"Up Front" Blog Entries

Following are some of Tim's recent blog posts:

• From Marriott: Sign Up, Pay Twice, Stay Free
  Marriott is offering new Rewards members a free night after just two stays. What's not to like?
• Earn 100,000 American Miles After 10 Flights
  American's new promotion features a BIG bonus. But for the majority of travelers, this is an underwhelming offer gussied up as something special in the air.
• Southwest Doubles Awards on All Flights
  Double frequent flyer credits on all flights. Southwest's new promotion is generous, comprehensive, and refreshingly free of caveats and restrictions.
• Unlimited Free Upgrades on United? Really?
  Erica wonders whether United's promise of unlimited upgrades is heaven or hype. Tim Winship puts the new policy into perspective.

The FrequentFlier Forum - Hot Topics

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

In the "Airline Programs" Forum, two of our regular posters weighed in with their opinions on the merger talks currently underway between United and US Airways.

According to Max Bialystock: "If these two get together, it will be the worst of everything in terms of service, expectations... Another misbegotten arrangement between two 'also rans.'"

And Jeff F. added the following: "There's long been rumors of CO and UA merging since CO joined the Star Alliance. I'm glad that CO isn't involved in a UA merger, since UA would pull CO down to their levels, being the larger airline. I'd prefer to see CO make it as a stand-alone carrier with code-shares if needed, if they can do so.

"UA and US Airways are losing money and the merger won't strengthen either one with the high costs involved in merging, IMO. CO on the other hand, had a small profit reported recently, I think, and is a better airline in my opinion. I hope they can make it on their own."

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

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Frontier and Midwest, the Integration Begins

Yesterday, Republic Airways Holdings, which owns Frontier and Midwest, announced the "harmonization and ultimate integration" of the two airlines under the Frontier name. Both Frontier's animal-themed tail fins and Midwest's chocolate-chip cookies will be retained.

Regarding the disposition of the two carriers' mileage programs, a website established to keep consumers abreast of the consolidation offers this: "Miles and membership with both our EarlyReturns and Midwest Miles frequent flyer programs are safe and will be enhanced as we develop a unified frequent flyer program that will best meet the needs of all of our members."

It's reasonable to expect the programs to be consolidated in much the same way the Delta and Northwest programs were. Members of both programs will be asked to ensure that their membership information (name, address, etc.) is identical in both programs. Accounts would then be automatically merged, creating single accounts wherever records matched exactly, with miles combined from both programs. Where the auto-consolidation fails -- because the profile information doesn't match, for instance -- members will be given a deadline to contact either of the airlines and have their accounts manually merged.

It's not entirely clear when this will be completed, but the published timeline indicates that "operations integration" will be in place by November 2010.

Whatever the specifics turn out to be, there's no cause for concern about losing miles. Quite aside from the airlines' promise that miles will be "safe," it would be irrational for them to undermine the loyalty of proven customers, whose patience will be tested by the merger machinations, and whose continued patronage will be critical to the success of the surviving company.

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Red Lion Is New United Mileage Plus Partner

Mileage Plus members who are also Red Lion R&R members and have set their earning preference to United can now earn miles for stays at Red Lion hotels.

The normal earning rate will be 500 miles per stay. But to promote the tie-up, there's an additional 2,000-mile per stay bonus plus a complimentary breakfast on offer through June 30. Use promotion code UNITED when booking at redlion.com.

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Deal Alert from SmarterTravel.com

1) American and AirTran Fall Sales - $44 Each Way

First it was AirTran announcing a 3,300-route sale from $44 each way or $88 round-trip. Now, American has matched AirTran's offer on the same spring, summer, and fall travel dates.

AirTran is listing all of its sale flights to U.S. and Caribbean destinations on its website, whereas American is showing only a dozen or so sample routes from its entire sale. Both carriers' sale fares are available through April 20, for travel through autumn.

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2) $452 R/T Lufthansa Europe Sale

Lufthansa's latest Europe sale includes destinations such as Geneva, London, Paris, and Rome. Departures are available from 11 cities spanning both coasts and cities in between.

Travel is available this spring and early summer. Purchase by May 3.

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Win 250,000 Frequent Flyer Miles (and Help Redeeming Them)

This week, instead of the sweepstakes we normally feature in this space, we're bringing you a contest. The difference? Sweepstakes are random drawings -- anyone can win. Contests require participants to make an effort of some sort, and the winner is the entrant whose effort is judged to be the best.

Enter the Conde Nast Traveler and Competitours "Maximize Your Miles" contest by April 30 for a chance to win 250,000 frequent flyer miles, plus the assistance of Competitours' Steve Belkin in redeeming the miles for the best bang-for-the-buck trip. Or trips.

To participate, post, in 200 words or less, your best success story with an airline loyalty program, as well as your best tip gleaned from that experience, at the link below.

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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.

Reaccommodating Award Travelers in the Event of a Strike

"Could you please in next week's newsletter review the rules for getting American Airlines tickets endorsed to another carrier in the event of a strike, especially as they affect those flying on frequent flyer miles?" [Mary-Lynne F.]

[FrequentFlier.com replies - We put the question directly to American. Their response: "Yes, we endorse tickets for our regular-ticketed passenger onto other carriers. As to those on Frequent Flyer awards, we reaccommodate them on other airlines and we bear the cost of doing so for other carriers to transport them."]

Using US Airways Miles to South Africa

"I have a chance to be gifted 800,000 US Air Miles from a friend whom I helped out of a jam. How easy would you guess we will be able to use them for business or first class awards from USA to South Africa? I believe they are Star Alliance. Is Star alliance any good for business and first? We would route thru Europe likely to get first as SAA only has business class. Any comment would be appreciated." [Leo H.]

[FrequentFlier.com replies - My first thought would be South African Airways. They're a Star member, fly non-stop to Johannesburg, and have decent award availability according to reports I've heard from others.

Or you could fly via Europe, using one of the European Star airlines (Lufthansa, bmi, etc.).

Plenty of options, and if you're flexible on dates/times, you should be able to find award seats.

Maybe some of our readers have relevant first-hand experiences they could share...?]

United's New Fee for Standby Travel

"Have you heard that UAL is going to implement a $50 standby fee for all except 1K and Global Services members?

"As a Premier Exec and loyal UAL flyer for over 20 years, I am quite upset at this as I often book a later flight but then try to go standby if meetings end early. I think not allowing all Premiers and up to go standby without a fee is terrible." [Nancy B.]

Spirit Fees, Forever

"I joined the Spirit $9 club several years ago and last year they upped my annual fee to $39.95.from $9.

"This year I did not fly the airline and I got another $39.95 fee which I then emailed them and said I do not want to belong to this club since I do not fly Spirit anymore. They wrote back and said they will not reverse this charge on my card, but will give me a one time voucher for $39.95 to use on my next flight which will expire in 12 months.

"How can they get away with charging your cards without your approval? I called my bank and they said they are not able to turn around any airline charge but will question Spirit Airlines." [Sharon B.]

Foreign Transaction Fees

"Aer Lingus MasterCard charges a foreign transaction fee for St. John and St. Thomas (USVI) as well as for Ireland and England transactions. Protesting didn't help... " [Frank M.]

Until next week...