Programs Focus on Awards

As will come as no surprise to readers of this newsletter, the three most significant announcements of the past few weeks have had a common theme: easier access to awards.

Alaska has updated its policies and software to permit mix-and-match award bookings: itineraries combining restricted and unrestricted, first and coach class segments. (See "Miles & Points" below for more.)

American is in the process of releasing a new award-booking tool which displays seat availability in calendar format, allowing mileage-users to view and choose flights two weeks on either side of the designated departure and return dates. (We'll have a full review in a future newsletter.)

And United has enhanced its online booking facility to better display alternate award travel dates.

None of the above really addresses the core problem of limited award availability. But for now, any steps in the right direction are welcome.

:: More

Updated Poll Results: Passenger Bill of Rights

We launched an online survey two weeks ago to gauge readers' feelings about an Airline Passenger Bill of Rights -- a movement gaining momentum among both the traveling public and lawmakers.

Last week, before the recent JetBlue breakdown, the polling numbers stood at 89.3% in favor of a Bill of Rights. As of today, the percentage favoring the Bill has edged up 2.5 points, to 91.8%.

To weigh in on the issue, or simply check the updated voting results, visit the FrequentFlier Polls.

:: More

FrequentFlier Forum Topics

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

In the "Airline Programs" Forum, kelvinf is none too happy about upcoming changes to American's upgrade awards, advising fellow AAdvantage members as follows: "Send AA an email announcing your displeasure!" (See "Miles & Points" below for a summary of the changes.)

And in the "Contests & Sweepstakes" Forum, you'll find a number of intriguing new opportunities to win travel prizes, including a trip to the Cannes film festival.

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

:: More

Alaska Debuts One-Way Awards

Effective immediately, Mileage Plan members can book one-way award travel on Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air for half the number of miles required for a comparable roundtrip.

The real value of this isn't in cheaper one-way trips, but rather in the ability to book one leg of a trip using an unrestricted award -- when no restricted seats are available -- while still using a lower-priced award for the trip's other leg.

So instead of paying the full 40,000 miles for an unrestricted roundtrip award, because one leg isn't available at the saver level, a member can now book one leg for 10,000 miles (half the roundtrip saver) and the other leg for 20,000 miles (half the anytime level), for a total of 30,000 miles.

Another option: travel one way in coach, the other in first class.

When Delta introduced a similar mix-and-match award scheme in December 2006 -- minus the ability to actually book a one-way award ticket -- we wondered when American and United would upgrade their award policies to provide comparable flexibility. We're still wondering...

:: More

Book AAdvantage Upgrades Before Surcharge Increase

Effective March 1, AAdvantage members will pay a new cash surcharge, or a higher one, when redeeming miles for upgrades from discounted coach fares on some flights.

New will be a $150 surcharge when upgrading on flights from the mainland U.S. to Hawaii. And the current $250 surcharge for upgrades between North America and South America, Europe, and Asia will increase to $300.

Upgrades booked before the policy change remain at current levels, so there's a week left to take advantage of the lower levels.

:: More

American Doubles Miles for CA Flights

In response to double-mile offers from both Alaska and Southwest, as reported last week, American is offering double miles for American and American Eagle flights to and from selected California cities booked between February 14 and March 8 and completed by April 4. (See AA.com for a list of bonus-eligible routes.)

Registration is required.

:: More

Continental Offers Bonus for Europe Flights

Through April 30, Continental OnePasss members will earn a 2,000-mile bonus for flights between New York/Newark and Berlin, Hamburg, Milan, or Zurich.

Registration is required.

:: More

Bonus Fitness Points at Westin

Through March 31, Starwood Preferred Guest members will earn 500 bonus points for booking WestinWORKOUT Rooms at participating Westins. (WestinWORKOUT Rooms feature a treadmill or exercise bike, dumbbells, exercise CDs, sports magazines, and running maps. Expect to pay approximately $20 above the normal room rate.)

:: More

US Airways and Qantas to Split

US Airways and Qantas will terminate their codeshare and frequent flyer program relationship after February 28.

