Issue #10 -- August 29, 1998
***********************************************
If You're Booked on Northwest, Expect the Worst
***********************************************
As The Crier goes to press, Northwest and its pilots have still not resolved their differences, and a strike seems inevitable. (Over 400 flights scheduled for Friday and Saturday, August 28 and 29, have already been cancelled.)
The following policy statement from United is indicative of how other airlines will deal with tickets issued by Northwest in the event of a strike.
::::::::::::::: Quote from United's Policy Statement :::::::::::::
Ticket Acceptance Policy
United issued the following general guidelines for ticketed Northwest Airlines passengers seeking space on United flights:
* United will accept Northwest tickets for similar booking categories of fares such as first class and various levels of economy class for both domestic and international flights, provided that seats are available.
* For domestic and international flights, if the passenger's origin and destination are the same as appear on the ticket, United will accept the Northwest Airlines flight coupon and will not need to reissue the ticket.
* If the origin and destination are not the same or space in the comparable booking class is not available, United can sell the customer any applicable and available fare.
* United strongly recommends that all fares be ticketed before the customer arrives at the airport via travel agencies, United reservations or city ticketing offices so as to not exacerbate airport ticket lobby congestion.
* If a new ticket is issued by United, the customer should apply to Northwest for a refund for the old ticket.
* Space permitting, United will accept tickets for free, bulk or unpublished fares including World Perks frequent flier free tickets.
* United Airlines' ability to rebook passengers holding Northwest tickets has been restricted by Northwest so that United can only make bookings for Northwest passengers for the current day and the next three days. For example, a passenger planning to travel outbound on Sunday, Aug. 30, and returning the following Sunday, Sept. 6, can only be confirmed on the outbound segment of his or her itinerary and would have to wait until Sept. 3 to get confirmation for the return leg.
Stand-bys Discouraged
United cautions customers holding Northwest Airlines tickets that cannot be accommodated with confirmed reservations on United from standing by at airports because seats may be extremely limited in many cases.
Get There Early
Given the anticipated heavy volumes of passengers, bags, freight and mail, United recommends that all passengers plan to arrive at airports well ahead of scheduled flight departure times. United suggests a minimum of two hours for domestic flights and three hours for international flights.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: End Quote :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
One other suggestion: If you're holding a Northwest E-ticket (electronic ticket), have it reissued as a traditional paper ticket by Northwest before attempting to use it on United or any other alternative airline. (Reason: Even under normal circumstances, airlines cannot accept each other's E-tickets.) If possible, have the reissue done at a Northwest ticket office, rather than at the airport where you can expect to encounter long lines of other displaced passengers.
>> More <<
o Northwest flight updates
o Further information on the labor negotiations
o The Northwest reservation line in the United States and Canada 1-800-225-2525.
**********************************************************
American & US Airways Make Good On Combining Miles Promise
**********************************************************
When American and US Airways launched their frequent flyer program partnership, it was with the understanding that there was more, and better, to come. In particular, they pledged to add combinable miles to the list of member benefits, effective with the implementation of "Phase Two."
Beginning Thursday, August 24, the two carriers delivered on that promise, rolling out the second phase of their alliance. Henceforth, US Airways and American Airlines offer frequent travelers the ability to combine miles for award travel to any US Airways or American Airlines destination. American Airlines' AAdvantage members and US Airways' Dividend Miles members who belong to both programs now can combine miles from their AAdvantage and Dividend Miles accounts to claim award travel on US Airways, American Airlines, or on a combination of both airlines.
For travel using combined miles, award tickets must be redeemed at the time that the miles are transferred and issued at least three weeks prior to departure. A minimum of 1,000 miles must be used from each account. The combined mileage feature applies only to awards on American Airlines and US Airways, and not to awards on other airlines participating in the AAdvantage and Dividend Miles programs.
The first phase of the marketing agreement became effective on August 1, allowing Dividend Miles and AAdvantage members to claim awards for travel on both airlines. The initial phase also allowed American's Admirals Club members and US Airways Club members reciprocal access to each others' clubs. American Airlines has 47 Admirals Clubs throughout its system, including Latin America, Europe and Japan and US Airways operates 26 clubs throughout the United States.
In a third phase, AAdvantage members also will soon be able to earn both AAdvantage miles and Dividend Miles on certain US Airways Shuttle flights between Washington, D.C., New York, and Boston.
>> The Verdict <<
This adds real value to membership in these two programs. We hope that it will set a standard which the other airline partnerships (Delta-United, Continental-Northwest) feel compelled to match, or even improve upon.
