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"Up Front" Blog Entries

Following are some of Tim's recent blog posts:

• New InterContinental, Starwood Offers Reveal Key Differences
  Comparing the latest offers from InterContinental and Starwood highlights critical considerations in assessing any hotel loyalty program promotions.
• Even On Sale, Frequent Flyer Miles Are Too Expensive
  Discounts from Alaska, American, and Delta show that when it comes to buying, giving, or transferring frequent flyer miles, even so-called special deals are rarely good deals.
• The Top Five Frequent Flyer Deals for May 2009
  This month, there is a glut of noteworthy frequent traveler promotions on offer, including incentives from Alaska, American, Delta, Southwest, United, and seven hotel chains.
• Frustration Slows Growth of Airline Mileage Programs
  A new study finds airline programs are growing slower than loyalty schemes in other industries. Could this be a wake-up call for airline marketers?

The FrequentFlier Forum - Hot Topics

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

In the "Airline Programs" Forum, fairycastle reports the following regarding Delta's Pay with miles feature: "I expect nothing but frustration when trying to redeem f.f. miles. But today Delta happily surprised me on two fronts. 1) They had award seats for my itinerary (okay, it was Central America during the rainy season), and 2) they have a new feature called Pay with Miles. The idea being that the price of your ticket determines the number of miles needed and you can pay the balance in cash. When I 'priced' the award the usual way, it came to 60k miles per ticket. Using PWM it came to 50k miles. How is it calculated? I don't care. The catch, a big one, you must have a Delta Amex credit card. It may be worth it if Delta is your favorite carrier.

"The surprise continued as I tried to book 2 tickets for me and my son. Both of us had Delta credit. They handled it over the phone at no cost, applying our 3 vouchers against the price. This is shocking because I've been through something similar before with AA and they came up with a rule voiding every credit I had. Good work Delta."

Also in the "Airline Programs" Forum, readers continue commenting on American's new one-way Flex awards. What's your take?

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

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AirTran Doubles the Credits on Baltimore-Boston Flights

Through December 31, AirTran A+ Rewards members will earn double credits on non-stop flights between Baltimore/Washington and Boston.

Registration is required.

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Choice Hotels Offers Bonus After 3 Stays

Between May 21 and August 13, Choice Privileges members who stay three times at participating Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Sleep Inn, Clarion, Cambria Suites or Ascend Collection hotels will earn "enough Choice Privileges points to redeem for a $50 prepaid cash card."

This is one of those offers you'll have to read the fine print to understand. According to Choice, after three stays, "enough points will be added to points earned to reach the 14,000 point level, which can be redeemed for a prepaid $50 cash card. Only members earning this bonus qualify to redeem for the cash card and redemption must be completed by October 31, 2009."

So the number of bonus points awarded will depend on the number of points already earned for the qualifying stays. And although the offer touts the $50 gift card as the reward, you might or might not elect to redeem the 14,000 points for said gift card.

Choice might want to send its marketing staff back to business school for a refresher in clear, compelling marketing communication.

What is clear: Reservations must be made at choicehotels.com or 800.4CHOICE at qualifying rates and Choice Privileges member number must be provided upon check-in.

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Get a 20% Bonus When Transferring OnePass Miles

Through June 30, OnePass members who use the MilePass feature to transfer miles to another member's account will automatically have a 20% mileage bonus added to the transfer.

The service fee is $7.50 for every 500 miles transferred, with a minimum of 2,500 miles per transfer, and a maximum of 100,000 miles transferred per calendar year.

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Starwood Offers Bonus Delta/Northwest Miles

Through July 31, Starwood Preferred Guest members can earn 1,000 bonus Northwest or Delta miles for stays at participating Starwood hotels in the Americas.

The bonus airline miles are combinable with Starwood's current free weekend night offer.

Registration is required.

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Deal Alert from SmarterTravel.com

1) JetBlue Sale Fares From $29 Each Way

JetBlue has announced a big new sale for summer travel. Fares start at $29 one-way or $58 round-trip, and destinations include New York City, Orlando, San Francisco, Bermuda, and Cancun.

Travel is valid on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from June 2 through September 9. Book by May 21, 11:59 PM MT.

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2) Europe Sale Fares on Delta From $358

Flights between Atlanta or New York City and cities around Europe are on sale from Delta. Fares start at $358 round-trip, and destinations include Athens, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, and Venice.

