Issue #52  --  July 29, 1999

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One Year Later
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You're reading issue #52 of The Crier.

This being a weekly publication, that means we're closing out our first year--an important milestone. (In fact, we've had several non-publishing weeks to allow for vacation, medical emergencies, etc., so this is an anniversary measured by issues, if not by weeks.) And milestones, however they're defined, are occasions for celebration, thanks and reflection.

>> Thanks 2U x 2

First and foremost, thanks to our readers.

Thanks for subscribing; thanks for reading; and thanks for being engaged. The "engaged" piece is important. We receive lots of feedback: questions, suggestions, anecdotes, jokes, corrections, even the odd complaint. It all goes to remind us that there are legions of educated, accomplished, well-traveled individuals who make time in their busy days for The Crier. And that is an honor and a responsibility which we take very seriously.

Thanks also to our advertisers.

Advertisers allow us to spend more time developing this newsletter, and less time working at more lucrative but less fulfilling jobs. What we as publishers and editors fear is twofold: 1) ads that are tacky in form and content, and therefore an eyesore in the otherwise-pristine environment we strive to maintain; and 2) ads that promote questionable products or services, which undermine the credibility of our publication. So far, I am happy to report that neither of those fears has been realized. Our sponsors have been solid, mostly smaller companies, offering real value to Crier readers. We're thankful for the support we've received from Planetfone, Smarter Living, Dr. Cruise, AirEase and others.

>> Suggestion Box

Over the past 52 issues, The Crier has evolved substantially, in both form and content. Part of that evolution has been self-directed, part has been in direct response to requests and suggestions from subscribers.

We plan to continue changing, continue improving... So, please keep the suggestions coming. We don't promise to please everyone. But we do promise to take seriously all suggestions made in good faith. And we make it a point to respond to e-mail promptly.

<< M I L E S >>

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New Online Currency: beenz
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The idea of a "universal currency" is a compelling one.

Frequent flyer program marketers have been claiming, with some justification, that frequent flyer miles constitute such a universal currency. And online, such companies as ClickRewards and MyPoints have been laboring mightily to establish their currency (ClickMiles in the case of ClickRewards) as The Universal One.

Another contender--which just appeared for the first time on our radar--is beenz. Launched in March this year, beenz rewards customers with beenz (naturally) for online purchases at participating e-retailers, and allows beenz to be redeemed for services and merchandise.

Here are a few paragraphs of self-description, from the beenz website:

"As a universal currency of the Web, beenz are offered and redeemed on a global basis with no geographical restrictions. Unlike other existing incentive programs in either the online or offline market, beenz can be earned and redeemed at virtually any participating web site worldwide.

"For consumers, beenz is a money-like rewards tool for surfing the Internet. Consumers can earn beenz for performing "ordinary" online activities such as visiting a web site, interacting with online businesses, shopping, and simply accessing the Internet through their service provider.

"Consumers can spend their beenz at participating web sites of their choice for a variety of products and services. As the beenz economy expands, the choice of rewards that consumers can enjoy with the beenz currency will also expand.

"The company is determined to further the ubiquity of beenz as the currency of the internet and, more generally, of global e-commerce itself. The strength of it's brand and the reach of it's technology are being energetically pursued and developed."

They're talking the talk, for sure. But clearly, beenz has a long way to go before it can legitimately claim to be a universal currency. Universality implies a wide network of earning and burning partners, at a minimum, and the beenz network is still weak. And within that general weakness, beenz suffers in particular from not allowing conversion of beenz to airline miles.

Still, it could be a contender. And the prospect of ClickRewards and beenz fighting it out for share-of-customer is a compelling one, both for its entertainment value and for the added-value-to-the-consumer such competition would likely engender.

>> More <<
beenz

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Another Discount Broker on the Mileage Bandwagon
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Discount brokerage TD Waterhouse has announced what it calls the industry's most comprehensive customer reward program in conjunction with American Airlines.

The new program, launching in the United States on August 2nd, rewards current and new TD Waterhouse customers with AAdvantage frequent flyer miles for depositing additional assets with the firm, maintaining certain minimum balances, and adding to money market positions.

