*********************
American Ups the Ante
*********************
     Beginning February 1, 1999, American AAdvantage members will
be shelling out more miles to get free business- and first-class
seats and upgrades. The increases will range from 10,000 to
25,000 more miles than are now required. For economy-class
awards, the mileage remains unchanged.
 
According to American, they are increasing the mileage
requirements to reflect the facts that (a) the first and
business-class cabins and equipment have received a $400 million
upgrade, and (b) demand for front-of-the-plane seats is strong.
 
Best case scenario: American's competitors do not match;
consumers vote "no" with their loyalty and ticket purchases;
American rescinds the policy change. (I said "best," not "most
likely.")
 
>> More <<
The American website is at: http://www.AA.com/
From there, you have to dig. First, click on "AAdvantage"; from
there, go to "Newsletter Online"; and finally, to "Coming Soon--
AAdvantage Program Changes." Shame on American for burying this
story, and for making it VERY difficult to compare the new award
levels with the old.
 
****************************************
ASTA Pushes Bill of Rights for Travelers
****************************************
     ASTA is the American Society of Travel Agents, an
organization representing the interests of many of the United
States' travel agents. As retail travel consumers, we haven't
traditionally had occasion to come into contact with ASTA. That
may change as the organization expands its focus to act on our
behalf, as well as on behalf of the travel agents we buy tickets
from.
 
In response to increasing dissatisfaction with the quality of
services provided by airlines, ASTA has formulated a Travelers
Bill of Rights, detailing the minimum expectations airlines
should be held to meet. In addition, they're collecting feedback
from flyers through an online survey.
 
The airlines, it should be noted, have challenged ASTA's motives,
alleging that the Bill's implied condemnation of the airlines is
ASTA's way of retaliating for the recent airline moves to
decrease the commissions agents receive for writing airline
tickets. Whatever the motives, travelers can use a bill and
whatever representation they can get.
 
>> More <<
The Bill of Rights itself, and the survey form on ASTA's site:
http://www.astanet.com/www/asta/pub/travelersrights.htmlx
 
For an analysis of ASTA's move, see the New York Times article:
http://www.nytimes.com/library/travel/business/bt980712.html
 
************************
Rocky Road for Northwest
************************
     In the wake of contentious union meetings this week in
Minneapolis and Detroit, odds of a strike against Northwest
Airlines by pilots and members of the IAM are higher than ever.
Beyond the anticipated delays and canceled flights, fallout from
a strike would likely include delay of the planned alliance
between Northwest and Continental. That's a blow to frequent
flyers, because there's speculation that the two carriers are
discussing an FFP relationship that goes beyond mere reciprocal
earning and redemption.
 
Machinists vote on July 29.
 
>> More <<
The AP article on Yahoo!:
http://biz.yahoo.com/apf/980715/northwest__3.html
 
***********************
ClickRewards Nets Delta
***********************
     Online promotions program ClickRewards has added Delta Air
Lines to its list of airline rewards partners, which now includes
American Airlines, British Airways, Continental Airlines,
Northwest Airlines, United Airlines, and US Airways.

ClickRewards members earn ClickPoints for selected online
purchases. The ClickPoints can then be converted into miles in
any of the participating airline frquent flyer programs.

>> More <<
News release on the Netcentives site:
http://www.netcentives.com/pr_14.html
 
*****************************
Japan Flights Going Smokeless
*****************************
     There is some good news from Japan...
 
Japan Air System, Japan's third largest airline, banned smoking
on all intra-Japan flights beginning Friday, July 17.
 
Japan's two leading airlines, All Nippon Airlines and Japan
Airlines will follow JAS's lead later this year.
 
>> More <<
CNN's take:
http://www.cnn.com/TRAVEL/NEWS/9807/17/japan.smoking.reut/index.h
tml
 
Also, check out JAS's "Floral Room -- A special powder room for
our female passengers" at http://www.jas.co.jp/E_wh4.htm
 
**********************
To Ireland, and Beyond
**********************
     Effective July 19, Aer Lingus passengers using the American
Express card to purchase a special APEX transatlantic ticket or
higher before Sept. 15, 1998 will receive a free onward roundtrip
ticket from Ireland to 17 cities in Britain or continental
Europe. Passengers can use the tickets on Aer Lingus flights to
London, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds/Bradford,
Manchester, Newcastle, Amsterdam, Brussels, Copenhagen,
Dusseldorf, Frankfort, Milan, Paris, Rome and Zurich. Travel must
take place between Sept. 15 and Nov. 15, 1998.
 
From the U.S., Aer Lingus flies non-stop from Chicago's O'Hare
International Airport, Boston's Logan International Airport, New
York's John F. Kennedy International Airport, and Newark
International Airport to Ireland. There, passengers will find
same-terminal connections to points in the U.K. and Europe, often
with waits of 60 minutes or less. And, with Aer Lingus' exclusive
U.S. immigration pre-clearance in Dublin and Shannon, the return
trip also is hassle-free.
 
Aer Lingus is a partner in Delta's SkyMiles program. They also
have their own program, Travel Award Bonus (TAB).
 
>> More <<
The Air Lingus news release:
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/980717/ny_aer_lin_1.html
 
***********************************
PBS Goes to the Airport -- Part Two
***********************************
     The three-part British-made documentary "Airport" continued
this week with the second episode, wherein:
 
o The Archbishop of Canterbury confesses that of all the world's
wonders (including the Taj Majal), OJ's house was, for him, a
standout.
 
o Cher is a no-show on a British Midlands flight, but Hugh Grant
makes a (fleeting) appearance. All this celebrity action in a
"day in the life" story of a British Midlands ramp agent who
strives mightily to keep the forces of chaos at bay.
 
o Such luminaries as Paul and Linda McCartney and a (former)
Bee Gee are tracked down and "shot" by the intrepid airport
photographer, Dennis.
 
o The British Airways flight-attendants-in-training undergo
emergency procedures drills: fire on board, emergency water
landing. As your life might someday be in the hands of Patty,
the former shopkeeper's assistant, it's heartening (and sobering)
to see the emphasis placed on safety in the program.
 
The third and concluding episode is scheduled to air at 10
p.m., Thursday, July 23th. and the third episode on July 23rd.
Check your local listings, and if you missed episodes one and
two, try to catch them in rerun.