Issue #50 -- July 15, 1999
** CONTENTS **
Postcards: Fixed! ~ AT&T Launches Mileage Program ~ Delta Double for Trans States Flights ~ Southwest: $99 Each Way ~ Alaska Airlines: $99 Fares, too ~ Swissair: $305 to Zurich ~ Y2K Travel Insurance ~ United, Trying ~ Pilots, Chatting
<< S I T E N E W S >>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Postcards: Fixed!
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
My apologies to anyone who tried to use the digital postcard function on FrequentFlier.com recently. There was a bad link which prevented the postcard images from loading. The problem has been corrected.
Thanks to Dave for the heads-up.
>> More <<
Send a digital postcard
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
On the Air in Denver
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
If you're in the Denver area, tune in to radio station 630 on the AM dial on Wednesday, July 21, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. Consumer advocate David Horowitz will be discussing the how's and why's of earning frequent flyer miles with credit cards. And I'll be one of the featured "experts" on David's show. (I'm the one with the thinning, graying hair and the owlish glasses.)
<< M I L E S >>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
AT&T Launches Loyalty Program
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
AT&T seemed to have largely ceded the mileage game to MCI Worldcom, which has brokered exclusive partnerships with many of the largest U.S. airline programs. (With all the generous bonus-mile offers I've received from MCI, it's only due to my own monumental inertia that I remain an AT&T customer. I have to assume that most rational consumers have already switched to MCI.)
That was yesterday. Today, AT&T is in the loyalty business in a big way, with its very own branded program, AT&T Personal Rewards.
Here's AT&T's own capsule description of Personal Rewards:
"It's a new customer loyalty program designed to turn the things you do every day into not-so-everyday rewards. You'll earn one point for every dollar you spend on qualifying AT&T services that are part of a combined AT&T bill, including: Long Distance, Calling Card Calls, Wireless Services and AT&T WorldNet(r) Service. And as a bonus, you'll receive triple bonus points for your first month of membership. You'll also get your AT&T Personal Rewards Membership Card that's an AT&T Calling Card, as well. Plus, we'll waive the annual AT&T Personal Rewards fee of $19, so membership is FREE the first year."
On the reward side, members can redeem points for American Airlines tickets and stays at Hilton, Marriott, Four Points, Sheraton, W and Westin hotels, as well as gift certificates from Gap, Macy's, Home Depot, and various AT&T services.
Points expire on December 31 of the third year after they were earned. You can enroll online (URL below) or call 1-800-232-8200.
What's conspicuously missing (or very cleverly hidden) on AT&T's website is an explanation of the award chart: how many points are required for the various awards. Without this critical piece of information, there's no way to assess the real value of the program. We're currently trying to obtain the missing information and will report back to our readers.
For now, don't make any big moves until you have all the facts.
>> More <<
AT&T Personal Rewards
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Delta Double for Trans States Flights
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Delta SkyMiles members will earn double SkyMiles on qualifying Trans States Airlines nonstop flights between Boston and Cleveland, OH and Boston and Raleigh-Durham, NC between August 1, 1999 and September 30, 1999.
The Delta connection carrier will start two daily nonstop flights from Boston to Cleveland on August 1, 1999, and add three more daily nonstop flights on September 1, 1999. The carrier will also start one flight per day from Boston to Raleigh-Durham on August 1, 1999.
With the new services, Trans States will operate 21 aircraft to 15 cities as a Delta Connection carrier. Trans States has been a Delta Connection carrier since 1998.
<< S T E A L S & D E A L S >>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Southwest Anywhere: $99 Each Way
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Southwest Airlines is making it less expensive to travel between cities that are far apart. The carrier announced special fares of $99 or less each way between any two published destinations on its 54-city route map.
The offer is good for roundtrip travel only, and an overnight stay is required. Seats are limited and will not be available on some flights that operate during peak travel times, including the Labor Day and Thanksgiving holidays. Tickets must be purchased by July 28, and the first date of travel is August 16, 1999. Travel must be completed by December 6, 1999.