New customers receive a one-time bonus of 10,000 miles when they deposit $10,000 in cash or securities into their account. Existing customers also receive a one-time bonus of 10,000 miles when they bring at least $10,000 in new cash or securities to the firm. Customers can earn an addition 1,000 miles per year if they maintain a balance of at least $25,000 each quarter. Customers who deposit cash from their brokerage account into the American AAdvantage Money Market Mileage Fund will earn one frequent flyer mile for every $10.

In the United States, TD Waterhouse operates the country's third-largest discount brokerage firm. Abroad, TD Waterhouse operates discount brokerage units in Canada, Australia, Hong Kong, and the United Kingdom. The firm also has plans to expand into Japan.

>> More <<
American online
TD Waterhouse

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@ OnePass: Miles-for-Charity Donations Online
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Like most frequent flyer programs, Continental's OnePass allows members to donate miles for charitable purposes. What's new: OnePass members can now make those donations online, through the Continental website.

OnePass members can earmark their donation to AmeriCares, The Brass Ring Society or CAREFORCE:

>> AmeriCares
This nonprofit humanitarian organization provides medical aid to those devastated by natural or man-made disasters. OnePass miles help medical personnel fly directly to where they are needed most.

>> The Brass Ring Society
Making dreams come true for children with life-threatening illnesses is the work of The Brass Ring Society. The program helps these children enjoy a much-needed trip to a theme park, meet a personal hero or reunite with family and friends.

>> CAREFORCE
OnePass miles enable people who cannot afford to fly the opportunity to get on a flight during a medical or personal crisis.

>> More <<
To donate your OnePass miles online, visit Your Account at http://www.onepass.com/. Or call the OnePass Service Center at (713) 952-1630.

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Miles-for-Meals
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We've mentioned this promotion before, but it's worth a reminder since it represents a painless way to top off your miles in any of six airline programs.

Through December 31, 1999, get free 500-mile frequent flyer certificates from your choice of six participating airlines when you buy Healthy Choice products. All you need to do is fill out a certificate and mail it in, along with 10 UPCs (the bar code on the package) from any Healthy Choice product, for each 500-mile certificate requested. Appropriate airline program rules and conditions apply.

The six airlines participating in the Healthy Choice Frequent Flyer Offer are American, Delta, Northwest, TWA, United, and US Airways.

There's no limit to the number of certificates you can earn.

>> More <<
Healthy Choice promotion

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10,000 AAdvantage Miles for Florida Vacations
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American Airlines Vacations is offering a 10,000 AAdvantage-mile bonus on packages featuring a number of hotels at the following destinations: Florida Keys, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Miami, Orlando, Palm Beach, Sarasota and Tampa/St. Petersburg. Most properties require a minimum stay of five nights to qualify for the bonus miles. As an added bonus, a 20 percent discount is being offered on minivans and convertibles from Alamo Rent A Car.

The bonus miles are available on packages booked between Aug. 1 and Sept. 30 for travel between Sept. 10 and Dec. 15.

Customers can choose from a wide variety of participating hotels, including the Hyatt Key West Resort and Marina, Key West Hilton Resort & Marina, Sheraton Suites Key West, and Wyndham Casa Marina Resort in Key West; Embassy Suites Hotel and Marriott's Harbor Beach Resort in Fort Lauderdale; Doral Golf Resort and Spa and Alexander All-Suite Luxury Hotel in Miami; Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress, Vistana Resort Lake Buena Vista and Residence Inn by Marriott in Orlando; Four Seasons Resort in Palm Beach; the Colony Beach and Tennis Resort in Sarasota; and the Don CeSar Beach Resort and Spa in Tampa/St. Petersburg.

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Buddy Bonus for China Southern Members
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China Southern Airlines, the largest airline in The People's Republic of China, is offering a special "Buddy Bonus" frequent-flyer promotion beginning Aug. 1.

Current members of China Southern Airlines' Sky Pearl Club Frequent Flyer Club can receive a special Buddy Bonus award of 5,000 km when their "buddy" enrolls in Sky Pearl, AND accrues 20,000 kms. in the program. Current Sky Pearl Club members enter their Sky Pearl Club number on their friend's enrollment form (upper right corner) and mail it back.

The offer is good from Aug. 1 through Dec. 31, 1999.

>> More <<
For more information regarding this limited-time promotion, phone China Southern Airlines at 888/338-8988.

