The Week's Travel Newsbites

While summer travel remains an exercise in frustration and discomfort for travelers -- long security lines, flight delays and packed planes -- there's good news on several fronts for the airlines.

Today, American -- the only legacy carrier never to have resorted to restructuring under bankruptcy protection -- reported a profit for the second quarter of $291 million, a fivefold increase over year-ago results.

Southwest also reported results for the second quarter. Predictably, the discounter posted a profit, $333 million, more than double the $144 million net of a year ago.

On Monday, Northwest and its flight attendants union reached a tentative agreement on a new contract that would save the airline $195 million in salary and benefits. Had an accord not been reached, Northwest had permission from the bankruptcy court to unilaterally impose a contract upon the flight attendants, which could have triggered a crippling strike. The proposed contract still must be ratified by the union's rank and file.

The hope, of course, is that the airline industry is finally re-stabilizing after five years of financial turmoil and frantic restructuring. And that the airlines' focus will shift from nickel-and-diming customers, in a desperate attempt to attain profitability, to upgrading the travel experience.

FrequentFlier Forum Topics

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

In the "Airline Programs" Forum, s3evans has the following question about booking award trips: "Airlines use 331 days from the flight as the earliest date one may make a reservation. When attempting to book a round trip flight 331 days from the outbound flight will they book your return as well or do you have to wait until 331 days from your return date?"

Also in the "Airline Programs" Forum, Dr. J and three family members are flying United internationally on very inexpensive consolidator tickets. "What are my chances of getting an Economy Plus seat assigned to me at the airport? Anyone ever get one under similar circumstances?" In a follow-up, Dr. J reports that they were assigned Economy Plus seats on one leg of the trip.

And much more. Questions, answers? Post them to the Forum!

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American Reprises Discounted Short-Hop Awards

AAdvantage members can redeem fewer miles for award trips of fewer than 750 miles each way completed between Sept. 1, 2006, and Feb. 28, 2007. With the discount, eligible roundtrip MileSAAver award tickets are priced at 15,000 for coach and 30,000 miles for first/business class.

Among the eligible routes: Chicago-Philadelphia, Chicago-Atlanta, Los Angeles-San Francisco, Boston-Raleigh/Durham, and Dallas (Love Field)-St. Louis.

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Amtrak Increases First-trip Bonus

New Amtrak Guest Rewards who take a qualifying train trip within 90 days of program enrollment will earn 3,000 bonus points instead of the normal 500-point bonus. There's no published end-date for this offer.

Enter promotion code NEC06 when enrolling to receive the bonus.

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Delta, United Extend Registration Deadlines for Dining Promos

As previously reported, both Delta and United have miles-for-dining promotions in effect which permit members of their respective programs to earn 25,000 bonus miles. The deadline to register for both offers was recently extended, from July 25 to July 31.

Because these are such exceptional offers, and because there's still time to participate, we recap the details below:

Delta SkyMiles
SkyMiles members who spend $25 or more on at least 25 qualified dines between July 1 and December 31 will be rewarded with 25,000 bonus miles at the end of the promotion period.

SkyMiles members must register by July 31.

United Mileage Plus
As with the Delta offer, Mileage Plus members must register by July 31 to participate.

Then Mileage Plus members who spend at least $125 a month on qualified dines between July 1 and December 31 will earn a 25,000-mile bonus at the end of the promotion period. So you'll have to hurry to squeeze that first $125 in before the end of July.

In case you're wondering, Delta's is the slightly better deal, requiring $625 in total spend required to earn 25,000 Delta bonus miles, versus $750 to earn the United bonus.

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Hawaii's Island Air Launches Mileage Program

Hawaii-based Island Air now offers customers the opportunity to earn free flights through its own frequent flyer program, Cloud 9.

Cloud 9 members earn a free roundtrip ticket after 18 one-way flights or nine roundtrips. And a free one-way award ticket can be had after nine paid segments.

