UP FRONT..........................................................

Bankruptcy Watch
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First, the good news.

Delta's pilots -- the industry's highest paid -- have voted to accept a 32% wage cut, saving the airline $1 billion annually. While Delta stresses that bankruptcy may still be in the cards, the deal with pilots lessens the financial pressure considerably.

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Elsewhere, labor-management relations have taken a turn for the worse, at a time when some airlines' very survival hangs in the balance.

On Tuesday, the board of the Association of Flight Attendants voted to begin a strike vote which, if approved, could have flight attendants striking or staging slowdowns at the 4 bankrupt carriers -- ATA, Hawaiian, United, US Air -- if labor contracts are terminated.

Separately, US Air's reservations agents and other employee groups represented by the Communications Workers of America have voted to authorize a strike in response to the company's plans to outsource jobs and reduce pay and benefits.

In the end, let's remember, it was the pilots' intransigence which pushed US Air into its second bankruptcy filing. No matter who's at fault, it seems apparent that further divisiveness could easily push US Air over the edge into liquidation. At this juncture, labor should take it on the chin, with an eye to surviving to fight another day.

Next Week: Thanksgiving
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Since many of our readers will be traveling around Thanksgiving, we may forego publishing next week's Crier, depending on the amount and urgency of news breaking between now and then.

Projections from AAA and others are that this will be the busiest Thanksgiving travel period since 2000, which would make it the busiest ever. So the usual caveats apply. In particular, be sure to arrive at the airport early and be prepared for congestion at security checkpoints.

Happily, my Thanksgiving will be airport-free. I plan to confine my holiday travel to a drive from the eastside of Los Angeles to the westside, to enjoy a meal with family and friends.

Safe and hassle-free travels to all!

ON SITE...........................................................

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

In the "Airline Programs" Forum, shortysnh has the following to say about the voucher earned through American's free-ticket promo: "[T]he blackout dates were so extensive that basically, the voucher was no good for about 50% of Nov - Apr. About 2 weeks of every month was blacked out. Everywhere I wanted to go fell into these dates... As my father always says, 'There is no Santa Claus.'"

Also in the "Airline Programs" Forum, griffithj poses this question: "I am an AA gold member but won't qualify for renewal next year based on my travel this year. I have recently changed jobs and will be travelling quite a bit next year. Any tips on ways to keep my elite status?" Other readers weigh in with info on American's elite challenge.

In the "Hotel Programs" Forum, pnolen wonders whether Hyatt's upcoming policy change will affect the ability to earn points at corporate rates: "I am a Diamond Member and frequent the same Hyatt every other week. My company has a good rate due to the volume of business we do at that Hyatt, so I am wondering what they mean by 'qualifying rates'?"

And much more... Questions, answers? Post them to the Forum!

-> More: http://frequentflier.com/forums/index.php

MILES & POINTS....................................................

American Offers Bonus for E-Shopping
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Through Dec. 31, AAdvantage members will earn double miles for purchases at the AAdvantage eShopping mall charged to a MasterCard.

And MasterCard purchases with 25 featured merchants award even more bonus miles: 2,500 miles for $250 spent, 5,000 miles for $500 spent, or 10,000 miles for $1,000 spent. The featured merchants are ashford.com, Avon.com, Banana Republic.com, Barnes & Noble.com, blue nile, Circuit City, ELUXURY.com, eToys, GAIAM, Gap.com, Hallmark.com, Hickory Farms, JCPenney, KBtoys.com, Lands' End, macys.com, OfficeMax, Old Navy.com, OneStepAhead, Overstock.com, Sears, sonystyle.com, Target.com, The Sharper Image and TigerDirect.

We were decidedly underwhelmed by American's mileage mall when it debuted. It was late in coming, and the retailer list was puny compared with other airlines'. But the merchant roster has grown to 90+. And promotions like the above add real value to the service. Kudos to American.

-> More: http://www.aadvantageeshopping.com/holiday

Earn 15 AAdvantage Miles per $1 Spent at SkyMall
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Also through Dec. 31, AAdvantage members can earn 15 miles for every $1 in purchases at SkyMall.

-> More: http://www.skymall.com/webapp/skystore?partner=N26

Best Western Rewards Guests with Travel Cards
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Between Nov. 15 and Dec. 31, Best Western Gold Crown Club Int'l members residing in the U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean will receive a $25 Best Western Travel Card for qualifying stays charged to a MasterCard. Members may earn up to 4 cards during the promotion.

Best Western Travel Cards can be used to pay for accommodations and related incidentals, such as room service and phone charges at more than 4,100 Best Western hotels worldwide.

Registration is required, at http://www.goldcrownclub.com or by calling 1-800-237-8483, offer code MC25.

Delta Permits Mileage Transfer
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Through Jan. 31, 2005, SkyMiles members in the U.S. and Canada may transfer miles to other members' accounts. Transfers must be in increments of 1,000 miles, with a 5,000-mile minimum and a maximum of 50,000 miles transferred from any individual account in a year.

There's a fee of $.01 per mile transferred, plus a $25 processing charge for each transaction. Canada residents pay an additional $1.75 Goods and Services Tax when transferring miles to another member. SkyMiles members may purchase miles from Delta as well, through delta.com/buymiles.