<< S T E A L S & D E A L S >>

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Icelandair's "Dip 'n' Drive"
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Icelandair is saddled with a tough selling proposition.

On the one hand, the carrier's home country (and hub) isn't anyone's idea of Shangri-La. And using Icelandair to Europe, via the aforementioned Iceland, isn't the fastest way of getting across the pond. So their marketing mavens wax creative, churning out an ice flow of special offers. While the real value of these specials is sometimes debatable, you have to credit them for trying, and for the good humor with which they persevere.

Europe-bound passengers departing from Icelandair's North American gateways in Halifax, Boston, New York (JFK), Baltimore/Washington and Minneapolis/St. Paul to the airline's hub in Reykjavik may choose to take afternoon or evening connecting flights to London, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Paris, Milan, Barcelona, Munich, Zurich, Copenhagen, Stockholm or Oslo when they hear of Icelandair's most recent option. Dubbed "Dip 'n' Drive," the complimentary package includes a Hertz rental car, which may be picked up at the airport upon their early-morning arrival, and complimentary admission to the new facilities of the Blue Lagoon, available only for same-day flights. Just a 20-minute drive from the airport, the Blue Lagoon offers a chance to dip into the soothing geothermal waters year 'round or enjoy a snack or light meal in the cafe before catching a later flight. This option is available for east-bound travel only, and some restrictions apply.

Another recent offer--which wears its humor on its sleeve--is their Mother-in-Law fares ("Don't leave home without her"). It's a buy-one-get-two deal. Unfortunately, the purchased ticket must be full fare, so the savings is diluted.

And then there are the Budget Fares. Touted as a model Congress would do well to emulate, they offer savings to those who purchase tickets to Europe before August 6, 1999 (London fares available for purchase through August 31).

Travelers bound for Glasgow and London may purchase round-trip tickets now for as little as $318 from New York and Boston. Frankfurt and Hamburg are on sale from JFK-New York for just $330 round trip. Paris-bound passengers from Boston will find round-trip fares from $364. Amsterdam begins at just $368 round trip from JFK and Boston. Stockholm, Oslo and Copenhagen round-trip fares from JFK and Boston start at $420.

Additional Sale Fares are available from all Icelandair U.S. gateways, including Baltimore/Washington, Minneapolis/St. Paul and Orlando as well as New York and Boston. Passengers must travel between November 1, 1999 through March 23, 2000 (except during blackout period December 14, 1999 -- January 9, 2000).

Clever promotions notwithstanding, for my money, the only reason to go to, or via, Iceland is for the bragging rights. Which suggests a new campaign: the "Fly to Iceland just so you can say you've been there" promotion. All kinds of merchandising opportunities here: commemorative hot chocolate mugs; branded ice picks, "I Survived Iceland" t-shirts, etc.

>> More <<
Icelandair's website

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Spanair to Spain: $478 Roundtrip
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Spanair is offering a $478 roundtrip air fare with a free stopover in Madrid from Washington Dulles International Airport to 10 cities in Spain for travel beginning September 1, 1999 through October 31, 1999.

This special seven-day advance, nonrefundable fare is available to Alicante, Barcelona, Bilbao, Madrid, Mahon, Malaga, Oviedo, Palma, Santiago de Compostela, Seville and Vigo and the free stopover in Madrid is permitted in either direction. For travel to the Canary Islands, the Spanair fare is $578.

Spanair operates the only nonstop service between Washington Dulles International Airport and Madrid's Barajas Airport four days a week with Boeing 767-300 aircraft.

>> More <<
For reservations, contact a travel agent or Spanair at 1-888-545-5757.

<< I N D U S T R Y N E W S >>

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At US Airways, E-deals Turn Three
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From a modest beginning of 2,700 subscribers three years ago, US Airways' E-Savers program now has more than 1.5 million subscribers who have registered to receive the special weekend fare offerings each Wednesday.

When the program began on July 24, 1996, flights from just three cities -- Boston, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh -- were offered at last-minute fares. Last weekend, 78 different routes were listed for roundtrip travel with fares as low as $79 for a short-haul trip and $249 for a transcontinental route.

