Issue #106  --  Aug. 10, 2000

<< O N S I T E >>

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

Rick wants to get upgraded. Tony wants to know whether to use his 50,000 miles for 1 trip to Italy, or 2 trips within the U.S. There's a thread about S&H Greenpoints. Arthur is looking for rental car suggestions in Phoenix. And Debbie is looking for a free online mileage-tracking service.

Do you have questions? Do you have answers? Post them to the Forum!

>> More <<
The FrequentFlier Forum

<< M I L E S >>

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Sun Country Launches Credit Card-Based Program
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Minnesota-based Sun Country Airlines this week launched what's billed as "phase one" of its Smile Awards loyalty program, a co-branded Smile Awards MasterCard, marketed through MBNA, with no annual fee.

The program, at this point, is limited to points-for-charges using the card. Each time members charge a Sun Country Airlines ticket, they earn 10 points for every dollar spent. For Vacations by Sun Country purchases, members earn 3 points for every dollar charged. For all other purchases, members earn 1 point for every dollar charged.

Awards include domestic flights on Sun Country, and international tickets on Icelandair, as follows:

  Points Awards
  ------ -------------
  25,000 Sun Country Airlines Domestic Ticket
  30,000 Sun Country Airlines Int'l Ticket
    (Mexico & Caribbean)
  32,500 Europe Ticket via Icelandair
  45,000 Business Class Europe Ticket via Icelandair

Everyone who applies for the card will receive a $50 coupon for their next Sun Country purchase, and 2,500 Bonus Points after their first purchase, balance transfer, or any other cash advance transaction. Maximum points per year: 125,000.

Other program benefits include a 10% discount on car rentals from both Alamo and National Car Rental when the rentals are charged with the Smile Awards card.

>> More <<
Sun Country

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Bid Your SkyMiles for Travel Packages
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Delta's latest "More for Your Miles" auction includes 10 travel packages available for bid by SkyMiles members.

On-the-block packages include a 10-day Renaissance Cruise around Tahiti, Moorea, Huahine, Raiatea and Bora Bora for 2 (minimum bid: 300,000 miles) or A Whirlwind Shopping Excursion to New York City, Boston and Washington D.C., including $1000 spending money (minimum bid: 100,000 miles).

Members can bid toll-free via phone to 1-877-BID-MILES (1-877-243-6453), by toll-free fax to 1-800-821-1819, via e-mail to deltabids@delta-air.com or in-flight by dialing *B-I-D toll-free via Airfone while flying over the 48 contiguous states and southern Canada. Members must have the bid amount in their account at the time of bidding. Closing for bids is midnight on Sunday, August 13, 2000.

Check Delta's website for full details, terms and conditions.

>> More <<
Delta

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Earn Double, Triple Miles for Thrifty car Rentals
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Rent a car from Thrifty between August 15 and November 15, 2000 (August 1 through November 15 in the case of US Airways) and earn double or triple frequent-flyer miles with 7 airline partners, or 1,000 Hilton HHonors points, 4 times the usual number of points.

Participating airline programs are: American AAdvantage, America West FlightFund, Continental OnePass, Delta SkyMiles, TWA Aviators, United Mileage Plus, US Airways Dividend Miles.

Offers and restrictions vary, so check with the individual programs for specifics. You must rent for a minimum of 2 days with a 14-day maximum to qualify for the bonuses.

>> More <<
Thrifty

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Visa Charges Earn Marriott Rewards Bonus
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Visa and Marriott are offering 5,000 bonus Marriott Rewards points, guaranteed early check-in and an extended checkout to Visa cardholders and Marriott Rewards members staying at select Marriott and Renaissance hotels throughout Latin America until December 20, 2000.

To receive the additional perks and points, frequent flyer miles or any of over 200 reward options, Marriott Rewards members must request rate code VSSA when making a reservation, and pay for their stay with any Visa card.

