A computer reservation system offers 79 million fares and 6 million schedules. It processes 1.2 million fare changes each day. Sabre alone processes 48 million transactions a day, including all shopping, pricing, and and availability queries. ComputerWorld offers a glimpse into the challenges that Sabre faces in handling all of this computing at a reasonable cost. In order to rein in escalating processing costs and offer customers more options, Sabre is completely overhauling the software used by airlines, travel agents and passengers to find and book flights. In stages, Sabre is replacing its old mainframe assembler code with modern languages running on cheap commodity computers and open systems, including Linux. … Three forces hugely increased the processing demands on Sabre systems over the years. After airfares were deregulated in 1979, travel agents began shopping based…
Weekday Vegas Deal at the Bellagio
The Bellagio is offering Sunday-Thursday rates from May 31-September 9: Deluxe Room $139/nt (including lakeview upgrade at no charge) Bellagio Suite $299/nt Penthouse Suite $499/nt (Includes limo service, VIP check-in and fresh flowers in room)
50% Off La Quinta Stays
Make reservations on the La Quinta website or call their reservations line at 1-800-531-5900 and use promotional code SWA50 for a 50% discount on La Quinta stays between now and March 31,2005. The discount comes from a card sent out by Southwest Airlines with the following terms and conditions: Offer is based upon availability and is valid on one paid stay only per customer. A stay is defined as one or more consecutive nights at the same property. Offer not valid with any other discount, promotion or with use of a free night certificate. With the discounted rate, Rapid Rewards members who are also La Quinta Returns members are able to receive 0.5 credits per qualifying stay. Not sure how they will limit anyone to one paid stay per customer, as the discount doesn’t say…
United isn’t the only one offering Washington, DC promos
Not to be left behind, Northwest is offering 2,500 bonus miles per roundtrip (earn up to 6 times) in and out of the three DC-area airports between June 15, 2004 and September 30, 2004. Registration is required.
Crusing around for good shopping deals
And found this laptop for $700 including shipping and this DVD player for only $28.
Free Pizza Hut Pizza
Sign up for the Upper Crust Club and receive a free personal pan pizza coupon.
Free $5 Gas Card from Choice Hotels
To the first 500 who sign up.
Free TV Guide Subscription
While it lasts… Several other magazines are also available free: Best Life Black Entrepreneur Golf World Field & Stream Ski magazine
What I Would Do If I Ran Independence Air’s Marketing
United is bringing out the big guns in DC in anticipation of Independence Air’s launch. They’re running huge promos like their Round-the-World promo and 15,000 bonus miles. They’re sending out e-mail hit pieces to their membership. And all Independence Air has done is complain to the government. I walk into bars and hear people talking about United’s round the world promo. It has an incredible aspirational value that gets average folks talking, and that’s without my being in the conversation at all. I wonder what Independence Air is paying to be the official airline of the Redskins. That’ll get some notice, but it’s pretty ephemeral. They need to offer a clear value proposition and hammer that value proposition home. Always low fares on brand new jets The most flights out of Dulles, taking you where…
Non-mileage earning credit cards
SmartMoney carries a piece on credit card rewards outside of the standard mileage-earning options. The best one in the article seems to be the no annual fee MBNA Fidelity Investment Rewards Card offers a 1.5% rebate (up to $1500 per year) deposited into any Fidelity brokerage account.