>> More <<
o For more on this and the other U.S. airline alliances, see the related article on The FFP Site.
o American
o US Airways
***************************
Mileage Plus Miles for Cars
***************************
United Airlines' frequent flier program, Mileage Plus, and Member Services, Inc. announced Wednesday that Mileage Plus members can earn miles when buying or leasing a new or used vehicle with its new Odometer Miles program, beginning September 1, 1998.
Mileage Plus members will earn 10,000 miles for the purchase or lease of a new or pre-owned vehicle from one of hundreds of participating car dealerships nationwide. Odometer Miles is open to all Mileage Plus members and is a free program.
To gain visibility for the launch of the Odometer Miles program, United is holding a mileage auction for a new 1998 QX4 Infiniti Sports Utility Vehicle. The minimum bid for the new 4x4 starts at 350,000 miles. To participate, all bids must be registered by October 16, 1998
Member Services, Inc. is a marketing and promotion company specializing in the automotive industry, serving over 2,000 franchised new car dealers nationwide.
>> Caveat <<
As you've heard here before, do the math before running down to your participating car dealer and succumbing to that new-car smell. The value of 10,000 miles is $200, assuming the conventional $0.02/mile valuation. If you can get the same car from a different dealer for $300 less, but without the miles, do it. Similarly, if a participating dealer can be convinced to give you a net price (again, without miles) which is more than $200 less than the car-with-miles price, go for it. In short, don't overpay just to get the miles.
>> More <<
o For more information on the program, participating dealerships or the Infiniti auction, members can call 800-733-2062 or discover more online
o United
******************************************************
WorldPerks Miles for Buying, Selling, Financing a Home
******************************************************
Northwest is introducing WorldPerks HomExtras, a new mortgage and real estate program for Northwest WorldPerks members. Northwest offers the WorldPerks HomExtras program in conjunction with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Service and GMAC Mortgage.
Effective immediately, WorldPerks members who qualify and pre-register in the HomExtras program can earn WorldPerks Bonus Miles for any or all of the following transactions: 1.) Purchase a home. 2.) Sell a home. 3.) Finance or refinance a first home mortgage. 4.) Take out a home equity loan or line of credit.
The WorldPerks HomExtras program is limited to WorldPerks members who enroll in the HomExtras program prior to working with a Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Broker or completing an application with GMAC Mortgage. To enroll in the HomExtras program, Northwest WorldPerks members must call 1-888-64-HomEx (1-888-644-6639) Monday through Friday, between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. CDT and on Saturday between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. CDT.
Members can earn between 12,500 and 125,000 WorldPerks Bonus Miles based on the purchase or sales price of the home, and members can receive Bonus Miles for both buying and selling a home (see attached table for award levels). HomExtras real estate services for buying and selling a home are available in 35 states and in an additional three states only for the sale of a home (see list for state restrictions).
HomExtras mortgages are available in all 50 U.S. states and home equity loans and lines of credit are available in all states except Arkansas, Hawaii, Washington D.C., and West Virginia.
Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Service
Purchase/Sales Price Bonus Miles Award
$ 50,000 - 99,999 12,500
100,000 - 149,000 25,000
150,000 - 199,999 37,500
200,000 - 299,999 50,000
300,000 - 399,999 75,000
400,000 - 499,999 100,000
500,000 and greater 125,000
For every $10,000 of a first mortgage WorldPerks members finance or refinance with GMAC Mortgage, they earn 1,000 Bonus Miles and for every $10,000 of a home equity loan or line of credit, they earn 1,750 Bonus Miles (see below table for award levels).
GMAC Mortgage
First Mortgage 100 Bonus Miles for every
$1,000 financed (rounded up
from $500 to the nearest
$1,000)
Home Equity Loan/ 175 Bonus Miles for every
Credit Lines $1,000 financed (rounded up
From $500 to the nearest
$1,000)
States permitting HomExtras real estate program for buying
and selling:
Alabama Massachusetts Pennsylvania
Arizona Michigan Rhode Island
Arkansas Minnesota South Carolina
California Montana South Dakota
Colorado Nebraska Texas
Florida New Hampshire Utah
Georgia New Mexico Vermont
Hawaii Nevada Virginia
Illinois New York Washington
Indiana North Carolina Wisconsin
Iowa North Dakota Wyoming
Maine Ohio
States permitting HomExtras real estate program for selling
only:
Idaho Oklahoma Tennessee
>> More <<
Northwest
*****************************************
New Website for American AAdvantage Funds
*****************************************
American AAdvantage Funds, a series of nine no-load mutual funds managed by AMR Investment Services, Inc., has launched a new website.
The website allows investors to learn about the funds and share classes, includes information on performance, asset allocation, college planning, retirement planning, and how to invest, as well as prospectuses and applications.
