Last week the largest shareholder of American Airlines publicly released a letter calling for the airline to spin off its frequent flyer program. Air Canada’s Aeroplan was spun off and is valud at about US$2.5 billion. The American program is ten times larger, but Aeroplan has a stronger relative position in its home market. Certainly, though, the AAdvantage program has to be worth nearly the $5 billion total market capitalization of the airline itself. The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) covered the issue yesterday. United is also considering spinning off its program, as is Qantas. The Journal claims, though, that United in 2002 moved its 48 million-member Mileage Plus plan into a UAL subsidiary called United Loyalty Services LLC. Last year, the plan produced $600 million in revenue, though it isn’t a stand-alone company and…
1000 Miles for $20 Shutterfly Purchase
Sep
19
2007
Shutterfly is offering 1000 Delta miles for spending $20 or more (not including shipping) through December 31st.
Scare An Annoying Seatmate
Via Joe SharkeyIf you are sitting next to someone who irritates you on a plane or train. Follow these instructions: Quietly and calmly open up your laptop case. Remove your laptop. Start up. Make sure the guy who is annoying you, can see the screen. Close your eyes and tilt your head up to the sky. Then hit this link: Click here: http://boortz.com/mp3/archive/countdown.swf
Additional 30% Off Clearance Items at Polo.com
Many of these are summer items, to be sure, but I did just stock up. Through October 8th, promo code SALELC takes an additional 30% off of sale prices on clearance items.
$10 off $10 from JC Penney
Pay with your Visa card and use promo code VISATEN for a $10 discount on orders of $10 or more through September 26th. The game, of course, is to find items right at $10. You still pay shipping, unfortunately, and JC Penney doesn’t let you use more than one promo code on an order (so no free shipping codes with this deal). But enjoy nonetheless… They even have a clearance page of items under $10, but many of those won’t work with this deal, clearance items and this coupon are very much a ‘your mileage may vary.’
The Lufthansa First Class Terminal
No photos are allowed in Lufthansa’s First Class Terminal. Still – naturally – there’s a video tour on YouTube. For the uninitiated, if you’re flying Lufthansa international first from Frankfurt, you don’t mix with the unwashed masses in business. You have a separate facility, top service, and a Mercedes or Porsche transfer across the tarmac to the plane.
$200 off hotels at Orbitz
Orbitz is offering $200 off five nights at hotels outside the U.S. using promo code 200INTL. Requires booking by September 30. When you go to Orbitz, choose hotel and then ‘expand search options’ so you see the box to enter the promotion code.
New Amtrak Guest Rewards Credit Card Debuts
The new Amtrak Visa is now up and running, offering 8000 bonus points with first purchase and no annual fee. Since it’s a Chase card, it may be churnable (Thus far, only the United card seems to disallow signing up over and over to pocket multiple bonuses). Now, I still recommend the Starwood American Express as the best all-purpose credit card. And specific charges warrant some special-case cards. But as far as truly no annual fee cards go, this one isn’t bad… although I don’t trust the underlying Amtrak Guest Rewards loyalty program, given its history of making changes without any notice whatsoever — miles used to be transferrable to outside programs without a cap and United used to be a transfer partner, for instance. Both changes were made without notice. And an increase in…
Purchase TACA Miles at 1.25 cents apiece
Through October 1, TACA is selling miles in its Distancia program at half-off. Normally 2.5 cents a mile, they’re selling at 1.25 cents a mile. Minimum purchase required: 1,000 Miles If you wish to buy more than 32,000 Miles, Please make another transaction. You can make as many transactions as you like. *Prices do NOT include local taxes There appears to be no limit to the amount of miles you can buy. However, it also appears that the website hasn’t been updated yet to allow purchase of the miles at the discounted price. I imagine that will be fixed shortly. TACA partners with both United and Iberia, however it appears as though redemptions on those carriers can only be done in coach (making miles purchase less of a good deal). You can fly non-stop from…
Best Western Signup Bonus Extended
The Best Western signup bonus I blogged about in May has been extended — signup by October 6th and receive 1000 bonus points with your first stay. Based on the card graphic on the signup page it looks like you may also receive Gold Elite status at signup.
