U P F R O N T

Paperless Programs -- Ready for Prime Time?

In response, we received replies from 6 readers, 5 of whom were troubled by Alaska's new policy. In some cases, the discontent was directed very specifically toward the policy itself; in others it included a larger trend in Alaska's service. (See "Reader Rants & Raves" below.)

Thinking about the issue over the past week, I was struck by another thorny issue associated with e-mail statements: questionable deliverability. I'm referring of course to the proliferation of spam filters deployed to insulate consumers from all manner of objectionable e-mail. The dirty little secret: not only do these filters fail to intercept much of what they were designed to eliminate, they also routinely mis-identify legitimate e-mails and deprive users of ready access to messages they have elected to receive. I have seen estimates that 15-20% of all legitimate e-mail is erroneously blocked.

Just another variable for Alaska to factor into their customer-service equation...

<< O N S I T E >>

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

Ronald has a link to a double HHonors points offer for purchasing DVD/VHS movies from Critics' Choice. David began a discussion on Amex's new fees for exchanging Membership Rewards points for airline miles. Mayday is wondering whether the new Capital One program is worthwhile. 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 >>

Earthlink Offers AAdvantage Bonus
=================================
AAdvantage members who establish new Earthlink Internet access accounts, or upgrading existing accounts, will receive 10,000 bonus miles.

Offer applies to dial-up, broadband and Blackberry services.

(See below for details of a similar Earthlink bonus in effect for SkyMiles members.)

> More...

Miles for Best Western Travel Card
==================================
Members of Best Western's Gold Crown Club Int'l will earn 250 airline miles (Air Canada, American, Northwest, United) for every $50 Best Western Travel Card purchased through Mar. 31. Plus, a bonus 250 mile miles will be awarded for a $500 purchase, and miles are doubled if the purchase is charged to a MasterCard.

There is a $100 minimum purchase required.

To earn the miles, GCCI members must have 1 of the participating airlines designated as their mileage-earning preference.

> More...

Choice Hotels Doubles the Miles
===============================
Choice Hotel stays between Feb. 12 and Apr. 30 will earn double airline miles or points in the programs of American, America West, Delta, Northwest, Southwest, United or US Airways.

With the bonus, earn 500 miles per stay at Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Sleep Inn, Clarion or MainStay Suites, or 300 miles per stay at Econo Lodge or Rodeway Inn. Or, earn 1 Southwest Rapid Rewards point at any Choice brand.

> More...

Double OnePass Miles for Princess Cruises
=========================================
OnePass members who book a Princess cruise by Mar. 31 will earn double miles.

Cruise bookings normally earn between 1,500 and 10,000 miles, depending on the cruise's duration. With the bonus, earning rates range from 3,000 to 20,000 miles per cruise.

> More...

SkyMiles Bonus for Earthlink Service
====================================
SkyMiles members who sign up for new Earthlink Internet service by Mar. 31, will earn 10,000 bonus miles, 3,000 more than the normal 7,000-mile sign-up incentive.

Bonuses are for new customers only and require that new accounts be active for a minimum of 30 days.

> More...

SkyTeam Weighs Aeroflot Membership Bid
======================================
Russian carrier Aeroflot has applied for membership in the SkyTeam global alliance (Air France, Delta, etc.).

Yes, Aeroflot has a mileage program, Aeroflot Bonus Membership, albeit limited to mileage accrual on Aeroflot flights and a few hotel and rental car partners.

However things play out with Aeroflot, with the upcoming addition of Continental, KLM and Northwest, SkyTeam is well positioned to win this year's "most improved alliance" award.

Priority Club Offers Multiple Stay Bonus
========================================
Through Apr. 30, Priority Club Rewards is offering members 3,000 bonus points or 500 airline miles for every third night they stay at InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Express by Holiday Inn or Staybridge Suites hotels, up to a maximum of 30,000 points or 5,000 miles.

Nights need not be consecutive and may be mixed among hotel brands.

To participate in the promotion, register at http://priorityclub.com/30000.

United, Lufthansa Bonus for Europe Flights
==========================================
Members of United's Mileage Plus or Lufthansa's Miles & More programs who fly a United or Lufthansa trans-Atlantic roundtrip in first or business class between Feb. 1 and Apr. 15 will receive a free coach ticket good for travel anywhere in United or Lufthansa's systems between Sept. 1, 2004, and Apr. 1, 2005.

