"Up Front" Blog Entries

Following are some of Tim's recent blog posts:

• United Discounts Europe, Middle East Awards by 20 Percent
  For the seventh time this year, United is cutting award prices. But as in the past, Mileage Plus members will have to act fast to take advantage of the discounts.
• Red Lion Promotion Offers Less Than Meets the Eye
  Earn 25,000 frequent flyer miles (which might or might not be enough for a free ticket) after staying six nights with Red Lion hotels at a premium room rate. Deal or no deal?
• New Film Shines Light on Mileage Addiction
  Think you're a bona fide frequent flyer mile junkie? If you identify with the characters in this new documentary, you probably are.
• Coming From Hilton: Higher Award Prices
  Beginning next year, members of Hilton's HHonors program will pay more points for award nights that are worth less.

The FrequentFlier Forum - Hot Topics

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

In the "Airline Programs" Forum, Max Bialystock posts as follows: "I need just exactly 39 ff miles (AA). My miles-for-dining thing is set-up with Delta. Anyone know of any other quick freebies? The headphones deal is expired..."

And in the "Hotel Programs" Forum, DJHerm has initiated what is likely to be a lengthy discussion of Hilton's new award chart for free stays. The new award prices take effect for bookings made after January 14, 2010, so there's still plenty of time to take advantage of the current rates.

Questions, answers, opinions? Post them to the Forum!

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Fight Breast Cancer, Earn American Miles

Through December 31, American AAdvantage members can earn five miles for every dollar donated to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, "the world's largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists... dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world."

The minimum donation is $25.

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Continental Says "Bye" to SkyTeam, "Hi" to Star

October 24 was the last day for OnePass members to customers to earn and redeem frequent flyer miles with SkyTeam airlines, including Delta. And yesterday, October 27, was the first day of Continental's new life as a partner in the Star Alliance.

Frequent flyer-wise, that means that OnePass members can now earn and redeem miles on 24 other Star Alliance carriers. OnePass Gold and Platinum Elite members automatically have Star Alliance Gold Status, and will receive benefits such as access to more than 954 lounges, extra-baggage allowance, priority baggage delivery, dedicated check-in counters and priority waitlist, and airport stand-by. OnePass Silver Elite have automatic Star Alliance Silver Status, entitling them to priority waitlist, and airport stand-by.

OnePass members will also be able to use their miles for Star Alliance upgrades when travelling on participating Star Alliance member carriers (Air China, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Austrian, Continental Airlines, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Shanghai Airlines, Singapore Airlines, SWISS, TAP Portugal, Turkish Airlines, THAI, and United).

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Continental Offers Bonus Miles, for a Price

OnePass members can pay extra to earn 50% more miles on Continental flights completed between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2010. The miles do not count toward elite status.

There are two options:

1) Pay $125 to receive a 50% mileage bonus, up to a maximum of 12,500 bonus miles.

2) Pay $175 to receive a 50% mileage bonus, up to a maximum of 17,500 bonus miles.

So assuming you earn enough miles in 2010 to receive the maximum bonus available, you'll be paying around 1 cent each for the extra miles.

Enroll before December 7 to earn an additional 500 bonus miles.

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Diners Bonuses for British Air, Delta Transfers

Diners Club Rewards has been dying a slow death in recent years, shedding partners and throttling back promotional activity. But for those who still earn Rewards points, there are two new redemption options worth considering.

First is a 50% bonus when exchanging points for miles in British Airways' Executive Club. The bonus will be in effect between November 1, 2009, and January 31, 2010.

And second, there's a 35% bonus for 30,000 or more points exchanged for Delta miles between October 15, 2009, and January 15, 2010. The bonus drops to 25% when 20,000 to 29,999 points are redeemed, and to 20% for 10,000 to 19,999 points.

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Deal Alert from SmarterTravel.com

1) Southwest Sale Fares from $25 Each Way

Southwest's latest sale features the best prices I've ever seen from the low-cost king, including savings of nearly $200 over the next closest competitor on some routes. The sale fares are valid for travel from early to mid-December and again from January through mid-February.

The low fares are sure to sell out before the sale expires on Thursday, October 29.

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2) $202 Jamaica Sale Fares on Air Jamaica

Find some winter reprieve with a vacation to Montego Bay or Kingston. With starting prices of $202 round-trip, Air Jamaica is offering sale fares for travel from January through mid-February. Departures are valid from a handful of cities including Baltimore, Chicago, and New York City, among others.

Book by November 9, for travel between January 1, 2010, and February 11, 2010.