Tickets must be purchased within one day of making reservations. Tickets are nonrefundable, but if unused, may be applied toward the purchase of future travel on Southwest Airlines. Fares are subject to change until ticketed, and any change in itinerary may result in an increase in fare. Fares do not include airport taxes of $3 to $12 roundtrip nor a federal excise tax of up to $2.25 per segment.
In addition to the above, during September, travel between the following cities is available for $59 each way, based on roundtrip purchase:
Ft. Lauderdale and Nashville
Baltimore/Washington
New Orleans (begins Aug. 5)
Jacksonville and Nashville
Baltimore/Washington
Indianapolis
Orlando and New Orleans
Nashville
Baltimore/Washington
Columbus
Indianapolis
Jackson, Miss.
Manchester
Providence
Louisville
Tampa and Birmingham
Nashville
Baltimore/Washington
Columbus
Indianapolis
Islip (Long Island, NY)
New Orleans
Louisville
Houston and Nashville
St. Louis
Little Rock
Midland/Odessa
Oklahoma City
Tulsa
New Orleans ($39 one way)
Travel for these September Specials must be purchased by July 28, and travel is good September 1-30 only. Seats are limited and may not be available for Labor Day holiday travel.
>> More <<
Southwest online
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Alaska Air's $99 Sale
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Travel to select Alaska Airlines destinations between August 16 and December 6 for $99.
The $99 fare is one way, based on round-trip purchase, and is available for travel between Seattle, Portland or Spokane and Phoenix, Los Angeles, Burbank, Ontario or San Diego.
Other discounted fares are available to selected connecting routes with Horizon Air, American Eagle and Trans States Airlines, from cities throughout the Pacific Northwest and California.
Tickets must be purchased by July 28. Travel may originate in either direction. This offer requires a seven-day advance purchase and a one night stay. Tickets are nonrefundable but can be changed for a $35 fee. Prices do not include airport passenger facilities charges of up to $6 each way and federal segment tax of $2 per segment (takeoff and landing). Other fees and restrictions apply.
>> More <<
Alaska Airlines
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Miami-Zurich-Miami... $305 on Swissair
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
'305' isn't just Miami's area code. It's also the roundtrip fare for Swissair's Miami-Zurich service, scheduled to launch September 15.
The introductory airfare is available now through August 15, and is valid for travel between September 15 and December 15, from Miami to Zurich only. To book, call 800-221-4750 or contact your travel agent.
Starting September 15, Swissair's Miami service will operate five times a week, (except Tuesdays and Sundays), offering connections to more than 300 worldwide destinations. The flight schedule is as follows:
o Swissair Flight 117 departs Miami 4:55pm, arrives Zurich 8:15am.
o Swissair Flight 116 departs Zurich 10:40am, arrives Miami 3:05pm.
Miami is Swissair's second southeastern gateway and 10th U.S. gateway, joining Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati, New York, Newark, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Washington.
Swissair participates in the Delta Air Lines, Midwest Express Airlines, and US Airways frequent flyer programs.
Introductory fare is based on round-trip economy class. Seats are limited and may not be available on all flights/dates. Tickets must be purchased within 72 hours of making reservations but no later than August 15, 1999. Valid for travel September 15, 1999-December 15, 1999. All travel must be completed by December 15, 1999. Fare requires a Saturday night minimum stay and allows a maximum stay of 30 days. Tickets are non-refundable and cannot be combined with any other discounts or promotional offers and fares. Fees, taxes and airport charges of up to $63 not included.
>> More <<
Swissair
<< I N D U S T R Y N E W S >>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Y2K Travel Insurance
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
CSA Travel Protection, a provider of travel protection, today announced the first product to, they say, "protect travelers whose trips are cancelled, interrupted, or delayed due to Year 2000 transportation problems." The plan, called "CSA-Y2K," is underwritten by Commercial Union Insurance Company of Boston, a CGU company.
