Iraqi Airways has resumed flying. As of Saturday, Iraqi Airways will fly once daily to Amman and Damascus, Aghabi said. Another route to the United Arab Emirates will be added later, he said, without specifying when. An Iraqi Airways Boeing 737, flight number IA164, left Amman’s Queen Alia International Airport at 8:30 a.m. bound for Baghdad Airport, Aghabi said. He declined to say how many passengers were on board. Round-trip airfare from Amman to Baghdad is $750, he said. The airline is currently operating a new Boeing 737, though it must do so across treacherous skies:Iraqi insurgents have taken aim at some commercial and military flights over Baghdad, firing rockets at aircraft flying to and from the airport, which also is used by the U.S. military. To avoid rocket fire, planes are forced to make…
Delta Membership Rewards Transfer Bonus
Between October 1 and November 15, Delta is offering a 15% bonus on transfers from American Express Membership rewards of 75,000 points or less and a 20% bonus on transfers of more than 75,000 points. Registration required. Note that the fine print of the promotion says that pre-registration begins September 20th, though the website is taking registrations now. If you intend to use the promotion I’d go back and re-register in a couple of days. The fine print also says the offer begins October 1, even though the large print says it begins “now”. This is really annoying, but just be aware that you should wait until October 1 to do any transfers to Delta from Membership Rewards.
Hilton Sweepstakes to Hawaii
Hilton has a sweepstakes with 10 trips for two to the Hilton Waikoloa Village for six nights including roundtrip airfare and 69 3-night Hilton stays. You can enter once per day. US residents only, but residents of Florida, Rhode Island, and Puerto Rico are not eligible.
New Airline Security Blog
Via Reason‘s Hit & Run, there’s a new blog on airline security, privacy, and civil liberties issues: SecondaryScreening.net. There some great observations on how easily the government gets around freedom of information act requests via unlimited, unpunishable redaction… that the government has effectively gutted airline privacy policies (so don’t believe what you read on their websites)… and how 1.17 billion people could get free iPods (while 4.687 billion go without iPods and a bit more spam).Looks like one for the bookmark file.
Tips are Mandatory and Enforced by the Government
Man arrested for failing to leave 18% tip at a Lake George, New York restaurant. (Hat tip to David Rowell.)
Easy $2 for SprintPCS users
Sprint is offering a $2 credit to your bill for signing onto your online account.
Alaska and Delta announce partnership
Alaska Airlines and Delta have announced a partnership that will involve codesharing, reciprocal mileage earning and burning, and lounge access. No start date has yet been announced. It makes tons of sense, as Delta is weak on the West Coast with a small hub at Salt Lake City as their western base. Alaska partners with Continental and Northwest – both Delta partners – already. Of course, Alaska also partners with American. Come to think of it, they’ll dance with anyone – including KLM (a Northwest/Continental/Delta partner) and Qantas, British Airways, and Cathay Pacific (American partners). The arrangement between Alaska and Delta is unlikely to include reciprocal upgrade privileges – something that Alaska only extends to Northwest’s elite frequent flyers and then only on a day of departure space available basis, except for travelers on full…
Discounted Award tickets to Hawaii on American
American is making award seats to Hawaii available for 5000 miles off the regular coach award price of 35000 miles. The offer is valid for travel through November 18.
Refreshing water
Free Brita water filters.
USAirways Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Again
Yeah, that federal loan guarantee was money well spent.
