"Up Front with Tim Winship" Blog Entries

Among Tim's recent SmarterTravel.com blog topics:

• Is your mileage program for sale?
  A new era of independent loyalty schemes could be ahead.

• Hilton points now redeemable for helicopter rides
  HHonors members can use points for airport transfers by copter.

• Southwest alters Rapid Rewards' flight path
  Changes to Southwest's mileage program are a mixed bag.

:: More blog entries

FrequentFlier Forum Topics

In the "Airline Programs" Forum, stevenryals is looking (quite rightly!) to maximize miles for Christmas shopping: "I'm using skymilesshopping.com and my American Express SkyMiles Card. Any other ideas to maximize miles over the holiday?"

Also in the "Airline Programs" Forum, not2frequent is trying to recoup missing miles: "Has anyone had luck getting missing miles credited without having a boarding pass? My daughter and I took a trip to Australia back in April on Qantas, and we were told we could get credit on our U.S. airlines. We provided the FF numbers to Qantas - I know they were recorded because they printed on the boarding passes. The miles never showed up, Qantas doesn't want to do anything about it, and I didn't save our boarding passes."

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

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Fairmont Offers Double Miles or Free Night

Through April 15, 2008, earn double miles or a free night when staying at "Only One Way" winter rates at participating Fairmont Hotels.

Free night is awarded after two or three consecutive nights, depending on the hotel. To receive a free night, booking must be made by December 31.

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Hilton Adds Copter Rides to Award Catalog

HHonors members can now redeem 80,000 points for a one-way eight-minute helicopter ride between Manhattan and JFK airport or Newark airport.

The flights, operated by US Helicopter Corporation, depart from Delta Terminal 3 at JFK or Continental Terminal C at Newark every half hour, and would normally cost $159 each way between either airport and the Downtown Manhattan Heliport, or $169 to/from the East 34th Street/Midtown Heliport.

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InterContinental Bundles Insider Events with a Bonus

Between November 1 and January 31, 2008, Priority Club members can earn 2,000 bonus points for every Insider Experience enjoyed at participating InterContinental Hotels & Resorts in Europe.

Insider Experiences are local cultural or leisure events packaged and sold in conjunction with stays at participating InterContinetal hotels.

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More United Miles at the Mileage Mall

Through December 18, Mileage Plus members can earn up to 1,500 bonus miles when shopping at any of 18 participating online retailers at the Mileage Plus Mall, including the Apple Store, Nordstrom, Macy's, Barnes & Noble, etc.

Bonus depends on total spending. Earn 300 bonus miles when spending a total of $300 - $499, 600 bonus miles when spending $500 - $999, and 1,500 bonus miles when spending $1,000 or more.

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Deal Alert from SmarterTravel.com

1) London Sale Fares on British Airways from $318

British Airways is offering London sale fares and two free nights' hotel from $338 round-trip. You can save an additional $20 by registering on British Airways' website.

Travel is valid from November 20 through December 18 and from December 24 through March 23, 2008. Book by November 20, 11:59 PM ET.

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2) New Southwest Sale Fares from $49 Each Way

Late fall and winter domestic flights are on sale from Southwest. Fares start as low as $49 one-way or $98 round-trip, and featured cities include Austin, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and Ft. Lauderdale.

Travel is valid from November 28 through March 7, 2008. Book by November 19, 11:59 PM ET.

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Win a London Trip or a Simulator Flight

Enter American Airlines' "Depart from the Ho Ho Hum" sweepstakes by December 31 for a chance to win one of five grand prizes, including two first-class tickets to London, hotel, and tickets to a soccer match; a one-year Admirals Club membership plus 500,000 AAdvantage miles; a flight simulator experience; etc.

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[Visit http://frequentflier.com/sweeps.htm for more travel sweepstakes.]

Feedback from the Frontlines of Travel

"United Mileage Plus: My wife and I are traveling from Seattle to Copenhagen, DK on redeemed miles in July-Aug 2008. We could not make the arrangements on the website, however the live help assistance was excellent. We received everything we wanted on our schedule. Planning ahead works.

"Great website, thank you." [Ray A.]

"In response to Abby G. [in last week's Crier], I'd suggest she forget flying from Heathrow to Paris and simply take the Eurostar.

"The train, which is comfortable and relaxing, leaves central London (Waterloo Station, on the Underground) and arrives in central Paris, at the Gare du Nord Metro station. No taxis, no waiting, no BS. You can buy tickets on the Internet at eurostar.com, one of the most user-friendly travel websites I've seen. The price is cheaper than flying, and you can choose between standard non-flexible tickets (you miss the train, you don't get your money back) and refundable, flexible tickets. First class comes with great food and wine, but is significantly more expensive.

"The only problem we encountered was that we forgot (having FLOWN to London from SF recently) that there is no checked baggage on the train - i.e. you can't carry anything which will raise security concerns. In anticipating two weeks of French picnics, my husband packed a pocket knife with corkscrew. Bad idea. Security treated him like a criminal, confiscated the expensive knife, made him fill in numerous forms, and almost caused us to miss our train, which would have caused a cascading series of problems.

"Bon voyage." [Susan W. - Davis, CA]

"I recently received a letter stating I could redeem my Continental miles by ordering magazines. The web site listed in the letter is not available on the internet. I was wishing to see if there were more magazines available to order other than the ones listed in the letter. I also called the Customer Service number and it was not user friendly. I couldn't speak to a live person and could not get my question answered, thus this letter.

"I hope you can respond with a web site that is working." [Emily H.]

[FrequentFlier.com replies - This link to Continental's website should work.]

Until next week...