-> More: http://delta.com/transfermiles

Sign-Up Bonus from Prime Rewards
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Members of Prime Hospitality's Prime Rewards (the loyalty program for AmeriSuites, Wellesley and Prime hotels) will earn a 1-time 2,500-point bonus for signing up for the program's e-newsletter.

-> More: http://www.prime-rewards.com/?camp=2004_email_ofpt

US Airways Offers Elite-Qualifying Bonus
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Dividend Miles members can earn up to 20,000 bonus mile -- which count toward elite status -- for US Air flights purchased online at usairways.com and completed between Nov. 16, 2004 and Feb. 16, 2005.

Earn 2,000 miles for the first roundtrip, 3,000 for the second, 4,000 for the third, 5,000 for the fourth and 6,000 for the fifth, for a total of 20,000 miles for 5 roundtrips. (Bonus miles earned from travel completed in 2004 will be credited to the 2004 qualifying year and travel completed in 2005 will be credited to the 2005 qualifying year toward elite status.)

Registration is required.

-> More: http://www.usairways.com/dm/6855

STEALS & DEALS....................................................

Deal Alert from SmarterLiving.com
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1) Italy Sale Fares on Alitalia from $315

If a flight to Florence, Rome, or Venice sounds appealing to you, check Alitalia's Italy sale before booking. Prices start at $315 roundtrip for travel this fall and winter.

Departures are valid on Mondays through Thursdays through Mar. 16, 2005. Travel must be completed by Apr. 16, 2005. Book tickets at least 7 days in advance, and by Nov. 22. A Saturday-night stay is required, and the maximum stay is 30 days.

-> More: http://www.smarterliving.com/air/deal.php?id=7789

2) U.S. and Canada Fares on American from $78

Travel to major cities in the U.S. or Canada for less this holiday season with American's latest sale. Prices start at $78 roundtrip, and destinations include Dallas, Los Angeles, and Vancouver.

Travel is valid from Nov. 18, 2004, through Jan. 31, 2005. The lowest prices can be found on Nov. 21, 22, 25, and 26; or on Dec. 1 and 25, 2004; or on Jan. 5, 2005. Tickets must be booked at least 7 days in advance. American has not listed a booking deadline, so these fares could disappear at any time. Most fares require a Saturday-night minimum stay, and the maximum stay is 30 days.

-> More: http://www.smarterliving.com/air/deal.php?id=7763

SWEEPS & FREEBIES.................................................

Outside Magazine's "Powder Play Sweepstakes"
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Through Dec. 13, enter the "Powder Play Sweepstakes" to win 1 of 4 ski vacations, including air, hotel and skiing for 2.

-> More: http://away.com/contest/contest-entry-form.tcl?domain=oi_contest

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

READER RANTS & RAVES..............................................

Feedback from the Frontlines of Travel
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"Has anyone ever taken an airline to small claims court to get a ticket?

"Have enough miles for a first class ticket to Australia/New Zealand on one of the larger airlines, but there are no seats available, and seats are released for the next 4 months. It would seem we could make a good case to force them to give us ticket since they promised tickets if we joined their club and earned the miles, we did this, but they are limiting availability by releasing only a few seats and releasing seats only 4 months in advance. Would love to hear what others have tried. Thanks." (Don)

[Editor's Note - Many have been tempted, and probably a few have followed through. But the airlines' terms and conditions are designed to deny disgruntled consumers any such legal recourse. At least I'm not aware of any significant successes in this area.]

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"My daughter flew down to Miami from New York on JetBlue last week. Apparently on the return flight, the DirectTV stopped working for ten minutes or so---not any major problem, she reported. A few days later, she received in the mail a JetBlue voucher for $10 plus an apology for the inconvenience. 'I love this airline!' she said. 'Why would I fly anyone else?'" (Gretchen)

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"I went to the United airlines ticket counter to redeem my sister's mileage plus award that she signed off to me. Luckily I called the toll free number the night before. I asked about any charges if I changed the dates of travel. They said there were none if I kept the same destinations, and I told them I am keeping the same destinations. I also asked if I booked my travel award for a ticket online if there was a charge. They said there would be no charge if I booked my ticket online but I would have to pick up my ticket at a United ticket counter since my sister and I have different last names.

"Anyway I booked my ticket online and went to the United ticket counter the next day. The person issuing the ticket was going to charge me $15 to have the ticket and also informed me that if I changed dates there would be a $75 charge. I told her the night before that I called United's toll free number and they said there would be no charge. So she told her supervisor that and! they issued the ticket at no charge. If I did not confirm the no charge policy with the toll free number they would have charged me $15 to issue the ticket.

"Moral of the story get as much information from as many different sources as possible. By the way that ticket agent was rude saying that I was very adamant and I told her I was not adamant. She also told her supervisor in front of me that I must have had an 'extensive' conversation with the phone call to United the previous day. That was uncalled for since she was acting like a psychoanalyst analyzing my conduct... [T]his happened at the Honolulu International airport on November 8, 2004 at about 12 noon." (Vincent Y.)

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"For the first time in years, we stayed at a Sheraton in Syracuse, NY (college visits). We were pleasantly surprised and the pillows were so wonderful we bought two. With our stay, we earned Marriott reward points, AA miles, AND uPromise points because we booked on Expedia through their link. Great deal and better service than Marriott." (Debbi)

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Until next week...