The American AAdvantage Funds offer two classes -- PlanAhead Class and Institutional Class. In addition, the American AAdvantage Mileage Funds are offered to individuals interested in accumulating AAdvantage miles while they invest. The nine no-load funds include the American AAdvantage Balanced Fund, Growth and Income Fund, International Equity Fund, S&P 500 Index Fund, Intermediate Bond Fund, Short-Term Bond Fund, Money Market Fund, Municipal Money Market Fund, and the U.S. Government Money Market Fund.
The American AAdvantage Funds were launched ten years ago to offer the general public the same investment expertise previously available only to their employee pension plan. With over 10,000 shareholders, the American AAdvantage Funds are managed by AMR Investment Services, Inc., which has over $20 billion in assets under management.
AMR Investment Services, Inc., is a wholly owned subsidiary of AMR Corp, parent company of American Airlines.
>> More <<
For more information about the American AAdvantage Funds, call 1-800-388-3344 or visit their new website.
***********************************************
Earn 1,500 Bonus Miles for Travelocity Bookings
***********************************************
Online travel provider Travelocity is giving travelers 1,500 bonus miles, the largest award the online service has ever offered. During the month of September, Travelocity users who purchase an airline ticket on select airlines, as well as a hotel stay or car rental, can claim 1,500 extra frequent flyer bonus miles in addition to standard mileage awards.
Customers who purchase a car rental or hotel stay with an air ticket on Travelocity during the month of September will qualify for 1,500 bonus miles on one of the following airlines: American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Northwest Airlines and United Airlines.
Travel must be completed by December 31, 1998 and bonus miles must be redeemed within 30 days after travel is completed. Bonus miles are only available on participating airlines and can only be claimed for the airline the flight was booked on. Other restrictions may apply.
Travelocity provides reservations capabilities for more travel providers than any other Internet site, with more than 420 airlines, more than 40,000 hotels, and more than 50 car rental companies.
>> More <<
Complete terms and conditions of this promotion
******************************
Countdown to Strike at AirTran
******************************
If you live in the Atlanta area, you're probably all-too-aware of another airline labor dispute on the verge of going critical. While the Northwest situation has been front-page news, Atlanta-based AirTran has been working through its own contentious contract negotiations.
The Association of Flight Attendants (AFA) has been in negotiations for a first contract with AirTran since 1995. The National Mediation Board (NMB) has declared an impasse and started a 30-day cooling-off period that expires at 12:01 a.m. on September 5, 1998. That's next weekend, Labor Day.
If the parties do not reach an agreement by that deadline, AFA has vowed to implement its CHAOS strategy to pressure the company to agree to a contract.
CHAOS, according to the AFA, stands for Create Havoc Around Our System, and is "a campaign of intermittent strikes and other targeted work stoppages designed to catch the company off guard." Unfortunately, it also catches AirTran's passengers "off guard," stranding or delaying them
The NMB is expected to reconvene the parties in early September to attempt to mediate a settlement and to avert a strike over the busy Labor Day weekend. The union has offered to submit all remaining issues -- which include pay, vacations, work rules, and union security -- to a neutral arbitrator.
>> More <<
AirTran
*************************
More Asia Travel Bargains
*************************
>> Southeast Asia Air Pass <<
In a bid to boost tourism in the ailing Southeast Asian region, the Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Travel Association has introduced an air pass offering sector flights between any Asean country for $US90, beginning in November. Under the new scheme, a minimum of three flights must be taken by visitors, in any Asean country, using any Asean airline, except for domestic flights in the Philippines and Vietnam. Fares for each leg of the flights connecting Asean countries stand at $US90 each, for routes such as the following: Jakarta-Manila, Bangkok-Manila and Jakarta-Singapore. Contact Asean airlines for details (see below).
>> More <<
Philippine Airlines: 1-800-I-FLY-PAL
Singapore Airlines: 1-800-742-3333
Thai Airways: 1-800-426-5204
>> Double Miles for Shangri-La Stays <<
Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts have teamed with several airlines to offer joint packages throughout the Asia Pacific region. Until December 31 this year, guests paying published standard rates at any Shangri-La property can receive double miles/points per stay and a companion stays free. Participating airlines include Qantas, China Airlines, Thai Airways and All Nippon Airways (ANA).
>> More <<
Shangri-La
**************************
Online Travel Transactions
**************************
According to @plan, a provider of research on consumer behavior on the Web, 22 percent of active adult (18+) Web users have shopped online for airline tickets or reservations during the last six months. Next to software, travel is the single largest "shopped" e-commerce category.
"The @plan data demonstrates tremendous growth for the airline industry on the Internet," says Mark Wright, CEO of @plan. "In the last six months, the number of consumers shopping online for airline tickets and reservations has increased by 49 percent, and we expect continued rapid growth in this category."
>> More <<
@plan
|
