Several months ago I wrote that airlines used “fuel surcharges” rather than price increases as a way of signaling, announcing their intentions to change fares in an attempt to coordinate pricing with other carriers. They need to utilize these smoke signals so as not to run afoul of anti-trust laws. Or so they hope. American has settled a Justice Department probe, agreeing to a $3 million fine for violating terms of the 1994 decree by publishing certain fares with increased advance purchase requirements only for future travel dates, rather than current travel. This effectively reduced American’s risk of losing passengers to other airlines. American was publicly announcing future price changes which didn’t affect current bookings, and waited to see whether other carriers matched. If other airlines didn’t make similar changes, they could rescind their price…
Update on the 25,000 Mile Delta Offer
It’s been confirmed that the offer of 25,000 Delta miles for signing up as for an Intercontinental Hotels Ambassador Club membership is valid and open to everyone. (Thanks to Gary Steiger of Free Frequent Flyer Miles for doing legwork on this.) It’s a pretty great offer. For $150 you get 25,000 Delta miles, Ambassador status at Intercontinental hotels, Gold status at other Priority Club properties, and a free weekend night certificate valid on a two-night weekend stay.
More Tahiti deals
Yesterday I mentioned a special $340 roundtrip from LA to Tahiti with a very specific itinerary (one outbound flight, one return flight only). There are some other pretty good Tahiti deals going on with a little bit more flexibility, such as $899 per person (based on double occupancy) for air and six nights lodging on Moorea.
Flowers
The 30 United miles per dollar spent offer at FTD still works – and what a value! The banner welcomes United 1K members, but I’ve confirmed time and again that the offer works for anyone regardless of status with United.
Finally!
After several technical glitches, I finally completed the Free Flat Screen TV offer.The free iPod offer is still worth doing, I completed mine weeks ago. For folks getting started, the idea is that you sign up with either (or both) websites. You have to complete an offer and then refer friends who complete offers. Then you get the reward, an iPod or a flat screen TV. The website makes money because it’s paid by advertisers based on getting people to sign up for their offers. That’ll almost cover the cost of each iPod or TV. Plus they know that lots of folks will do one or two offers and never finish, and they make money on the slippage. The key is to take advantage of offers that don’t cost anything. The simplest one is to…
Site59 Discount
Play a game for up to $125 in discounts from last-minute travel package provider Site59. (Thanks to David Rowell.)
American Introduces New Short-Haul Awards
The latest NotiFlyer has the news that American is introducing “short haul” awards for fewer miles.American AAdvantage has announced that, beginning Sept. 1, MileSAAver coach awards on flights that are less than 750 miles one-way can be redeemed for just 15,000 miles — 10,000 miles less than the standard redemption cost. First- and Business-class short-haul awards can be had for 30,000 miles, a 15,000-mile reduction. American joins America West in having two tiers of prices for U.S. domestic award redemption based on the distance flown. American’s offer, though, is good only on non-stop itineraries. Here are the details.
$340 to Tahiti
Air Tahiti Nui is running a special from Los Angeles to Tahiti: $340 roundtrip but only on the following flights:Aug 26 – TN301 Depart Los Angeles: 3:45pm Arrive: Papeete, Tahiti: 9:05pm Sep 1 – TN2 Depart Papeete, Tahiti: 10:00pm Arrive Los Angeles: Sep 2 at 9:10am.
Chicken Little
Here in DC, in the middle of a heightened terror alert based on years-old information, it’s easy to get cynical about the country’s “homeland security” efforts. This cartoon hit home: (Hat tip to Bob Poole.)
NTSB Wants New Rule: Babies Must Have Own Seat
The National Transportation Safety Board wants children to have their own seats and be belted in on airplanes.The FAA has historically rejected this because higher priced airline travel (buying a baby their own seat) discourages relatively safe air travel in favor of less safe highway travel. In other words, on net a reduction in safety (more baby deaths). The NTSB disputes this analysis, arguing that families don’t get into accidents on the road at the same rate as teenagers and drunks. (Although my understanding of ‘alcohol-related fatalities’ in NTSB statistics is a blood alcohol content of 0.01… even a pilot could fly the plane at that level provided they also meet the length of time since last drink requirements, if I recall correctly.) And even if true, the 1000 or so highway death a year…
