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UP FRONT..........................................................
Season's Greetings
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Best to all Crier subscribers for the holidays.
If you're traveling during the next couple of weeks, you'll be in good company -- projections are for record-setting numbers of air travelers in the Christmas-to-New Year's period, with all the delays and frustration that entails.
Just remember: at journey's end, there's family, friends... and frequent flyer miles.
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, Docbrad66 is looking for mileage run suggestions to reach NW elite status: "I thought I would re-qualify for silver elite until I realized that my trips on Continental and Delta only qualify for 50%, so instead of being about 1,000 over I find my self short."
In the "Hotel Programs" Forum, Chris is seeking Marriott advice: "Any suggestions on the cheapest way that I can earn my last night during 2004 for Platinum? No more biz trips this year so I will have to pay for this one I guess."
In the "Credit Card Programs" Forum, Denise has info on an upcoming promo for SkyMiles credit card users: 20.05% bonus miles during Jan. 2005. See "Miles & Points" below for details and a link.
And much more... Questions, answers? Post them to the Forum!
More: http://frequentflier.com/forums/index.php
MILES & POINTS....................................................
Best Western Is New EuroBonus Partner
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Beginning Feb. 1, 2005, members of the SAS EuroBonus program will be able to earn points and redeem stays at Best Western hotels, including approximately 100 properties located within Nordic countries.
More: http://bestwestern.com
More BA Miles for Hotel Points
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Through Jan. 31, 2005, points in the programs of Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, Priority Club, and Starwood can be converted to 50% more miles in British Air's Executive Club program.
More: http://www.britishairways.com/travel/hotelptm/public/en_us
Continental Bonus for Nagoya Flights
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Through Apr. 30, 2005, Continental OnePass members will earn 7,000 bonus miles for Continental flights between Honolulu and Nagoya, Japan.
Promo code is 56031. Registration is required.
More: http://www.continental.com/onepass/news/default.asp
Start New Year with 20.05% Amex SkyMiles Bonus
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Delta SkyMiles members will earn a 20.05% bonus for purchases charged to their Amex-issued SkyMiles credit cards throughout Jan. 2005. A maximum of 10,000 bonus miles may be earned with this offer.
Registration is required.
More: https://www109.americanexpress.com/
Frontier Joins Points.com
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Through Points.com, members of Frontier's EarlyReturns program now can exchange their miles for miles and points in other participating programs, or transfer miles from other programs into their EarlyReturns accounts.
More: http://points.com
Hilton Makes "Earnings Style" Permanent
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When Hilton introduced 3-way earning options on July 1, it was on a limited-time promotional basis, scheduled to expire on Dec. 31. At the time, we predicted that the offer would likely be elevated to the status of a permanent program feature... and so it has been.
According to the announcement, "Hilton HHonors has decided to add Double Dip Earnings Style options as a permanent benefit of the HHonors program." To recap, HHonors members have a choice of the following:
1) Points and Variable Miles
Earn 10 HHonors Base points + 1 airline mile per eligible $1 spent
2) Points and Fixed Miles
Earn 10 HHonors Base points per eligible $1 spent + 500 miles per stay (100 miles per stay at Hampton/Scandic hotels)
3) Points and Points
Earn 10 HHonors Base points + 5 bonus points per eligible $1 spent
To choose an earning scheme, HHonors members should visit http://hiltonhhonors.com/myway and select the preferred option. Preferences may be changed whenever and as many times as the member chooses.
Bonus WorldPerks Miles for Okura Stays
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Through Feb. 28, 2005, WorldPerks members will earn double miles for 2-night stays and triple miles for stays of 3 or more nights at participating Okura Hotels & Resorts. Also, WorldPerks members who join the Okura Club International will earn 500 miles after the first stay.
More: http://www.nwa.com/features/okura.html
US Air Bonuses Britain Flights
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Between Dec. 1, 2004 and Mar. 1, 2005, Dividend Miles members will earn 7,500 bonus miles for roundtrip US Airways flights to/from London or Manchester in coach (Y ,B, M, H, Q, V, W fare classes) and 15,000 bonus miles in business class.
Registration is required.
More: http://www.usairways.com/dividendmiles/6784.htm
STEALS & DEALS....................................................
Deal Alert from SmarterLiving.com
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1) Domestic Sale Fares on American from $78
Travelers around the country can take advantage of American's new domestic sale, which continues the recent trend of airlines beginning to offer sale fares for travel dates into the spring months. Prices start at $78 roundtrip for travel through spring, and destinations include Chicago, Houston, and Orlando.
Travel on most routes is valid on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays through June 6, 2005. Travel to/from Florida is valid through Mar. 16, 2005. Tickets must be purchased at least 14 days in advance. American has not listed a booking deadline, so these fares could disappear at any time.