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Earn Northwest Miles at SkyMall

Northwest WorldPerks members can earn five miles for every $1 spent at the SkyMall network of more than 50 merchants and 4,500 products.

Use the FrequentFlier Mile Search to find other miles-for-merchandise opportunities.

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United Offers Miles-for-Wireless

The launch of United's Mileage Plus Wireless is a significant step forward for mileage-focused wireless phone service customers.

In contrast to the typical miles-for-wireless offers, which feature one or two selected service providers, Mileage Plus members can earn miles for service and equipment from any of the major wireless providers -- Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile, Cingular Wireless, Nextel, Sprint, and Alltel Wireless.

Members earn 5,000 bonus miles for newly activated rate plans costing $39.99 or more, 3,000 bonus miles for cheaper plans. Extending eligible plans earns 3,000 bonus miles. And accessories earn 10 miles per $1 spent.

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Deal Alert from SmarterTravel.com

1) Last-minute Southwest Fares from $44 Each Way

Through Thursday, Southwest is offering two sets of sale fares for travel in July and August. Prices start at $44 one-way, and destinations include Chicago, Ft. Myers, Orlando, and Seattle.

Travel is valid from July 25 through 31, or from Aug. 1 through 16. Book July tickets at least seven days in advance, and August tickets at least 14 days in advance. Tickets must be booked by July 20 for either month.

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2) American Sale from $98

American has joined Southwest and United in offering domestic fares through fall. Prices start at $98 roundtrip, and destinations include Austin, Miami, and Orlando.

Travel on most routes is valid daily from Aug. 17 through Dec. 10 (travel to Florida is valid through Oct. 1). Book tickets at least 14 or 21 days in advance. American has not listed a booking deadline, but Southwest's sale expires July 27. A one-night minimum stay may be required.

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Win a Trip for 2 to Harrah's San Diego

Enter American Airlines' "AA.com Insiders Deal" sweepstakes by Aug. 24 for a chance to win a trip for two to San Diego, including roundtrip air and two nights at the Harrah's San Diego.

Winners will also be entered into the "Total Rewards 3 Million On The House" drawing for a chance to win $1 million in cash, 1 million American AAdvantage miles, or 1 million Rewards Credits.

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Feedback from the Frontlines of Travel

"At 53 years old, I doubt that I have grown taller in the last year, but when I flew Air Tran to Newark from Chicago, my thighs act like they grew 2". The passenger ahead of me felt very uncomfortable when he attempted to recline his seat and got my knee in his back. I offered my apology which he accepted and righted his seat.

"I mostly fly Southwest and United; I fit their seats the same as I did last year. Even Northwest, American, and ATA seats fit the same as last year. Has Air Tran moved their seats closer together?" [Steve S.]

"I've just started flying a lot lately and it seems Star Alliance members of United Airlines get actual mileage credit on any partner airline in their system no matter how or where they book. On the other hand, an American Airlines Oneworld member does not get the same benefits unless it is an AA code share flight with one of their partners. Are you aware of this? I was really disappointed to find out the hard way recently and was surprised AA didn't make it clear in their website -- that my BA ticket wouldn't pay out the full miles since it wasn't AA code share even though it's Oneworld." [Andrian]

[FrequentFlier.com replies - AAdvantage members do not earn miles for Transatlantic flights on British Airways, and they only earn 25% of actual flown miles for most discounted BA coach fares. Similar restrictions apply to some other Oneworld members, but not all. Bottom line: So long as the Oneworld airlines allow such deviations from what consumers take to be the norm, they should do a better job of communicating them.]

"I travel quite a bit for work, however I have to find the cheapest flights to my destinations. I was wondering if there is a Frequent Flier Program for all airlines?" [Matt F.]

[FrequentFlier.com replies - There is no single program which awards flight miles for all airlines. If there were, it would render airline-specific programs superfluous. The best approach is to concentrate your mileage-earning in a single program as much as possible, and augment those flight miles with miles for credit card use, retail purchases, and other partner transactions.]

Until next week...