We're Turning 600 (and 10,000)!

This is issue #599 of the FrequentFlier Crier newsletter, which means that next week's issue will be #600. We also recently topped the 10,000 mark in postings to the FrequentFlier Forum.

I'm working on a travel-related prize giveaway to commemorate the milestones. Look for it in next week's Crier.

"Up Front" Blog Entries

Following are some of Tim's recent blog posts:

• Five Signs of a Frequent Flyer Rebound
  After several lean and mean years, airlines are again making nice with frequent flyers. In particular, they're revamping their loyalty schemes to make it easier to redeem miles.
• When "Up in the Air" Becomes "Down on Your Luck"
  After years as a high-flying executive, Jim Kennedy is jobless and homeless. Luckily, he has more than 1 million frequent flyer points to keep him from utter destitution.
• The Top Five Frequent Flyer Deals for March 2010
  This month, we feature frequent traveler promotions from Southwest and US Airways, plus a host of hotel offers.
• Canada's Second-Largest Carrier Debuts Mileage Program
  Although eagerly anticipated, WestJet's new Frequent Guest Program is too focused on business travelers to be a game-changer.

The FrequentFlier Forum - Hot Topics

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

In the "Airline Programs" Forum, shmoozy1 comments as follows on United's new upgrade policy: "Is it not axiomatic that any time United announces an enhancement to its Mileage Plus program it is anything but?

"The latest 'free upgrades' announcement is a case in point. Firstly they have specifically excluded the transcontinental PS service out of LAX and SFO from the new scheme so that it's either miles, regionals or SWUs to upgrade on that service from now on when it was complimentary 500 mile certs under the old 'unenhanced' regime. To boot rather than allow a run off of certs that have been earned but remain unexpired they will all disappear from my account with no compensation whatsoever other than the 'privilege' of having an upgrade request automatically lodged on my behalf.

"That said, the earning and burning of 500 mile certs was until now a matter of individual choice and ultimately served as a self-leveling mechanism to ensure that even lowly Premier and Premier Execs eventually (or at least sometimes) got a shot at an upgrade. Automatic upgrades for all depending purely on status will mean less sharing around of upgrades other than for all but the most elite of UA's customers. No rounds of applause from this 1K member."

Questions, answers, opinions? Post them to the Forum!

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American Doubles the Miles on New CHI Routes

American is offering AAdvantage members double miles on new routes to and from Chicago, as follows:

Between April 6 and June 30, double miles are on offer for flights between Chicago and Calgary, Charleston, Dayton, Fargo, Harrisburg, Jacksonville, Lexington, Rapid City, and Sioux Falls.

Between June 10 and August 23, double miles will be awarded for flights between Chicago and Vancouver.

And between June 10 and August 31, the bonus will apply to flights between Chicago and Allentown or Scranton-Wilkes Barr.

Registration is required, using promotion code CHIAA.

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Up to 8,000 Bonus Miles for United Vacations

Mileage Plus members who book a United Vacations package for travel to Latin America, the Caribbean, Canada, Europe, or the Middle East between April 15 and December 15 will earn 4,000 bonus miles for one adult, 8,000 for two.

Qualifying packages must cost at least $3,000 and include both air and hotel.

Bookings must be made by March 31, using promotion code MARCH4000.

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Deal Alert from SmarterTravel.com

1) $118 Delta Spring Sale - 350 Routes

Delta Airlines has just announced a sale and with it has initiated a fare war. AirTran, American, Continental, United, and US Airways are jumping in to compete with Delta's low sale fares. Travel is valid this spring from mid-April through late May.

The sale fares are available through Monday, March 22.

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2) Ends Thursday: $538 Ireland Sale From Aer Lingus

Fly to the Emerald Isle with Aer Lingus' newly announced two-day sale featuring travel to Dublin and Shannon this June, July, or August. Departures are available from 11 U.S. cities.

Hurry, these sale fares will expire on Thursday, March 18.

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Win a Trip for 2 to Paris

Enter the Wall Street Journal's "Paris for Two" sweepstakes by April 30 for a chance to win a trip for two to Paris, including airfare, five night's accommodations, breakfast, airport transfers in Paris, sightseeing excursion, and two dinners at the hotel restaurant.

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[Visit FrequentFlier.com for more travel sweepstakes.]

Feedback from the Frontlines of Travel

We welcome reader feedback on issues related to travel generally and frequent flyer programs in particular. Please use this link to submit comments.

Spirit Airlines, Rising

"One of the only airlines making money today is Spirit Airlines. However, I never see anything about them. They are going to be a force to be reckoned with in a few years." [Lannahoe]

United Upgrades

"My status on United Air is 1K, 1.3 million mile flyer; been in the Mileage Plus program since its inception. Obviously a long time flyer with UA. But try to get upgraded business seats for flights from SFO to Hong Kong -- like hens' teeth. I tried 2 1/2 months out for two such seats but was told there are no seats available. I checked the actual seating chart -- almost empty -- and I was told by a UA agent on the phone that no seats were mileage upgraded seats. Thus lots of empty seats; no one had booked upgraded seats; but no upgradeable seats available! And they never were available!! So we cancelled our flights!

"Seems to me that there needs to be some good will from UA and other airlines. They promote loyalty but they do not give it! I am convinced that a reasonable percentage of business and first class seats should be reserved on a first-come-first-served basis for upgrades. If an airline wants to reward its higher elites by putting them first, that should be their prerogative. But there needs to be a reasonable set aside of upgradeable seats per flights!

"I discovered why UA is so reluctant to provide business class seats. This is a quote from a UA customer service employee who replied to one of several emails I sent in complaint about my experiences. He wrote: "The issue of upgrade puts our relationship in a tension wire because it is both important to us. As a business entity, our purpose is to create revenue, as our CEO, Glen Tilton, reiterated on a speech recently. Our First-Class and Business-Class seats are the main generating revenue source of our aircraft, this is why it is a highly protected commodity."

"Yes, that's it: '...our purpose is to create revenue....' So very limited if no seats available on the major 'revenue generating' flights, e.g., San Francisco -- Hong Kong. Not a good way to keep loyal flyers happy." [John D.]

Feeling Ripped Off by United

"We were booked using miles from LAX to Sydney but decided to purchase full price business class tickets instead. United wanted $500 per ticket to return my miles. Fortunately I was able to get a 'one time exception' which I greatly appreciated since I was spending over $9,000 for two tickets.

"Once in Sydney our return had to be changed due to a medical emergency. Now United charged us $400 per ticket to make the itinerary change. Guess we should just feel fortunate we did not have to pay extra for checked luggage! Flying business class we are given menus to select our meals -- in neither direction did United have our choice and the 'Qualified Purser' on board told us this happens all the time. She encouraged us to write United because she felt she has to take the blame from irate customers but cannot impact United policy on her own.

"Question to United -- why waste money printing menus when you do not stock sufficient numbers of meals to provide an option? Having been a loyal United flyer for years (1K, Premier Exec, and Premier) I am so disappointed in their service these days and will definitely look to flying non-U.S. airlines when traveling internationally -- as we did to Istanbul in spring using Turkish Air which provided excellent service in their Connoisseur class." [Raymond M. - Palm Springs, CA]

Until next week...