More: http://www.smarterliving.com/air/deal.php?id=7992
2) Systemwide sale fares on Southwest from $39
Travelers loyal to Southwest, or those looking for a domestic fare, will be interested in Southwest's latest systemwide sale. Prices start at $39 1-way, and destinations include Chicago, Las Vegas, and San Diego.
Travel is valid through June 6, 2005. Book tickets online, at least 14 days in advance, and by Jan. 16, 2005.
More: http://www.smarterliving.com/air/deal.php?id=7844
SWEEPS & FREEBIES.................................................
Win a Trip + Home Depot Shopping Spree
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Enter the "Destination: Redecoration" sweepstakes by Feb. 15, 2005, for a chance to win a trip for 2 from American Airlines Vacations plus $15,000 worth of Home Depot gift certificates.
Entries are received for booking American flights at aa.com or by filling out an online entry form without making a purchase.
More: http://www.aabooking.com/?or=aam1
[Visit http://frequentflier.com/sweeps.htm for more travel sweepstakes.]
READER RANTS & RAVES..............................................
Feedback from the Frontlines of Travel
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The featured feedback this week relates to changes made to Delta's elite tiers, as reported in last week's Crier.
"To be honest I am not very happy. The reason is that I went from being a frequent flier a few years ago, earning miles based on segments, to a flier earning miles based on QM's (elite-qualifying miles). What this meant for me is that I began to purchase Business/First class fares.
"What this did for me is allow me to change from 130 Segments (way too many weeks in the air purchasing coach tickets) to only once a month (due to a change in jobs) purchasing first class fairs and only flying 9 times in 2004 to earn platinum. By changing the rules I am penalized for paying extra for the first class fair to receive the bonus I have been used to this year. From a business sense I realize this may make many travelers happy but it now gives me no reason to buy the first class tickets as 150% isn't all that much better when I can get L or U class fairs and get 100% now...." (Chris)
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"YES!!!! I have been waiting for Delta to change this for over a year. I am currently Gold and should have earned Platinum this year simply because I flew well over 130,000 miles. But the MQMs (elite-qualifying miles) killed me. Good news!" (David S.)
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"I have been a Platinum Elite OnePass member for a number of years (118,000 air miles this year) and a SkyMiles Elite Plus member as a result of the consolidation. I'm glad to see Delta is finally providing their FF members some benefits. I stopped flying Delta a few years ago when they made their program more restrictive and concentrated on flying Continental. With the latest changes Delta has made to their program, I'm inclined to start flying with them again. But, I have been told by Delta agents that upgrades are only given to Medallion elite members. Would Delta award an equivalent Medallion Platinum level based on my Continental status?" (Stephen)
[Editor's Note - It's a good question. There's a lot of elite-matching among competitive carriers. But among carriers working together within the same alliance -- SkyTeam in this case -- airlines may be less likely to match status earned on a partner carrier. We'll wait to hear back from Stephen.]
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"One large negative in the changes, if I understand this correctly, is that ANY change to an award itinerary which is already ticketed will incur a $50 charge. Previously, as long as the origin and destination airports did not change, there was no fee for changing the times or dates of an award ticket. This is important because it is so difficult to get an award at the SkySaver level. Frequently the only way to actually make use of a SkySaver award was to issue the ticket for whatever dates and times were available, then waitlist the dates that actually work, and change when they become available, sometimes in several increments approaching the desired date/time. This will now cost $50 per ticket per flight, rendering the SkySaver awards even less useful.
"I see this as another way that Delta is forcing it's SkyMiles customers to redeem their miles at double the advertised rates.
"I have redeemed over 500,000 SkyMiles for award travel for myself and my immediate family in the last year, all of it for travel between Manchester, NH, Atlanta, Savannah, Birmingham and San Antonio (notice the lack of "vacation" destinations for which award seats are notoriously difficult to find). The difficulty in getting award seats as a Million Miler, Platinum Medallion, 20+ year loyal customer has driven me and my business away from Delta. (Copy sent to Delta Skymiles Customer Service)." (Tom)
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"I sincerely hope Airlines will not allow cell phone conversations to take place in flight--when I fly I do not want to be listening to constant conversations." (Margaret)
[Editor's Note - While the FCC has admitted that the technical considerations which led to the ban on inflight cellphone use are no longer valid, they have stopped short of lifting the ban. And even if the federal restriction were to disappear, the airlines might individually prohibit their use, in deference to consumer opinion. For every person who salivates at the prospect of gabbing throughout the flight, there are 10 (my best guess) who, like Margaret, are mightily agin' it.]
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If you have a rant or a rave, e-mail us at rants@frequentflier.com.
Until next week...
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