If you're not familiar with E-Savers (or like programs offered by most of the major U.S. carriers), here's how they work... Each Wednesday, registrants receive an electronic mail list of markets where discount fares are being offered for U.S. and Canadian travel. The discounts apply for travel beginning the following Saturday, with a return on the following Sunday, Monday or Tuesday. In addition to the weekly offerings, registrants periodically receive notification of other discount fares for transatlantic and Caribbean flights.

Examples of the E-Savers low roundtrip fares offered for travel this weekend are $89 from Albany, N.Y., to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport; $99 between Washington Dulles International Airport and Atlanta; $89 from Hartford, Conn., to Baltimore Washington International Airport; $124 from Philadelphia to Toronto; $129 between Charlotte, N.C., and Houston; $129 from Pittsburgh to New Orleans; and $149 from Philadelphia to Dallas-Fort Worth.

In addition to e-mail announcements, E-Savers are posted each week on US Airways' web site. E-Savers tickets must be purchased roundtrip at the time that the reservation is made. These specially discounted fares are
non-refundable and seats are limited.

>> More <<
US Airways online

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At Continental: Show Up, Win a Car
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Continental Airlines this week gave away eight Eddie Bauer Limited Edition Ford Explorers to reward employees with six months of perfect attendance. Since the program's inception in 1996, the airline has given away 55 sport utility vehicles--with tax, title, license and gift tax all paid for by the company.

Of course not all perfect attenders are so rewarded. Winners were drawn from a pool of more than 13,693 eligible employees with perfect attendance records between Jan. 1, 1999, and June 30, 1999. Which makes your odds of driving home in a new Explorer 1 in 1,712.

In the past three years, Continental Airlines has seen a marked drop in absenteeism, which the company attributes to this Perfect Attendance Program. Continental's absenteeism rate is one of the lowest in the industry.

Terrific idea. I remember, during my early days on the corporate treadmill, receiving $100 for a year's perfect attendance and feeling it was meaningless as either forward-looking incentive or backward-looking thanks. The chance, even with slim odds, to win a car would have been much more motivating. And Continental's results seem to suggest that this is true for the many, not just for the few.

<< R E A D E R R A N T S & R A V E S >>

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Dining-for-Miles
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Hi. Like the newsletter. Have a topic for you.

Both Delta and American have dining programs linked to their FF plans. The programs are free to members. In both cases, you register your credit card(s) with Customer Service and then you earn miles for every dollar charged at participating restaurants on the registered card(s). It turns out that both plans are administered by the same outside company, and they will not allow you to register the same card for both plans. Seems to me that if American and Delta each offer this program and pay for it for their members, members should be able to sign up for both programs AND register credit cards on both programs. In fact, the admin will only register a card in one program or the other.

Maybe I'm out in right field, but I think this is unjust and I wonder if others do as well.

By the way, how about a bulletin board for people to tell flight attendant horror stories. I was victimized by an AA flight attendant who embarrassed me in front of all the passengers with an unnecessary announcement and then, when I said something to her about it, she immediately asked me if I wanted her to get the captain and was pushing me to do so (in my opinion because she was hoping to have me removed from the plane).

Thanks.

- Steven

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Seeing Eye Dog
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Following is another of those apochryphal stories which circulate on the Internet. When I received it, it was billed as "a true story." But it had been forwarded multiple times, and there was no way to track back to the original sender to confirm its authenticity. So, take it as an amusing travel-related story, which may or may not be true.

[Thanks to Michele for this...]

I was flying from San Francisco to Los Angeles. By the time we took off, there had been a 45-minute delay and everybody on board was ticked.

Unexpectedly, we stopped in Sacramento on the way. The flight attendant explained that there would be another 45-minute delay, and if we wanted to get off the aircraft, we would reboard in 30 minutes.

Everybody got off the plane except one gentleman who was blind. I noticed him as I walked by and could tell he had flown before because his Seeing Eye dog lay quietly underneath the seats in front of him throughout the entire flight. I could also tell he had flown this very flight before because the pilot approached him and, calling him by name, said, "Keith, we're in Sacramento for almost an hour. Would you like to get off and stretch your legs?"

Keith replied, "No thanks, but maybe my dog would like to stretch his legs."

Picture this .... all the people in the gate area came to a completely quiet standstill when they looked up and saw the pilot walk off the plane with the Seeing Eye dog! The pilot was even wearing sunglasses. People scattered. They not only tried to change planes, they also were trying to change airlines!

Until next week...