Qualifying booking classes are F, A, C and D. Offer is valid only for residents of the U.S., Canada, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico.

Registration is required.

> More...

[As we go to press, Northwest and KLM have matched the above. See http://nwa.com/offers/tatlwbc/ for details.]

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

Deal Alert from SmarterLiving.com
=================================
This week's hot deals from SmarterLiving.com...

United 2-Day Sale from $118
---------------------------
Don't miss your chance to save on flights within the continental U.S., as well as to Alaska and Hawaii, with United's sale fares starting at $118 roundtrip.

Travel is valid through March 10, but you'll have to act quickly to get these fares. Book tickets at least 7 days in advance, and by Thursday, Feb. 5.

> More...

New York Sale Fares from $98
----------------------------
Two large airlines are flexing their muscles in New York as they attempt to crush JetBlue. Both American and Delta have announced sales focusing on JFK airport -- 1 of JetBlue's major hubs -- and not only will you find domestic prices from $98, you'll also find savings on international routes. America West is offering a similar sale for domestic travel.

Book tickets at least 7 or 14 days in advance, depending on your destination, and by Friday, Feb. 6.

> More...

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

Feedback from the Frontlines of Travel
======================================
As noted in the "Up Front" section above, this week's feedback is in response to a single question: Is Alaska Airlines' "No more paper statements" policy a mountain or a molehill?

"Mountain or molehill? Molehill.

"For those who don't have email access to receive their Mileage Plan statements, there's still the automated phone system, where you can get information about current account balances and recent transactions. Given the current state of the airlines and the current decline in frequent flier benefits, if eliminating paper statements saves enough money to allows Alaska Airlines to not raise redemption levels (again), then I'm all for it. For those members who don't have either an email address or a phone ... well, they'll likely be subjected to intense security screening at the airport and will likely be prevented from boarding a flight anyway. :)"

- Brad

"You wanted my opinion, here it is: It's a mountain, not a mole hill, to me. I've been MVP for years and this is another thing that Alaska is doing to reduce costs, raise profits and forget about the customer. When you talk to Alaska about anything they have downgraded in their mileage program, their mantra continues to be "We still better than anyone else." Well, not for long...."

- Jane

"I think it is wrong to require an airline's customers to use e-mail to access their account. There are still some people who do not wish to use their computer time, or even have a computer at home. Count me as against Alaska Airline high-handed move!"

- Barbara in Boston

"I have been flying Alaska Airlines since 1976 and have seen their consideration for customers steadily decrease. Both counter and airline staff seem to have adopted the attitude that they are doing the customer a large favor by providing any service at all. While this does not hold true for all employees, it seems to be the more prevalent attitude that I have encountered in the last 5 or 6 years. I still fly them, since they are usually the most convenient, and frequently the only, option in Alaska. I guess I wasn't paying attention, but I was shocked when I saw the Peak mileage required for a ticket jump from 60,000 to 80,000 miles in January. Saver mileage stayed the same, but everyone knows a Saver ticket is next to impossible to get. I think the new idea of going to e-statements may backfire on them, since it IS presumptuous and has a certain arrogance to it. Perhaps they are resting on their past laurels a bit too much."

- Mary T., Kasilof, Alaska

"I would agree with your comments concerning Alaska Airline's decision to discontinue paper statements. This is yet another 'high handed' move by Alaska Airlines after announcing last year of their changes to the company's MVP and MVP Gold programs. Alaska Airlines has NO loyalty to it's frequent travelers and now appears to not have any compassion for their frequent flier members who aren't computer savvy! Come on...does it really cost that much to mail a statement?"

- Dawn

"I am an MVP gold member with AS, and resident of Juneau for 28 years. I have seen EXTREEME changes in Alaska Airlines especially over the last 3 years. It is easy to blame 9-11 for airline difficulties, but most of the changes are in quality decline and attitude.

"I just flew to Paris on American, for Martin Luther King weekend, and was shocked at the Poor attitude the flight attendants had. Now that is an Airline in trouble."

- Becky

Until next week...