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About Gary Leff
What I Would Do If I Ran Independence Air’s Marketing
United is bringing out the big guns in DC in anticipation of Independence Air’s launch. They’re running huge promos like their Round-the-World promo and 15,000 bonus miles. They’re sending out e-mail hit pieces to their membership. And all Independence Air has done is complain to the government. I walk into bars and hear people talking about United’s round the world promo. It has an incredible aspirational value that gets average folks talking, and that’s without my being in the conversation at all. I wonder what Independence Air is paying to be the official airline of the Redskins. That’ll get some notice, but it’s pretty ephemeral. They need to offer a clear value proposition and hammer that value proposition home. Always low fares on brand new jets The most flights out of Dulles, taking you where…
Non-mileage earning credit cards
SmartMoney carries a piece on credit card rewards outside of the standard mileage-earning options. The best one in the article seems to be the no annual fee MBNA Fidelity Investment Rewards Card offers a 1.5% rebate (up to $1500 per year) deposited into any Fidelity brokerage account.
Hotel Amenities and Furnishings for Sale
Tyler Cowen writes that hotels have a fairly captive audience for consumer attention, and have found some success selling items in the room. This is certainly true, and if you recall fondly the amenities of your hotel room you can shop online to purchase the items from your room at a Westin or at a W hotel. Westin Hotels not only offers to sell you the bed from your room, but their signature “Heavenly Dog Bed” as well. There’s even a bridal registry. But the phenomenon of pricing items in a room also serves as a deterrent for guests to simply take the items. If the item is for sale, it isn’t meant to be free. And since hotels usually charge a premium over what a consumer might pay elsewhere, the threat of seeing the…
Decoding Priceline’s Rating System
Frommer’s points out that since Priceline has acquired Travelweb, the two sites will be integrating their hotel rating systems. It’s not completely there yet, but useful to determine possible hotels that would come up on a successful bid. Travelweb’s hotel star ratings will soon be the same as Priceline’s, with one important exception. Travelweb doesn’t use half-stars, so Priceline’s 2.5-star hotels will show up on Travelweb as 3-star hotels. Priceline and Travelweb are still working out some glitches in their system. For example, Travelweb rates the Four Points in New York City’s Chelsea neighborhood as a 3-star hotel, while Priceline calls it a 2-star. Priceline’s Brian Ek assured us that the ratings will soon be brought in line. “If there’s a discrepancy, I’d attribute it to updates not having completely worked their way through the…
Launch of the AAdvantage Mall
American has launched an online shopping portal, AAdvantage Shopping.com, joining the ranks of existing shopping portals like those of: United Northwest Continental USAirways America West Delta And many others. This is only news because American is so late to the party, but they’re certainly an important addition. Inside Flyer ran a cover story in December about earning miles for online shopping.
Cruise Fire Sale, $99 from Boston to Bermuda Departs Sunday
According to MSNBC, Had to put this one up right away, as the cabins are going fast. But a cruise discounter called Cruise Travel Outlet has managed to convince Norwegian Cruiselines to let it throw a fire-sale for this weekend’s sailing to Bermuda. The $99 fare is for the May 30 (that’s Sunday!) aboard the Norwegian Majesty, and glory be, the $99 price applies to singles as well as those who’ll be sharing a double room. Now, there are some downsides here. First off, you’re going to have to pack quickly as you’ll be boarding in less than two days, in Boston. Secondly, the price is a bit higher than $99 once you factor in all of the port charges and taxes—you’ll actually end up paying $380. But this is still a seriously fine price…
Independence Air vs. United Turns Nasty, Turns to Government
Independence Air is filing a complaint with the Department of Transportation over United’s email to its DC frequent flyers comparing Mileage Plus to iClub.The complaint just causes me to roll my eyes. United lays out its logic in full detail, and the median frequent flyer — to the extent they care — is smart enough to understand the nuances.Whining to government just makes me want to yell at Independence Air that they ought to grow up and compete. And if they don’t like unfavorable publicity for their rewards program, maybe they need a better rewards program — and then just explain the benefits to customers instead of trying to muzzle United.
Are Delta miles safe?
Reader David writes: Hey there. This is a question for your blog. I’ve heard about Delta’s financial troubles, and for the first time heard them mention the “B” word. Since I really concentrate on accumulating Delta FF miles, I was wondering what would happen to them if they went bankrupt — heaven forbid. What’s happened historically in other airline bankrupcy situations. Any insight on that? I wouldn’t worry about your Delta miles. United and USAirways recently went through Chapter 11 (United is still there) and their miles are still being put to good use. I have no worries about United miles at all. USAirways miles are a somewhat different story — they may have to re-enter bankruptcy, and their future as an independent carrier is a bit murkier. Even so, all hope is not lost…
The United-Delta Fare War Continues: $118 roundtrip, DC-Los Angeles on Delta
It’s another fare basis starting in UA, UA0INNQ. There’s no minimum stay, maximum stay, Saturday night stay, or even advance purchase required. The fare is valid to or from Washington’s Dulles or National airport.Delta doesn’t fly non-stop. I’ve seen connections in Delta’s Atlanta hub and Dallas. The fare even seems to work with Delta codeshare flights on Continental aircraft through Houston and Cleveland.