Special business travel rates and complimentary use of hotel health facilities are also provided through participating properties. Other amenities may include a room upgrade, free faxing, free laundry services and more. Amenities and special services will vary at participating hotels. The offer is available at the following Marriott and Renaissance properties:

 - Marriott Plaza Hotel - Buenos Aires, Argentina
 - Renaissance Sao Paulo - Sao Paulo, Brazil
 - Santiago Marriott Hotel - Santiago, Chile
 - Costa Rica Marriott Hotel - San Jose, Costa Rica
 - Renaissance Jaragua - Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
 - JW Quito Marriott Hotel - Quito, Ecuador
 - San Salvador Marriott Hotel -- San Salvador, El Salvador
 - Guatemala City Marriott - Guatemala City, Guatemala
 - Mexico City Airport Marriott - Mexico City, Mexico
 - JW Marriott Hotel - Mexico City, Mexico
 - Renaissance Mexico City - Mexico City, Mexico (opens 11/2000)
 - Panama City Marriott Hotel - Panama City, Panama
 - Lima Marriott Hotel - Lima, Peru
 - San Juan Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino - Puerto Rico

The promotion is applicable only to Marriott Rewards members electing to earn points instead of miles. Cardholders in France, Tunisia, South Korea, Spain, Finland, Germany, Belgium and Austria may not participate in this promotion.

>> More <<
Marriott

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
CO Offers Mileage Card for Japan Residents
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Continental has entered into a joint marketing agreement with JCB, the largest credit card company in Japan, to launch a co-branded credit card in Asia. The OnePass JCB credit card will be launched in Tokyo on August 21.

The card allows Continental Airlines customers based in Japan to earn one OnePass mile for every 100 yen (approximately one mile per U.S. dollar at the current exchange rate) spent shopping at participating JCB merchants worldwide. As a sign-on bonus for obtaining the card by March 2001, qualifying Gold JCB cardholders will receive 5,000 bonus OnePass miles and Standard cardholders will receive 2,000 bonus OnePass miles. Also, during the promotional period through March 2001, Standard card first-year annual fees will be waived.

JCB CO, Ltd., based in Tokyo, is affiliated with more than 7.2 million merchants in 167 countries, including the U.S. The company operates 30 branches in Japan and 50 service offices internationally, including New York City.

>> More <<
Continental

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

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Deal Alert from SmarterLiving.com
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Two hot deals from SmarterLiving.com...

>> Internet-Only Savings from Northwest on Select Routes

Northwest Airlines has posted a sale on travel between select cities in its system. Tickets are available online only. Purchase by Thursday, August 17.

For more details, go here.

>> AirTran Offers System-Wide Sale

AirTran Airways has released a "Back to School" sale with round-trip fares starting at $78. Travel is valid through December 15, and tickets must be purchased by Thursday, August 17.

For more details, go here.

<< B U S I N E S S T R A V E L T I P S >>

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Getting to and from the Airport
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
The following is part of a continuing series of business travel tips from Chris McGinnis's "The Unofficial Business Traveler's Pocket Guide--165 Tips Even the Best Business Travelers May Not Know."

>> Family Members
If someone picks you up regularly at the airport, always have a designated pickup area in case all else fails. Having a regular pickup meeting spot helps avoid the problems associated with flight delays, traffic delays, and miscommunication.

Chris McGinnis
Travel Skills Group
http://www.travelskills.com

<< I N D U S T R Y U P D A T E >>

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Delta Upgrades Shuttle Aircraft, Seating
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Next month, Delta Shuttle will introduce its new Boeing 737-800's, featuring 36 inches of seat pitch with 6 inches of recline. According to Delta, both legroom and recline are 2 inches greater than that offered by other shuttle services.

The new aircraft are equipped with new, ergonomically-designed seats, battery-saving Empower(TM) system for laptop computers, new AT&T easy-access telephones, and seatback hooks for hanging jackets. The cabin also provides 30% more overhead bin space, designed to more easily accommodate standard roller bags.