Travel is valid Mondays through Thursdays from May 27 through August 30. Book by May 25, 11:59 PM ET.

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Win a Trip for 2 to the MLB All-Star Game

Enter American's "Take the Field" sweepstakes by June 14 for a chance to win a trip for two to the all-star baseball game in St. Louis, including air, four nights' hotel accommodations, and a $4,600 gift card.

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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.

American Award Availability

"I wanted to chime in on the recent article on American Airlines' saver awards.

"We have been loyal American fliers for 10 years. We switched to American after flying with United for 10 years. In the past, I have found American's Advantage program fair and easy to use, if you plan ahead. My husband hit the One Million Mile mark with American last month.

"I book 330 days ahead for award seats and have always been able to secure 3 saver award seats, until December 2007. Since December 2007, I have found that American does not put any saver awards on many popular destinations during peak travel seasons.

"I was trying to book Coach Saver Awards from Chicago to Grand Cayman over New Years 2007-08. Only Anytime Awards were available. I called to complain and American advised this was their policy at times during peak travel periods. They did not offer any Business Class Saver Awards either.

"I ran into the same situation booking travel from Chicago to Honolulu for Thanksgiving 2009. No Saver Awards available, only Anytime Awards on the weekends surrounding Thanksgiving. So we are leaving on a Wednesday, in order to get 2 Business Class Saver Award seats. We had to use 1 Anytime Business Class award for our 3rd ticket. American had only 2 Business Saver Award Seats for the large 767 plane. We have always been able to secure 3 Business Saver Award Seats on this plane in the past.

"And again a similar situation for travel from Chicago to Phoenix for Easter 2010, no Coach Saver Award seats were available, only Business Class Saver Award Seats.

"American states they do not have any black out dates but they really do have blackout dates for Saver Award seats. They choose not to offer any Saver Award seats at peak times and/or choose not to offer any Coach Saver Award seats at peak times. This is very confusing for the traveler who works to maximize their frequent flier miles.

"American should put their Saver Award blackout dates during peak times in writing, so we can plan ahead and work around these restrictions. Please alert us to the changes in the program. Knowing the rules is the only way we can maximize the full benefit of our miles." [Kathleen S.]

United Award Availability

"Greetings from Colorado.

"I laughed when I read your comments related to reduced travel awards! Since December, my wife and I have been trying to purchase upgradable tickets to Bangkok in November from United. There has never been a time when two seats were available, allowing us to stay about ten days. My agent advises that even on days when not a single business class seat has been sold, the answer is 'no upgradable seats.'

"If airlines wonder why business is bad, perhaps one reason is because frequent flyers like ourselves scrap plans for long distance travel because we can't get seats. We have decided to go to Las Vegas over Thanksgiving instead... costing United thousands and our favorite hotels revenue as well.

"Note my wife is a Premier Executive as am I, but in addition I am a multi-million mile flyer." [Howard Z. - Broomfield, CO]

New Travel I.D. Policy

"With the upcoming changes to name requirements starting May 15th, I'm surprised you didn't include anything about it in the newsletter sent out on the 13th. As I'm sure you are aware, beginning May 13th, all air travelers must have a photo I.D. that exactly matches the name on their airline ticket. For example, if the name on your I.D. reads 'Robert Edward Smith,' the name on your ticket 'cannot' read 'Robert Smith.'

"However, if the name on your driver's license reads 'Robert E. Smith,' you will not be required to obtain a new license that shows your complete middle name. You would need to ensure your flight reservation is made using the exact name that appears on the driver's license: 'Robert E. Smith.' I just thought this would be valuable information for everyone that reads your newsletter." [Mathew E.]

[FrequentFlier.com replies - While the new TSA policy is certainly noteworthy, it's a bit off-topic for this publication. But since you've raised the subject, the least we can do is provide a link to the official TSA announcement, and include a particularly relevant excerpt: "In the near future, small differences between the passenger's ID and the passenger's reservation information, such as the use of a middle initial instead of a full middle name or no middle name/initial at all, will not be an issue for passengers. Over time, passengers should strive to obtain consistency between the name on their government issued ID and the travel information they use for booking flights."]

US Airways' Award Discount

"I find it interesting that US Air is offering a discount on miles redemption for the Caribbean during the month of September.

"Right in the middle of hurricane season when most people are vacationing in the Caribbean anyway!" [Kathleen C. - West Palm Beach, FL]

Until next week...