"Up Front" Blog Entries

Following are some of Tim's recent blog posts:

• Thanksgiving Airfares Fall as Economy Softens
  Possibility looms of last-minute holiday travel bargains.
• U.S. Airlines Will Cut 265,000 Flights in 4th Quarter
  Weak demand could force airlines to discount holiday travel.
• United Will Raise Prices of Many Frequent Flyer Awards
  Upcoming changes to Mileage Plus undermine the program's value.

The FrequentFlier Forum - Hot Topics

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

In the "Airline Programs" Forum, duniawala wonders whether United's Award Accelerator pay-for-more-miles feature makes financial sense: "United is offering me (as an option) 49,566 Accelerator Award miles for an additional sum of $478.00. Is it worth it?"

Also in the "Airline Programs" Forum, shmoozy1 comments on United's new boarding policy: "With the blaring headline 'Premier Executive members will have new boarding priority' the United spinmeisters announced that effective immediately (November 12) red carpet boarding with first and business passengers will no longer be available to Premier Execs or Star Alliance gold. From now on PEs get to board via the regular boarding line but ahead of general boarding."

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

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Continental Upgrade Surcharges Are Now Refundable

Continental OnePass upgrade surcharges are now refundable. Previously, the cash co-payments, which range from $100 to $500, were simply lost in the event an upgraded trip was canceled. OnePass members will still have to pay a $150 fee to have their miles redeposited to their accounts.

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Amex Nixes "Always Double Miles" on SkyMiles Cards

While there's still no official confirmation from Delta or American Express, the word is out that SkyMiles members will no longer earn double miles when charging gas, supermarket, and pharmacy purchases to a Delta SkyMiles credit card from American Express.

Here's the announcement on a reader's latest statement: "You will continue to accumulate double miles for qualifying Delta Air Lines purchases. However, we are eliminating all other categories of 'Always Double Miles purchases.' For billing periods that begin on or after January 1, 2009, the definition of 'Always Double Miles purchases' in the Agreement Regarding the Accumulation of Delta Miles in Connection with Your Delta SkyMiles Credit Card from American Express is deleted, and the reference to 'Always Double Miles purchases' in the second, third and fourth paragraphs of that Agreement are deleted and replaced with "Delta Purchases."

"If your Card Account was opened on or after November 1, 2007, this change will not go into effect for your Card Account until one year after the date your Card Account was opened."

Misleadingly, Delta and American Express both still promote the cards on their websites as offering double miles, in spite of the fact that the benefit is set to be terminated.

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Delta, Northwest Cancel Fuel Surcharges for Award Tickets

Effective immediately, Delta has eliminated the fuel surcharges for SkyMiles and WorldPerks award tickets originating from the U.S. and Canada.

Delta has also decreased the fee imposed when customers redeem either SkyMiles or WorldPerks award travel over the phone with a reservations sales representative from $25 to $20.

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Double US Air Miles for Europe Flights

Through February 28, 2009, Dividend Miles members can earn double miles on US Airways flights to London, Manchester, Brussels, Milan, and Dublin. (See "Steals & Deals" below for details of special Europe fares.)

Tickets must be purchased by December 31, 2008. Use eCertificate EUROPE2X to get the double miles.

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Deal Alert from SmarterTravel.com

1) Europe Sale Fares on US Airways From $396

US Airways is offering late fall and winter Europe sale fares starting at $396 round-trip. Dividend Miles frequent flyer members can earn double miles offer when booking one of the fares listed in the sale. Destinations include Brussels, Dublin, London, and Milan.

Book tickets at least 7 days in advance. A Saturday-night stay is required, and the maximum stay is 30 days. Book by December 31, 11:59 PM ET. (See "Miles & Points" above for more on the double miles offer.)

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2) Southwest Fares From $49 Each Way

Southwest has announced a new nationwide sale available for booking through Thursday. Fares start at $49 one-way or $98 round-trip, and Chicago, Ft. Lauderdale, Oakland, and Orlando are included.

Travel is valid Mondays through Thursdays and on Saturdays from December 2 through December 19 and from January 5, 2009 through February 11, 2009. Book by November 13, 11:59 PM CT.

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Win a First-Class Trip for 2 to Germany

Enter Lufthansa's "Discover Your Moment" sweepstakes by December 14 for a chance to win the grand prize of two first-class tickets to Munich and accommodations at the Mandarin Oriental Munich. Other prizes include two business-class tickets and Sennheiser headphones.

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[Visit FrequentFlier.com for more travel sweepstakes.]

Feedback from the Frontlines of Travel

"I stopped flying British Airlines years ago when I received only 1/4 of the actual miles flown on a flight to Johannesburg, South Africa. At the time I wrote them to remind them that I had many other airline options that did provide full mileage on flights flown and not to expect to see me again on one of their flights.

"Now it would seem BA has outdone themselves by tacking on an outrageously high fuel surcharge on frequent flier tickets. This at a time when the price of oil has plummeted to half of what it was in July. As posted on the Alaska Airlines website, their announcement reads: 'Effective December 1, 2008: British Airways will mandate a fuel surcharge fee, ranging from approximately $300 to $600 (USD), for all awards redeemed by Mileage Plan members. The fuel surcharge will be collected along with all current taxes and fees at the time of ticketing, and applies to all tickets purchased, exchanged, or reissued on or after December 1, 2008, without exception.'

"This just reinforces my earlier decision that there are other, and better choices available when flying to Europe, or even Great Britain." [Lynn L.]

"Can the airlines unilaterally change the awards? For example I have a credit card that I signed up for that required a monthly fee associated with the frequent flier program. There was an implied contract that went along with this -- I.e. a round trip ticket in the USA with 20,000 miles.

"Has there been a court case challenging this? Would appreciate your comments." [Sol B.]

[FrequentFlier.com replies - The airlines have protected themselves against just such legal action by including language in their terms and conditions that explicitly allows them to make any changes they choose, whenever they choose to make them. Even if you haven't read the terms and conditions, you have implicitly accepted them by signing up for the program.]

"Delta with their new merger just added $15.00 for the first piece of luggage and $25.00 for each bag afterwards.

"It's really getting too expensive to travel, you are really lucky if you have the privilege to travel Southwest who have not tacked on any surcharges or raised prices, and they have real good service. I have traveled with them many times with no problems." [V.D.]

"Thanks for the heads up on United's new award prices.

"The cash co-payments for upgrading are of special concern to me, as I have found upgrades to be a pretty good use of my miles. Paying cash on top of the miles just makes their program so much less worthwhile.

"The question, I guess, is if there are alternatives available to me. If so, I am certainly ready to take my business elsewhere." [Joel P.]

[FrequentFlier.com replies - American and Continental also charge both miles and cash for upgrades, so that leaves Delta and US Airways among the major airlines still offering upgrades for miles. Hurry, though. The trend is definitely in the direction taken by United.]

Until next week...