Issue #113  --  Sep. 28, 2000

<< O N S I T E >>

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

Anthony wants to transfer his elite status to a different program. Lorenzo has "orphan" miles he'd like to use for something... but what? Chris is on the verge of reaching the million-mile mark in AAdvantage, and asks: What then? Best asks about the fate of frequent flyer miles in Pan Am and Republic's programs. And Ronald is his usual font of information and advice.

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

>> More <<
The FrequentFlier Forum

<< M I L E S >>

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American Awards Bonuses for U.S.-Japan Flights
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American will award bonus miles to AAdvantage members flying between the U.S. and Japan from October 1, 2000 through March 31, 2001.

Bonus miles are awarded for flights in first class, business class or full-fare economy class. Bonuses range from 15,000 to 60,000 miles, depending on the number of roundtrips flown. The more roundtrips, the more miles you earn.

You must register promotion code USJPN before flying.

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American

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JAL Offers Bonuses, too
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You can also earn bonus miles for Japan flights between October 1 and December 31 with Japan Airlines' Mileage Bank (JMB).

JMB members earn double miles for flights between Chicago or Dallas/Fort Worth and Japan on JAL or American Airlines and between New York and Sao Paulo on JAL. You must be an American Region JMB member to qualify. Only full (i.e. non-discounted) fares are eligible for the bonus.

Register bonus code AUT01 prior to travel.

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JAL

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Priority Club's Newest Partner: British Air
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Bass Hotels' Priority Club is adding British Airways to its partner roster, and promoting the addition with triple bonus miles.

Between October 1 and December 31, Priority Club members earn triple miles (1,500 miles) with British Airways when staying at any of the Bass Hotels brands -- Inter-Continental, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express and Staybridge Suites by Holiday Inn.

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Priority Club

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Delta's Laptop Power Adapter Giveaway
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SkyMiles members who purchase a roundtrip BusinessElite ticket for domestic or international travel at www.delta.com between October 1 and December 31, 2000, will receive a free PowerXtender laptop power adapter.

The PowerXtender adapter allows most notebook computers and portable DVD players to run off an airline in-seat power supply, eliminating the need for batteries while flying.

Offer is valid for Delta BusinessElite J and D class tickets purchased online between October 1 and December 31, 2000. Travel must be completed by March 31, 2001. Tickets must be purchased with a major credit card at the time of reservation.

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Delta

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NW AirCares for AmeriCares
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Northwest has selected AmeriCares as its fourth quarter AirCares partner.

The similarity of the names confuses the issue somewhat, but AirCares is Northwest's charitable program. Each quarter, AirCares provides its chosen partner with an on-board public awareness and fundraising campaign.

AmeriCares, on the other hand, is a nonprofit disaster relief and humanitarian aid organization, which provides immediate response to emergency medical needs -- and supports long-term healthcare programs -- for people around the world. Since its inception in 1982, AmeriCares has delivered over $2.5 billion in aid to 137 nations worldwide.

There IS a mileage aspect to all this. WorldPerks members who contribute at least $50 to Northwest's charity partners will receive 500 WorldPerks Bonus Miles.

To make a mileage donation (not tax-deductible), call toll-free 1-800-327-2881. The minimum donation is 5,000 miles and larger donations may be made in 1,000-mile increments. To make a tax-deductible monetary contribution, you may contact the organization directly and mention the Northwest AirCares program (be sure to include your WorldPerks number in order to receive the Bonus Miles).

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Northwest AirCares

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Prescription for Miles: PlanetRx
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ClickRewards members earn 500 bonus ClickMiles with their first nonprescription purchase at online health and beauty merchant, PlanetRx.com.

Offer expires November 2, 2000.

>> More <<
ClickRewards

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

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

>> 'Fall Fever' Airfares to Europe Starting at $198

Icelandair is offering fares starting at $198 round-trip from Boston, Washington (Baltimore), New York (JFK), and Minneapolis to Reykjavik, Iceland and eight other European cities.