The last day for Dividend Miles members to ticket award travel on Qantas is February 28, 2007, and the deadline for completing award travel is January 31, 2008.

:: More

Deal Alert from SmarterTravel.com

1) American Matches Southwest Fares from $108

American has matched many of the routes offered in similar sales from Southwest and United. Destinations include Chicago, Los Angeles, San Diego, and St. Louis, and prices start at $108 roundtrip.

Travel is valid Tuesdays and Wednesdays through August 24. Book tickets at least 14 days in advance. American has not listed a booking deadline, but Southwest's sale expires March 8. Fares may require a one-night stay, depending on the route.

:: More

2) $29 Fares from AirTran

For two days only, AirTran is offering systemwide fares from $29 one-way. Destinations include Atlanta, Miami, Orlando, and New York.

Travel on most routes is valid Mondays, Tuesdays, and Saturdays through May 23. Book tickets at least 10 days in advance, and by February 22.

:: More

Win a Trip to the Bahamas

Through May 10, enter Nassau/Paradise Island Promotion Board's "Bahamas Splash and Win" sweepstakes for a chance to win one of three trips to the Bahamas, including air and four nights' hotel. Other prizes include camcorders, cameras, and iPods.

:: More

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

Feedback from the Frontlines of Travel

"I spent what seemed like hours (in actuality, I believe it was about an hour and 45 minutes) trying to book three award tickets from United Thursday evening, ending approximately at midnight. Part of the reason it took so long was that the extremely nice person on the other end of the line was in Delhi, India, and her English was extremely difficult to understand. I did understand her saying "I'm sorry, but there are no seats available" numerous times for specific flights requested on certain days (Sacramento to Kansas City and back) in April. But, then, miraculously, she found two seats available for award travel (25K miles apiece) and we purchased the third seat for our kid for $378. Compared to paying for three seats on Southwest, our usual preferred carrier for this trip, at $169 each way per person using the cheapest Internet rate, this seems like a relative bargain. We'll let you know how it goes.

"Keep up the good work. We had been trying to hang on to our miles for longer future trips, but my philosophy these days is to use miles as quickly as possible, because they keep getting devalued like crazy and who knows when the airlines will cancel the programs altogether." [Susan - Davis, CA]

"I just reviewed your site and like it very much.

"I just found out my miles on my Delta account expired, and I called prior to this and was told they were in bankruptcy status. I tried to call and speak to a person in India, who did not understand several things in my statements. So I hung up and wrote a letter to the SkyMiles office and hope to receive more positive response. I requested the miles be renewed at no cost to me!

"In the letter I received they wanted me to pay for the miles again. In the phone conversation I stated to the India person: Why do I have to pay twice for these miles. I already paid for these and was told you were going out of business. I have 28,000 miles enough for one ticket. I would like to receive that ticket, which I requested in writing.

"I would like to know if there is any laws requiring Delta Airlines to renew my miles at no cost to me and if there are any laws governing these miles on the books.

"Also I am finding it harder and harder to obtain seats on all of the airlines especially the large ones. American and United and Delta. And I didn't want to ruin my business trip or vacation with the thought this airlines may shut down and I would be somewhere with no way to get home. And I also called the partnering airlines and was told they were not responsible to get me to my destination.

"Also I am wondering why they won't tell a person how many seats for the miles tickets are on a flight. I have ask and they won't give out that information. Much less most of their employees don't care and don't know. Any thought on how to obtain this information and please put it on your site if you can retrieve that." [Kerry W.]

[FrequentFlier.com replies - Delta covered its bases, legally speaking, by advising SkyMiles members of upcoming changes to the mileage expiration policy. See http://frequentflier.com/ff101606.htm for details.

So Delta might renew your expired miles, as a goodwill gesture, but they are under no legal obligation to do so.

Regarding the difficulty in obtaining award seats, that is indeed the elephant in the room of mileage programs. The fact that the airlines don't disclose the number of seats available on their flights must at least in part be due to their embarrassment at the skimpy numbers.]

Until next week...