Delta Shuttle will add 3 of the new aircraft each month starting in September, and all 16 will be integrated into daily service by January 2001.

No doubt shuttle passengers will welcome the upgrades. It's ironic, though, that Delta recognizes the need for increased legroom on short-haul flights but still has no plans to do the same on its longer flights. So far, among the majors only American got it right: more legroom, on all aircraft, on all flights.

>> More <<
Delta

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

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Elite Upgrades - Feeling the Pain
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Just a quick comment/response on your Delta elite downgrading blurb:

I feel the pain for the Delta elite members. But its a step that does not surprise me at all. As a US Airways Silver (and soon to be Gold) preferred member for the past 2 years, I have been unable to use even ONE of my North American (coupon) upgrades since I began receiving them, and I have probably received 30-40 of them total. They all eventually reach the circular file. My wife is also silver preferred and has yet to use any of them. Its gotten to the point where we don't even try to call in and request using them. On the flip side, we were fortunate to use my 2 Systemwide upgrades in Envoy Class returning from Paris this summer (albeit on first class/upgrade standby, not pre-confirmed) and it was wonderful.

We hope to use my wife's 2 Systemwides on an upcoming trip to Germany (but of course are unable to pre-confirm)..

Anyway, I know many frustrated US Airways elite members that do not even consider the upgrade coupons a perk since they're rarely able to be used. I also have a relative who works for US Airways who often deals with preferred members trying to upgrade, and rarely is able to accommodate anyone. So the bottom line - with such hard-to-achieve benefits and frustrated passengers, change is inevitable in this area. Especially with the potential merger with United and their less-than-stellar FF rewards.

 - Scott

>>>>>>>>>>>>
E*TRADE Rant
>>>>>>>>>>>>
I didn't know what kind of feedback you are getting about the new etrade-NWA mileage promotion, but i wanted to warn other investors about the problems I have had. I used the web site to enroll, but the materials etrade sent back to me were not coded to receive miles. If I had not called them (multiple multiple times, until I got a sympathetic rep), I would have sent in a deposit and gotten no miles, because they only award miles to new customers, so once they assign you an account, you are now no longer a new customer. Also, if you try to fix the problem by cancelling the account and reenrolling to make sure the account is properly coded to receive miles, you are again no longer a new customer and therefore ineligible. So, be very careful. The key point is that enrolling through the special web site advertised in the NWA WorldPerks bulletin doesn't guarantee you will be signed up for an account coded to receive the miles! Hope this warning helps others.

 - Becky

<< F R E Q U E N T F L I E R F U N N I E S >>

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
True (Funny) Travel Stories
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Reported comments to a reservations agent...

"Instead of paying you for this ticket, can I donate an equal amount to the American Cancer Society?"

[FrequentFlier Funnies are true stories told by pilots, reservations agents and other travel industry professionals, from William Joric's "Air Sick Humor." The book can be purchased at the FrequentFlier Bookstore at
http://frequentflier.com/ffp-books.htm]

<< B A C K O F T H E B U S >>

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
T. Coraghessan Boyle Does "Friendly Skies"
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
"When the engine under the right wing began to unravel a thin skein of greasy, dark smoke, Ellen peered out the abraded Plexiglas window and saw the tufted clouds rising up and away from her and knew she was going to die."

So begins T.C. Boyle's "Friendly Skies," a short piece of travel fiction appearing in the August 7 issue of "The New Yorker" magazine.

Don't miss this leading novelist's take on the travel experience: an engine fire, weather delays, obnoxious seat mates, air rage, on-the-road romance (cut short by the aforementioned air rage), inflight drunkenness, missed connections, thoughts of impending doom (and prayers to avert it), bad airport food, a cramped middle seat (18B), free headphones (to compensate for the air rage, which turned violent, and resulted in an unscheduled stop in Denver). Everything but frequent flyer miles.

Recommended reading. (Unfortunately, "The New Yorker" isn't offered online, so you'll have to find a paper copy.)

Until next week...