I’m not a fan of their changes at all, but I want to send out a hearty cheer to both Continental and Alaska for announcing changes to next year’s program over three months in advance.I don’t know how good a job they’ll do communicating changes to their general membership. And really, notice ought to be at the end of 2002/beginning of 2003 for changes in 2004 — after all, travelers are flying all year in 2003 for 2004 benefits — but it’s important to applaud advance notice of changes just as it’s important to condemn lack of notice.
Alaska Announces Changes to its Elite Program for 2004
Alaska Airlines announced changes to elite benefits for 2004. There’s also a brochure (Adobe Acrobate file) comparing year-over-year benefits. MVP (first tier elite) will require 20,000 miles rather than 15,000 miles of flying on Alaska/Horizon (no change to requirement for partner airline flying) MVP Gold (second/top tier elite) will require 40,000 miles rather than 35,000 miles of flying on Alaska/Horizon (no change to requirement for partner airline flying) MVP Gold unlimited upgrades at booking will be limited to Q fares and above. Lower fares will only permit upgrades to be confirmed 3 days in advance of flight. Mileage upgrades will double in price from 5,000 miles each way to 10,000 miles each way. The “AS50” award — 15,000 miles for a 50% discount — will now have a discount value capped at $250, and will…
All About This Site
Since this website is brought to you in the form of a blog — daily commentary offered with the most recent items first — older items quickly fall off the page. I only display the most recent week’s worth of content at any one time. I like to think, though, that some of the entries retain their value even after the week has passed. And you can still read them — just click on the Archives link or pick one of the entries labeled “Greatest Hits” at the right (under my picture).Don’t want to miss a single deal or offer? Just be sure to enter your email address under Subscribe for Updates and each night you’ll receive an email with the day’s content. And I will never use your email for any other purpose. For…
Delta Member Get Member
Delta is running a new “member get a member” promotion. Refer a friend to join Delta Skymiles and if they complete a paid flight by December 15 you both get 1000 bonus miles.
The details on United’s low cost carrier
The announcement confirmed Airbus A320 aircraft, based in Denver. It also made clear that there will be no first class but will have an economy-plus section. The LCO fleet will launch with 4 Airbus 320 aircraft in Denver, and expand to 40 A320s by the end of 2004, 19 of which will be based in Denver. Each plane will have 156 seats, including a section of Economy Plus seats with extra legroom. From Denver, the LCO will fly to Reno, Las Vegas, Phoenix, New Orleans, Tampa, Ontario, Calif., and Orlando. Additional destinations will be announced at a later date. All seats will be pre-assigned, and food and beverage service will be available on board.
Starfish SwanSong ShuttleRedux
United is expected to announce details of it new discount airline today. The operation is expected to start at Denver in the first quarter of next year and use about 40 Airbus 320 jets.
History and News
The very first issue of The Economist — from 1843 — is now online. I especially liked reading about the Movements of the Anti-Corn-Law League.
Continental drops a bomb
So the anticipated announcement of EliteAccess may have been no big deal… but just a day later Continental dropped a bombshell:Beginning in 2004, miles flown on discount fares will only count 50% towards elite qualification. There’s a semi-out, though. You can continue to earn full elite qualifying mileage on discount fares for flights through June 30, 2004 by booking online. After June 30, 2004 it appears as though all low priced tickets will accumulate one elite mile for every two that are flown.For non-elites, this is a non-issue … this change only affects elite qualifying mileage. Regular miles that are used for award tickets are unchanged. (You still earn one of these for each mile flown, even on cheap flights.)One additional change is more expensive mileage upgrades. International K fares (the third from highest fare…
JetBlue to test CAPPS II
When details of new testing for Computer Assisted Passenger Pre-screening System II (CAPPS II) profiling were disclosed last week, the TSA refused to say which airline(s) would be participating. The new system, called Computer Assisted Passenger Pre-screening System II (CAPPS II), has sparked so much controversy among both liberal and conservative groups that the TSA has struggled to get it going. Delta Air Lines backed out of a testing program with the agency earlier this year, and now the TSA will not reveal which airlines will participate when it tests a prototype early next year. If all goes as planned, the TSA will begin the new computer screening of some passengers as early as next summer and eventually it will be used for all domestic travelers. Now, however, Wired reveals that JetBlue has agreed to…
Continental goof
Continental mistakenly handed out 250,000 miles — sometimes multiple times — instead of 250 miles to OnePass members who played an online game. They promptly took the points away and cancelled any award bookings that travelers had made with the miles.When Kellogg’s made a mistake at the beginning of the summer informing masses of American frequent flyers that they had won 25,000 miles when all they had done was enter a contest, they made a gesture of 500 miles as an apology.Continental has made no such apology.
