Colloquy.com (free subscription required) reports that Overstock.com has introduced a loyalty program. The program costs $29.95 to join, and gives 5% cash back for purchases. Other perks include $1 shipping, a $10 credit toward their next order if they refer someone who also becomes a Club O member, and customer service agents for Club members only.
New United Mileage Plus Members: Double Miles for 2004
United is offering double miles for all flights (on paid, published fares) in 2004 for new Mileage Plus members.Caveat, the offer says that it is targeted to recipients of the promotion, but since it’s for new members I’m not certain whether that’s true. You have to enter an email address, perhaps they have a set of email addresses on file to match the offer. But otherwise it should work. Regardless, if you’re joining Mileage Plus, it’s worth a try.
New Amtrak Discount Code
Code V745 will get you 20% off Northeast Corridor unreserved trains. So far, so good, just like many other discount codes.This one is also good on Acela Express and Metroliner trains all day Saturday and on Sunday except between 1pm and 6pm.I’m told that this code also produces double Amtrak Guest Rewards points, but I see no mention of it on the terms and conditions. The offer is supposed to be good on Boston trips, but I’ve tested it on New York-Washington, DC and it works as well.The code is good through June 22nd except for April 8th – 12th and May 28th – June 1st.
Compensation at USAirways
Management and non-union employees at USAirways are eligible for merit raises and unions being asked for pay concessions are screaming bloody murder. In all, 3100 employees are eligible for up to a 4% increase in pay. Both sides have this one wrong. USAirways needs to keep its top people, and that means compensating them competitively. That’s important for the carrier to succeed and its important for all workers to continue to retain their jobs. But it’s also silly to believe that a substantial majority of nonunion workers at perhaps the weakest major airline in the country are indispensable and worth keeping at a higher than current cost. Even a money-losing carrier seeking wage concessions from its unions should make raises available to the top performers needed to emerge from a money-losing state. But they should…
America West Elite Fast Track Promotion
America West is offering silver elite for three first class roundtrips and gold elite for six first class roundtrips, purchased by June 30 and flown by September 6.Now that America West has slashed first class fares this isn’t all that unreasonable a promotion. In fact, Gold should be available for $2000 or less.
Emirates Skywards Signup Bonus
Emirates will give you 5000 miles for signing up for their frequent flyer program and flying within six months.They’re still giving double miles for flights booked online and flown by the end of this month.(Thanks to Free Frequent Flyer Miles for the link.)
Hooters Update
Hooters Air is looking to expand, mostly into underserved communities where the local government will guarantee revenue.
Travel to Haiti
American Airlines will resume flights to Haiti on Tuesday.Tyler Cowen explains why there’s little short-term hope for improvement in Haiti, and outlines the long-term challenges any leadership faces. In summary, So let’s say I was the president of Haiti. I have to keep the leading families happy or at least on board. I have to stop the drug smugglers from killing me or mobilizing opposition. I have to acquiesce in the drug trade, recognizing that most of those around me are on the take. I have to deal with the warlords who rule the local neighborhoods. I have to keep the U.S. President happy or at least neutralize him. I have to keep the population from starving. I have no resources and no tax base. Most of my public servants live from corruption. My country…
Joe B’s web links
I admit it, I haven’t read Joe Brancatelli’s columns in a couple of months, so I’m playing catchup. They really are indispensable (when they’re not a bit too cranky, natch).Last week he offered a series of excellent useful web links, some of which were new to me. My favorite: May I direct your attention to BroadwayBox.com? It doesn’t matter whether you care about the theater or whether you actually ever go to New York and see a play. If you’re a business traveler, BroadwayBox.com offers a dose of clarity. In case you don’t know it, the New York theater has inexplicably adopted the Big Six pricing model. That means the price of walk-up orchestra seats has surged past $100. But since almost no one wants to pay $100 a seat, theaters have resorted to an…
Joe B’s Second Thoughts About First
Joe Brancatelli’s column is dead on this morning. Conventional wisdom is that domestic first class is getting more affordable. He offers the but’s — But it’s getting more rare, as half the flights operated by major airlines are on regional jets or props, more flights are being turned over to one class products like United’s TED, and remaining first class cabins are being downsized. But the quality of first class varies widely across carriers and has been generally downgraded.But tjere are lots of terms and conditions and fineprint associated with these fares. It isn’t the case that consumers can buy what was once available, only for less money.At the same time, though, a couple weeks back I managed a no advance purchase Philadelphia-Los Angeles one-way ticket on Delta for only $500. I was pleased.