The insurance, which costs $92 per traveler, is available for purchase at CSA's website. It is designed to insure against events that result in trip cancellation, trip interruption or a trip delay of more than 24 hours. Coverage is available for business or leisure travelers who plan to travel within and between the United States, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom, at the turn of the century or during January or February of the Year 2000.
CSA is a provider of travel protection products. In addition to CSA-Y2K, other products offered include CSA Vacation Guarantee covering trip interruption, trip cancellation, travel delay, baggage delay or loss, emergency medical expense, rental car damage as well as Emergency Assistance services.
[We're in no way suggesting this is necessary or appropriate. It's probably neither. What it is, certainly, is an interesting symptom of the fear surrounding the turn-of-the-century. As for my $92... that's 92 lottery tickets, or dinner for two, or two dinners for me.]
>> More <<
CSA Travel Protection
<< R E A D E R R A N T S & R A V E S >>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
United Miles for Safeway Purchases in Denver
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
[Thanks to Jackie for the following...]
Hey Tim,
Found another mileage earning opportunity in my neighborhood.
The local grocery store is Safeway. Recently a King Sooper's opened up nearby and started advertising heavily in our neighborhood, so maybe this is in response to the competition. Safeway, like most grocery stores these days, has a club card. If you sign up for the club card you get savings on selected products and Safeway gets your shopping habit data. Unless you work hard at it, you end up with 3-5% savings per purchase. King Sooper's has the same thing. Now Safeway, at least and maybe only in Colorado, has a promotion, sign up for a club card, give them your United Mileage Plus number AND between July and December 1999, you can earn 125 miles if you spend $250. Luckily it's cumulative so you don't have to buy $250 worth of groceries at once. It'll take 3-4 weeks worth of grocery shopping for us. What the heck. Maybe they'll extend it.
There is NOTHING about this on the Safeway web site http://www.safeway.com that I can find and no way to search the site--bad Safeway!
<< S I T E 2 S E E >>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
United, Trying
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
United's website is new and, for the most part, improved.
What you will notice first is the quick download. UA has lightened up on the bandwidth-intensive graphics, and pages fairly snap onto the screen. Also improved is the navigation. Replacing the jumble of navigation bars and drop-down menus is a simple laundry list of topics, categorized and subcategorized. It amounts to a site map on the homepage--not pretty, but it works.
What I found odd, and telling, is the category breakdown: all topics are grouped under two master category headings: The Airline Section and The Traveler Section. Which seems (and I don't want to make too much of this) to reflect an Us-Them (Us being United, Them being us, the customers) mentality. A case of corporate ethos creeping into website design...?
Overall, it's a step in the right direction.
>> More <<
United's website
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Pilots, Chatting
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Here's a nook in an Internet cranny... [Thanks, Reg.]
It's one of the thousands of modest Geocities sites, compete with annoying pop-up ads. It's a threaded discussion entitled "Smoke in the Cockpit." And the posts are (apparently, since they are anonymous) from commercial airline pilots weighing in on the Swissair flight 111 crash, and other aviation accidents and incidents.
Call me perverse, but I found these posts to be very interesting reading.
>> More <<
Here!
<< M I S C E L L A N Y >>
>>>>>>
Errata
>>>>>>
In last week's issue, I managed to make two mistakes in the final article. Mini-article is more like it... which makes the mistakes all the more glaring.
Here's the article. Can you spot the errors?
Sited in the clearance section of my local supermarket: Gerry Garcia ties... 2 for $9.95. Guess the 60's really are over. Sigh.
First (he said kicking himself), 'Sited' should be 'Sighted.' This is probably endemic to those who spend too much time at webSITEs. And secondly, I misspelled the name of a legendary rock-&-roller: the Grateful Dead's Jerry (not Gerry) Garcia. Sorry Jerry. About the ties, too.
Until next week...
|
