Via Tripso Daily, Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group appears to be interested in acquiring bankrupt Independence Air as a means toward launching its Virgin America airline. Personally I don’t see this happening, both because I’m skeptical of most Branson efforts. A fabulous entrepreneur, there’s usually more buzz than substance when Branson rumors circulate. The rules on foreign ownership of US airlines are moving towards relaxation, but any changes are unlikely to be in effect in time for an Independence bid. And the Virgin America project has simply demonstrated a greater propensity for inaction than reality over the last couple of years. Still, the piece carried some news about how the Independence bankruptcy auction will work: It said it would auction itself to the highest bidder. Interested parties must register with the court by 1 December…
About Gary Leff
Catholic Co-Branding
Colloquy reports on a Taiwanese bank which is offering a credit card co-branded with the Catholic church. There’s something truly surreal about it. Taiwanese card issuer The Chinese Bank has introduced a new affinity card in conjunction with the Chinese Regional Bishops’ Conference, according to the Taipei Times newspaper. The newspaper reported that the bank will issue 100,000 cards, to be called the True Happiness Affinity Card, with maximum credit limits of NT$10 million ($297,397 USD). One-quarter of one percent of a customer’s spend will be paid to the bishops’ conference for charity work. “This credit card is not only for Catholics or those who believe in Jesus,” Chen Kun-chen, secretary general of the bishops’ conference, was quoted as saying. “Everybody can help to spread love regardless of their religion.”
$0 to Acapulco
FareAlert is reporting on a $0 + tax American Airlines fare to Acapulco, valid from just a few cities. (They mention Albuquerque, Atlanta, Indianapolis, Little Rock, Milwaukee, Minneapolis/St. Paul, and Oklahoma City. More may be discovered.) Flyertalk.com discussion is here.
USA Today followup on the Expedia Rate Glitch Story
Megg Mueller Schulte has an excellent followup on the Expedia rate glitch at the Hiltons in Tokyo and Osaka. She repeats the Expedia line about honoring rates booked in November and packages, and that they’re offering $250 package coupons to others whose reservations will be cancelled. But then goes on to explain that apparently (I can confirm this) Expedia is honoring reservations for folks who confirmed the rate after their booking. There also seems to be some confusion over some reservations still being honored if the people contacted Expedia more than once. Reader Derek Meyer wrote to me that “From my readings on FlyerTalk, and correspondence with other people who also booked this rate, it seems that Expedia is honoring the reservations of people who called or emailed into Expedia to ‘re-confirm’ Expedia’s confirmation email…
Expedia lies
Reuters has posted a story on the Tokyo and Osaka Hilton rate glitch where rooms at those two properties were bookable on Expedia for $2 and $3. Expedia first told customers that it would honor the rate. Then it told USA Today that it would only honor the rate for bookings in November. Now it explains Expedia said on Friday that Hilton would honour some of these bookings and that other customers would get a $250 coupon for a package trip to Japan. The company also said it notified some customers offering to confirm the original booking at the correct price or cancel the booking with a full refund. Apparently the bookings that it is honoring are those for customers who specifically reconfirmed with Expedia that the rate was valid and who were told that…
Independence Air’s Woes
Over at Marginal Revolution I discussed the economics of regional jets and why Independence Air was doomed to fail. And then just a few days later it did fail, or at least it filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy. When Atlantic Coast Airlines announced they were planning to re-start as a standalone carrier, did anyone think they were really serious (a low-fare carrier flying RJs a la Midway in its second incarnation, based at Dulles)? It was just supposed to be a bargaining tactic with United over fly-for-hire rates that somehow spun wildly out of control. They’re planning to sell off their assets, holding an auction for the next sixty days. They have 21 parties so far potentially interested, signing confidentiality agreeements which allows the parties to get a closer look at the company’s books. Sixty…
Update on $3 Hilton Tokyo rooms
While guest-blogging at Marginal Revolution I posted about a rate glitch at Expedia where the Hilton Tokyo and Hilton Osaka were selling rooms for about $3 a night. I personally booked a week next year at the Tokyo property in an Executive-level room. Expedia charged my card in full for the stay and confirmed over email that in spite of the rate error that they were going to honor the booking. Indeed, one member of Flyertalk.com has already successfully checked in at this rate. However, USA Today covered the rate glitch and quoted an Expedia spokesman as saying “If a booking was made for the month of November, Hilton will honor the reservation at the quoted price. But if a booking was made for December or beyond, it will be cancelled – unless it is…
Starwood’s Online Booking Bonus is Back… for 11 days
Starwood is offering 500 bonus points for reservations booked online between November 7 and November 18 (with travel complete by March 31, 2006). Fully combinable with the current triple points promo as well…
42,000 Bonus Miles for United Premium Class Tickets to Europe
Nov
04
2005
Last month I mentioned American Airlines matching British Airways’ megabonus for premium class tickets to Europe, and said that United couldn’t be far behind. Indeed, United is offering 42,000 bonus miles for first and business class roundtrip tickets to Europe flown by December 31. Registration is required.
Earn a Roundtrip ticket on Airtran by Buying 64 Cokes at Wendys
Nov
03
2005
As described in today’s MilesLink Newsletter, Airtran and Wendy’s have partnered to give away credits in the Airtran frequent flyer program when you buy drinks or combo meals at Wendys. You earn a quarter of a rewards credit for each combo, 20 or 32 ounce drink purchased at participating Wendys through December 31st. An Airtran coupon will be printed on the cup. You can only buy five drinks per transaction, so you may need to go stand in line a few times or circle ’round the drivethrough. After you have consumed your beverage, carefully cut out the Proof of Purchase/AirTran Flight Coupon along the dotted line. Fill out a 3×5 card with your complete name, street address (no P.O. Boxes) and AirTran Airways A+ Rewards account number and mail in a handwritten business size (#10)…