For more details, go here.

http://www.smarterliving.com/deal_alert/air/20000928a.html

>> Delta and US Airways Shuttle Fares for $99 R/T

Travel between Washington (National or Dulles), New York (LaGuardia), and Boston for $99 round-trip on both Delta and US Airways' shuttles during weekends in October. Travel is valid beginning October 7, and must be completed by October 29. Purchase tickets online only and no later than October 9.

For more details, go here.

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

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UA Pilots' Contract Is Locus of Labor Discord
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In last week's issue of The Crier, we reported on the effect United's new pilots agreement is having on contract negotiations between arch-rival American and its own pilots union. To reiterate, American's pilots, clearly envious of their United counterparts' sweet deal, have upped their own demands to, basically, match United's terms.

United's pilots' deal is having closer-to-home effects as well. United's own flight attendants, jealous of the pilots' generous raises, are threatening to roadblock the carrier's proposed merger of US Airways if their own employment contracts are not adjusted accordingly.

The irony here is that United's management, in their desperation to forestall a wholesale pilots' strike, upped the expectation ante for other employee groups, both at United and at other airlines. And in the ensuing negotiations and renegotiations, there are likely to be further delays, cancellations and even strikes.

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Air France Sues Continental for Concorde Crash
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Air France has filed suit against Continental, alleging that the July 25 crash of the Air France Concorde just after take-off from Charles de Gaulle Airport Paris was at least partially caused by a strip of metal shed by a Continental DC-10 which earlier took off from the same runway.

Under the Civil Aviation Code, carriers can be held liable for any damage caused by their aircraft, or by parts of their aircraft.

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

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Surviving the Airport
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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."

>> Get the Guide

Refer to your "Official Airline Guide" (OAG) or other comprehensive schedule of all airlines to and from all destinations. These come in handy when you are trying to make a quick getaway from the mass confusion and hysteria that surrounds delay or cancellation announcements. (OAG, $99/year; tel: 800-323-3537. There is also an electronic edition of the OAG that you can load on your laptop.)

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

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

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Rule 240 Rules
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[Editor's Note - Following is Bill's response to last week's article on Rule 240. Specifically, he's referring to the following:

"Can you 240 me?" (It is important to use their lingo.) They should code your ticket, and you will be on your way.]

Tim,

I agree. However in 20 years in the business, I don't think I have ever seen it used as a VERB ! And actually there is no R240 but everyone knows what it means.

Having had to invoke a 240 challenge to AA in MIA earlier this year I did it this way:

"What do you mean waitlisted? That's a Rule 240 protect and I don't want to be stuck in a middle seat either!"

Got me on the flight I wanted to be on and in F as well. The key word wasn't "R240" but the word protect[-ion] plus my demeanor and the fact that I knew what I was talking about.

 - Bill

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Airline Pricing Rant
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Could someone explain the following policy to me? My ability to think like an executive of a large airline has failed me. I have a discounted ticket to fly from Atlantic City to Los Angeles today. Yesterday, I happened to finish my business early and wanted to head back to LA. The airline would only allow me on the plane if I paid for a full-fare one-way ticket. They choose to fly with empty seats and leave me puzzled and disgruntled. I would have been willing to pay some change fee (say less than the cost of my hotel room), but they demanded $500+! What could possibly be motivating the airlines to disregard their customers so completely?

 - Kelly

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

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True (Funny) Travel Stories
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Reported comments to reservations agents...

A caller once complained to me about the fare we charged from Los Angeles to Portland, Oregon. The ticket price came to $184, round trip, which was a lot lower that the regular, published fare, so I thought it was a pretty good deal. "No, I don't think so," he said. "I'll give you $150."

I tried explaining that our ticket prices were fixed and that, while they do go up and down depending on the sales we might have going at a particular time, they are not something I can negotiate. Unimpressed, he replied, "OK, you drive a hard bargain... $158!"

I kept trying to explain that this really was the fare and that I couldn't do anything to get it any lower. As patiently as I could, I explained that this is already a reduced fare and that, as a result, it had some restrictions, and quoted him the regular unrestricted fare. I really thought I was making some headway as he made understanding little "uh-huh" and "I see" comments during my little speech. When I had told him everything I could think of to convince him the fare really was fixed, he paused a bit and said, "Fine, here's my final offer... $170... take it or leave it."

[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]

Until next week...