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Win a Trip for 2 to New Zealand

Enter Schick's "Ultimate New Zealand Getaway" sweepstakes by November 15 for a chance to win a trip for two to New Zealand, including air, seven nights' hotel near Lake Wakitipu, a helicopter excursion to Mount Cook, an overnight cruise on Milford Sound, and $1,000 spending money.

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[Visit FrequentFlier.com for more travel sweepstakes.]

Feedback from the Frontlines of Travel

We welcome reader feedback on issues related to travel generally and frequent flyer programs in particular. Please use this link to submit comments.

Expired United Miles

"Regarding the expired miles, another option is to donate your miles. If your miles are about to expire or you have miles with an airline that are about to expire and do not amount to enough miles for a ticket, you can donate your miles to many organizations such as Make-a-Wish and Starlight Foundation. There are also organizations out there that provide airfare for patients/families traveling out of their area for medical reasons.

"For example, my friend's daughter has to travel from NY to Cinncinati Children's Hospital for care. There are organizations that help to fly family members so they can be with their children during these times. Rather than purchasing a magazine, as another reader stated, perhaps a donation would be a better alternative. This would also serve to refresh your account.

"Many airlines have links on their site for donating miles or you can just google 'donating frequent flyer miles.' Another place to look is on hospital web sites. Many children's hospitals or places like MD Anderson Cancer Hospital in Texas, have it set up where you can donate directly to them." [Eva]

More on Preventing Miles From Expiring

"Better than spending 300 miles is linking to iTunes, through United's mall and buying a $0.99 song, getting 1 mile and extending the miles...

"You get something you actually can use, and it costs you next to nothing. Most airlines have a shopping mall with a link to iTunes." [Andres L.]

The New Travel Reality

"Our company has a simple travel policy. Cheapest way -- period. Everyone from the CEO down buys the lowest cost coach ticket available. Most of us are top tier on one airline and 2nd tier on another 1 or 2. Sure we'd rather be in the front cabin. Who wouldn't? I enjoy getting that rare international upgrade as much as the next guy. The trick is not to get upset when flying the cabin you actually paid for. Fretting about an upgrade you didn't get only makes a long trip worse. Much better to master the fine points of getting one of the better coach seats by learning to use tools like Seatguru.

"Sure we miss all the free perks from the 'good old days' of air travel, but does anyone really miss the high fares that paid for them? I flew TWA for years and loved 'em. I always got free upgrades on their international flights. Now TWA is aviation history. Most other airlines are not exactly pictures of financial health. Like many road warriors today, I fly coach so our company can keep overhead low and remain competitive. Airlines are businesses that also need to be competitive in a tough environment. Let's face it. Most of us travelers buy the cheapest fare available. Can we really blame airlines for making every effort to get extra revenue from their premium seats before they give them away.

"At the end of the day, I know I'd rather have my loyalty miles on a financially healthy carrier than one that gives lots of freebies, but end up out of business. If the front cabin is really so important, I suspect it is a rare airline that can't find some front cabin inventory to sell for a customer willing to actually pay for such a seat.

"I curse the darkness myself on occasion. I'll even admit that it sometimes just feels good to whine. Perhaps airlines could turn passenger frustration into revenue by putting a shrink on international flights. Then they could offer passengers hourly rates to vent while flying. If they throw in a comfortable couch, I might even spend my own money for a 30 minute turn." [Rob R.]

A Better Alternative to United?

"For the past 25 years I have flown United exclusively, trying to build up miles etc. with loyalty. Over the years United started using more wide bodies that offered foot rests, better seat pitch and better meals in business and first. Since 9/11 United has all but eliminated domestic 3 cabin service and wide bodies. On domestic flights of 5 and 6 hours they are flying 737's and A320's! 'United First' has basically become a 2 inch wider seat... period! No foot rests, no extra legroom and a meal service the homeless would pass on!

"Are there any other airlines out there that are offering a nicer, more comfortable passenger experience? I'd switch in a heart beat if there is. We're sick to death of United's inedible meals, sardine seating, lack of promised upgrades, small uncomfortable airplanes and bitter employee attitudes!

"Please tell me there's something better out there!" [Bret T.]

United's Snooze-You-Lose Award Discounts

"In the October 21 edition I was excited to see United was going to allow flights to be booked for 20,000 miles for next year however I was disappointed to see the promotion had already expired!" [Bill E.]

[FrequentFlier.com replies - We share your frustration and disappointment. So far this year, United has offered award discounts seven times. Good. In every case, the window to book at the lower prices was a week or less. Bad.]

Until next week...