The way I see it is I earned those upgrades and should be able to use them. I shouldn't be penalized for their mismanagement and poor customer service decisions." (John in Greenville, IN)

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[In response to Jeff's rant in last week's Crier...]

"As one who has used dozens of overbook vouches from TWA, American, Southwest, and NWA I can assure Jeff that, so far, the practice of have a special 'voucher fare' is pretty much confined to America West!

"That is insane and they would have had to haul me away kicking and screaming if they had pulled that with me! Until the other airlines start pulling bull like that he should quickly switch airlines!" (Rich)

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"A year or so ago, there was an article in the Wall Street Journal recommending that the international agreement on foreign air carriers be ditched by the US so that foreign carriers could enter and work domestic routes. At first I was upset but the more I thought about this, the more it intrigues me to think that if Singapore Air or Sabena or whomever could fly me between Dulles and Chicago, the competition might just reawaken our own carriers to treat us better or at least as good.

"As Lee Iacocca proved years ago, the U.S. car makers didn't improve their products and become competitive until the foreign imports were threatening to put them out of business." (John)

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"How about this for an offer I received from American Airlines. I travel each week from Los Angeles to San Jose(CA). I asked AA to quote me for a one year prepaid ticket price. Their answer was 'certainly sir, you will need about 50,000 prepaid miles.' Price $25,000. Just one second I said. I can buy a ticket round trip each week myself for about $100 making a total for the year of about $5000 or I can give you $25,000 up front for the same service! What a deal." (Keith)

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Until next week...